Chapter 196: Not Every Investment Pays in Loyalty

Fraser’s face didn’t change. He calmly snuffed out his cigarette. “Didn’t you already do that?”

With that, he turned and walked back toward the private room, unbothered.

As Fraser walked away, Sienna blurted out, almost instinctively, “Mr. Graham, do you remember the old Monroe Group? Our family attended the Graham Group’s 100th-anniversary gala. Back then, my parents had a really nice conversation with Mr. Maximus and Madam Graham.”

Fraser’s reply came cool and clipped, a trace of annoyance underneath. “I don’t remember.”

The spark of courage she’d built up fizzled out. Still, she clenched her fists, not ready to give up this rare chance to speak to him.

“Right…things have changed. The Monroe family isn’t what it once was. But would you mind if I added you on WhatsApp? Maybe someday, my parents could reconnect with your family…”

Fraser shut it down, cutting her off sharply. His face was unreadable. “Ms. Sienna, Summer considers you a close friend.”

Sienna froze. Fraser had no time or interest for anyone who wasn’t Summer—and he didn’t bother hiding it.

His tone stayed flat, emotionless. “She mentioned you helped her once. That’s why I agreed to invest in the design firm. I never believed in it, but I backed her. And now it’s clear—she backed the wrong project.”

Sienna’s expression dropped. He had cut straight through her. He saw exactly what was going on under the surface—her envy, her pride, and the little crush she’d let spiral into something more.

She scrambled to explain. “I know…you and Summer go way back. I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to—”

Fraser let out a low, humorless laugh. “Then be grateful. Because of her, you even got this far. So keep your place. I won’t let her get hurt because of you.”

Back in the private room, the cold edge in Fraser’s expression was completely gone. He lounged comfortably in his seat, his eyes settling on the smile still playing on Summer’s face. He reached out and gently took her hand, rubbing his thumb along her skin.

“What’s got you laughing so much?”

Summer’s smile hadn’t faded—still glowing from one of Yvette’s jokes. Her lips curled, her eyes bright with laughter, the soft pink hue of her mouth lifting into the kind of smile that stopped him cold.

“We were talking trash about you.”

Fraser gave a low, easy laugh. “Oh yeah? What kind of trash talk could you possibly get away with? Sounds like I didn’t do enough today.”

Yvette, thinking about that indie film she joked about earlier, jumped in with a teasing tone. “Come on, Mr. Graham—you’re doing great. Summer said she was seriously touched.”

12:15 PM

Chapter 196: Not Every Investment Pays in Loyalty

Summer grinned. “Totally made up.”

Fraser chuckled. “Made up’s fine. Half-true or not. I’ll take it.”

Summer rolled her eyes. “Yeah right, I don’t buy that for a second.”

The door to the private room swung open. Sienna stepped in, her face still carrying a trace of discomfort.

As soon as she walked in and saw Summer and Fraser all cozy and playful, her expression shifted. Whatever was left of her composure cracked.

Summer turned to her. “Sienna, what’s wrong?”

Sienna avoided her gaze. Her voice was rushed. “Summer, Yvette—I’m not feeling well. My stomach’s off. I’m gonna head—”

“Sienna—wait—”

But before Summer could finish, Sienna had already snatched her bag and hurried off like she couldn’t get out fast enough.

Summer stared after her, puzzled. “What was that about?”

Yvette glanced toward the door, watching Sienna disappear, her eyes unreadable as ever.

Fraser tapped Summer on the forehead with a light flick of his fingers. “You’ve got a brain in there, right? Try using it.”

Summer rubbed the spot. “What was that for?”

“Because you’re being slow.”

Summer didn’t miss a beat. “Well excuse me, Mr. Genius Graham. Some of us mere mortals just can’t keep up.”

Fraser’s light eyes shimmered with a quiet glow as he gave her a gentle, sidelong glance. “Obviously. Be a good girl and ask me nicely, I might teach you.”

Summer was just about to respond when Yvette chimed in with a layered, teasing tone, “I’m with him. Summer, I really do think you should ask nicely.”

Back at Ravenshire Boulevard, Summer was still turning it over in her head. “Okay, but seriously—why was Yvette telling me to ask nicely too? What are you two plotting?”

Fraser was undoing his tie, throwing her a look from across the room—low-key and unreadable.

“Say the magic words and I’ll tell you.”

Summer pulled her legs up onto the couch and started flipping through TV channels. “Yeah, no. Not happening.”

Fraser dropped his jacket and tie next to the couch without a second thought. Then he sank down next to her, stretching out with that easy kind of confidence. One arm rested behind her on the back of the couch, muscle lines defined and smooth under his shirt. The flicker of the TV danced across his face, casting his eyes in shadow—dark and bottomless like they could swallow the whole room.