Chapter 24
Valeria intercepted the waitstaff carrying coffee, offering to distribute it herself. When no one was looking, she discreetly removed a small packet from her designer purse and emptied its contents into one of the cups. Finally, her little insurance policy was about to pay dividends. She carefully arranged the cups on the tray and personally served them to the table.
Valeria handed Marco Parker his cup first, then made a deliberate show of giving Anastasia her specially prepared brew. She caught Anastasia’s eye with a loaded smile that practically screamed trouble. Every instinct Anastasia had developed over the years screamed warnings. Wherever Valeria showed up, chaos followed like a personal pet.
The girl had just been dragged through the mud across every social platform, yet instead of hiding in shame, she’d forced her way into this business dinner. She was definitely up to something. Anastasia accepted the coffee cup, immediately noticing something off about the rich aroma—an underlying chemical scent that didn’t belong. Without drawing attention, she set the cup down and fussed with her napkin.
“Not a coffee fan, gorgeous?” Parker’s voice held a slimy undertone that made her skin crawl. “This is top-shelf Colombian—smooth going down, with a real kick to it.” The way he emphasized certain words made it clear he wasn’t just talking about caffeine.
“Please, enjoy yours first, Mr. Parker.” Anastasia smiled with practiced politeness.
Parker grinned and knocked back his entire cup like a shot. “That’s how you do it, sweetheart. Life’s too short to sip.”
Valeria watched with barely contained glee as she delicately sipped her own coffee. Anastasia brought her cup to her lips, then “accidentally” knocked it with her elbow. The hot liquid splashed across her hand and designer dress, immediately raising angry red welts.
She hissed in genuine pain. “Shit! I’m so sorry—I need to take care of this.” She bolted toward the restroom, leaving behind the barely-touched drugged coffee. Valeria’s eyes narrowed as she watched the hasty retreat. Did that bitch somehow figure out what was happening? The timing seemed way too convenient. But seeing the cup still mostly full on the table, Valeria forced herself to relax and turned her attention to charming Parker.
“Don’t mind Ana—she’s always been clumsy under pressure,” she purred, leaning forward to give him a better view. “Tell me more about your business, Mr. Parker. I find successful men so fascinating.”
Parker perked up immediately. This Valeria chick was much more his speed—eager to please and clearly DTF. Maybe the night wasn’t a total bust after all.
Outside the private dining room, Anastasia exhaled shakily. She’d dodged a bullet, but barely. Heading toward the ladies’ room to treat her burn, she slammed directly into what felt like a concrete wall.
“Oof!” She stumbled backward, ready to apologize, then looked up into achingly familiar dark eyes. The restaurant’s mood lighting made his sharp features look even more devastating than usual.
“Cassian!” Her voice came out more breathless than she intended. Relief flooded through her so intensely it was almost dizzying. Seeing her flushed face and obvious distress, Cassian’s expression immediately shifted to protective concern.
“Hey, what a crazy coincidence.” His voice was carefully casual, but she could see the worry in his eyes. “You okay? You look rattled.”
Actually, this “coincidence” had been carefully orchestrated from the moment Phillips discovered Anastasia would be dining with Marco Parker. Learning she’d be alone with that predator had made Cassian’s blood pressure spike dangerously. He’d immediately arranged drinks with Yinsen at the same restaurant, positioning himself as backup without interfering directly with her work. The fact that their cocktail menu was excellent was purely secondary. But he didn’t want Anastasia feeling like he was being controlling, so he was playing it off as pure chance.
“I’m…” she started, then realized how badly she needed him right now. “Actually, I’m really glad you’re here. This dinner is turning into a nightmare.”
Cassian edged closer, his presence immediately making her feel safer. “What kind of nightmare? Did he trouble you?” The protective edge in his voice made her heart race for entirely different reasons than fear.
“It’s complicated,” she said quietly, glancing back toward the dining room. “But seeing you here… it’s like the universe threw me a lifeline.”
His jaw tightened as he put the pieces together. “Where’s your dinner? I’ll walk you back.”
“Actually,” Anastasia said with sudden clarity, “I think I’m done with business for tonight.”