The Fatal Crush

🎀CHAPTER 30🎀

I reach the casino and automatically feel a cold removal enveloping me. That's not good.

I park and go out locking the car. I keep all my composure because something tells me I'm going to need it.

I walk into the lobby of the casino and give my details. I go further into Dorian's office. I see Stephan outside the door. He freezes when he sees me. He blinks as if he sees a ghost.

"You don't have to make an announcement, Stephan. You know already I have permission to enter Dorian's office freely," I say directly, for he insists on standing imperiously in front of the door barring my entrance.

"Didn't... didn't Ridge call you?" he says, chewing his words.

"No, no one called me," I lie.

"Well, it's better-"

"Step aside, Stephan," I warn him.

He insists on not letting me in.

I'm moving away from Dorian's office. I enter the first room with roulettes and look at the people trying to test their luck at gambling. I'm quickly thinking about what I can do to get Stephan away from the door. Fuck. All points have guards. There's nothing I can do.

I sigh with indignation. That's definitely Marinell's job. She must have told Stephan not to let me into Dorian's office. I can understand that by her phone call when she told me to go straight home after work. She prevented me from coming to the casino.

I must find a way to get Stephan away from the office door.

Well, he saw me leaving, didn't he? He'll think I gave up trying to get into Dorian's office and just left the casino. Good!

I approach a clerk from the adjoining room where the buffet is housed.

"Hello. Please notify Mr. Stephan Lucas that Reva Lennox is asking for him out in the parking lot," I say, smiling, having mustered all my persuasiveness.

This employee doesn't know my name compared to the receptionist who already has my details. I'm sure as soon as Stephan hears my name, he'll come to the parking lot to find me, even out of curiosity.

I'm hiding beyond the buffet hall, on a thick, round pillar, and I silently wish all this would work, and Stefan would come out.

I see the clerk I sent talking to him. Stephan looks puzzled and joins his brows while looking at her. He raises his eyes and scans the space at the entrance to the buffet room.

I'm hiding more behind the big pillar, and I feel my heart beating fast.

My anguish climaxes as I see Stephan not stir from his position. He looks once more at the space and finally walks towards the exit.

I don't waste a second and rush to the door of Dorian's office. I open the door and close it quickly before Stephan returns.

I had time to listen to speeches, but a deafening silence spread over my abrupt appearance.