Chapter 208: Seductive and Polite
“You’re asking me to hand Claire over to Frederick?” Antony frowned deeply, immediately grasping Ethan’s implication.
“Sharp as always,” Ethan said with a smirk, stubbing out his cigarette before clapping Antony on the shoulder.
Around the corner, Danielle was just returning from the restroom when she caught sight of the two men. Her eyes widened as she froze in place, her hand instinctively flying to cover her mouth to stifle any sound. Danielle couldn’t believe what she was witnessing. On only her second day at Hiokeeh Group, she had already stumbled into something so ugly. Without daring to linger, she turned and darted back toward the private room, her steps unsteady.
Outside, Antony’s fists were clenched tightly at his sides. “I won’t do it. And I won’t let you force anyone else to do it either.”
“What did you just say?” Ethan’s expression shifted from shock to a chilling smile. “Oh, Antony… Have you been at Hiokeeh Group for so long that you’ve started to think you’re someone important?” He jabbed a finger into Antony’s chest with each word. “Don’t—”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Antony replied firmly. “You’ve helped me countless times, and I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me. But this—this is the one thing I won’t do.” Antony’s voice was steady, but his heart was heavy with the weight of his decision. He knew all too well what defying Ethan would mean for his future at Hiokeeh Group. But the idea of giving Claire away like a pawn in someone else’s game was something he couldn’t stomach. Even knowing Frederick’s history with Claire—even knowing they had once been intimately involved—it didn’t matter. She was the woman he had loved for half his life, the light he had chased for as long as he could remember. No one in the world, aside from his family, meant more to him than Claire.
Without waiting for Ethan’s response, Antony turned on his heel and headed back to the private room, his mind bracing for the storm that would follow his refusal.
Inside, Claire was still sitting near Frederick, maintaining her professional demeanor, while Danielle sat off to the side, agonizing over how to warn her friend about what she had overheard. Danielle’s mind raced, desperately trying to figure out the best way to alert Claire to Ethan and Antony’s conversation. Summoning her courage, she picked up a glass of wine, preparing to approach Frederick under the guise of a toast, but the door opened before she could take a step.
Ethan and Antony walked back in. Danielle’s stomach dropped. Her hand trembled so badly that the wineglass nearly slipped from her grip. Her heart sank; she had missed her chance. With no other options, Danielle fumbled for her phone and quickly typed out a WhatsApp message to Claire. But in the tense atmosphere of the room, Claire didn’t even glance at her phone, leaving Danielle helplessly clutching it in her hand.
As soon as Antony returned, he sat down next to Claire. “Claire, Ethan just asked me to send you to Frederick. I refused, but he won’t let it go. Be careful,” he whispered urgently. Antony knew well how far Ethan would go to get what he wanted. If Antony wouldn’t do it, Ethan would find another way. What he didn’t realize was that this whole situation had been Frederick’s plan from the start.
Seeing Antony take a seat beside Claire, Ethan walked over to join Frederick on the other side of the room. “Mr. Hawthorne, Antony refused,” Ethan reported calmly.
Frederick paused for a moment, his hand mid-motion as he swirled his drink, his smile never fading. The vibrant lights of the private room reflected off the deep red liquor, casting a beautiful glow. Danielle’s heart raced with panic. She was still terrified about the deal Ethan and Antony had made regarding Claire, but now she was watching Claire volunteer to dance. The tension in the room was thick. Danielle had no idea what was going on, but she was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, desperate to find some way to help.
“Well, that depends on how well you dance,” Frederick said leisurely, lounging back on the couch, his legs crossed.
“In that case, I’d be honored if Mr. Hawthorne would give me the chance,” Claire replied with a faint smile before gracefully beginning her performance. As the former little princess of the Prescott family, Claire had always attended various classes growing up, and dance had been one of her specialties. With her background and her time spent working at the Eclipse Nightclub, she was more than capable of impressing with a dance. But this performance wasn’t just about technique—it was about giving Frederick exactly what he wanted.
Under the watchful eyes of Ethan, Antony, Danielle, and the other Hiokeeh Group employees, Claire danced, moving with a confidence that seemed to play into the very stereotypes that often plagued the corporate world. She seemed to embody the image of a glamorous, money-hungry woman, desperate for approval, as she flirted with Frederick.
Frederick raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a satisfied smile as he watched the scene unfold. He could see the discomfort on Antony’s face, and it only served to enhance his enjoyment. However, there was no denying that Claire’s body was breathtaking, and her movements were undeniably alluring.
As Antony watched, a strange feeling stirred within him. It was a mixture of something uncomfortably possessive and something else he couldn’t quite place. Frederick, of course, knew exactly what it was—he could see it in an instant.
The tension in the room reached a breaking point, and Frederick’s voice cut through the air with sharp authority. “Claire stays. Everyone else, get out!”