Vespera lunged to restrain the outburst about to erupt. With a hand pressed to her mouth, she spun and fled.

Din had been about to push Nancy away when he heard faint, hurried footsteps behind him. Though the thick carpet muffled her movements, the sound of running left a subtle trace. He turned sharply, but no one was there.

Barking of alcohol, Nancy cupped his face with both hands. Dominic’s face remained impassive. With a sharp motion, he grabbed her wrists and pushed her onto the couch.

“Lil, you pull another stunt like this, I’ll throw you overboard,” he said, wiping the spot on his cheek where she had nearly kissed him.

“How could you give up on me because of him? But he likes me—am I supposed to apologize for that? Did you ever stop to consider how I feel before just handing me over to him?” Nancy lay there, her voice a barely audible whisper.

Dominic sat across from her, his tone unwavering. “We explained this countless times; I thought you would have figured it out by now. You can’t afford to be this greedy.” Nancy tilted her head back, her eyes locked on him with a mix of admiration and longing. “I’m only greedy for you.”

Dominic sighed, his patience worn thin. “You need a therapist. You’re…”

At his words, her tears suddenly flowed, spilling down her cheeks as though a dam had broken.

By the time Dominic returned to the game room, Vespera was already seated beside Gerard. She had initially planned to find a quiet corner to gather her thoughts, but doubt lingered. Had anyone noticed her rush out? If she wasn’t in the game room when they returned, wouldn’t it be obvious she’d slipped away? With that in mind, returning to the game room seemed the safest choice.

“Mr. Reid, you’re back,” Gerard said with a relieved breath.

This game was high-stakes, and Gerard had to admit, he was starting to admire Vespera. Just throwing in a few extra chips made his heart race, but she had gone all-in without a second thought.

Gerard stood up, and Vespera followed suit.

“Sit down,” Dominic said nonchalantly.

Vespera had already risen halfway from her chair. “I should go check on Ms. Acosta.”

“She’s resting in her room. She doesn’t need you,” Dominic replied curtly.

Vespera paused, watching him settle back into his seat, her mind racing with questions. She had only offered to check on Nancy—why did he seem so annoyed? Did he think she was trying to take advantage of Nancy when she helped her earlier? What the hell? She wasn’t even interested in women. What was going through his mind?

Dominic’s pass landed on the stack of extra chips on the table. “Gerard seems to be on a lucky streak.”

Vespera offered a faint smile but didn’t respond. Before she could speak, one of the men at the table chimed in, “It’s not luck—it’s the beauty. To find such a sharp and stunning secretary? I’m jealous.”

His eyes roamed over Vespera, lingering on the curves beneath her lavender blouse. If he could, he’d drag her upstairs in an instant, stripping her bare. A shiver of disgust ran through Vespera. But she kept her composure, her smile as polite as ever.

On the other hand, Dominic remained perfectly courteous, though a flicker of coldness flashed in his eyes. “Mr. Hobbes, you could end up losing everything.”

At his words, Joseph Hobbes quickly diverted his gaze. The warning was unmistakable. The other men who had been eyeing Vespera with similar interest immediately reined in their thoughts. One might want to keep their admiration in check—or you might. While a beautiful woman could be found anywhere, provoking the heir to the Reid family over one was not a risk they were willing to take.

Vespera couldn’t help but feel a sense of appreciation for Dominic’s protective stance, though it didn’t surprise her. He had always been a man of integrity.

As the game came to an end and the evening drew to a close, the yacht docked at the marina. Joy approached Dominic, eager to ask for his contact details. Without a word, he motioned toward Gerard. Getting his number wasn’t difficult—Paul had it, after all. But how it was given made all the difference. By letting his assistant handle it, Dominic sent a clear message to both Paul and Joy—this was all strictly professional.