“Tony, are you leaving?” Elliot was a little excited to hear that he would have something to do again. However, Tony’s actions quickly rendered him speechless.
Tony used to be a man who spent time with them until one to two in the morning before he went home. Now that he had suddenly turned into a family man, arriving late and leaving early, Elliot thought Myra had given him a curfew.
“Myra’s still at the company,” Tony said and put out his cigarette before he walked outside, leaving behind three men who couldn’t stand the change in his personality.
The night was slightly cool in early autumn. After Tony left the Zion Club, he put on the suit jacket casually. By the time he made it to the entrance, the valet had already got his car ready and gave him his key the moment he saw him.
Tony took the key and saw someone at the corner of his eye. His eyes slightly narrowed and something crossed his mind. Instead of leaving the club, he ended up walking toward the corner next to Zion Club.
Zion Club was a vintage-style building built in the suburbs. Because it was surrounded by hot springs, flowers that weren’t in season still managed to bloom on the land. Tony stood beside a cluster of delicate Bengal Roses as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
He was tall and broad. His suit brought out his calm aura, and his handsome facial features were concealed by the waves of smoke. Nonetheless, his noble aura couldn’t be hidden by any means.
Kris saw his gorgeous figure from afar, and her heart was pounding fast.
Tony Hart was indeed an exceptional man in Bradfort City. If she let him slip, she might not be able to find another man that had the perfect identity, status, capabilities, appearance, and aura like him here in the city.
Kris became even more determined as she thought about that. Clenching her fists, she got out of her car. After a moment of hesitation, she put on a gentle smile and walked toward the corner where Tony was standing. As soon as she stood still beside him, she saw the man put the cigarette between his thin lips. He looked elegant, though there was a hint of impudence in the air around him. He reached out gracefully to pluck the Bengal Rose in front of him. “You followed me all the way here. Aren’t you tired, Miss Stark?”
His voice was deep and cold. Apparently, he had long known that she had been following him.
Kris’ heart flinched at his words. Carefully, she tried to read Tony’s expression. Nevertheless, when she noticed there was no hatred on his face, the weight on her shoulders disappeared. Her smile grew more tender. “You may have misunderstood me, Director Hart. I had to visit Zion Club today too. When I saw you from afar, I thought my eyes had deceived me.”
“Is that so?” Tony plucked another Bengal Rose. Then, he turned around with a disdainful smile. “Since you’re right, Miss Stark, you may leave now.”
Upon hearing that, Kris stiffened. She naturally didn’t want to leave like that. Therefore, she hastily changed the subject of the conversation and asked tentatively, “Director Hart, you seem to have drunk some alcohol. Do you… need a ride?”
Earlier, when she approached him, she could faintly smell alcohol on him. And she couldn’t help feeling delighted. If she could have a one-night stand with him under the influence of alcohol… she could guarantee that Myra could no longer compete with her!
Her eyes were similar to Myra’s. Whenever their eyes sparkled, they looked especially pitiful. Staring at the man in front of her intently, Kris tried to bring out her best gaze.
Pluck. She heard Tony picking another flower. There was no sympathy on his face. “Do you love to give men rides home, Miss Stark?”
Instantly, Kris’ expression changed. “Are you kidding, Director Hart? In Bradfort City, you’re the only one I’ve ever made such an offer to.”
As though something had crossed her mind, her expression became even more gentle. “Director Hart, you don’t want me to say that to other men? Don’t worry; apart from you, no one can catch my eye. Besides, I’ve never said something like that to anyone else. You’re the first one whom I’m willing to approach.” After she said that, she couldn’t help but take a step forward. Her bright eyes stared straight at Tony; she looked like she had never regretted falling in love with him.
Tony’s hand that was plucking the flowers halted. He was already holding two Bengal Roses in his left hand. With his right hand, he took the cigarette away from his lips and tapped it slightly. The smoke concealed his eyes further, and he suddenly let out a chuckle. Nonetheless, there was no warmth in his laughter. “If that’s the case, does it mean that you have feelings for me?”
If that sentence was spoken by any other man, Kris would have found them arrogant and disgusting. However, when it was Tony who said that, she could only feel her heart melting. Her ivory white teeth bit on her lower lip, and her face was painted red. Secretly, she took a glance at the man in front of her before she ducked her head and hummed softly in response.
As she looked down, she missed the hint of contempt that flashed before his eyes. By the time she looked up at him again, he was already taking in a drag of his cigarette. Faintly, he said, “What can you bring me, then, Miss Stark?” He glanced at Kris, who was stunned, before he went on, “You’re probably aware that I have a lover. You must have something that I’m interested in if you can stand in front of me so confidently despite the circumstances.”
“Of course, I have!”
Without a second thought, Kris affirmed his question. At that moment, her heart started pounding wildly. As expected, Tony is only fooling around with Myra. As soon as there’s a more valuable interest, he will break up with her heartlessly. Kris could already imagine how miserable Myra would end up after she was abandoned by him!
The corners of Kris’ lips lifted, and she looked proud. “In the future, the Stark Group will be inherited by me. If I offer the entire Stark Group to you, will that show you my sincerity, Director Hart?”
“Is that the only thing you can offer me?” Nevertheless, Tony only twitched his lips. Tapping the cigarette, he looked away.
Kris’ heart tightened. She knew the Stark Group was nothing compared to the Hart Group. However, apart from that, she had nothing else… Maybe…
“Have you heard about Hilliville, Director Hart? I might also own nearly forty percent of the property in Hilliville, as well as fifty percent of the Ritz Carlton after I inherit the company!”
“Okay. That sounds good.” Nonchalantly, Tony stubbed out the cigarette before he plucked another flower. When he turned around, ridicule was visible in his gaze. “However, you’re not the only young lady of the Stark Family, right? Not to mention…” After he said that, he came to a stop intentionally, only to see the panic in her eyes as he had expected.
“As far as I know, your mother is about to give birth to a boy. If that’s the case, can I assume that what you said just now was just to entertain me, Miss Stark?” His expression sank as his words ended.
At that moment, Kris was dumbfounded. Then, she was overwhelmed by anxiety. She reached out and grabbed his arm without even thinking twice.
When Tony felt her touch on his arm, his expression darkened, and he slapped her hand away subconsciously.
Kris stumbled at his action. Her foot slipped out of her heel and she stepped into the Bengal Rose shrub beside her. Immediately, she felt a prickling pain on the sole of her foot. Her face turned ashen from the pain. Yet, as soon as she saw Tony was about to leave, she hurriedly exclaimed, “Director Hart, what I said is true. In the future, the Stark Group will be mine. You have to believe in me!”
“What about your brother?”
At his remarks, Kris’ eyes glinted, and she bit her lip. “Believe me; the Stark Group will only be mine in the future!”
Will the Stark Group really belong to Kris in the future?
Turning his back on Kris, Tony looked incomprehensible. Something flashed before his bottomless eyes, but he didn’t say another word as he walked straight ahead.
Kris was puzzled. In the next moment, Tony had gotten into his silver sports car.
“Hey, Director Hart, Director Hart! Wait for me… Director Hart!”
Kris tried to chase after his car as she stumbled with her injured foot. However, Tony’s car was moving at an extremely fast speed. She had only gone less than two meters before the car took a sharp turn and drove out of the area.
When Kris ran two steps forward, a waiter followed her and called her softly, “Miss, your shoe…”
