Myra glowered at the middle-aged man before her. If she had bristled when he patted her shoulder, then she was now fuming after he had brushed his pinky finger against the back of her hand.
Meanwhile, Thomas seemed unfazed and the smile on his face was warm and polite as he cajoled, “We should finish the rest of the wine, Miss Stark. It’s getting late and we ought to head home soon.”
The others in the private room were oblivious to her anger. Even Tilly was beaming as she moved to clink glasses with everyone, the remaining wine in her glass sloshing as she did so.
Myra’s gaze darkened as grim realization dawned upon her. It had been far too easy for them to secure the project today. Genevieve was supposed to be with them, as well, but she was called away at the very last minute.
Things are not as simple as they seem, Myra thought.
“Miss Stark? Miss Stark?” Thomas called out for her twice and only then did she snap out of her thoughts. She did not know why she felt sleepy all of a sudden. She staggered and he reached out to prevent her from falling. He cried in alarm. “Miss Stark, are you alright?”
A piercing lucidity seized Myra and she took a step back. She wanted to yell at him and ask him what he was doing, but she stumbled backward into Tilly. A thump followed and she turned to see that Tilly had collapsed on the floor after finishing her wine.
“Francis and the others have gone to the restroom. I’ll ask them to drop Miss Quinn home safely after this, so don’t worry about her, Miss Stark.”
“Mr. Hughes…” Myra trailed off cautiously. She did not miss the gentle tone of his voice, but for some reason, her skin prickled with fear.
She forced herself to stay awake. She glanced around the room and saw that, at some point, the others had left. She grew defensive and her sense of wariness only magnified.
Myra was beginning to realize why the muzzy sensation felt so terrifyingly familiar.
The last time she felt this way had been when Eve tricked her into going to the Chase Residence for dinner. She had fallen unconscious after eating the meal that Eve prepared, but she remembered the fogginess that came over her before she sank into darkness.
“I believe you and Miss Quinn are drunk, Miss Stark. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to drop the both of you home safely.”
Upon hearing that, Myra stiffened and her expression grew stormy. Her mind, however, did not seem to clear with anger. If anything, she only became distinctly aware of how heavy her head felt on her shoulders.
In desperation, she looked over at the half-finished glass of wine on the table and abruptly reached out for it. She summoned all the strength that was left in her and smashed the glass against the edge of the table. Then, she picked up a shard of glass that had fallen close to the tray. Without pausing to think, she drew the shard across her arm, slicing the delicate skin.
The sharp pain cleared Myra’s mind almost instantly. She snapped icily at the man, “Don’t come any closer!”
Zion Club was known for the discretion it offered to its patrons. The walls were sound-proofed and she knew no one could hear her from the outside. She had to get out of this room—the club was Elliot’s territory and surely not even Thomas was foolish enough to cause a scene here.
She made to rush out the door.
Thomas, on the other hand, remembered what the woman had told him today when she came to see him in his office. He quipped, “Miss Stark, I hear that you have recently divorced your husband. I’m sure it must have been an upsetting experience for you. I also hear that you have feelings for me—rest assured that I feel the same way for you, as well.”
“To hell if I have feelings for you!” Myra seethed as beads of sweat rolled past her brows.
It had to be the work of Kris—why else would this creep believe that I have any feelings for him?
“Don’t worry, Miss Stark. I find you attractive as well and I promise to marry you.”
Myra bridled at Thomas’ words. She saw his hand moving toward her and her eyes rimmed red. Her arm shot out before she stabbed his hand with the shard of glass in her grip.
“Ahhhh—”
He let out a bloodcurdling scream and she took the chance to run to the door.
