Chapter 7

Tristan did not get an answer after a long wait.

“So do you mind?” he eventually asked.

Laurence was expressionless.

“Well, I don’t,” Laurence continued with a dry smile just as Tristan was about to express his excitement. “But you should ask her.”

Tristan clicked his tongue.

“I can’t tell if you care about her or not.”

Miss Jenner was very pretty and elegant. She had a great figure. Anyone could see that she was hot. Unfortunately, Laurence was a cold and unfeeling man. Tristan had known Laurence for a long time and therefore knew him well enough. He had never seen Laurence being nice to any woman who wasn’t Sarah.

Back then, Laurence was very nice to Sarah. He loved his first crush with everything he had.

Laurence looked at him impassively and said, “Business is business. She wouldn’t mind.”

Tristan was actually joking earlier, but he hadn’t expected Laurence to be so “generous.” Well, maybe it wasn’t that unexpected. Laurence had always been rational.

Tristan couldn’t help but say, “Zoey would be sad to hear you say that.”

Laurence’s expression was lazy. He took a sip of his wine and said coldly, “Maybe.”

When acting, the worst thing one could do was be emotional. That would only bring trouble. Laurence believed that Zoey wouldn’t be that stupid. At the very least, she had been smart enough over the past few months. She only did what she was told and asked no questions. She was obedient and sensible.

Tristan wanted to know if Laurence was really as uncaring as he was acting, so he went over to Zoey with a glass of wine. He saw that she was very pale. Zoey had heard everything but had to pretend like she hadn’t. Her hands and feet felt like blocks of ice, but her mind was numb.

Tristan was a picture of chivalry.

“Nice to meet you again, Miss Jenner.”

Instinctively, Zoey backed away from him.

“Mr. Gray.”

At a closer distance, Tristan could see that Zoey was prettier than he thought she was. Her features were delicate and enough to take any man’s breath away. He was hooked.

Tristan smiled at Zoey.

“Do you have any free time for me, Miss Jenner?”

Zoey took a deep breath and replied, “Sorry, no. I’m busy.”

She couldn’t tell if he was happy or upset by her reply.

“You’re still the same, I see,” he said.

Cold and pretentious. Zoey pursed her lips and said nothing. Tristan liked her. She was pretty enough for him to show off on important occasions. Laurence walked over with his hands in his pockets. His expression was still distant as if this had nothing to do with him.

“How’s your discussion?”

Tristan laughed.

“I haven’t even asked her yet. Why are you so impatient?”

Laurence raised his eyebrows.

“In your dreams.”

Zoey dug her nails into her palms to distract herself with pain. She had to pretend that she knew nothing. It wasn’t easy just standing there, listening to two men talking about her as if she were just collateral.

Tristan stared at Zoey and asked directly, “Miss Jenner, are you interested in spending a few days with me?”

Stoicly, Zoey answered, “No.”

“You’re welcome to name your price,” he added generously. “I believe in Mr. Scott’s taste in women.”

Zoey’s face was pale but calm. She had to hold on to what was left of her dignity and pretend that she didn’t care what they were talking about. Like she didn’t care that she was nothing but a transaction between these two men.

Smiling, she said, “Mr. Scott is generous enough. I’m planning to take my fill before I jump on another wagon.”

Zoey rarely spoke like this, so her words stunned both Laurence and Tristan. Zoey could tell from Laurence’s expression that he didn’t like the rebellious side she was showing. His expression was sour, and the smile had frozen on his lips. After a few seconds, he snorted dismissively.

“You’re greedy.”

Zoey felt as if she had been stabbed through her heart, but she maintained her smile.

“That’s true.”

Suddenly, a waiter tripped and splashed alcohol over her dress when he passed by. The stain was very noticeable and unsightly.

As she was cleaning herself up awkwardly, Laurence grabbed her wrist and said, “There’s a guest lounge upstairs.”

Zoey pursed her lips.

“I don’t have any extra clothes.”

“Don’t worry, someone will bring you some clothes,” Laurence replied in a low voice.

The guest room on the second floor was empty. The waiter quickly sent a new dress up. Zoey grabbed the new clothes and went into the bathroom to change, but the zipper on the back of her dress got stuck. She had no choice but to ask Laurence for help. Laurence didn’t say anything.

His fingers were cold when they made contact with her back. His breath flitted across the back of her ear, warm enough to give her goosebumps. Laurence helped her pull down the stuck zipper, then grabbed a lock of hair and began playing with it absently as he looked at her naked body.

Suddenly, he said in a low voice, “You don’t need to change.”

Zoey did not have a chance to react to what he had said. Laurence grabbed her hands and held them behind her back forcefully.

“You’re going to need to take it off anyway.”