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After thinking for a moment, Fabian replied. “I’ll keep her busy tomorrow, let her think I’m still contemplating her proposal. We’ll draw her out just enough to keep her from interfering with us. But should she come too close, we sever her ties.”

Mikel nodded firmly, appreciatively. “Smart. Just remember to control how she turned this one on you. Tasha is a risk we cannot take.”

With their plan enacted, the three were aware they had very little time to prepare. They would have to make the most of the night to come because the next day, they would breach the auction, deal with De Silva, and hopefully get to the bottom of Loretta. But even so, when Fabian glanced once more at Tasha, there was still the nagging sensation in the pit of his stomach that he could not entirely dismiss. There were too many variables and too many degrees of uncertainty.

Sometime later, following the advancement of the hours and the hectic commotion caused by the party winding down, Fabian found himself basking