Chapter 428 Sweet Maneuvers

Nicole turned, her hand poised on her skirt's zipper, appearing ready to take it off at any second.

The bodyguard dressed in black started to panic. Sweat beaded on his forehead and back, the thought of spying on Jarrod's woman filled him with fear. He would never dare to do so.

Even the mere thought of approaching someone Jarrod had let go was unthinkable for men of his caliber. Plus, Nicole had slept with Jarrod.

In his rush to leave, the bodyguard quickly left the room, slamming the door before Nicole could undress.

Once she heard the door shut, Nicole allowed a small smirk, grabbing a towel on her way to the shower.

Finishing her shower swiftly, she wrapped up in the towel and pressed a hidden switch on the wall, unveiling a secret room.

Inside, a detailed map of intricate relationships and numerous photos adorned a blackboard.

Nicole plugged a USB into the computer.

Her earlier rushed visit to Jarrod's mansion had only allowed her to download files from one folder, not yet reviewed by her. To her astonishment, the drive was filled with compromising photos and videos of Mr. Hampton, caught in unsavory moments with various women.

Nicole was aware of Jarrod's extreme prudence, presumably keeping such material on close associates as a safeguard. These were evidently his blackmail reserves, possibly crafted by his hand.

The release of these photos would cause significant harm to the Hampton family, impacting both their market and corporate standing, particularly with whispers of the Hampton family elder's influential ties.

Inspired, Nicole edited the images to obscure crucial details before anonymously emailing them to Mr. Hampton. Having indirect ties to the Hampton family made acquiring his contact easy.

A prompt reply came from Mr. Hampton "Who the hell are you?"

Nicole replied, "That's not your concern.

He pressed, "What do you want?"

Nicole responded. "Let's strike a deal."

Feeling somewhat hopeful, Mr. Hampton asked, "You're after money? Name your price."

Nicole replied, "Money is not my objective.

Mr. Hampton asked, "Then what is it you want?" Nicole stated, "A contract from five years back." Mr. Hampton went quiet before texting back, "I'm not following you."

Nicole responded with a hint of amusement, "Perhaps the spread of these photos and videos across the internet will jog your memory."

Mr. Hampton replied, "How do we proceed?"

"Just wait for my instruction."

After sending the message, Nicole uploaded the incriminating content to a cloud server so secure it was nearly unbreakable. Feeling a sense of completion, she destroyed the USB by crushing it under her foot.

She then wet her hair again in the bathroom, got dressed, and left the room.

The bodyguard, waiting for her, approached immediately, and said, "Miss Lawrence, it's time for you to return to the villa.

Nicole couldn't suppress a smirk at this. "Let's go," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

***

Raegan had been engrossed in her studio work all day.

At lunchtime, her phone rang with a video call from Mitchel. She picked up the call.

Mitchel's handsome face appeared on the screen, somehow seeming more vivid than ever before. "Did I catch you during lunch?"

Raegan softly affirmed with a "yes."

"Let me see what you're eating." Mitchel's voice filled the speaker.

Raegan aimed the camera at her meal, listing the dishes. "Radish seed salad, broccoli, and steamed bass.

"It looks delicious, but you're missing a soup. Who cooked?" "The housekeeper," Raegan said.

"What will you be cooking for me?" Mitchel suddenly asked. Pondering briefly, still unsure, Raegan responded teasingly, "As if you'd have any choice. You'll eat whatever I make."

Mitchel smiled warmly at her playful defiance. "I'm easy to please. Anything you make will be perfect."

"And when would you like for the meal?"

Mitchel observed her eating a broccoli piece, replaceing her expression endearingly cute. "How about tomorrow night? Are you available?"

If it weren't for an important meeting the next morning, his eagerness would have made it impossible to wait! He was exceptionally eager to see her!

Raegan thought about her schedule. She needed to deliver some medicine the next day due to a previous commitment, but that was scheduled for the afternoon. The delivery was in the Ashfield, a quiet suburb of Ardlens. It would take just over an hour to get there. She could surely return by the afternoon.

"Tomorrow night works," Raegan said in agreement.

Mitchel's demeanor lightened further, delighted by her confirmation. He then playfully focused on her lips and teased, "Your lips..."

"What about them?" Raegan asked, checking her reflection but noticing nothing unusual.

"Lean in with your ear, and I'll whisper it," Mitchel said, his tone playful.

Curious and slightly wary, Raegan brought the phone closer to her ear.

Then, she heard his voice, soft and alluring, whispering closely. "Your lips seem so inviting for a kiss..."

A wave of blush washed over Raegan's face in an instant. Surrounded by people, this flirtatious comment felt thrillingly sweet.

Their intimate banter, amidst the crowd's noise, gave Raegan the sense that they were deeply in love.

Raegan lightly scolded, "There's a crowd here..."

Mitchel's smile turned mischievous. "Which is why I whispered it, just for you."

His allure radiated through the screen, disarmingly attractive. Raegan's heartbeat quickened, stirred by feelings she couldn't fully understand. Amid her racing heartbeat, a sweet feeling welled up from deep within her heart. "I should get back to my work," she said, her voice tinged with a slight rush.

Noticing her cheeks tinged with red, Mitchel's expression softened. "Take care not to work too hard."

"Watch out for your arm..." Raegan's concern for Mitchel flowed out without her even realizing it. She paused, taken aback

Mitchel was equally surprised with Raegan's concern. Then, looking deeply into the camera, he said, "Now I wish to kiss you even more.

Raegan found herself at a loss for words.

Her face flushed a deeper red. "Can't your thoughts be laid somewhere else?"

"I can't," Mitchel said, his stare intense, making the moment feel profound. "I miss you dearly."

Raegan's eyes fluttered, her cheeks heating up. She was certain that if he were here, he might indeed "consume" her.

"...I need to hang up now." Raegan quickly ended the call. She pondered over their growing closeness, questioning if it was becoming too much.

Just then, a receptionist from the studio came over. "Miss Foster, Mr. Matteo Jenkins is here to see you."

"Please, let him in," Raegan said.

Matteo walked in, placing a wooden food box on her table. "Miss Foster, Mr. Dixon has sent you this soup. Enjoy."

After conveying his message, Matteo departed. Raegan eyed the food container and recognized it came from South River Restaurant. That was a notable distance away. So, was Mitchel ordering soup for her during their conversation?

Raegan lifted the lid off the container, and the aroma spread throughout the room. It contained the restaurant's renowned Four-Cup Soup.

Tasting it, she felt a comforting warmth spreading through her, sweetening her mood even more.

She then took out her phone to look up recipes, acknowledging her rusty cooking skills. It was time to choose a dish to prepare.

The following day.

Raegan headed out straight from her office after wrapping up a morning full of tasks. She'd been keeping an eye out for the past three days, making sure she wasn't being followed.

Just to play it safe, Raegan had her family's driver pretend to take her home, creating the illusion that she was inside the car.

In the meantime, she took the wheel herself, opting for a less conspicuous underground route.

She relied on the navigation for half of the journey.

Suddenly, the car emitted a loud "bang"!

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