Chapter 294: Don't Play Stupid With Me

Jessica tosses her flaming hair and says, "Don't play stupid with me. I know what you want from him, and I'm not going to let you get it."

Avery steps back and calmly waits for Jessica to move out of her way. Jessica looks at her as if she's sizing her up. She frowns and steps out of the elevator, but continues to block Avery's path.

"I mean it, you need to leave my brother alone," Jessica says. "If you don't, I'll show you just how well I can follow through on my threats."

Avery rolls her eyes, and Jessica raises her hand to slap her across the face. Avery flinches and turns her head to the side, but the slap never lands. Jessica's bodyguard has rushed out of the elevator and grabbed her delicate wrist. Avery steps past the two of them get in the elevator and slam her finger into the close door button.

"Get your hands off me," Jessica shrieks. "What the hell? What gives you the right to grab me?"

"I'm sorry, Miss," James says. "I just didn't think it was suitable for a woman like you to fight in public. What if someone saw?"

Jessica stomps her foot and says, "I don't care about that. If I don't tear her face-off, she's going to kill my brother."

"I'm sure Mr. Clifford can handle himself," James says with a smirk. "After all, he's been with many women. I hear his number is almost as high as yours."

"Excuse me?" Jessica hisses, struggling to free her wrist from his tight grip.

"Don't pretend to be so angry," James says. "Everyone knows you've had 29 boyfriends."

Jessica grinds her sharp, high-heel into the polished black toe of his shoe. He winces with pain, and she raises her foot, satisfied to see that she's left a mark in the leather.

"There have only been 21, and you know as well as I do that I barely let them touch me," she snaps. "Anyway, are you going to help me deal with this woman or do I have to get rid of her on my own?"

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asks with a sarcastic smile. "Why don't you worry about yourself and focus on winning Jackson back."

"Of course, I'm sure," she says. "Andrew is my brother—he's family!"

"If you say so," Andrew says.

Avery enters the suite quietly, worried that Andrew is still asleep on the sofa. Though the silk looks slightly wrinkled, the sofa is empty. She gestures for the bodyguards to put the food on the coffee table and calls Andrew's name. When there's no answer, she tries again.

"Excuse me," a bodyguard says. "It seems Mr. Clifford is already in the casino."

What's he doing in the casino? She wonders. After his illness last night, he should be resting in the room. What could possibly be important enough to make him get up and leave the room without even having breakfast? 

She rushes out of the room and takes the elevator down to the casino. The large room is filled with thick smoke, and people are already gathered around the tables. She hears a loud groan from a roulette wheel as someone loses millions. At a blackjack table, a woman in a bright green dress jumps to her feet and cheers.

Avery doesn't see Andrew, but she can't shake the feeling that someone is watching her. She spins around, trying to figure out who it is, but she doesn't see anyone. A bodyguard taps her shoulder and points to a balcony overlooking the casino floor. Andrew is standing on the balcony, having an intense conversation with Jackson.

Jackson spots her first and points her out to Andrew. He smirks as Andrew straightens his collar and snuffs out his cigarette. Before Avery can make it to the stairs, Andrew rushes down and meets her at the bottom.

"What are you doing here, wife?" he asks, trying to hug her.

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She dodges his embrace and asks, "How's your heart?"

He laughs as if she's just told a joke and waves his hand dismissively. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Jackson laughing too. She clenches her hands into fists and shrugs.

"I shouldn't have bothered to ask," she snaps. "Clearly, this is all just some big joke for you. Besides, I came here to talk to you about something."

"Go ahead," Andrew says, becoming serious.

She hesitates, unsure how to ask for his help with Evan. She doesn't want to show any weakness in front of Andrew, and she's scared to admit that she saw Evan at breakfast. Andrew had a heart attack when he thought she had an affair with Evan. Will he have another if Evan tells him about their dalliance? Will it damage Charle's heart?

Before she can explain, the lights in the casino dim, three bright spotlights sweep across the guests and the tables and land on a stage. A pink ribbon drops down from the high ceiling, and soft but seductive music begins to play. An enchantingly beautiful girl dangles from the end of the ribbon. She wears a short, pink silk dress and swings through the air, tossing colorful petals like a fairy. She lands on the stage, and the crowd falls quiet.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome," she says in a high, musical voice. "Mr. Oliver has a special show for you this afternoon."

Jessica leans on the white Roman-style railing and looks down at the casino floor, tracking Avery with her eyes. She twirls her hair around her finger over and over. She watches as Andrew approaches Avery and snarls when Avery dodges his hug.

"How can he be so stupid?" she asks. "He's head over heels for her, and she's not even pretending to feel the same. We have to do something!"

"Are you sure you want me to arrange that?" James asks.

"Yes, I'm sure," she says. "Wait, what did you have in mind? It won't kill her, will it?" 

James' voice is smooth and silky as he asks, "Do you want it to kill her?"

"I just want to give her a warning," Jessica says, staring at him in shock. "I think death sounds a bit extreme, don't you?"

"If you think it's too extreme, it must be," James says. "But it's never too late to change your mind, you know."

Sweat prickles Jessica's scalp, and she shivers. James' eyes have a strange, almost feverish light in them, and his smile looks creepy. He laughs at her expression and shrugs.

"Fine, there won't be any death," he says.

Jessica glares at him, and the lights in the casino dim and turn blue. She looks at the crystal chandelier overhead and sees that it's off. From the far end of the casino floor, a man whistles, and Jessica squints through the smoke and haze. There's a girl dancing and swinging from a ribbon. She does the splits midair, and her short pink dress rides up her thighs, exposing silky pink underwear. The girl smiles and drops down onto the stage. 

"Are you feeling lucky today?" she asks with a flirty wink.

The men in the casino howl and whistle, and she shimmies her hips and laughs.

"If you want to try your luck, we have an exciting game today," she says. "You can win the development rights to any property in the city, as long as you're willing to bet your family members. That's right, ladies and gentleman, if you use your family members as chips, you can become a real estate tycoon."

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