Chapter 273

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Carlisle politely reasoned with Luke, “Mr. Carlson, that woman happens to be my friend’s girlfriend. I believe she ran into financial trouble and had no choice but to do this…”

“So?” Luke asked, eyeing Carlisle with interest.

“So, I’m taking her with me,” Carlisle said firmly.

Luke’s lackeys immediately burst into laughter. “Do you even know who you’re speaking to, you wimp?”

“Of course I do. I’m speaking to lan’s younger brother,” Carlisle answered with a smile.

The lackey who taunted Carlisle earlier seethed at the mention of lan. “Who the fuck are you to call Mr. Ian Carlson by his first name?” He turned to Luke for instructions. “Do we beat them up?”

Luke shot him a withering look. “I’m here to have fun, not get into a fight with children.”

The lackey had the decency to chuckle sheepishly before cutting Carlisle a warning look.

He then pointed at the door and said, “Did you hear that? Mr. Carlson here is kind enough to overlook your

insolence. Now, scram!”

Carlisle did not even spare the lackey a look. He continued smiling at Luke as he offered, “Let’s make a deal, Luke. How about you let me take that young woman for 30 thousand dollars?”

The young women in the shop were stumped to hear that figure. They hadn’t expected Carlisle to be

loaded.

They couldn’t even begin to count the number of men they had to entertain to be paid 30 thousand dollars.

“Are you loaded or something?” Luke asked as he stuck a cigarette between his lips while his lackey hurried to light it for him.

Carlisle answered, “Not really, but I have 30 thousand dollars to spare.”

Luke took a drag of his cigarette. Smoke unfurled from his mouth as he asked, “And you think id be tempted by 30 thousand dollars?”

Carlisle suddenly broke into a wide grin. “Does that mean we have no deal?”

Instead of answering him, Luke addressed Beth, “Bring the young woman out.”

Beth nodded and obediently went to the private lounge in the back.

When she passed by Carlisle, she whispered, “Don’t start trouble here, handsome. The Carlsons are the kings of Whitebox Avenue.”

Her advice fell on deaf ears, for Carlisle truly couldn’t be bothered by this tense exchange. Beth shook her head and headed toward the private lounge.

Daniel asked in a hushed tone, “When’s the gang getting here, Carlisle?”

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“Soon,” Carlisle promised. He glanced at Francis and asked, “If this escalates into a fight, be careful.”

Francis nodded grimly. “I know what to do.”

Daniel eyed the three dozen men hovering outside the shop and mumbled, “Are you sure you can handle them, Francis?”

It didn’t take long for Beth to emerge from the private lounge with a young woman in tow. She was dressed in her white and blue school uniform.

Her eyes were red–rimmed, and her gaze was hollow. She was no better than a walking corpse.

When she walked past Carlisle, he reached out to grab her arm.

“You piece of shit!” Luke’s lackey cursed, rushing forward to beat up Carlisle.

Luke, however, grabbed his lackey’s arm and said, “Go away.”

*But Mr. Carlson-” the lackey protested.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” Luke warned, his gaze so icy that his lackey immediately backed away.

Olivia White stared at Carlisle in confusion. “What are you doing?”

Daniel interjected, “We’re here to save you.”

“Olivia, the man you’re supposed to entertain today is Mr. Carlson,” Beth prompted, pulling Olivia by the arm to lead her away.

Olivia made to pull away from Carlisle, only to realize she could not shrug off his vise–like grip. She snapped, “Let go of me!”

Carlisle finally grated, “Don’t you know you’ll break Shane’s heart if you continue with this?”

Olivia stiffened. She turned to look at Carlisle in disbelief.

“I’m Shane’s roommate,” he explained mildly.

“Let go of me! I don’t know who Shane is!” Olivia cried. She looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown as she tried to pull away from Carlisle maniacally.

Worried that he might hurt her, Carlisle relented and let her go.

She walked over to Luke and muttered, “They have the wrong person.”

Satisfied with Olivia’s actions, Luke smiled at Carlisle as he said smugly, “See? She doesn’t even know

you. Don’t blame me for being rough on you if you keep up this nonsense.”