Jarrodâs tone was cold and indifferent as he asked, âWhere are you?â
âIâmâ¦â Vicki hesitated and then said, âIâm at home.
â
âYou didnât go out tonight?â Jarrod asked.
âUh⦠No⦠Well, I did go out briefly, but I didnât feel like it, so I returned.
â
âWhere did you go tonight?â Jarrod asked in front of everyone.
Vicki paused, uncertainty flickering across her face as Jarrodâs unexpected interest in her activities tonight caught her off guard.
Normally, Jarrod remained indifferent about her comings and goings, his questions never extending beyond casual pleasantries.
Yet today was different.
A fleeting thought crossed her mind.
âIâ¦â Vicki hesitated and then ventured, âI went to Kingbel Club with Doreen.
â
She cut herself off there, her understanding of Jarrodâs temperament guiding her silence.
He was a man of few questions, content with honesty over details Consistent with Vickiâs expectations, Jarrod refrained from probing further after her brief disclosure.
Vicki, her curiosity piqued, pressed him gently, âJarrod, why this sudden interest?â
âItâs nothing,â Jarrod responded, his voice casual as he slid his hand deeper into his pocket, the fabric rustling softly.
âTry to get some sleep early tonight.
â
Their conversation tapered off there, each unspoken word hanging in the air.
Respecting his wish, Vicki replied, âAlright, rest well yourself too.
â
The phone clicked as the call ended.
Immediately, Alec turned to Jarrod with urgency in his tone.
âSir, what should we do about Mr.
Hampton?â
The dilemma of handling the disheveled Lowe, Jarrodâs future brother -in-law, lying bare and vulnerable on the cold ground, was pressing.
Jarrod eyed the disheveled figure of Lowe on the ground, his voice deep and authoritative as he issued the command, âPut him in the car and take him back to the Hampton family.
â
âUnderstood,â Alec responded, his thoughts in alignment with Jarrodâs directive.
Despite their frayed ties, they couldnât afford to let Vicki be embarrassed or become the subject of gossip.
Alec hoisted Lowe up and began to haul him outside, but Lowe was uncooperative, his body limp and heavy like a sack of flour.
The eveningâs events had drained Lowe even further.
Upon reaching the door, Alec looked up, intending to call Jemma for assistance, only to see that she had already moved to escort Nicole out.
Jemma was busy attending to Nicole, who seemed to be ignored by everyone else.
As the manager of the bar girls, it was Jemmaâs duty to oversee Nicoleâs situation without overthinking the implications.
Jemma supported Nicole to the doorway.
Nicoleâs face was flushed, her appearance tousled yet retaining an inexplicable allure.
As they passed by, Jarrodâs gaze lingered on Nicole, his brows knitting together in a frown, his thoughts unreadable.
Without warning, Nicole reached out, grabbed Jarrodâs collar, and pressed a fervent ki*s to his lips.
Her ki*s was intense, searing with a heat that lingered on his skin.