The noise in the room died at once.
Everyone present understood what that meant. Only a few in Slomery ever set foot on the upper floors of the Gilded Spire, yet Evelyn was being taken there by one of the owner's men.
Attention shifted straight to her. No one knew who she was.
Kendra moved closer and held onto Cole's arm. "Cole, didn't he just call Ms. Fowler 'Mrs. Bennett'? Could he have gotten it wrong?"
That was when it clicked for Cole. Marc must have mistaken Evelyn for his wife, and that was why she was being treated this way.
As Marc started leading Evelyn upstairs, Cole and his friends tried to follow. They didn't get far. Bodyguards blocked them at the bottom of the stairs.
Panic showed on Cole's face. "That's my fiancée who just went up! Your boss must be expecting me as well."
The guards didn't react. "Sorry, but the boss only asked for Mrs. Bennett. You're not allowed upstairs."
Marc continued ahead and brought Evelyn to the third floor. "Sir, Mrs. Bennett is here."
Evelyn looked toward the table and saw two men playing. One of them had a scar across his face, and she guessed he was the owner of the Gilded Spire.
She walked over and stood beside Shane. He tilted his chin.
Standing nearby, Gavin Reed, Shane's assistant, spoke at once. "Mrs. Bennett, we've prepared a change of clothes for you. Please follow me."
"Alright," Evelyn responded, then followed him to the dressing room.
Even with the door shut behind her, their voices still carried inside.
Leland Barnett took out a cigarette and lit it. "Mr. Bennett, I won't make this hard. Beat me in one round here, and we'll talk about working together."
Shane raised his eyes and looked at him. "So you're trying something else since business didn't work for you."
Leland smirked. "What's wrong? Are you avoiding this because you think you'll lose?"
Silence settled outside for a brief moment.
The door opened, and Evelyn stepped out. A red dress rested on her shoulders, fitted at the waist and outlining her figure.
Tension still filled the space as she moved toward Shane.
At that exact moment, Leland placed his cards down and laughed. "6-7-8 straight. Looks like luck's on my side. If you want to win this, you'll need three of a kind."
His gaze shifted as he spoke, landing on Shane's face-down cards. "Something tells me those aren't big enough, am I right?"
Shane didn't respond. His eyes narrowed, and his finger stayed on the cards without turning them over.
Without warning, a hand reached in and pressed against the cards. After a short pause, it flipped them open.
Three Aces lay on the table.
Evelyn lifted her gaze and smiled at Leland. "Seems like luck's with me too."
Surprise showed in Shane's eyes as he looked at her. He knew these cards weren't Aces before.
Across from them, Leland's expression shifted. His attention stayed on Evelyn. "Let's raise the stakes. If you win, I'll sign the contract on the spot."
"Fine." Evelyn took a seat across from him. "What are we playing?"
With a tap on the table, Leland signaled someone over, and two dice cups were placed in front of them. "We'll keep it simple. Roll the dice. Highest number takes it."
"Let's start," Evelyn said.
"Hold on," Leland added. "We've only talked about what happens if you win. What do I get if you lose?"
Evelyn lowered her gaze, thinking. Before she could answer, Shane spoke beside her. "I'll hand over the development rights to the Eastbay District."
Leland brought his hands together with a clap, his mood lifting. "Now that's what I like to see. The bet's set."
Closing the distance, Evelyn leaned toward Shane until only a breath separated them. "You're not worried I might lose?"
His answer came without pause. "I believe in you."
He caught her scent, and something in his expression shifted. "Even if it happens, it's just one project. I can take that loss."
While they spoke, a mechanical sound rose around them as the glass panels on the third floor began to lower.
Below, the main hall broke into disorder.
The instant Leland confirmed the wager, a voice rang out across the space.
"The Sovereign Game has begun. Once the bet is placed, withdrawal means all winnings go to the other side."
Shock spread through the crowd.
Cole lifted his head, caught off guard. "The Sovereign Game hasn't been used in ten years. Why now?"
Kendra tightened her hold on his arm, confusion clear. "Cole, what is that?"
One of Cole's friends answered, "Every round involves stakes worth billions. Beat Mr. Barnett, and he'll agree to anything. But no one clears it. Over the past decade, only one person tried, and that ended in failure. Whoever started it now must be asking for trouble."
People stretched to see what was happening upstairs.
Moments later, the voice sounded again.
"Verification complete. The opposing stake is the Eastbay District development rights."
Cole stopped where he stood, and his face changed at once.
One of his friends glanced at him and spoke without thinking. "Eastbay District... isn't that tied to your father's illegitimate son?"
