Nicholas recognized Samantha too, and he could tell she was Hera’s best friend from their interactions. He said, “Hera and I plan to go on a week- long road trip down the Pinecoast Route. We’re leaving tomorrow. If you have the time, you’re welcome to join us.”
As much as he wanted to go on a road trip alone with Hera, he knew the way to a woman’s heart was to win over her best friend.
Samantha looked at Nicholas incredulously. “Just the two of you?”
Leaving aside the fact that Hera was seeing someone, Nicholas sported a mop of auburn curls and a myriad of piercings. Samantha doubted the alternative, lip stud-wearing man before her was Hera’s type at all.
Knowing Hera, Nicholas did not stand a chance at all. He was lucky Hera hadn’t ripped his heart out and stomped on it yet.
“That’s right,” Nicholas confirmed. He then introduced himself, “I’m Nicholas Sanderson.”
“Well, Mr. Sanderson, I would hate to turn down your enthusiasm. Count me in for the road trip!” Samantha beamed. She paused for a second before she mused, “I’m guessing you don’t know Hera is seeing someone. You’re rather bold for pursuing her with such gusto.”
“Hey, she’s fair game as long as she doesn’t have a ring on that finger. Besides, if I had beaten Bernard to Hera, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. The first person to marry her wins,” Nicholas pointed out.
Hera raised a brow. She didn’t remember agreeing to this nonsense.
Samantha gave Nicholas a thumbs-up for his baseless confidence. “If you don’t mind me asking, Mr. Sanderson, how old are you?”
Nicholas was baffled by her question but answered frankly, “I’m 23. I’m younger than Bernard.” He emphasized the latter part.
Samantha crooned, “What a pity. You’re destined to lose.”
Mathematically speaking, how could Nicholas beat Bernard when it came to knowing Hera first if he was born two years later than Bernard? He might stand a chance in his dreams.
Nicholas did not understand what Samantha meant by that and merely gave her a confused look.
In the spacious CEO’s office at Shuttle Ventures, Chad threw the newspaper he had been reading onto Bernard’s desk. There was a thud as he demanded, “Why the hell did you interfere that day?”
Bernard glanced at the newspaper. It was dated a month ago, and Camille’s true colors being exposed headlined the news.
Chad had just so happened to be
attending an international
conference abroad, and he learned about the incident on the day itself. However, the conference was too important for him to deal with Camille’s incident right away.
Upon returning to the country today, he immediately rushed to Shuttle Ventures to confront Bernard.
Bernard leaned into his chair and crossed his legs. He cast Chad a lazy, assessing look and drawled, “You wanted me to marry Dr. Shadow, right? I agreed to it, so I went.”
Chad was rendered speechless. He never thought Camille had been impersonating Dr. Shadow. “I told you to marry Camille, so don’t argue about semantics!” he snapped.
However, he softened his tone as he
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added, “I admit I was blindsided by Camille’s antics. You’re free to choose a different bride before change my mind about my previous decision. You can marry whoever you like except the real Dr. Shadow.”
Bernard straightened up and leveled an icy stare at Chad. “Who are you to decide who I can and cannot marry? Not even Dad could make me do something I didn’t want to while he was around, so what makes you think I’d listen to you?”
“Because I’m your older brother!” Chad thundered. “Don’t forget you owe me a life debt, Bernard!”
Bernard snorted. “Should I get on my knees and thank you for sparing me all those years ago?”
A dark look flickered across Chad’s face. He didn’t want to argue with Bernard anymore, so he changed the subject. “Do you even know who Dr. Shadow is?”
Bernard kept his expression icy and neutral as he stared at Chad mutely. As the two locked gazes, they each knew the other was perfectly aware of Hera’s identity.