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Bianca Dawson
Conflicted
•••

"How are you so sure he's not heading to see her?" Junior asked, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion. Jude had just excused himself, after mentioning something about Alexis not resting. He didn't say where he was going, and that made me uneasy. But it seemed to bother Junior even more.

"Because I know him," I replied quietly, trying to convince both myself and Junior.

Junior shook his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "You never really know someone, Bianca," he said in an icy voice. There was something in his tone that sent a shiver down my spine. He had seen more of the world than I had, especially the darker sides of people's true intentions.

I looked at him, trying to read the thoughts behind his sharp gaze. "What are you trying to say, Junior? Do you know something I don't?" My voice gave my nervousness away.

He sighed, rubbing his temple as if the conversation was weighing heavily on him. "I'm just saying, people can surprise you in ways you'd never expect. You think you know someone inside and out, but then they go and do something completely out of character. It's just... something I've learned the hard way."

His words made my stomach churn with unease. I couldn't help but wonder if he had been burned by someone he trusted in the past. I wanted to ask him more, but a part of me feared the answer.Instead, I asked, "What did you do or say when you met Alexis? You know, just in case we need to do some damage control."

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "I wrote her a cheque for over two million euros to stay away from you and Jude."

My eyes widened in shock. "You did what?"

I was not surprised this was his approach after all, he did learn that move from the best. Throwing money at problems was a hobby for my family, they think you can pay everything away. They aren't exactly wrong but I was just hoping for better from him.

His calm demeanor didn't falter as he explained, "Alexis is a material girl, Bianca. She's looking for a way back into the lifestyle that Jude once provided her. What could she possibly value more than that?"

I hesitated, the answer lingering on the tip of my tongue. "Jude?" I mumbled, though it felt like a shot in the dark.

He shook his head, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "No, not Jude. Alexis isn't the type to be hung up on a person, especially not if it means losing out on a more lucrative opportunity. What she values is the lifestyle—the money, the status, the luxury. That's what she's after. And I made sure she understood that the only way she could keep living that way was to stay far away from you and Jude."

I was quiet for a moment, processing what he'd just told me. "So you thought money is all it will take to keep her away?"

His eyes locked onto mine, a serious expression settling on his face. "For someone like Alexis? Absolutely. People like her don't care about love or loyalty, Bianca. They care about what they can gain. I thought she was smart enough to take the money and run. But I guess I was a little off. Her texting Jude was unexpected because I did warn her it would cost her."

"Way off," I shot back, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "You should have talked to me first. I was around her. Yes, she desires a certain lifestyle, but she's also ruled by her ego and the need to be right. She's going to prove her point, no matter what."

I was annoyed—very annoyed. I hated feeling like things were spiraling out of control, and Junior's decision to handle things his way only made it worse.

He glanced at his watch, then at his phone, his mind seemingly elsewhere. "I'll take care of her," he said, his tone more distracted than reassuring.

"Do you have somewhere to be?" I asked, catching the brief smile that flickered across his face.

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