The Handsome Devil

Chapter 56 - We live, we see

Max nervously fixed his tie and gave himself a once over in the mirror hung on the wall behind the restaurant hostess.

She has just announced that Dylan and the others already arrived, which was no surprise given that he took the longest route possible just to calm his nerves.

The conversation he was about to have with Oliver and Kings was deemed to be unpleasant in the very least, but Dylan threatened to stop the search for Victoria if he let him down even one more time.

He had no idea what to say or do, but whatever happens, the Bulldogs will walk away from the table as winners.

The worst case scenario? It will cost them the Northern operation and they'll have to find another way to reach Connor.

But if things do work out..

The prospect of gaining Kings as an ally against Tottenham Mayhem made the devil bite his lip in impatience. The more gangs he gets involved, the more damage they can impose.

Tonight, it all comes down to his ability to paint Connor as a significant threat to their partnership, and convince Oliver it's worth starting a war over.

Let's just hope they're as desperate for money as my informers claimed.

In a minute, the hostess walked him to the table in the very back of the dining area, and swiftly disappeared after placing a menu on the last empty spot.

Let the show begin.

With a half smile, Max shook hands with Oliver ignoring his two bodyguards completely, and proceeded to make small talk and mindlessly browse the menu for the next fifteen minutes.

The old man seemed to be in a good humour, probably an aftermath of receiving the first cut of revenues from the partnership.

Well, that's about to change.

. . .

Victoria slipped into the clothes a stylist hired by Connor picked out, and turned around to allow her to close the zipper.

It was a violet cocktail dress consisting of strapless top covered with delicate lace, airy skin falling above her knees, and a wide ribbon circling her waist tightly and finishing into a cute little bow in the back. The colour complimented her red hair immensely, and the stylist added a stitch here and there to make the fabric fit like a glove.

Max, Here I come.

Right as she gave herself an appreciative wink, she saw the door open and Connor's tall frame strode in with grace.

His eyes were unusually dark as he scanned her from head to toes, but no words were exchanged, which kept the stylist at the tip of her toes.

At last, he stopped behind Victoria's back and let his fingers caress the back of her neck - gently at first, but adding pressure with each stroke.

"You sure she won't wipe it off?"

"N-no, Sir. It's the most resistant brand." The stylist raised a make-up bottle in the air as if it proved something. "It's what they use to mask actors' tattoos in movies"

Giving Victoria's soft skin another few rubs, the boss finally murmured something between a thanks and a threat, dismissing the poor women with a wave of his hand.