Debra lifted her head, and Drake continued, "When she said this, it didn''t seem like it was baseless." Debra plotting against him was one thing, but opposing him here in Orkgate was a huge joke. Even if Ava wasn''t the brightest, she couldn''t have made up such a lie.


    Debra met his gaze with a calm defiance. "Yes, I did."


    For a moment, the air between them seemed to freeze. Then, with a slow smile, she continued, "I told him if he wanted to take me from you, he''d need an army. And guess what? He panicked and ran off. Ava must have misunderstood. I just didn''t expect her to make up something so ridiculous."


    Drake''s lips curled slightly. "That sounds reasonable."


    "Of course, it does. This is my first time in Orkgate. How could I have ties to a mongrel? And trust me, that man won''te near your casino again. Competing with you over a woman? He''s probably shaking in his boots somewhere." Drake gave a nomittal grunt, seemingly satisfied. "Fair enough."


    She almostughed at his ego. If only he were as sharp as Marion or Juan, her little act wouldn''t have fooled him so easily.


    "Go on ying." Drake leaned back on the sofa, signaling a waiter to bring a thick stack of sheet music.


    Debra nced at the towering pile. "What?"


    "I had someone prepare all this sheet music for you."


    "This is more than enough to y until dawn. This is personal."


    Drake got up from the sofa andzily told the people behind him, "I''m going to the lounge. Make sure she ys every piece." "Yes, boss," came the obedient reply.


    Debra sighed, having to ept it.


    In the lounge, Drake''s eyes softened


    as the music drifted in. Kale, who stood at his side, frowned. "Boss, do you really trust her? What Ava said might not be all lies. If Debra


    secretly contacted Marion''s people, keeping her by your side could be a serious risk."


    "You''re worried about a woman?" Drake brushed it off. "You seem to have a lot of opinions about her."


    "She is Marion''s woman," Kale emphasized.


    Drake''s mood soured at the mention of Marion. "What are you getting at?"


    "Marion won''t just let his woman fall into our hands. If they are working together, we''ll be in great trouble," Kale reasoned.


    If Debra were just an ordinary woman, Kale wouldn''t be so concerned. But ever since Debra had set him up, he realized she wasn''t like the women he had encountered before. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Even without men, she could use everything within her reach and turn the table.


    Drake said thoughtfully, "I understand. Let them start the operations."