Chapter 9 Underneath the Mask

• She and Adrian had both been blind, never suspecting that Shawn’s true purpose in pursuing her was for the cord blood of their child.
• Lost in thought, Serena barely registered the remote being pulled from her grip.
• “Hey!”
• Lennox frowned at her. “Why are you so upset over some dead actress you didn’t even know?” He changed the channel casually. He didn’t like the flicker of sadness he’d seen in her eyes, an emotion that sparked an inexplicable annoyance within him.
• “You’re not anyone to me, so what does it matter to you if I’m upset or not?” she snapped back.
• His gaze turned cold, and the air between them dropped to a chill. Grabbing her wrist firmly, he leaned in, pinning her against the couch. “Need me to remind you what kind of ‘relationship’ we have?”
• Jerk! Serena ground her teeth. “No need.”
• He gave a derisive scoff, and his gaze lingered on her long, pale neck, his eyes warming with desire. The hickeys he’d left stood out against her fair skin, tempting him to touch her again. Her skin felt like silk, and his hand lingered on her arm, unwilling to let go.
• Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
• Lennox paused, clearly reluctant to release her. The doorbell rang again, persistent and unyielding. Irritated, he finally released his hold and stood, walking away. “You should work on that attitude. Being so stubborn will only make life harder.”
• Thank goodness! Relief washed over her, and as the tension faded, she collapsed back onto the couch. She was sure that if the doorbell hadn’t interrupted, he would’ve taken things further. His intense gaze left her unnerved.
• Breakfast had arrived.
• Lennox called her to the table, where a lavish spread awaited—both local and international dishes. She gravitated toward the familiar comfort of the local items, quickly finishing a sandwich and a bowl of oatmeal.
• She ate hurriedly, hoping to leave soon, while Lennox sat across from her, eating with a calm elegance that made her roll her eyes. Such a pretender.
• She wiped her fingers with a napkin and looked up. “I’m leaving now.”
• Lennox nodded, reaching into his wallet and pulling out a stack of bills.
• Serena’s face flushed with indignation. What am I, some escort he can pay off?!
• Did he think she was some escort he could pay off?
• Reading her reaction, Lennox leisurely wiped his mouth, his eyes drifting to the marks on her neck. “You can leave without the money, but if you’d like your family to know about your one-night stand, be my guest.”
• She clenched her teeth. He knew exactly how to push her buttons, hitting her right where it hurt. While she didn’t care what Chuck thought, her children couldn’t see these marks.
• Shame burning in her cheeks, Serena accepted the money. She’d have to buy a scarf to cover up.
• “I’ll pay you back,” she said, meeting his gaze. “Goodbye.”
• Hopefully forever. With her head held high, she took the money and left without looking back.
• As Serena left, another person entered Lennox’s room: his secretary, Vanessa, holding a small red purse that Serena would have recognized instantly as the one she’d accidentally left in Victor’s room.
• Vanessa handed the purse to Lennox. “Sir, this is Miss Stone’s purse.”
• He opened it, finding a worn wallet and an outdated phone. Inside the wallet, there was only a bank card, an ID, and a bit of cash. “Not much to her name, huh.”
• He pulled out the ID and studied the photo—a young Serena, barely sixteen, exactly as he remembered from five years ago. The name confirmed it: Serena Stone.
• So, she hadn’t lied about her name, he thought, a hint of surprise flickering across his face. Closing the wallet, he leaned back on the couch. “Did you find out anything?”
• “Yes, sir. Miss Stone was indeed in a hotel room with another man last night.”
• The room’s temperature dropped.
• Vanessa hesitated but forced herself to continue. “We identified him. It turns out he’s someone we know well.”
• Lennox’s voice was icy. “Who?”
• Vanessa took a moment, offering Victor a silent moment of pity before answering, “Victor Zoric, an employee at GlobeX Corporation who is in charge of the Harbor Point renovations. Miss Stone’s father runs a small renovation business, and it appears he brought her to meet with Mr. Zoric last night.”
• Lennox’s face darkened. He knew Victor well—an employee with decent skills but a notorious appetite for women. It wasn’t hard to guess what Chuck Stone’s intentions were in bringing his daughter to that meeting.
• In one sharp motion, Lennox hurled a glass across the room. It hit the thick carpet, landing with a heavy thud as his icy aura filled the suite.