Chapter 724
“So… Charlotte, are we taking this job or not?”
Adonis stared at the words on the order, eyes practically sparkling. “Price up to us.” He looked at Charlotte with a hopeful grin. “The ruler of Solenia has more money than he knows what to do with. If we get to name our price…”
He trailed off, already imagining the kind of numbers they could throw out. Billions. Just like that.
“No.” Charlotte’s answer was flat. She barely glanced at the order before tossing the phone back to Adonis. “Drive.”
Adonis caught the phone, started the engine, and peered at her through the rearview mirror. “Wait, seriously? No?” he asked, voice full of confusion.
Weren’t they always short on funds? This one job could keep the institute afloat for years.
Charlotte leaned back, eyes half-closed. Her voice was low and a little rough. “Jackson, explain.”
Jackson nodded. He was never chatty, but he’d already looked into things when the order first came in. “No one’s ever actually seen the ruler’s sick wife. Over the years, every doctor who’s treated her has disappeared afterward. No exceptions.”
Adonis’s eyes widened. “Disappeared? As in… if you can’t cure her, you’re done for?”
That sounded exactly like Solenia’s infamous ruler. Brutal.
Jackson went on. “Plus, the whole world’s looking for Asclepius right now. If you show up, Charlotte, your cover’s blown.”
That would be more than just a hassle. It could put Charlotte and the entire N Organization in danger.
Adonis sighed. “Alright, I get it.” He tried to hide his disappointment, but it was obvious. “Still… that was a lot of money.”
Half an hour later, the car pulled up at the hotel.
Charlotte had barely sat down when her phone buzzed. She didn’t even check the screen, just swiped to answer, expecting Anthony.
“Charlotte.”
She instantly frowned at the sound of the voice. When she glanced down and saw the caller ID, the curve of her lips dropped away. “Why is it you?”
There was a long silence.
“Who else would it be?”
Newell’s voice was calm, but she could picture the way he probably looked right now lounging around in his black loungewear, sharp features making him look even more annoyed.
“You sound like you really don’t want to talk to me,” he muttered.
Charlotte pressed her lips together for a second. “I don’t, actually.”
Newell’s grip on the phone tightened. “If you’re just going to be rude, maybe don’t talk at all,” he ground out.
Imagining the way Newell must look—completely ticked off—Charlotte couldn’t help but smile a little.
She moved to the window, gazing down at the street below. “Did you call for a reason?” Her tone was almost bored.
Newell tapped his fingers on the chair, the corners of his mouth twitching with some private amusement heard you barely scraped into the second round. Last place, but still made it. Impressive.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. That didn’t sound like a compliment.
He continued, “And I heard the ruler of Solenia is after you?”
“Yeah,” she replied, fishing a piece of candy out of her snack stash and popping it
into her mouth. “Not interested. I already said no.”
“He’s not someone you want to mess with. Stay away from him.” Newell changed the phone to his other hand. For some reason, just listening to her made him feel a little better.
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