The Contract With Her Father's Billionaire Rival-Chapter 77. The Lady In Red Ropes.

Alaric clenched his fist, pursing his lips to keep his anger from spilling out."How did that happen?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

Richard didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached for Alaric’s glass and took a sip from it.

"I haven’t gotten the full information yet," Richard said, "but apparently, he came back to the office like he was returning those ones, and then he took another."

"Oh, fuck!" Alaric snapped, his hands shaking from anger.

Ian was making it harder to defend him. Why had he come back to steal?

Richard tapped the counter, calling the bartender’s attention. "Adam, please give us another bottle and another glass."

"Coming right up, Mr. Allens," Adam replied.

Richard nodded and then turned back to Alaric. "This situation is already getting out of hand. Four important paintings are all gone."

Alaric rubbed his face, allowing the uncomfortable reality to settle inside him. Ian had relapsed.

As much as he didn’t want to believe it; Ian had really relapsed.

He grabbed his glass, downed the scotch, and then emptied the remaining bottle into his glass. "I have to get to Australia tomorrow."

"Yes," Richard agreed. "And you have to involve the authorities. I know you don’t want to believe Ian is capable, but right now, the evidence is saying otherwise."

Alaric nodded just as Adam returned with a fresh bottle and another glass.

"Here you go," Adam said, clearing the old bottle.

"Thanks, Adam," Richard said with a smile.

Alaric poured the new drink into their glasses, and they clinked them together in silence. He gulped down his drink, while Richard only sipped his.

"Whoa, easy, man," Richard said, his voice raised in concern. "What’s up with you? First, you got here way before me after saying you weren’t even sure about coming, and now you’re gulping down your drink like it’s water."

Alaric hissed as thoughts of Nicolette raced through his mind. The pain came sharp and cold, crawling across his chest.

Just as he reached for the glass again to ease the hurt, a soft voice sounded behind him.

"Hey, cutie."

He felt the breasts press against his back and a hand slip around his shoulders before he even saw her face.

It was the lady with black hair, dressed in red ropes.

She leaned closer, and he caught the scent of her tangerine perfume.

"You look like you need some company," she whispered, pulling his face toward hers with a single finger.

He didn’t resist. He let her.

He looked into her eyes and watched them twinkle with a playful smile.

"Break it up. He’s not interested, thank you," Richard said firmly.

The lady straightened up, her mouth curving into a smirk. "You know where to find me, handsome," she said, biting her finger teasingly before walking away.

"What was that about?" Richard asked, tapping Alaric’s shoulder.

"I don’t know," Alaric admitted.

He couldn’t explain why he had allowed that.

Maybe it was the alcohol.

Or maybe it was simply because he was mad at Nicolette.

Richard didn’t say anything; he just put down his drink, though Alaric could tell he was surprised by his behavior.

"How’s Nicolette? You sounded like you were planning to spend time with her earlier."

Alaric’s blood curled at the memory, and the pain surged through him again. "She’s with Lucian Crawford," he said bitterly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, pain washed all over him. His legs trembled, kicking the bottom of the counter.

"No, that’s impossible," Richard said, his voice rising with disbelief.

"Check the news," Alaric said, the pain searing his chest.

Don’t think about it.

Don’t think about it.

Richard quickly pulled out his phone and gasped. "No, that’s impossible," he repeated, staring at the screen. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Well, you see it," Alaric responded, shutting his eyes against the fresh wave of hurt.

Richard went silent, scrolling through his phone. He gasped again, placing a hand over his mouth. "She followed Lucian through the back door. Doesn’t that seem suspicious to you?"

Alaric lifted a brow. "Suspicious how?"

Richard leaned forward, his eyes widened. "Nicolette followed him through the back. Don’t you think he forced her or something?"

"Or maybe she didn’t want the world to find out," Alaric said harshly. "Maybe she was hiding because she lied to me."

Saying it out loud hurt even more than thinking it.

"Come on, you have to give her the benefit of the doubt," Richard said. "She can’t do that. Something definitely happened."

Alaric’s anger flared as he turned to Richard. "And how would you know? You didn’t give Ian the benefit of the doubt. And you know Ian very well. You don’t know Nicolette. Why are you so sure she can’t do that?"

Richard stared at him, unable to answer.

"I thought as much," Alaric muttered.

There were no words that could explain the way he was feeling. No words that could fix the hurt.

And Nicolette had the nerve to call him? To try to explain herself?

"Fuck!" he groaned, rising to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Richard asked, but Alaric didn’t answer. "See, I just saw an article—she was thrown out of the party! Alaric?"

But Alaric wasn’t listening. His mind was made up. His head spun with the weight of what he was about to do.

He walked over to the manager’s office, trembling slightly as he reached for the doorknob.

"Mr. Allens," the manager said, standing up. "How are you doing, sir?"

Alaric ignored the pleasantry. "How do I get the lady in red ropes?"

The manager’s eyes lit up and he quickly moved to a drawer. He pulled out a small machine and gestured to the counter.

"Just insert your card here, please."

Alaric hesitated.

Should he just go home?

What if Lucian was at their place?

What if Nicolette wasn’t even home?

The thoughts filled him with pain. He shook his head, trying to clear them, and quickly slipped the card in before he could change his mind.

The manager pressed a button and smiled widely. "Wonderful, sir. All done. Let me take you to your room."

Alaric took his card and followed him silently down the hallway until they stopped at a golden door with the number 5 inscribed on it.

"She’ll join you shortly," the manager said before leaving.

Alaric sank into the bed, his head blank.

This was it.

No turning back.

The door opened a few minutes later, and the lady with the black hair stepped in.

"Hey, handsome," she said, giggling. "I knew you liked what you saw."

"Get to work," he said stiffly, trying not to get friendly with her.

"Alright then," she said, stepping in front of him.

She twirled her body, swaying her hips and letting her hands roam sensually over her chest. Slowly, she removed the red ropes.

Her nipples hardened as she continued her dance.

She took off her red panties and stood completely naked in front of him.

But Alaric wasn’t seeing her. He was seeing Nicolette.

Her perky breasts.

Her gorgeous brown eyes.

Her perfect body.

The lady walked over to him and kissed him on the lips.

Who was he kidding?

This didn’t feel right.

He nudged her away gently, but she pushed back, pressing her breasts into his face.

"Stop," he said, his voice sharp with pain.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked, her voice dropping.

Alaric ignored her. He pulled out his wallet and handed her a few bills. "Thanks."

The lady took the money, wrapped her rope around her body, and stormed out of the room.

Alaric rubbed his face. "Fuck," he gritted out, collapsing onto the bed.

What the fuck just happened?