Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 169 Stations og fingers tapped the table, sine and steady, shadows dancing under the dim light.

long just That calm, rhythmse woud ja made the room feel heavier, creepier. Macro threw Stephanie a wild look, basically pleading for her top in tephanie kapa her eyes locked on her bowl, acting like she didn't see a thing, Why's be staring at me? She wasn't about to stick up for Luca.

Sebastian had hammered it into her since they were kids-you don't go easy on people who'd screw you over.

Luca was here to grab her, and if Stephanie played the softie, she'd get one of Sebastian's quiet, endless lectures later. Hard Macro was freaking out "Luck's not dever enough to pull off something nuts like this, he said, dragging a hand through his hair "Oh yeah Sebastian shot back, his voice cold as ice. "So what's ditching Sofa's crew then?" Macro opened his mouth, then clamped it shut. Nada. He was stumped He wanted to yell, maybe even praying in tears for Lucas return "Why Luca ditch Soles people What was the up to? His head was a jumbled disaster.

bastian was over Macro's breakdown. He turned to Stephanie instead, his tone solid. "You're staying withfor the next Lowdop be Luca was too unpredictable-too stick-and he wasn't risking it If she watched Stephanie now, after shaking Soda's team, she might take Stephanie to the end of the world.

For all he knew, she'd haul Stephanie across the globe just to screw with Sofia, hopping borders like it was nothing.

Stephane nodded, all sweet and agreeable.

Then the sogged, rethinking it "Wait-I've got stutomorrow, she said, looking up at him.

* sufor you. Min killer chimed in from the side, straight to the point.

"Hair" semptune's brain shorted out for a set, totally lost.

No studio? What the heck does that mean? It felt like her whole world just blew up.

Her stomach dropped, and the spoon in her hand almost hit the table.

Valore Villa conded way more, her phone buzzed Jennifer's npopped up.

bepped up fast Jennifer Her voice was tight, on edge. terphanie parked "Were tnt-skynver Travel bailed Jennifer rushed out, panie buzzing through the phone. Stephanie's und wena bank Kailer: This was just had it was a train wreck Chapter 169 Her heart sank. A multi-million-dollar client, gone? Her eyes popped wide.

Stephanie jumped up, adrenaline kicking in. She shot out of her chair so fast it toppled over, hitting the floor with a loud crash that bounced around the room.

She didn't even care that Sebastian, Macro, and the others were right there-she darted to the side, phone glued to her ear.

Stephanie gripped the phone, her voice jumping with frustration. “What the heck happened? Weren't we solid with them this whole time?" "And didn't they already drop the design deposit?" She frowned, her fingers squeezing the phone without her even noticing. 'Why would they bail now? Her head was spinning.

They'd loved every draft she sent-couldn't stop gushing about them. She leaned against the wall, trying to keep it together.

Jennifer let out a tired sigh on the other end. "I don't know. Their business team just called out of nowhere-said the deal's off "Did they say why?" Stephanie pushed, her voice climbing.

"Nope, Jennifer said, sounding flat and done.

"Nope?" Stephanie stopped cold, her brow scrunching up.

A client that huge just walking away-it could sink her studio. A shiver ran through her..

"Oh, con," she groaned. 'Is it because we've been dragging on the drafts? Tell them we'll have it ready in three days- three days, Jennifer.

This was on Sebastian-throwing her off like that, and now her big client was gone.

The stucouldn't crash-not with all those designers depending on it. Stephanie's grip on the phone got tighter.

Jennifer's voice got small. “They just said they're done. Reason? We don't need it anymore." Stephanie repeated it, dazed. "Don't need it anymore?" She stood there, blank-faced, totally lost.

"What kind of lexcuse was that? It didn't even add up, she muttered to herself.

She paused, then asked, “So... do we have to give back the deposit?" "Nah, they said keep it, Jennifer replied, cool as ever.

Stephanie's mouth twitched. "Keep it?" She stared at the floor, floored.

"Skyriver Travel is that flush? Throwing away a six-figure deposit like it's nothing?" She muttered to herself, half in awe, half annoyed.

"Are they swimming in cash over there or what?" She shook her head, fed up.

She bit her nail, hissing quietly. "No way to patch this up, huh?" Jennifer didn't budge. "Nope." Stephanie went silent, staring at her phone.

Just like that-gone? No real explanation, nothing? Her chest felt empty.

2/5 Chapter 169 She scratched her head. A company that huge should at least have the guts to break it off right, shouldn't they? 44% Over in the dining room, voices were rumbling-Macro and Sebastian, both looking grim, the vibe as heavy as the snow piling up outside.

Stephanie caught a piece of it, "Damn it, I've got no one to unload this on! Sofia's crew rolled in with Luca, and now they re here, but Luca's gone!" He was losing it, arms flailing like crazy.

Sebastian's stone-cold attitude was getting to him, so he went all out, yelling instead.

Stephanie wasn't the one missing-Luca was. He had every reason to freak.

Bark on the phone, Jennifer kept talking. "Losing Skyriver Travel's a massive blow for us." "Yeah, uh... Stephanie trailed off, tapping her fingers on the wall in the corner.

Her eyes flicked to the dining room, then dropped as she thought it over.

It was a huge hit, no doubt. She'd been counting on Skyriver Travel to prop up the stuso she could pass it to Ella. "Without them, is it even worth keeping alive? -Uncertainty chewed at her.

But then she pictured Jennifer-two years of grinding-and the designers busting their butts daily. She clenched her jaw.

Even without Skyriver, the smaller jobs could still keep everyone going. She ran the math in her head, pulling herself together.

"Why don't you swing by Shallow Bay Area tomorrow?" Stephanie said, her voice easing into something steadier. Jennifer's tone jumped on the other end. "Sh-Shallow Bay Area?" People in Long Bay had been talking about that place forever, saying how fascinating it was. Jennifer never got a chance to see it for herself.

Stephanie gave a quick hum. "Yeah. Grab sof the company's business files and bring them along." No way she was stepping out tomorrow-not with the snow piling up outside, and Luca lurking somewhere.

Luca had just ditched Sofia's crew, and no one knew what wild move she'd try next.

Stephanie wasn't risking it. She'd hole up in Shallow Bay Area and wait it out.

After wrapping up with Jennifer, she wandered back to the dining room just as Sebastian's low, calm order hit Elliot. "Find her tonight" "On it, Elliot said with a nod, heading for the door.

She was somewhere in Long Harbor-nailing her down wouldn't be tough.

Macro bolted after him, shaking snow off his jacket. "Hold up-I'm in!" He'd missed riding with Elliot in the morning, and it'd left him twitchy all day, gut churning The last thing he needed was Elliot finding Luca and actually laying into her.

3/5 44% 19:03 Thu, 13 Mar MOT Chapter 169 His mom still held out hope her girl could get that “porcelain glow" back-no chance he'd let her face take a beating now.

He muttered under his breath as he hustled out.

Sebastian's gaze landed on Stephanie, the sharp edge in his eyes melting away.

"Chere," he said, voice warm as he kicked back in his chair.

She shuffled over, toes tapping softly on the floor, The second she was close, he pulled her onto his lap in one smooth move, wrapping her up tight.

Stephanie wiggled, caught off guard. "Hey-what's this? They are watching us!" Sure, Macro and Elliot were out, but their staff were still around He laughed, low and easy. "Thought you agreed-no need to hide, right?" Her cheeks went pink, and she dropped her eyes, dodging his look.

Sebastian pinched her cheek lightly. "Still sore there?" Stephanie froze. Her eyes popped wide, a flustered spark flashing through them.

Her already warm face turned bright red at that. Her brain fizzed out, heart picking up speed.

"It's barely been any time-you're not seriously..." she stumbled over her words, glaring at him, voice all shaky.

He slid his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. "How about doing it now?" he mumbled, words muffled against her.

Stephanie stiffened.

This guy-for real?' Her mind blanked, embarrassment hitting hard as her face burned even more.

"Let go already!" She pushed at his shoulders, her voice quick and snappy.

With the stumess on her mind, she wasn't up for messing around. Her brows scrunched up, stress creeping in.

Sebastian caught it, lifting his head to look at her.

"Who was on the phone?" he asked, loosening his grip, tone evening out.

"Jennifer. Stustuff, she said, sitting up straighter.

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing a bit. "So what's with the sour look?" She sighed, voice dropping. "My biggest client ditched me." They'd been solid forever-since the studio's rocky start last year.

She leaned on those old wins to keep steady, but the random, no-explanation dropout still hit hard.

Sebastian sat up a bit, resting her head against his chest. “Biggest client, huh?" "Skyriver Travel," Stephanie mumbled, settling into him. “Honestly, I owe them big time." They'd taken a shot on her little stuway back, opening doors for other clients to jump in.

4/5 Chapter 169 She'd always been quietly thankful for that. Without them, no one would have bothered with her startup At "Skyriver Travel Sebastian let out a quiet laugh "Aren't we pulling back to Florenza anyway? Maybe you should just let it go." he said, shrugging it off.

Stephanie shook her head, firm. "No way. The studio's got too many m designer's relying on it-it can't just shut down." "I think I need to talk to Scriver Travel myself" she said, straightening up, her eyes flashing with determination.

Dropping her like that with no heads-up? They owed her an explanation, at least.

Then she realized that she didn't have to go in person. An idea popped up, and she perked up.

"Hey, Sebastian" she said, looking up at him, a hopeful little lift in her voice.

Didn't you say you know Skyriver Travels. CEOF That hopeful voice hit different this time-warm, soft, tugging at him in a way that caught him off guard.

They'd gotten tighter lately, sure, but he still got a kick out of her chirpy face now.

"Yeah, I know him," he said with a casual nod, his eyes softening Her face brightened Then-could you maybe ask him for me?" Maybe even nudge him a bit, she thought, but kept that quiet.

Sebastian wasn't big on pulling strings-she swallowed, biting it back.

His big hand slid to the back of her neck, tipping her head up with a light push Their eyes met, and for a second, she caught a playful spark in his "I can ask he said, his voice low and teasing. "But how are you going toback?" Stephanie blinked. Her brain blanked, totally lost.

Pay him back? She stared, eyes wide, scrambling to catch up.

"What do you mean? Everything I've got is thanks to you anyway-what could you even want?" she asked, her brew creasing as her voice turned into a soft grumble Sebastian held her stare, his tone soft but straight. "You How about that?" Her breath caught, heart pounding hard in her chest.

Before she could say anything, he leaned in-slow, steady, no backing off.

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