Chapter 31

The VIP room was anything but small—it spanned an entire floor, with dim lighting and a live band setting the mood.

Everyone looked glamorous, laughing and clinking glasses in small groups.

Evelyn scanned the crowd for Sophia.

Suddenly, the pink-haired girl came rushing toward her. "Hey there, Au—"

Evelyn pressed a finger to Sophia’s lips, cutting her off. "Just call me by my name when we're outside."

Sophia pouted. "Fine! Evelyn!"

Evelyn frowned, checking her for injuries. "What happened? Why did you call me?"

Sophia clung to her arm nervously and pointed behind her. "It's them! They're bullying me!"

Evelyn turned and saw three well-dressed men smirking at them. Spoiled rich boys, no doubt.

The one on the left scoffed. "Come on, sweetheart. You promised to play with us. Don’t act like we forced you."

The one on the right eyed Evelyn appreciatively. "Well, well. Another beauty. You look innocent—just my type."

Evelyn ignored them and turned to Sophia. "How did you get mixed up with them?"

Sophia lowered her voice guiltily. "I was looking for Uncle Nathaniel, but I couldn’t find him. So I asked them if they knew where he was. They made me play dice—said they’d take me to him if I won. But I lost."

She swallowed hard. "They gave me a choice—drink ten beers or kiss one of them. I wasn’t about to kiss them, and I didn’t trust the drinks either. But they wouldn’t let me leave unless I did one or the other."

Evelyn’s jaw tightened. She turned back to the men. "Proud of yourselves, bullying a girl like this?"

The middle one smirked. "Isn’t gender equality all the rage? If you can’t handle losing, don’t play."

Evelyn’s expression darkened. "You’re playing dice, right? I’ll play."

The third man grinned, eyeing her up. "Oh? You sure about that?"

Evelyn didn’t flinch. "If I win, her debt is cleared."

He raised a brow. "And if I win?"

She met his gaze. "Name your price."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Are you still a virgin?"

Evelyn stiffened, anger flashing in her eyes.

His grin widened. "That reaction says it all." He pulled a hotel key card from his pocket and handed it to her. "I want your first night."

Sophia gasped. "You’re disgusting!"

Evelyn took the card. "Fine. Let’s play."

Sophia grabbed her arm. "No! I’ll drink—don’t do this!"

Meanwhile, in the innermost billiards room of the Snow Room, Benjamin Rivers lounged lazily. "You won’t believe this—I found a hacker called 'Luna Sterling' online. She cracked the AJ League’s encryption like it was nothing. She’s got to be one of the best in the world."

Dominic Prescott lined up his shot. "Your father wants you helping your brother, not messing around with hackers."

Benjamin shrugged. "Why bother? My brother’s got it handled."

Just then, someone burst in. "Guys, you’ve got to see this! There’s a girl outside betting her virginity in a dice game!"

Dominic set down his cue. "Now that’s interesting."

Nathaniel Grayson barely glanced up from the sofa, uninterested—until the messenger added, "Mister Nathaniel, I think your niece Sophia is with her."

Nathaniel’s expression darkened instantly.