"Boyfriend?" Magdalen arched an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Since when did Sylvia snag a beau?"
Evelyn offered an explanation, "You know, the guy she had dinner with at Ms. Jarvis'. Isn't he her boyfriend?"
Magdalen chuckled, her tone teasing, "Sharing a meal now means you're dating? Oh, girl, you're such an innocent soul."
Evelyn's cheeks flushed pink, and she fell silent.
"Sylvia's tied up with something. Looks like she'll be a while. Let's keep the game rolling," Marina shifted the focus, signaling the waiter to shuffle and deal a new hand.
Gabriel slid his chips forward, "Play on without me. I need a smoke."
As Gabriel stepped out, Magdalen's eyes followed him, her brow quirked ever so slightly.
With Sylvia absent, Timothy seemed distracted, his heart not quite in the game. He wasn't much help to Evelyn with her cards and soon excused himself under some pretense.
Timothy wandered the corridor and, sure enough, bumped into Sylvia.
"Ms. Jarvis," He quickened his pace to greet her.
Sylvia offered a polite smile, "Timothy."
He stared at her intently, "Ms. Jarvis, have you given any thought to my offer? Join my company. You'd just need to accompany me to social gatherings. I promise I'll pay you more than what you'd make running your own business."
The hallway was quiet, dim. Sylvia took a step back, maintaining her courteous demeanor, "I've heard your girlfriend, the second daughter of the Foster family, is both beautiful and skilled in public relations. She would be more fitting as a partner in your company, don't you think?"
Timothy inched closer, his voice low, "Let's not beat around the bush, Ms. Jarvis. I've taken a liking to you since our first meeting. If you'd come work for me, I assure you, you'd want for nothing."
Sylvia's expression cooled, "Timothy, you came with Mr. Foster. What do you think he'd say if he knew his future brother-in-law was making advances on another woman in secret?"
Just as Sylvia was about to kick out, she caught sight of the man smoking behind the wooden partition, and she held back, merely struggling, "Let go of me."
"What are you going to do if I don't? Don't play coy with me. If you want something, just say it!" his voice was sinister, "We're all in business here. Name your price, and stop putting on airs."
"If you don't let go, I'll call for help," Sylvia's anger was palpable.
"Call out. You think anyone will believe a PR girl claiming she was forced? They'll take my side," Timothy was confident, dragging Sylvia toward an adjacent private room, "Maybe I should just see for myself how much you're worth?"
"Let go of me."
After a few futile attempts to break free, Sylvia saw the man behind the partition turn to leave, and with a mix of irritation and desperation, she called out, "You're really not going to help me?"
Timothy paused, following Sylvia's gaze to see a tall, imposing man approaching—none other than Gabriel, who had been playing cards with Sylvia earlier.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Dear author Lucy, may we please have updates. Thank you....
There's a song currently playing via YouTube and TikToc by LowDii "Touch Me Softly" that makes me think of Norah and Xavier (Gonzalez). Please, I'm looking forward to updates. Thank you for your writing....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
As the plot thicken. Adrian is done for and he can't try to control Norah, so he'd probably tattle to Janice who's gone for two weeks. Thank you soooo much for the updates....
These updates were too funny. Thank you so much for the updates....
I forgot to add Amy to the group of pregnant women,since she was the first. Emily and Sylvia better be careful since pregnancy is in the air....
Wow! This is great, both Estelle and Magdalen are pregnant at the same time and I hope that Xavier is Norah neighbor. Thank you for the updates....
Author Lucy you're a blessing. Thank you so my for the updates. I hope that Norah's neighbor is Xavier she gets her memory back....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
Looking forward to reading your updates....