Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 433

But she was met with total silence.

Stella glanced at the empty bottles littering the table. These guys could really put it away. Between the eight of them, they had polished off ten bottles of high-proof liquor. No wonder they were out cold.

If she didn't have an iron stomach, she would've been under the table too.

Still, the alcohol had done its job. Tonight's haul of information was far better than she had hoped. Coming here was definitely the right move.

She had expected to spend days tracking down leads and interrogating people.

She never imagined she'd get this lucky and run into someone who actually knew something on the very first night.

This was perfect!

She happily headed back to her room.

The passed-out men would be fine; the staff would eventually carry them back to their suites.

But what Stella didn't realize was that someone had been watching her every move from the shadows.

The next morning.

Everyone slept in, as the tournament didn't officially kick off until the afternoon.

Drake bumped into Stella in the dining room.

"Star, where did you disappear to last night? I didn't see you anywhere."

"I was at the bar," Stella replied, popping a piece of seared foie gras into her mouth. The food here was incredible.

"No wonder. I was playing pool. Why didn't you ask me to join you for a drink?"

Drake was surprised; she didn't strike him as the type who enjoyed throwing back drinks.

"I wanted to, but we're in international waters. No cell service, so I couldn't reach you."

She had actually knocked on his door last night to invite him, but he wasn't there.

"Fair enough, I was already out. So, did you find out anything useful last night?"

"Nothing yet. It's never that easy, is it?"

Stella wasn't ready to share what she had learned just yet. She preferred to wait until she had something concrete, just in case the lead went cold.

He had drank far too much last night, waking up with a splitting headache, which was why he was down so late. He hadn't expected to run into his stunning drinking companion this morning.

"Hey, I was pretty wasted last night. I didn't say or do anything out of line, did I?"

He clearly cared about keeping up appearances in front of her.

Stella let out a soft laugh. "Don't worry, I was pretty out of it myself."

"I'm going to grab some food," the man said, clearly pleased. This girl knew exactly what to say to stroke his ego.

Once he was out of earshot, Drake leaned in. "Star, don't tell me you're interested in him?"

"Hardly. You know I'm married."

Julius Blackwood was more than enough for her; she wouldn't even look twice at another man.

"Then what's this about?"

"We're here to network, aren't we? Making friends means creating opportunities. Drake, don't tell me you forgot why we're really here."

Drake took a sip of his juice. "I haven't forgotten."