She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 553

The Grand Sovereign Hotel.

By ten o'clock that night, the lobby had mostly cleared out.

Aria strutted through the marble foyer, hiding behind oversized sunglasses to avoid being recognized.

She had invited Gabriel here, and her intentions were crystal clear.

When she approached the front desk, the concierge informed her that Mr. Whitmore had already left a keycard for her.

Aria smirked. Gabriel truly lived up to his reputation as a billionaire playboy—he was clearly the type of man who never turned down a willing woman.

She took the elevator up to the top floor and swiped the card to the designated Presidential Suite.

Gabriel was already waiting. Fresh out of the shower, he wore nothing but a plush white bathrobe.

Aria pulled off her sunglasses, intentionally striking a sultry pose. "Did I keep you waiting, Mr. Whitmore?"

She slipped off her trench coat.

Gabriel's gaze flicked upward, a flash of undeniable surprise in his eyes as he took in her outfit.

Despite the autumn chill, Aria wore a neon pink, sequined micro-dress that clung to every curve. With its plunging neckline and dangerously short hem, it looked less like evening wear and more like cheap nightclub attire.

Paired with her heavy, dramatic makeup, she looked like a seductress on the hunt.

Gabriel looked her up and down, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Seeing his expression, Aria silently congratulated herself. She knew he was satisfied with her look tonight.

Gabriel had been with countless women; she knew she had to dial up the sex appeal if she wanted to keep his attention and not be outshined by his past flings.

Aria glanced at the coffee table. Alongside a massive bouquet of fresh roses sat an impressive array of expensive liquor.

Gabriel popped open a bottle, expertly mixed several different spirits into a highball glass, and offered it to her.

"You're being awfully forward, Ms. Royce," he murmured, his eyes sharp. "I'm curious. What exactly are you trying to get out of me?"

Aria froze, momentarily silenced by his intense, scrutinizing gaze.

Her head was buzzing from the alcohol, but her mind was still frantically calculating.

She had originally planned to sleep with him a few times before demanding Stellaris PharmaTech's Advanced Extraction Protocol. She hadn't expected him to be so brutally direct.

Before he even touched her, he wanted to map out her agenda.

Leaning into her buzz, she feigned helplessness and collapsed against his chest. Gabriel caught her by the waist.

"Mr. Whitmore, I told you last time, didn't I?" she whispered, her voice laced with seductive promise. "Melanie and I are at war over the Royce Group. I need Stellaris PharmaTech's Advanced Extraction Protocol to prove that my new cultivated varieties are superior..."

"It's the only way I can secure my rightful place in the Royce Group..."

Riding the liquid courage, Aria looked up at him through her lashes, letting the intoxicating atmosphere do the heavy lifting.