The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 436

"Boss, it's bad. Ms. Spencer was drugged and knocked out. I checked all the lounges, but I can't find Ms. Vance anywhere. However, the room right next to Ms. Spencer is locked from the inside. I didn't want to break it down and alert the entire party, but Ms. Vance is likely in there."

Sebastian's eyes turned lethal. "Where is Pierce?"

"Nowhere in sight. He's probably in that room too."

Sebastian gripped his phone so hard his knuckles turned white. He knew exactly who had set the trap.

It was Pierce.

That was why Serena had been hovering around him—to act as the messenger.

Pierce was using himself as the bait to hook Sebastian.

If Sebastian went upstairs and broke down that door, his secret relationship with Riley would be destroyed.

If he didn't go upstairs, Victoria would arrive to 'catch' Pierce and Riley in a compromising position. Combined with the rumors Pierce had just planted, Riley would be inescapably bound to him in the eyes of the public.

Checkmate. Pierce had designed a game where he won no matter what Sebastian did.

He had underestimated him.

When did Pierce find out about him and Riley?

And how did he manipulate Victoria into going upstairs at the perfect moment?

But there was no time to dissect the details. Victoria was already halfway up the stairs. He had to stop her. If she didn't reach that room, Pierce's little play would have no audience, rendering the entire trap useless.

How could he stop her?

A name flashed in his mind. Eleanor.

Eleanor had retreated to a quiet room on the second floor earlier, as she was too old to endure the exhausting socializing downstairs. She was waiting until the peak of the Gala to make her appearance.

Sebastian immediately strode toward the elevator. "Victoria is on her way up. Stall her. Do not let her near that room."

She marched over. "Mr. Finch, what are you doing here?"

"Ms. Spencer is resting inside."

Victoria didn't buy it for a second. If Winona was just resting, why would Sebastian's top lieutenant be playing guard dog?

The real show had to be behind that door.

She had investigated their relationship and knew Sebastian and Winona didn't care about each other. Was Winona having a secret rendezvous with another man?

Had Sebastian found out and sent Franklin to keep a lid on the scandal?

If that was true, busting in and exposing Winona's affair would obliterate the St. John family's alliance with the Spencer family. Sebastian would lose his most powerful backing.

Suppressing her excitement, Victoria demanded, "I need to speak with her. You can leave. I'll make sure she isn't disturbed."