The Ex-Con Who Conquered the World novel Chapter 45

Nina asked, "What a coincidence—I just finished showering too. What moral dilemma were you pondering?"

In a villa estate nestled against green hills and clear waters, Nina sat on her bed applying body lotion to her legs while wearing a rose-red spaghetti-strap nightgown.

Her eyes remained fixed on the phone beside her.

The freshly moisturized skin of her legs glowed softly under the light, smooth and radiant.

It was fortunate Stefan wasn't there to witness the scene—his imagination might have wandered into less than innocent territory.

Stefan wrote back, "I was wondering, when faced with a life-or-death situation, should one uphold ethics even at the cost of life, or abandon ethics to survive?"

Nina read the message, feeling a little puzzled.

Why is Stefan suddenly dwelling on such deep questions?

After a moment's thought, she typed, "I believe life is precious. No matter the circumstance, staying alive is what truly matters."

Reading her reply, Stefan smiled.

Well, well, Ms. Reed... so she is encouraging me to cross a line, right? And given her unique constitution... this could get interesting.

He responded, "Nina, I'll remember your words."

Nina smiled, pleased to have offered Stefan some clarity, completely unaware of the dangerous implications—or that her own words would one day come back to haunt her.

Her fingers tapped the screen again, "Stefan, I've reserved a table at Drizzlewood Retreat for tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. Please join me."

After a pause, she added two final words before sending, "Good night!"

*****

The following day, Stefan woke up, had a light breakfast, and headed out to continue his debt-collection rounds.

By late morning, he had visited two clients. Both started off defiant, but Stefan's persuasive methods—backed by undeniable force—soon led them to settle their outstanding debts to the Stewart family's company.

Glancing at his phone, Stefan noticed it was already 11:00 a.m.—just half an hour until his meeting with Nina.

Leading them were two well-dressed young men, accompanied by four glamorous women with sharp, influencer-style features and long legs—each looking strikingly similar, as if stamped from the same mold.

Barry Lawson, the restaurant manager, had just finished a phone call when he noticed the newcomers. Immediately, he put on a practiced smile and strode over to greet them.

"Mr. Lewis! What an honor. If you'd informed us of your visit, I would have been waiting outside," Barry said, his tone dripping with deference.

"It was a last-minute decision. Mr. Lawson, escort us to the Apex Room. I'm hosting a dear friend visiting from out of town," replied Aaron Lewis, dressed in Versace and wearing a Rolex.

"Of course, right this way," Barry said, bowing slightly.

But a nearby server paled and quickly pulled Barry aside. "Sir, the Apex Room is already occupied."

"Occupied?" Barry frowned. He'd been on the phone earlier and hadn't noticed anyone being seated there. "By whom?"

"A party of three—two women and a man. They booked in advance and were seated just moments ago."

Aaron's expression darkened. "Mr. Lawson, why the delay? Is there a problem?"