Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run novel Chapter 202

When Clara pulled up to the estate, she couldn’t help but be blown away by its sheer extravagance. The whole place screamed opulence, perched on a hill with gold accents shining in the sunlight. At the entrance, two massive stone statues stood guard, and the architecture was a throwback to ancient palaces, complete with slate roofs and red brick walls.

Security was tight, checking for any prohibited items unless the owner gave the green light. Clara had never been here before, but once they confirmed her identity, she was shown into the outer hall.

That's where she spotted him—the man she was looking for. He was having a rough night, losing his bets and staring intently at the jackpot like it was the only thing that mattered.

The outer area was for the average gambler, but the stakes were much higher in the inner circles, though no one really knew what went down there.

Amidst the chaos, Clara watched as he burned through his chips, his eyes wild and desperate, like a caged animal.

The atmosphere was electric—people shouting in victory, crying in defeat, with bursts of laughter echoing through the room. But no one stepped out of line, not with the place swarming with black-suited bodyguards, who were rumored to be the best in the business.

For Clara, this was a whole new world, a whirlwind of madness.

The man was now out of control. He staggered to the bar, downing bottle after bottle until he was completely sloshed. Clara crouched beside him, gave his face a gentle pat, and used her card to book a cozy private room.

Once she hauled him inside, it was just the two of them, away from prying eyes. He lay there snoring, and Clara thought about asking the guards for some rope. To her surprise, they handed it over without a fuss, just a warning to keep things civil.

She was starting to get a sense of how things worked here—money talked. Pointing at the man sprawled on the floor, she asked, “If I wanted to take him with me, what’s the price?”

A bodyguard whipped out a tablet, expertly scrolling through the figures. “He owes us a cool one and a half million. But since you’re one of our elite VIPs, we’ll cover any services you need, no charge.”

Elite VIP? Had she been here before and just didn’t remember? She glanced at the bodyguard, a smirk on her lips, “What kind of services? Are they above board?”

He looked at her with a knowing glint, “We offer both the standard and... the not-so-standard.”

Clara was genuinely curious about what kind of quirky services a place like this could offer. Were they dressing up these muscle-bound guards in bunny suits?

Pointing to the man behind her, she said, “Get him to my car, and let’s see what one of those not-so-standard services is all about.”