Chapter 133: The Predator Changed the Rules
Chapter 133: The Predator Changed the Rules
Meanwhile...
Debbie was still inside her office. The thick stack of documents on her desk had already been reduced by more than half. She glanced at the clock.
7:15 PM.
"...Still nothing?"
She frowned slightly. According to Chloe’s prediction, Victor should have made his move long ago. Yet the entire office had remained strangely quiet. Not even a single phone call.
Across the street...
Inside the temporary office Chloe had rented...
She stood quietly by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the brightly lit law firm through a pair of binoculars.
Even she couldn’t help knitting her brows.
"...Strange."
Based on Victor’s personality, the moment everyone left the office, he should have been unable to restrain himself.
But nearly two hours had already passed.
There wasn’t the slightest movement.
He hadn’t even stepped out of his office.
Something wasn’t right.
Lucas, who had been sitting beside her with his feet still shamelessly resting on her desk, looked over.
"So?"
"Has your perfect plan failed?"
Chloe didn’t answer immediately.
Her eyes remained fixed on the building opposite.
A trace of uncertainty appeared in her usually calm expression.
Back inside the law firm...
Debbie stretched her sore shoulders. Her fingers were beginning to ache from typing all afternoon. She rubbed her temples before letting out a quiet sigh.
"So much work..."
Although she was exhausted, she continued sorting the remaining files.
Minute after minute...
The office became even quieter.
The air-conditioning was now the only sound left.
Time slowly passed.
Half an hour.
One hour.
Then another.
Still...
Victor never appeared.
At this point, even Debbie began wondering whether Chloe had misjudged him.
"...Maybe he changed his mind?"
She whispered to herself.
Eventually...
After nearly two hours of waiting...
She finally closed the last file.
"I’m done..."
Debbie glanced around the empty office one last time before beginning to pack her belongings. She placed the documents neatly on the desk, shut down her computer, picked up her handbag, and prepared to leave.
Just as she reached for the office light—
Click.
The door behind her suddenly opened.
Debbie instinctively turned around.
Victor slowly walked into the office.
Then...
He reached back and quietly closed the door behind him.
Click.
The soft sound of the lock echoed through the silent room.
A faint smile slowly spread across his face.
It wasn’t the impatient smile from before.
It was calm.
Debbie’s heartbeat unconsciously sped up.
"So..."
Victor spoke leisurely while straightening his expensive suit.
"You’ve worked hard today."
His tone sounded unusually gentle.
"So tell me..."
"Are you free now?"
Debbie frowned.
"...Free?"
Victor nodded with a charming smile.
"I know a very nice restaurant nearby."
"I’d like to invite you to dinner."
The sudden invitation caught Debbie completely off guard.
This...
Wasn’t what she had expected.
After everything he had done...
Why was he acting like a perfect gentleman?
Suppressing the confusion in her heart, Debbie forced a polite smile.
"I’m sorry."
"It’s already late."
"I should head home."
Victor chuckled softly.
"Oh?"
"So eager to leave?"
He slowly walked closer.
"I insist."
"It’ll only take a little while."
"Besides..."
"I’ve already made a reservation."
Debbie’s instincts immediately told her something wasn’t right.
After a brief hesitation...
She finally nodded.
"...Alright."
"I’ll go."
The moment those words left her mouth...
Victor’s smile became even wider.
Exactly as he had hoped.
Unknown to both of them...
From the office across the street...
Chloe narrowed her eyes as she watched everything unfold through the binoculars.
"...Interesting."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
She hadn’t expected Victor to be this patient.
Most predators rushed the moment they thought they had their prey cornered.
Victor was different.
He was careful.
Methodical.
Every step seemed planned in advance.
Instead of disappointing Chloe...
It only made her more interested.
"The smarter he is..."
"The harder he’ll fall."
---
Outside the law firm, Victor walked beside Debbie with a gentlemanly smile plastered across his face. He hurried ahead, opened the passenger door of his luxury sedan, and gestured politely.
"After you."
Debbie hesitated for a second before getting into the car.
Victor carefully closed the door for her before walking around to the driver’s seat.
A moment later...
The engine roared to life.
The car slowly pulled away before disappearing into the evening traffic.
The moment they left, Lucas immediately stood up.
"So?"
He looked toward Chloe.
"What now?"
He was already prepared to rush after them.
Instead...
Chloe remained surprisingly calm.
She slowly stood up, gathered the documents on her desk, and walked toward the elevator without the slightest trace of panic.
Her pace remained elegant.
Steady.
Almost leisurely.
Lucas frowned.
"Weren’t you in a hurry just now?"
Chloe didn’t even look back.
"I don’t panic."
"I prepare."
Lucas clicked his tongue and followed behind her.
A few minutes later...
Both of them entered Chloe’s black SUV parked downstairs.
Lucas instinctively reached for the door handle.
"I’ll follow them."
"Sit down."
Chloe’s cold voice stopped him immediately.
Lucas looked at her.
"We’re not following?"
"We are."
"But not directly."
She calmly fastened her seatbelt before looking toward one of her bodyguards.
"Report."
The bodyguard nodded respectfully before answering.
"Our people have already entered the restaurant."
"They’re seated three tables away."
"They’re wearing hidden cameras."
"They’ll keep us updated."
Lucas finally understood.
They weren’t the ones doing the surveillance.
Someone else already was.
Everything...
Had been arranged beforehand.
Meanwhile...
Victor’s car stopped outside one of the city’s most luxurious restaurants.
The moment they entered, several waiters greeted Victor respectfully.
It was obvious he was a regular customer.
Without even asking for their order, the restaurant staff led them to a quiet private corner.
Almost immediately...
Exquisite dishes began arriving one after another.
Steak.
Seafood.
Desserts.
Everything had apparently been prepared beforehand.
Even Debbie couldn’t help feeling surprised.
"He planned this..."
She thought silently.
Victor smiled warmly.
"I wasn’t sure what you’d like."
"So I ordered a little of everything."
Debbie politely thanked him.
Although she remained cautious, she didn’t notice anything unusual.
The food had been served directly by the restaurant staff.
Victor hadn’t touched any of it.
A few moments later...
He personally uncorked a bottle of wine.
Debbie instinctively glanced at the label.
"...Non-alcoholic?"
She looked at Victor in slight surprise.
Victor chuckled.
"I know you don’t drink."
"So I prepared this instead."
That answer made Debbie relax ever so slightly.
She had originally been worried he might pressure her into drinking alcohol.
Instead...
He had apparently thought of everything.
Perhaps...
She had misunderstood him?
Trying not to overthink things, Debbie quietly began eating.
The dinner passed surprisingly peacefully.
Victor behaved like the perfect gentleman throughout the meal.
He never crossed the line.
Never touched her.
Never made another inappropriate comment.
The more normal he behaved...
The more confused Debbie became.
Nearly an hour later...
The meal finally came to an end.
Victor immediately stood up.
"I’ll take you home."
His tone sounded almost impatient.
"I still have some work to deal with tonight."
Debbie blinked.
"...You’re in that much of a hurry?"
Victor smiled.
"I’m afraid so."
"I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you go home alone this late."
Although something still felt strange...
Debbie couldn’t find a reason to refuse.
If today ended peacefully...
Then perhaps Chloe’s prediction had simply been wrong.
After all...
Not every man stayed the same forever.
She nodded.
"...Alright."
"I’ll trouble you then."
Victor smiled.
"My pleasure."
Outside the restaurant...
One of Chloe’s bodyguards sat inside an ordinary sedan parked across the street.
A tiny camera hidden inside his glasses recorded everything in real time.
The live feed was transmitted directly to Chloe’s SUV.
Inside the vehicle...
Lucas and Chloe watched the footage without saying a word.
The audio was crystal clear.
Even their conversation could be heard distinctly.
Everything seemed completely normal.
Too normal.
Then...
Lucas suddenly frowned.
"Something’s off."
On the screen...
Victor’s pace abruptly became much faster.
He wasn’t casually escorting Debbie anymore.
He was practically urging her toward his car.
His hand gently~but firmly~guided her forward.
From a distance...
It almost looked like he was dragging her.
Debbie seemed slightly puzzled by his sudden urgency, yet she continued following him without resistance.
Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
He slowly clenched his fists.
"...Why is he rushing?"