Unfinished Game

Gideon walked into the tense, sterile ward with brisk, heavy steps. In his hand, he carried a warm thermos of chicken soup. He stepped past the foot of the bed, his jaw set tightly, and placed the container onto the small bedside table with a firm thud. Without even glancing at the sickly woman resting against the pillows, he turned his sharp gaze toward the leather sofa.

"Step outside into the hallway. We need to talk privately." Gideon demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Unfazed and exuding pure arrogance, Dominic remained seated. His long legs were elegantly crossed in a relaxed posture. "We can talk right here."

Audrey felt the mounting, suffocating tension thickening the air between the two powerful men. The quiet hospital room felt like a cage about to explode under their combined pressure. She decided to attempt to get out of the hospital bed to give them the privacy they clearly needed.

"Since you two have important matters to discuss, I will excuse myself." Audrey murmured, refusing to meet either of their eyes.

She reached out her hand. Before her trembling fingers could even pull back the thin white covers, the heavy metallic click of a lighter sounded sharply in the silence. Dominic snapped it open. He moved with frightening speed, leaning forward and striking the hot metal directly against the back of her fragile hand. The scorching heat seared her pale skin on contact. It left a stinging, bright red burn mark instantly. Audrey flinched, pulling her injured hand to her chest as a sharp gasp escaped her lips.

Dominic stared at her, his brow furrowed in annoyance. He spoke in a voice devoid of warmth. "Did I ever give you permission to move? Lie back down."

Gideon's expression darkened fiercely at the sight of her freshly reddened hand. He stepped forward, putting himself between the bed and the sofa. "Dominic, what will Chloe think if you keep Audrey bound to your side in this abusive manner?"

The mere mention of Chloe's name sent a sharp, sickening physical pain directly through Audrey's chest. It was as if an invisible blade had just pierced her ribs. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to endure the suffocating ache in silence while gripping the sterile bedsheets.

Dominic ignored the moral accusation. He calmly fiddled with a silver ring on his finger, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he looked up at his friend. "In light of this situation, what exactly do you recommend I do?"

"Allow her to leave Florawood City altogether." Gideon stated firmly, standing his ground.

Dominic let out a low scoff. He coldly, methodically reasoned his position. "Her work ethic at the club is flawless. She does everything asked of her without a single complaint. Therefore, she gives me no valid cause to fire her. She stays."

Enraged by this bureaucratic cruelty, Gideon grabbed a nearby wooden chair and forcefully slammed it to the hospital floor. The loud crash rattled the glass windows of the ward. "Apex Club is a massive establishment. You can hire anyone in the blink of an eye. A mere hostess like her will not be missed! Fine. I will just recruit this employee to work for me instead."

Dominic stood up slowly from the leather sofa. Adjusting the cuffs of his tailored suit with a careless, predatory air, he sneered at his childhood friend. "I suppose we have been friends since childhood. I have no logical reason to refuse the transfer."

He dramatically paused, letting the heavy silence stretch before he continued his taunt. "But what should I do? Out of all the women in the world, she is the only one I haven't played with enough yet."

Gideon snapped back furiously, pointing an accusing finger at the taller man. "How much longer do you plan on playing your sick games? Look at her! In her physically ruined condition, there is nothing left worth playing with!"

Hearing herself being verbally tossed around like a broken object between the two men left Audrey feeling degraded. She took a deep, shaking breath, staring blankly at the blanket covering her knees. She knew deep down that Gideon genuinely meant well. He was trying to rescue her from a living nightmare. However, Chloe had already dragged her into a bottomless abyss. Audrey firmly refused to pull Gideon down into the darkness with her.

She formally addressed the man standing up for her, interrupting their heated argument. "Mr. Langdon, I have no plans to change jobs at the moment."

Gideon snapped his head toward her, his eyes wide. "Audrey! Do you understand what you are saying?"

To ensure he left and severed ties with her permanently, she intentionally degraded herself. She forced her voice to remain steady. "I am staying at Apex Club because I am willing to do whatever it takes to appease your lingering anger from the previous night. Even if it means permanently groveling at your feet, I will do it."

Gideon stared at her in cold, total disbelief. Utterly frustrated and unable to comprehend her self-destructive, pathetic behavior, he let out a bitter laugh. "It turns out I was just being a nosy fool all along. Take care, Miss Vance."

With a sarcastic farewell, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

The moment the heavy ward door slammed shut, a massive wave of relief washed over Audrey's exhausted body. Her tense shoulders dropped as she exhaled a ragged breath into the quiet room.

That fleeting peace was instantly, brutally shattered by Dominic’s chilling voice. "I must applaud you for mastering the art of reigniting love."

Audrey stiffened, turning her pale face to look at him.

Dominic stepped closer to the hospital bed, a dark sneer twisting his handsome features. "You are digging your own grave by attempting to seduce Gideon right in front of me."

A deep, paralyzing chill emanated from her very core as she fully grasped the sheer cruelty of his baseless accusation. He truly believed her sacrifice was nothing more than a cheap tactic to win another man's pity. Staring back into his dark eyes, she did not bother to defend her broken pride.

She muttered in a low, deadened tone. "Do not worry, Mr. Caldwell. I have no interest in ever being a part of your elite social circle again."