Chapter 80
At that moment, just as Cora was about to rise from her seat, Lovi quickly raised his hand halfway into the air, a gesture of surrender and plea all at once. His voice came out in a nervous chuckle, laced with urgency, "Cora, it hasn’t gotten to that yet. Please, don’t leave."
He sat forward slightly, suddenly dropping the slick, cocky attitude he usually carried like a badge. Now, his tone had shifted, it was calmer, almost serious, like someone who just realized they were walking too close to the edge.
"I understand you’re angry, and you have every right to be. But I called you here for something real, something that could benefit you," he said, trying to hold her gaze as she glared back at him.
However Cora didn’t flinch. Her expression remained cold, unimpressed. "Then start talking," she snapped. "I’m not here for your games. You’ve already wasted enough of my time."
Malisa remained silent, her eyes shifting between the two like a referee caught between two heavyweight fighters. The tension in the VIP room was thick, almost choking. Even the soft classical music playing quietly from the restaurant speakers seemed to fade in the background.
Lovi leaned back slightly, exhaled, and then gave a slow nod. "Okay. Fine. But first, Cora... just relax."
She didn’t respond. Her arms remained crossed, and her lips pressed tightly together.
Then, Lovi said something that caught both Cora and Malisa off guard.
He sighed and said, "You can keep the money you were supposed to pay me for this job."
Malisa blinked.