Page 60 of King of Pride

His expression remained tight and distant, as though he hadn’t even heard her.

Jessica moved closer, pressing herself against his arm.

Ivan slammed his glass onto the table.

“Not today,” he said, his voice strained. “We’ll do it next time.”

He removed her hand from his arm and rose abruptly from the couch.

Without another word, he walked away.

Behind him, Jessica’s pleasant expression vanished.

Frustration twisted across her face. She clenched her hands in her lap, gritted her teeth, and sat there in simmering silence.

***

Outside a massive corporate building, a Mercedes waited at the curb.

Two impeccably dressed men descended the steps and headed toward the waiting car. People passing by couldn't help but glance in their direction, their attention drawn to the two striking men.

The driver immediately opened the rear door.

Maverick slid inside first, followed by Lucious, who entered from the opposite side. The driver shut the door, climbed into the front, and pulled away from the curb.

Within moments, the Mercedes disappeared into the stream of traffic.

“This deal with the Hamingtons seems a little dodgy,” Lucious muttered, frowning down at the documents in his hands. “I think something is wrong with that guy. Wasn’t he being unusually pushy about including your newest product?”

Maverick barely responded.

He was scrolling through his phone, his attention fixed on the screen.

“Hm.”

That was all Lucious got.

He frowned and lowered the documents.

“What the hell are you so busy with? You’ve barely been paying attention to anything since we left Manhattan.”

Maverick continued staring at his phone.

Lucious studied him for a moment before asking, “You’re coming to the party tonight, right?”

“No.”

Maverick muttered.

For a brief second, disappointment crossed his face as he stared at the empty message screen. There were no messages or calls from Rose.

He slipped the phone into his pocket and glanced at Lucious.

“I’ll fly home as soon as the deal is finalized. I have a wife now. I have to act like a family man.”

Lucious blinked.

“What?”