Elara’s eyes went wide, and she looked to her friends to help her, but Xylon, who already knew who this person was and his influence in the black market ruled by the dark world, didn’t dare to step forward recklessly without knowing what he wanted.
"You forgot your box." The man said, his intense brown eyes that looked like a vulture’s gaze when it looked at its prey, made Elara swallow hard, her heart starting to beat at an erratic speed.
Why? Because she knew this man only meant trouble, darkness, and death, and he was one person even her family wouldn’t want to have a trifle with, not because he was so rich and influential but because this man did not fear death.
"Box?" Elara asked, confused.
Daniel’s hard, expressionless eyes flickered across her face before his gaze narrowed at the string of hair that covered her face.
His need for perfection made his fingers itchy, and he raised his hand before tucking her hair behind her ears.
While the onlookers might have found this action romantic, those who knew him and people around Elara knew it was anything but romantic.
"Candy box," Daniel said, barely loud enough for Elara to hear.
Elara realized what he was talking about.
She smiled forcefully.
The bet was for one candy. What did he mean by taking the entire box? She wondered.
"Sir, is something the matter?" Sean asked when he recognized Mr. Macros.
Daniel looked at Andrew with a lazy gaze before his gaze flickered to the woman by his side.
Seeing Mr. Macros’s attention on herself, Beatrice stood straight, or at least tried to, with a shy smile.
"You are?" He asked Sean.
Sean’s cheeks turned red, and he cleared his throat.
He couldn’t just say that they met at the horse riding arena, since that kind of man met a lot of people. It was technically impossible to remember everyone.
"I am Sean Turner, sir, the CEO of Turner Real Estates." Sean extended his hand for Daniel to shake.
Daniel looked at his hand with a blank expression before turning to Alen.
"Is it someone worthy?" He asked his assistant.
His words were like a direct slap to Sean, and the smile on his face faltered a bit before he forced it back.
"The Turner family is indeed—" Alen started to explain, but Daniel already waved his hand in dismissal.
Why even bother asking when you don’t want to know, sir? Alen wanted to ask, but kept his thoughts to himself.
Elara, not interested in the commotion, turned, ready to leave, when Daniel held her hand to stop her.
Everyone’s brows furrowed at the action, including Elara’s.
"Mr. Macros, you might be influential and think you can do anything, but it’s inappropriate for you to hold someone’s hand like this, especially of the opposite gender," Elara said, her tone coming out irritated since she was done with people manhandling her.
She was a person. If they wanted her to stop, they could just say so without using their hands on her body.
Daniel tilted his head, least fazed by her words.
"I don’t remember your name," Daniel said.
Sean was about to scoff and mock Elara about trying to gain males’ attention when Daniel’s following words beat him to it.
"Does it happen to be, Ifrit? Or a horse-stealer?" He asked with a devilish smirk on his face.
His words made Elara glare at the man, and Alen nearly choked on his own saliva.
He looked at his boss in plain disbelief. Was he seriously calling the woman they just met today a little devil, all because she took that horse?
He knew his boss wasn’t well-versed in the area and didn’t know how to talk with the opposite gender, but must he make it so obvious?
"Since you don’t remember my name, there’s no need for us to interact. The owner of this club doesn’t want us here, and the manager wants us to leave. Adios," Elara said with a disdainful scoff meant for Andrew.
"Elara—" Andrew stepped forward to clear the misunderstanding when Daniel blocked his view.
"You are welcome to come to the club owned by the Macros group. It’s business," Daniel said.
Elara narrowed her brows.
She would be stupid to take up that offer. Going along with his idea would mean entertaining his concept of mingling with him, and that was the last thing she wanted to do.
Besides, with his twisted thoughts, who knew how he would interpret that?
"No need," Elara said.
"In that case, are you saying I should own this club instead?" Daniel asked.
Everyone around them—"..." What in the world was really going on here? Daniel’s words indicated he absolutely disliked Elara, so why did they seem to have a twisted meaning?
I am saying I don’t want anything to do with you, you dangerous son of a handsome man! Elara wanted to shout, but smiled forcefully.
"It’s getting late," she said before she nodded at her friends, who nodded in return and followed her out.
Xylon threw one last look at Daniel, who curled his brows at him before leaving.
Once Elara was out of their sight, Daniel turned to look at the remaining group with Andrew and his friends and immediately walked further inside the club towards the stairs.
Their meeting was arranged with one of the underground bosses who was dealing with their ammunition production and a major showstopper at the upcoming ’Let the Gun Speak’ event.
"She is at it again," Daniel said with a smirk as he sat on the couch with a lazy pose.
Alen, who was looking at the various weapons portfolios, looked at his boss for an explanation.
"What do you mean, sir?" He asked.
Daniel shook his head.
"She is using that push-and-pull tactic this time. If she didn’t want me to have anything to do with what I said, she should’ve said it clearly rather than leaving. She wants me to buy this club so she can enjoy it freely," Daniel said.
Alen raised his brows. When did she say all that? He wondered, but what he was curious about the most was why, among so many women in the world, he was messing with Miss Elara only.
It didn’t seem to be just about that horse-riding arena thing anymore. For some reason, his intuition after working with Mr. Macros for so long told him there was a hidden and deeper motive behind approaching Miss Elara.