Marry into Money by Accident

Chapter 11

Morgan chuckled. "That's the first time a woman ever used an ingenious excuse to reject me."

Lianne grinned. "Should I feel honored?"

Morgan said, "Do you know that you're only fueling my interest in you by doing so?"

"Well, do you know it will only make me feel repulsive of you? Mr. Quay, I have no interest in you. Not now, not ever. Please don't waste your time on me." Lianne solemnly uttered while wiping the smile off her face.

Morgan was amused by her blunt remark. "Lianne, you're quite similar to your boss. You don't care about other people's feelings when turning people down. The humiliation of others doesn't matter to you." Lianne replied, "But you don't seem humiliated."

Morgan was speechless.

F*ck!

He could not believe he lost to a woman in a battle of the wits.

"As host, why are you chatting away in a corner with my assistant instead of mingling with the guests?"

Zane's deep voice came from behind them.

Lianne turned her head and saw Zane standing a few steps away. God knew how long he had been there. How much of their conversation did he eavesdrop on?

Losing her arrogance, she compliantly drew close to Zane. "Mr. Atlas..."

It was intriguing to Morgan that Lianne was suddenly on her best behavior. "Zane, your assistant always bullies me. Keep her in line."

"Did you lay one on Mr. Quay?" Zane used an interrogating tone of voice, but at closer inspection, anyone could see the faint smile across his lips.

"I did not. I wouldn't dare do so on his turf." Lianne shook her head.

Morgan was a troublemaker who loved drama. "Zane, do you trust her or me?"

"You're the host, and she's the guest tonight." Zane did not give a straight answer, but he sent a clear message for Morgan to take it from Lianne since he was the host.

Morgan clicked his tongue. "You've changed, Zane. What happened to mates over dates?"

"Zane wouldn't put anything before his bros." Charlie approached with a wine glass in hand and joined the conversation.

Charlie scowled at the sight of Lianne. "Why are you here?"

Lianne was speechless.

She did not believe she ever crossed the man. Yet, the latter always pulled a long face at her. It was as if she did something sinister to his family.

Zane raised his eye. "She's my plus-one. Do you have a problem with it?"

Charlie let out a dry laugh. "I don't mean that, Zane."

Morgan played the mediator. "Here you are, Charlie. Come on. Let's have a few drinks together."

"Mr. Atlas, you can't drink tonight." Zane finished his medication today. Dr. Leah gave Lianne several calls to watch Zane before going to the celebration. He was not allowed access to the bar. Lianne made a mental note to keep a watchful eye.

Morgan clicked his tongue again. "Man, Zane. Your assistant keeps you on a tight leash. It's like she's your wife."

Lianne glared at him, "Mr. Quay, I don't see anybody talking to you."

Morgan uttered, "Look, Zane. She's being a bully again."

Zane said, "I'm not in the mood for alcohol tonight. Let's do something else."

Lianne was relieved he said that.

Morgan asked, "What do you have in mind? Dance? A card game? Or are you into something thrilling?"

Zane was not interested in any of them, but it was not polite to leave Mr. and Mrs. Quay's golden anniversary celebration so soon. He randomly picked one. "Cards."

Morgan replied, "Okay. We have enough players among us."

The group of four left the bustling hall to a private game room. Lianne could play cards, but she was not good at it. She never won in a game of cards.

Tyler and Sierra often mocked her, as her luck ran out when it came to a deck of cards.

Morgan seemed extremely keen. "How big are we playing tonight?"

Lianne had witnessed poker games between the rich. It was a common occurrence to lose property over a game. Besides, she had saved enough money for a house deposit. Lianne could not afford to play with them. "Mr. Atlas, I don't want to play. Do you want to look for one more player?"

Morgan was quick to say, "Zane, you can't cater to her every whim, or she will go over your head one day."

Lianne got the message from Zane's silence and took a seat at the card table.

Charlie kept looking at Lianne. "The loser is subject to a game of truth or dare."

Morgan chimed in. "Count me in. It's up to Zane whether he's in or out."

Zane took a glance at Lianne, and Lianne bobbed her head. "I'm happy with anything so long as it doesn't involve money."

She gave Morgan a good laugh. "Don't tell me you didn't want to play earlier because you were afraid of losing money. Your money doesn't interest us."

Lianne had no words.

She knew they were loaded, but it was unnecessary to point it out.

The poker game began. As the dealer, Morgan shuffled the deck and handed out the cards. Charlie quickly showed his hand. "Three of a kind."

Lianne was at a loss for words.

Morgan said, "Charlie, can't you be a gentleman and give the lady a chance to win?"

Charlie gave Lianne a look. "I don't see Ms. Simpson as a lady. She is Zane's capable assistant. She doesn't need to be put first."

There was nothing wrong with Charlie's statement. Nevertheless, he stressed the fact that Lianne was Zane's assistant as if to remind Lianne of her status. Lianne did not believe she was any lesser than the others, so she kept to herself and kept the game going.

While the others did not have better cards than Charlie, Lianne had nothing.

Morgan turned to Lianne and gleefully asked, "Truth or dare?"

Lianne responded, "Truth."

Morgan said, "Is what you said to me tonight true, or was it an excuse to reject me?"

Lianne replied, "It's true."

Charlie commented, "I'm the winner. I should be the one asking the question. Ms. Simpson, who is Mr. Atlas to-"

Morgan cut him off. "I've already asked, Charlie. You will have to beat her in the next round to ask your question."

Lianne was oblivious to the tension brewing at the game table during the next round. All she knew was that it took a while before the round was over. Zane emerged as the winner, while Charlie had the worst show of hand.

Charlie helplessly smiled. "Why must you win me, Zane?"

Zane ignored his question. "Truth or dare?"

Charlie uttered, "Truth."

Morgan got a threatening look from Zane before he could ask. He turned to Lianne. "You can ask the question, Ms. Simpson."

Lianne was not going to say no. "Mr. Graham, I don't think we knew each other prior to this. Why do you have a problem with a measly assistant like me?"

Taken aback by her blunt inquiry, Charlie grimaced awkwardly. "Why did you get that sort of impression of me, Ms. Simpson?"

Lianne was not expecting an answer anyway. She was merely conveying to Charlie that she was not a threat to him since she was only a lowly assistant. There was no need to give her hell.

With the card game continuing, Zane won another round. The loser this time was Morgan.

Morgan put his cards on the table. "Truth for me. I won't hold back on any secrets. Ask away."

Since Zane and Charlie were not interested in what Morgan had to say, they turned to Lianne.

Lianne was happy to take the job. "Mr. Quay, it's written in the tabloids that you're dating Lisa York, the celebrity famous for her innocence. Is it true?"

She only asked because Lisa was Tyler's celebrity crush.

Morgan responded, "I woke up in her bed this morning. What do you think?"

Lianne was rendered speechless.

Must he be so graphic with his reply?

Lisa's PR team had released a statement in the evening to sue the slandering tabloid.

It appeared the official statement could not be trusted.

Morgan said, "The question gives me a reason to doubt that you don't have a thing for me."

Lianne responded with a snicker.

Zane beat Morgan for the next few rounds, leaving Lianne a chance to pry into Morgan's private life. She was overjoyed.

Not getting why Lianne was happy, Zane took a few glances at her.

Morgan mumbled, "Another round. I refuse to believe that Zane is so lucky to win over me in every round."

Zane pushed his silver-framed glasses up his nose bridge before faintly uttering, "No one can beat me unless I lose on purpose."

Morgan commented, "It's not like you never lost before. Quit bragging."

Zane proved to Morgan in the next few rounds that he meant business.

Lianne looked at Zane with eyes of admiration... Zane was not human. He was a God!

Morgan acted like a sore loser. "I don't care, Zane. I have to answer my question to make up for the emotional damage."

Before Zane could agree to it, Morgan asked, "Tell us what's going on between you and your wife."