f in a sudden swirl

ing was nothing to her, b

affluence like Denis. Witnessing his t

a mixture of astonishm

ack in haste. His gaze lingered on the assemblage ou

P the boss warned he

zing an air of authori

wealth choose their thre

iously approached Carsten and asked, "

sten repli

ir, our boss has just phoned me. He instructed me to arr

the rest stood th

," Carsten said to Nadine, who

pen to know

ntance with him,"

ef, they were ushered

delivering the cutting remarks he had pre

ulent box here? It's

five thousand, with an additional fifteen percent serv

ee the owner is quite par

for Nadine, he grumbled, "Carsten, the minimum expenditure

ng you desire today. It's on the house. Furthermore, he's on his way

face d

currently financially strained, puzzled e

sleeve, "What's your connection with the owne

nu, saying, "Take a look

in her mind, Nadine found it ch

ishes," Carste

the waitstaff attended to

the employees' inquiries, lea

ained from expressing the ca

ly informed him, "Mr. Fletcher, our boss is caught in traffic.

the owner's eagerness

tag and said, "Mr. Morgan, may I

ces away, with Danilo f

cretary settle the bill later. If your boss encounters any difficulties in the future, direc

nderstood Carsten and refrai

him that it would be b

decided to sweeten the pot by gif

e of wine and insisted

offer, Danilo turned to Nadine

st force a bottle of wi

only did we get a free pass on the bill, but t

ribbed Carsten earlier. H

l of jealousy and resent

flat broke. Doubt he'd cut

ent, Carste

onnection with the hote

friend of a friend. He owes my budd

ity stemmed from a comp

sense, though she was s

rsten's friend, give him a twenty thousand dollar bot

he chose not t

tial ties from before his f

"I still remember your pre-dinner proposition. You said that if I ge

ned an interesti

nded, and humilia

entarily. A hasty ex

cold. "But remember this: don't bully

orous confession and intentions towar

this, Denis wouldn't hav

Denis said before departing, a cocktail of

templated probing Carsten about his c

hanks for standing up to

chalantly, "I just

e didn't care about why Carsten help

bag, sending a message to Marg

ot's radio silence to the chao

and her messages to Margot piled up

got get

mething h

worry per

the mystery, Nadine di

consecutive calls to Margot went

argot's house to check o

the silence. "Aren't you

adine turned to him.

e hotel," Carsten suggeste

f your friend's friend, he lent a

delving further into the

l her the actual reason, f

cided to for

ed, opting f

r presence. He extracted his phone,

rsisted in her attem

ined silent

pled with adjusting to the cramped house, a

ion seemed less vehe

stful night's sleep, diminishi

ght, he did some physical exercises in

, Nadine emerged f

elf, she observed Carsten

d 120 jumping jacks, all

na was re

saturated with sweat, accent

count because he was doing his exercis

ity was p

what abashed, asked, "Do you als

disclosed, wiping away sweat. "Physical a

, "Are you uncomfortable sleeping her

om has mosquitoes that persistently buzz around

se before bedtime. The rental house's environment is subpar, and I ne

use is decorated, we can relocate.

sed a house?"

loan. Monthly mortgage

re's

e suburbs. But the surrounding

in Faysage deman

cessitated one or t

class. The fact that she could afford

employment. When my salary arrives, I

emained

If he chose to share financial b

enting Carsten. However, the pervasive scent of re

esolved to think about the relat

d her irksome. Instead, he perceived a di

arose early, noting Car

of placing them in

nderwent her efforts, po

ng, he confronted her

rwear?" he asked as he wa