Chapter 33: Bidding for Betrayal

Hailey stood frozen, her body trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief.

Jordan had never seen her like this before.

For three years, she had been the untouchable princess, pampered, admired, and adored. She had never been humiliated.

And now?

She had just been slapped in public.

By another woman.

Tears brimmed in her eyes, but Jordan felt nothing.

For three years, he had protected her. If anyone had dared to raise a hand against her, he would have fought them without hesitation.

But today?

Victoria had stood up for him. And Hailey?

She had brought this upon herself.

Jordan placed a firm hand on Victoria’s shoulder and said, “Forget it.”

Then, turning to Hailey, his voice was calm and final.

“Leave. I’m not your man anymore.”

---

Desperation and Denial

Hailey’s sobs stopped immediately.

Her expression hardened.

“Even if I don’t want a dog I’ve raised for three years, I would never give it away so easily!”

She stepped forward, glowering.

“Jordan Steele, I order you to leave Ace Corporation immediately and quit being Victoria Clarke’s bodyguard!”

Jordan chuckled at the absurdity of it.

Hailey’s next words were even more ridiculous.

“What’s Victoria paying you? Thirty thousand a year? I’ll pay you eighty thousand!”

Victoria burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! With just eighty thousand? That’s cute.”

Jordan coughed, cutting her off before she accidentally revealed his true identity.

Victoria caught on immediately.

With a smirk, she teased, “Even if you add another zero to that, it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Hailey’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Eighty thousand… plus a zero…? Eight hundred thousand!?”

The idea that Victoria would pay Jordan that much for a simple bodyguard job didn’t make sense.

Hailey’s mind raced.

‘Could Jordan actually be worth that much?’

Her voice turned sharp.

“Jordan, I’m serious. You must resign from Ace Corporation today!”

Jordan folded his arms, unimpressed.

“Oh? And why would I do that?”

Hailey’s eyes flashed.

“Because Drew already found evidence of you stealing the watch. The moment we hand it over to the police, you’re going to prison.”

Victoria’s smirk faded.

Jordan, however, remained unfazed.

“Oh?” he said coolly.

Hailey softened her voice, pretending to care.

“Jordan, I don’t want you to waste your best years behind bars. If you leave Victoria and come back home to work for me, I’ll have Drew let you off.”

Jordan’s smile was cold.

“Thank you for your kind offer,” he said mockingly. “But I really can’t be your bodyguard.”

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes piercing into hers.

“I just can’t bring myself to protect you while watching you check into a hotel room with another man.”

Hailey flinched.

Jordan turned away, dismissing her completely.

“If Drew has evidence, he can go ahead and press charges. I have nothing to hide.”

Without another word, Jordan got into the Porsche and drove off with Victoria.

Hailey stared after them, seething.

---

Burning with Envy

“Jordan, you’re not allowed to leave!”

Hailey’s shout echoed through the parking lot, but the Porsche sped away without hesitation.

She stomped her feet, her anger boiling over.

“What an adulterous pair! There’s no way Victoria Clarke is paying Jordan eight hundred thousand just to be her bodyguard. She must want him as her lover too!”

Hailey’s breathing was ragged.

“Victoria Clarke, you hypocrite! You called me shameless, but look at you! You already have a boyfriend, and now you’re sleeping with another man!”

She gritted her teeth, the betrayal stinging like fire in her chest.

“And Jordan! He refused to tolerate me being with another man, but he’s perfectly fine with Victoria having one? Such double standards! How am I inferior to Victoria Clarke!?”

---

A Dangerous Deal

7th Street.

A place where the poor and the powerful coexisted.

And where ruthlessness ruled.

Here, among the shadows, Salvatore reigned.

A burly man with tattooed arms, dirty dreadlocks, and a cold, calculating stare, Salvatore had seen everything.

And today, he had a visitor.

Drew Camden.

Drew approached cautiously, forcing a smile.

“Hello, Mr. Salvatore.”

Salvatore took a slow sip of beer, not bothering to stand.

“Mr. Camden, welcome.”

But his eyes never left his food.

He barely acknowledged Drew’s presence.

Drew, however, wasn’t offended.

He had come with a proposition.

Placing a sleek Richard Mille watch on the table, he said,

“I have a deal for you, Mr. Salvatore.”

Salvatore glanced at the watch, unimpressed.

Drew continued, “This watch is worth over eight hundred thousand dollars. I’ll sell it to you for seven hundred thousand.”

“There’s only one condition.”

Salvatore finally looked up, interested.

“You can’t say that I sold it to you. Just tell people Jordan Steele did.”

The wound on Drew’s face didn’t go unnoticed.

Salvatore smirked. “Did this Jordan guy do that to you?”

Drew’s expression stiffened.

“Yes. He’s my cousin’s loser husband.”

Salvatore chuckled, sipping his beer again.

“I see. And now, you want him behind bars?”

Drew nodded.

“For the sake of my family’s pride, we need him gone.”

Salvatore leaned back, considering.

“There’s an easier way. I could send a few men to teach him a lesson.”

Drew sighed dramatically.

“He’s good at fighting. He already took down all of my father’s professional fighters.”

Salvatore arched a brow.

“Oh?”

For a so-called loser, Jordan seemed to have some hidden talent.

After a long pause, Salvatore finally said,

“I can’t help you. My boss, Mr. Pablo, has a rule—we don’t get involved in family affairs. Too messy.”

Drew’s fist clenched.

“Who cares about Pablo!? Why do you have to listen to him!?”

A sharp voice barked from the side.

“Watch your mouth! Mr. Pablo is Salvatore’s boss!”

Drew swallowed hard, realizing his mistake.

Salvatore grinned, but his tone was sharp.

“Mr. Pablo is like a father to me. I have to obey him.”

Drew’s mind raced.

Salvatore needed money.

With a smirk, he lowered his voice.

“I’ll sell it to you for six hundred thousand.”

Salvatore shook his head. “Still can’t do it.”

Drew gritted his teeth.

“Four hundred and fifty thousand. You’ll make three hundred and fifty thousand when you resell it.”

For a moment, Salvatore was silent.

Then—he laughed loudly.

“Mr. Pablo always said one thing—never say no to money.”

His grin widened.

“Alright, Mr. Camden. You’ve got yourself a deal.”