Chapter 55 — The Perfect Date
The London night outside the hotel windows shimmered with quiet luxury.
Soft golden lights reflected across the river. Cars moved slowly on the distant roads, and the sky above the city carried that deep midnight blue that only appeared after long, exhausting days.
Inside the private dining lounge reserved for the two groups, the atmosphere was the exact opposite.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Comfortable.
Twenty brilliant minds who had only met days ago were now sitting around a long table like they had known each other for years.
Laughter moved around the room like waves.
Plates were scattered across the table. Half-finished desserts. Glasses of juice. Someone had ordered too much food again.
The long week of conferences, meetings, and the massive gala had left everyone exhausted, but tonight felt different.
Relaxed.
Care sat at the center of the table, leaning back slightly in her chair, her posture calm but observant as always. Beside her stood Cole, who had been half-listening to the conversation while scrolling through something on his phone.
Across from them, Nova and Ben were still discussing hospital statistics even though dinner had technically ended twenty minutes ago.
"Ben," Nova sighed, rubbing her temple. "You cannot bring hospital expansion plans to dinner."
Ben didn't even look up.
"It's not dinner anymore. It's strategic conversation time."
Honey laughed softly from Percy's side of the table.
"I think Ben has forgotten what relaxation means."
Percy nodded seriously.
"He was probably born holding a medical report."
Everyone chuckled.
At the far end of the table, Kevin leaned comfortably back in his chair, one arm resting lazily across the back.
Next to him sat Ash.
Ash had kicked off her heels ten minutes ago and was sitting cross-legged on the chair, completely ignoring the formal elegance of the setting.
Kevin watched her quietly.
His expression looked normal.
Relaxed.
But his mind was far from the laughter around the table.
Tonight had been planned carefully.
Every step.
Every moment.
Every detail.
Across the table, Lyra was explaining something about London architecture to Alex, who was listening with that quiet attentiveness he always had.
"The city layers its history vertically," Lyra said, gesturing slightly with her hands. "You can see three centuries of design in one street."
Alex smiled slightly.
"I noticed that. It's impressive."
Joong nudged Daisy gently beside him.
"You see? Alex finally found someone who talks more about buildings than he does about business."
Daisy giggled softly.
Meanwhile Kevin lifted his glass slowly.
Ash glanced at him.
"What?"
Kevin shrugged casually.
"Nothing."
But inside his jacket pocket, his phone vibrated once.
Kevin didn't check it yet.
He already knew what it meant.
The first transfer had begun.
Across international financial networks, millions of dollars worth of shares were quietly shifting ownership.
But no one here noticed.
No one suspected.
Kevin's eyes moved around the table slowly.
Alex.
Joong.
Cole.
Care.
Every one of them trusted him.
The irony almost made him smile.
At the center of the table, Care suddenly looked up.
Her eyes landed briefly on Kevin.
For a second.
Kevin met her gaze.
Care didn't say anything.
But she had always had a strange ability to read people.
Kevin simply smiled lightly and looked away.
Care returned to the conversation.
Nothing seemed strange.
Nothing seemed wrong.
Kevin leaned slightly toward Ash.
"Hey."
Ash looked at him.
"What?"
Kevin spoke casually.
"Want to get out of here?"
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"Already bored?"
Kevin shrugged.
"I was thinking we could drive out of the city."
Ash narrowed her eyes.
"Drive where?"
Kevin leaned closer slightly.
"The cliffs."
Ash blinked.
"The cliffs?"
Kevin nodded.
"North side of London. Quiet. Good view of the ocean."
Ash crossed her arms.
"That sounds suspiciously romantic."
Kevin smirked slightly.
Across the table, Kevin's words had been overheard.
Cole immediately leaned forward.
"Oh?"
Joong grinned.
"Did someone say cliffside date?"
The table erupted.
"Ohhhhh."
"Finally."
"Kevin planning romance?"
Ash groaned.
"Oh my god."
Kevin raised both hands.
"Relax."
Nova smirked.
"Relax? You literally said cliffside date."
Ben leaned back in his chair.
"That's either extremely romantic or extremely suspicious."
Honey giggled.
"Poor Ash."
Ash threw a napkin at Percy.
"Stop encouraging them."
Kevin stood up calmly.
"Well," he said, stretching slightly, "we're leaving."
Ash sighed.
"Why am I agreeing to this…"
Kevin held out his hand dramatically.
"Because you secretly like adventure."
Ash rolled her eyes but stood anyway.
"Or maybe because I'm curious what nonsense you've planned."
Everyone started teasing louder.
Joong called out.
"Don't come back before sunrise!"
Ash turned immediately.
"SHUT UP."
The room burst into laughter.
Kevin helped Ash pick up her jacket.
As they walked toward the door, Care's voice spoke calmly behind them.
"Drive safe."
Kevin glanced back briefly.
Care's eyes were steady.
Observant.
Kevin nodded.
"Always."
Then they left.
---
Outside, the London night air felt colder.
Ash stretched slightly.
"Finally fresh air."
Kevin unlocked the car.
"Get in."
Ash climbed into the passenger seat.
The car started moving.
London's city lights slowly faded behind them as they drove north.
For the first ten minutes, Ash kept talking.
About the gala.
About Lyra's architectural obsession.
About how Daisy had nearly fainted meeting famous surgeons.
Kevin listened quietly.
Then Ash reached for the drink sitting in the cup holder.
She took a sip.
Kevin's eyes flicked toward her.
The drink was the one he had prepared earlier.
Ash continued talking for another few minutes.
Then she stopped.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"Kevin…"
Kevin kept his eyes on the road.
"What?"
Ash shifted slightly in her seat.
"I feel… weird."
Kevin didn't react.
"What kind of weird?"
Ash blinked slowly.
"Dizzy."
Kevin finally glanced at her.
Ash's eyelids were beginning to grow heavy.
Her voice softened.
"Kevin… did you…"
She tried to focus.
But her vision was blurring.
Kevin spoke calmly.
"Just sleep."
Ash tried to protest.
"Kevin… what…"
But the drug was already working.
Her head slowly leaned against the seat.
Her breathing became slow.
Within seconds—
Ash was unconscious.
Kevin drove silently for another minute.
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
The screen displayed numbers.
Huge numbers.
Lucas Company stock transfers were accelerating.
Ownership percentages shifting.
Control shifting.
Kevin watched the numbers quietly.
His fingers tapped the steering wheel once.
Then he whispered softly to himself.
"This company…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…was always meant to be mine."
The car continued driving into the dark London night.
And far away in the hotel…
No one knew.
The betrayal had already begun.