Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Paul had taken a full-force slap to the face. For a second, he was stunned. Then he turned his head, rage flashing in his eyes. Taylor, however, remained completely unfazed. With arms crossed, she said coldly, “As long as you’re with me, you’d better cut the cheating crap. Otherwise, I’ve got plenty more slaps where that came from.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” he growled.
Taylor scoffed. “I’ve got the Kendall family behind me. What, you think I’m gonna put up with you like your last doormat did?”
She gave him a dismissive look. “If you’ve got a problem with that, keep it to yourself.”
Yunice barely stifled a smile-just a small twitch of her lips. But Paul caught it and immediately snapped, “She was the one seducing me.”
Taylor raised a brow. “Really? In the gynecology department?”
She rolled her eyes. The sight of him was enough to make her sick. She turned and shot a glance at Yunice. “That perfume’s so strong it’s choking. A man who spends all his brainpower on scheming against women-no wonder you’re a failure.”
Yunice didn’t even wear perfume-but now that Taylor pointed it out, she did smell something on herself. It was Paul’s cologne.
Paul’s face darkened. He thought he’d hidden it well. Clearly, Taylor had seen right through him.
Taylor stormed off without another word. Paul followed, fuming. Once they were alone, she snapped, “You’re a disgrace. We’re in the same damn boat now. Do me a favor-try using what little brain you have on the business war ahead, and maybe I’ll think a little better of you.”
Paul glared. “I don’t need you to teach me.”
Taylor stopped, turned, and looked him dead in the eye. “If you keep screwing around, there won’t even be a Powell family left. Just wait till the wedding-you’ll see.”
Paul frowned. He didn’t understand what she was hinting at. What did she know that he did?
Meanwhile, Yunice rushed toward the restroom desperate to get the lingering cologne off her…
And of course-because life had a sense of humor-she ran smack into… Paul’s cologne.
Yunice’s face burned. Just as she strode ahead, about to explain, Wyatt turned away with a cold…
Yunice hurried to catch up. “You’re mad…”
She tried to coax him. “Don’t be mad…”
Wyatt only walked faster. “If you’re really mad you should just grab Panal and beat him up-it’s better than bottling it in…”
Wyatt suddenly stopped. Tanice couldn’t brake in time and bumped straight into his back. His nose nearly broke on impact.
Wyatt let out a cold laugh. “Beat him up? So you can be heartbroken and poison me in revenge…”
Yunice raised her hands in surrender. “If you smack him a few extra times, I’d be even more grateful.”
Wyatt went silent, giving her a long look. “I mean it,” she added. A readable flicker in his eyes. He gave a low scoff, lips curling in dry amusement, and resumed walking-without waiting for her.
He was seriously hard to please.
Yunice jogged after him. “Do you think I still have feelings for him? That he sent me to get close to you? That I’m some undercover spy?” She threw her arms out. “That’s all in your head. You’re the one labeling me with tinted glasses-“
Wyatt snapped. “If you’re going to defend yourself, at least wash off the other guy’s scent first!”
Yamane huffed. “I was literally on my way to do that-you just showed up at the worst time.”
“Oh, so it’s my fault now?”
“It’s my fault,” she said instantly, without missing a beat. No use arguing with him. Better to humor him…
She couldn’t be sure. Still, she couldn’t help grumbling to herself. Just because you’ve got long legs doesn’t mean you have to walk like a racehorse…
Back home, Yunice took a long shower and changed into clean clothes. The only scent left on her was fresh soap. The moment she got into Wyatt’s car, the faint aroma of her shampoo and steam clung to the air.
Wyatt’s lashes flickered slightly. The air reminded him of early morning after a night together. He quickly shut down that line of thought, closed his laptop, and turned to her. “Come to an event with me?”
Yunice blinked. “Huh?”
Wyatt, for once, didn’t hold back. “You’ve heard about the land zoning plans in Northvale, right?”
Of course, she had. It wasn’t exactly a secret. Rumor had it they were planning to build a major hospital there. Once it was complete, the entire economy of Northvale would take off.
The network of interests behind this project was bound to be tangled and complex. Wyatt raised a brow. “I’ve run into a tough nut. Want to help me crack it?”
Yunice replied, “If you think I can be of use, then I’m in.”
From the driver’s seat, Jordan chuckled as he turned the wheel. “That’s more like it. Ms. Saunders and Wyatt should be on the same team-Wyatt will treat you right.”
Wyatt kicked the back of Jordan’s seat hard enough that Jordan nearly crashed into the wheel.
The meeting was set at a private club. When Yunice followed Wyatt inside, she spotted a middle-aged man in a gray vest playing pool. Jordan leaned in and murmured, “That’s our target for today.”
Yunice took a closer look, mentally assigning herself the role of assistant. She figured she was here to help, same as Jordan. The room was warm from the AC, and Wyatt took off his jacket, leaving only a dark slate-blue shirt underneath. He rolled up his sleeves with precise movements, securing them with armbands, and casually passed the jacket to his side. Yunice instinctively reached out to take it, but Wyatt shifted his hand away. Jordan quickly stepped in and caught it. “I got it.”
With Wyatt’s jacket over his arm, Jordan stood to the side while Wyatt brought Yunice over to the pool table. Yunice knew she didn’t have any particularly dazzling talents-what she could offer was reading faces and diagnosing illness. If their target had a major health issue, she might have leverage. But when the man looked up, she saw clear skin and a healthy glow. No weakness.
The man pulled back his cue stick and glanced briefly at Yunice before focusing on Wyatt again. With a slick smile, he gestured to the table. “Care for a game?”
Wyatt smiled faintly. “Not convenient.”
“Oh,” the man replied, as if only now remembering Wyatt’s leg. Still, he didn’t back down. He leaned over and made another shot, then added pointedly, “You didn’t check my rules before coming? No one speaks to me unless they beat me at pool.”
Yunice kept her gaze neutral. Some people had power and quirks to match, and this guy’s arrogance was uniquely executed. Pool required both hands-one to set the bridge, one to strike. Wyatt needed his cane. How could…
Yunice could step in, but the guy probably wouldn’t accept that. She glanced at Jordan, who subtly shook his head. No good. People like this thrived on rules and hierarchy. If Yunice, with no name or credentials, stepped forward, she’d just provoke disdain.
Just then, a bunny girl in heels and a skimpy outfit sashayed over with a tray. She handed a drink to the middle-aged man with a sultry smile, then turned to Wyatt, giving him an equally suggestive look as she placed another glass on the table. Then she twirled around and approached Yunice. Yunice nearly got smacked in the face with cleavage, but managed to maintain her composure.
The bunny girl seemed intrigued by Yunice-or maybe she just thought she was easy to provoke. “Such a modest outfit, young lady.” She batted her lashes. “So what’s your relationship with Mr. Cooper?”
Yunice answered with a smile, dodging the question. “I told him I wanted to play pool, and he brought me.” Then she shot back, “Do you play?”
“Me?” The bunny girl scoffed like Yunice had just said the moon was made of cheese. “You’re not seriously thinking of playing me, are you?”
Yunice nodded earnestly. “I’d like to try.”
The middle-aged man chuckled-not politely. “Kids these days really don’t know their…”
That jab was aimed at Yunice, but the undertone clearly included Wyatt.
“Boring,” the man grumbled. He tossed his cue back into the rack and headed to the lounge area, drying his hands. With a glance at the bunny girl, he said, “You play with her…”
The girl understood instantly, her eyes glinting. “Gladly.”
Yunice and Wyatt exchanged a glance. As she passed him, she whispered, “He’s perfectly healthy. No weaknesses to exploit.”
Wyatt looked at the bunny girl, then raised a hand to block Yunice. “Stand down.”
The bunny girl laughed. “Relax, Mr. Cooper. I won’t bully the young lady.”
Wyatt said sharply, “If your skills are crap and you injure my wife, can you afford the consequences?”
“Your wife,” the bunny girl blinked, now truly appraising Yunice.
From the lounge, the middle-aged man sipped tea and said bluntly, “This is a pool hall. If you’re not playing, don’t get in the way.”