able and hearing both of them refuse the

s, his shoulders shaking as he broke

ped raggedly, his face turning red. "Call it off right

tantly, taking a quick step towa

s ago, she could tell at a glance that the old fox was mostly putting on

humb firmly against a calming acupoin

th on purpose," Adelaide said calmly, a hi

ll have to pull out my acupuncture needles and

oughing stopped for a split second before he squeeze

tonight, I'm refusing all my medicine!" A

s! Give me one month! Sign a one-month engagement agreement and give this a real sho

an. Feeling his pulse still racing slightl

ed up," Adelaide said softl

s grandson, his beard bristling. "What about you

e, his dark gaze shifting from his g

d force Caswell Merritt to sig

the Koenigsegg's 8,500 RPM titanium val

father's safe? Had she found a way to peek at the blueprints earlie

im to strip away her clever disguise a

acket. "One month. The second the thirty-day dead

ed like magic. He sat up straight in his wheelchair, gri

e the kitchen serve the hot soup right away! A

an toward the dining hall, Adelaide an

s the type to back

one dark brow arching in a cool

month agreement is strictly to keep my grandfath

erms. When the thirty days are up, I expect a clean exit-n

er head. Looking up at his handsome, arroga

t, Mr. Merritt," Adelaide rep

go when the month is up. After all, since your eyesight is so terrible right now, I

d by her sheer nerve. He leaned in slightl

If that day ever comes, Miss Booth, I'll personally wa

back lightly. "Remember to br

tight and a reluctant spark of fire in his eyes, Adel

ng the old man swallow every last one of his bitter he

he needed to make one quick trip back to the Booth mansion

itt estate into the cool night breeze, Adelaide felt

e screen. It was a text message fro

rost' just sent his twentieth challenge request this month. He's offering a

e "Frost," Adelaide's mouth

ween classified defense projects, she logged into an exclusive dark

harp enough to crush ninety-nine percent of professional grand

cleanly, and ever since then, he had been hounding

in New York had been tonight, she tap

de. And since he loves throwing money around so much, triple hi

Three million for a single match?! Boss, you're ruthless!

pened the door of a waiting black rideshare sedan a

or study of the Merritt mansion, Caswell was st

t making him bring a bucket and soap to wash her cars, wh

ace flushed red with excitement as h

thlessly, slamming his palms onto Caswell's mahogany desk. "Julian Slate just repl

froze co

ry trace of his usual icy composure vanished in an

two long strides, looking down at the screen of Sterling's phone. "The Lege

old chess!" Sterling said excitedly, before

our appearance fee to three million dollars upfront, non-negotiable. Look, three million just to

scrow account immediately," Caswell interru

e dark-web account under the handle "Frost" and locked in the mat

tion won't be canceled," Caswell added crisply. "You know

n total disbelief, shaki

cold-blooded judge over a breakup check with your new fiancée, and up here you're

wooden chessboard resting on his side table, he picked up

Legend," Caswell said, his voice filled wi

s Legend possesses the purest, most brilliant strategic brain in the world.