Black Card, Black Ops Chapter 2

02

A woman with legs for days, surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards, strutted toward us.

"Brad. You’re my personal assistant. Why are you brawling with the help in public?"

I looked her over. Mom had decent taste, physically speaking.

She was wearing a crimson designer gown that fit like a second skin.

The only flaw was the look in her eyes—absolute zero.

"Miss Sterling. Let me introduce myself properly."

"I’m Spencer. Spencer Vance. My mother—"

"Save it," she interrupted, waving a manicured hand.

"We aren't a match. And the Sterling family doesn't need a waste of space like you."

I almost checked my hearing.

With my clearance level, even the Senators she bought dinner for had to salute me.

"Victoria, let’s get one thing straight. I was forced into this just as much as you were."

"You think I want to marry you?"

Victoria’s face twisted.

"Don't play hard to get with me, Spencer! Do you know how many men in this city would kill to marry into my family?"

I grinned.

"Victoria, I don't know about them. But personally? I’d rather marry a barista from Starbucks than an heiress with zero class."

"And this 'Sterling Empire' you brag about? It’s just new money built on real estate bubbles. You have no legacy."

The room went dead silent. Then, chaos.

"Holy... did he just say that?"

"Victoria Sterling is the dream girl of every bachelor in D.C.! And he called her classless?"

"This guy is insane."

I ignored them.

Sure, the Sterlings were rich. But money?

In the face of true power, money is just a number on a screen.

I remembered her father, Richard Sterling, sweating through his shirt in front of my mother, begging for this engagement.

He probably never imagined his precious daughter was about to nuke his golden ticket.

"You loser," Brad spat. "Look in a mirror. You aren't fit to tie her shoes."

Victoria sneered. "Brad is right. If my dad hadn't forced this, I wouldn't even look at a broke joke like you."

I narrowed my eyes, locking onto hers.

"Since you feel that way, Miss Sterling, shall we call the wedding off?"

I tried to be diplomatic. She took it as a negotiation.

"Fine. How much do you want to go away?"

I waved my hand dismissively.

"Keep your money. I don't want to get my hands dirty."

I turned to leave.

"Hey! Get back here!" Brad yelled.

I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

"What? You want to buy me dinner, Brad?"

He smirked and whispered something in Victoria’s ear.

The heiress’s eyes flashed with rage.

"Spencer! You dare try to outbid me?"