Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Elara took a few steps away, then abruptly turned back and grabbed the car keys. "I'm taking the car," she said.
"Go ahead. It's for you anyway," Julian replied casually.
In the courtyard, Elara pulled open the car door and slid into the driver's seat. The dashboard lights were so blinding that she became restless.
She fastened her seatbelt. Her slender fingers gripped the steering wheel as she started the engine.
The engine roared to life, and the dormant restlessness deep inside Elara began to stir.
The fast Koenigsegg shot into the street like a bullet, weaving through the sea of traffic as a fleeting phantom.
When Elara arrived at the entrance of Anchor Law Firm, she approached the reception desk and asked, "Excuse me. Is Adrian available?"
The receptionist gave her a sidelong glance, thinking, 'She just walked in and asked for the boss. Does she really expect to see him without an appointment?'
"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked.
Elara lowered her gaze and murmured, "No."
"Sorry, but we can't take walk-ins. Mr. Hartley is on a business trip to Marisiton and won't be back for several days," the receptionist said with a professional smile, her voice giving nothing away.
"Is Susan available then?" Elara asked.
"When Mr. Hartley is away, Susan usually stays home to take care of herself. She's expecting, you know," the receptionist replied.
Elara nodded. "Understood."
Stepping out of Anchor Law Firm, Elara let out a weary sigh, feeling utterly drained.
She opened WhatsApp and smacked her forehead in frustration. 'Why the hell did I delete him?' she thought.
At 9 p.m., a gleaming white Koenigsegg pulled up outside Aurora Club, Veritasiton's most exclusive nightspot.
Elara stepped out of the car and rushed into the Aurora Club. She went straight to the front desk and demanded, "Which VIP room is Victor in?"
"Ms. Langton, he's in VIP Room 909," the receptionist replied.
Elara was the only person who could enjoy all of Montgomery Group's services for free, so the receptionist recognized her immediately.
Without hesitation, Elara made a beeline for Room 909. She burst through the door without caring for who was inside. "Victor!" she yelled.
The VIP room, full of noise, suddenly went silent. Elara blinked in surprise as she took in the scene, only to realize how abruptly she'd entered.
Seven or eight young men were in the room, all obviously from wealthy families.
Her eyes scanned the room, and in the darkness, she spotted Victor smoking. Adrian was sitting next to him.
'Wait, wasn't Adrian supposed to be in Marisiton?' Elara thought. 'Well, since he's here, I don't need to ask Victor for help anymore.'
She walked straight up to Adrian, took a deep breath, and said firmly, "Adrian, we need to talk."
Adrian had been resting his eyes when the door slammed open. He only opened them when he heard her call his name.
He had already shrugged off his suit jacket, and now, he was just in a crisp white shirt, looking half-asleep and exhausted.
He straightened up, grabbed a cigarette from the coffee table, and lit it. He took a slow drag, leaning back against the black sofa with crossed legs. "And you are..." he drawled, his indifference obvious.
Suddenly, the quiet VIP room exploded with noise. Catcalls and raucous laughter filled the air.
"I thought she was just one of Adrian's flings. Turns out she's some random girl hitting on him. Where did this pretty thing come from? Gotta admit, she's easy on the eyes," Neil sneered.
Victor cut in sharply, "Neil, knock it off. She's with me."
Neil and the other young playboys swiveled their heads toward Victor in unison. Even Adrian looked at him, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Adrian sneered, "She's with you?"
Victor rolled his eyes. He thought, 'If I hadn't said she was with me, with a face like hers, there's no way she'd be leaving this VIP room unscathed, especially with Neil eyeing her like that.'
Victor asked, "Elara, what brings you to see Adrian?"
Hearing Victor affectionately call Elara, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Someone shouted teasingly, "So your name's Elara, huh? Hi, nice to meet you."
The private room was filled with rowdy catcalls again, making Elara's head throb with irritation.
She hesitated, unsure of how to speak up in this situation. She also felt too embarrassed to bring up her issue.
Victor noticed Elara's hesitation and then glanced at Adrian's long face. He thought, "Great, neither of them is in the mood for a real conversation."
He scooted over, making space on the couch. Grinning, he said, "Come on, Elara. Sit here and have a proper chat with Adrian."
Elara was caught off guard. 'Why is Victor being so nice to me all of a sudden? Wait, is he up to something? Never mind. Dealing with Adrian is the priority now,' she thought.
She sat directly between the two men, turned to Adrian, and asked, "Mr. Hartley, does that favor you mentioned last time still stand?"
Adrian lazily looked at her with half-closed eyes. "A favor? When did I ever owe you one?"
"Um, you promised me in the VIP room the other day," Elara reminded him.
Adrian scoffed, "VIP room? Which one? Got any witnesses?"
'A few days ago, he was the one who brought it up first, and now he was denying it?' Elara fumed inwardly.
Elara stifled her frustration and forced a shaky smile. "Mr. Hartley, um... Last time, Alex turned down Anchor Law Firm's representation..."
'Oh, that's what she's here for,' Adrian thought.
He turned his head slightly to look at her and said coldly, "Then what?"
The kaleidoscope of lights in the room played over Elara's face. Her anxious, dewy eyes blinked as she gazed at him, and Adrian felt that his throat tightened. He poured himself a drink and took a sip to moisten his throat.
"So could you help him get a lawyer? Maybe someone from the Anchor Law Firm?" Elara asked.
She didn't dare ask Adrian to represent Dylan personally. 'Any lawyer from Anchor Law Firm would do,' she thought. 'At least the judge would consider Adrian's reputation.'
However, Adrian sneered, "Ms. Langton, Anchor Law Firm handles hundreds of cases every day. We don't have time for your childish games. One minute you want us, and the next you don't. Now you come crawling back. You think we're just some back-alley ambulance chasers?"
Elara couldn't understand why he always had to be so indirect and sarcastic. "If you don't want to help, just say so," she thought, exasperated.
She forced an apologetic smile. "Mr. Hartley, it was our fault last time. We shouldn't have turned you down. Could you please give us another chance?"
Adrian sat in silence, drinking wine with deliberate indifference.
Elara pleaded, "Mr. Hartley, name your terms. If you're still angry, you can vent it on me. Yell, scold, or even hit me if you want. Just please, help Dylan."
Neil asked with curiosity, "Come on, Adrian. What's the big deal? Just get her a lawyer already. Look at her. She's practically begging you. Kinda tugs at your heartstrings, doesn't it?"
It seemed like he was speaking up for her, but something about his tone felt off.
Adrian's deep eyes swept over Elara's face, and he said to Neil, "Really? It's about your uncle's case. Are you sure you want me to arrange someone for her?"
At that, a chill ran down Elara's spine. 'Neil's uncle's case? Could it be the Heaton family's heir?' she wondered.
She stole a quick glance at Neil, only to find him already looking at her. Dressed in a white suit with an air of aristocracy, he couldn't hide the playful twinkle in his eyes.
She quickly averted her gaze, her palms slick with sweat.
Neil said, "Yes, my uncle's case. So, what's her deal with Dylan?"
Adrian's lips curled into a sly grin. "Well, she might be Dylan's future daughter-in-law."
Neil scoffed, "No way! Alex is actually with someone this beautiful?" He recalled how Alex had come to him for help with Dylan's case, but he'd turned Alex down, refusing to help a stranger screw over his own uncle.
He gave the woman beside him a playful squeeze around the waist, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Honestly, Alex isn't much of a man, sending his drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend to beg for him instead of coming himself. Clearly, she's meant as a gift for Adrian."
Adrian smirked, playing along with Neil's taunt. "Oh? So, did Alex send you here to seduce me?" he said, his tone flippant, even offensive.