Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Ruby was still lounging in bed, regularly keeping all her potential suitors on a tight leash as usual. Hearing Elara's words, she yawned and asked, "Going to reel Victor in?"
Elara replied, "Yeah, Victor's uncle is meeting with Adrian today, and Victor will be there too. There's no way for outsiders to get into this exclusive tennis club. I think maybe you should ask Victor to bring us in.
"I got fired, you know. I need to find a way to see Adrian and win him over. So please, pretty please."
Ruby said, "Got it. Send me a pic of the club's entrance sign. I'll get up and shower now."
Elara drove to the tennis club, parked outside, and snapped a quick photo of the entrance to send to Ruby.
After her shower, Ruby received the photo and slyly posted it on her Instagram, making sure it was visible to Victor only. She posted: [Just passed by a tennis club on Sunway Road. Suddenly feel like playing.]
Then, Ruby set her phone aside and started blow-drying her hair. After drying her hair, she checked her Instagram.
As expected, Victor had liked her post and commented: [Wanna play? I'll show you the ropes.]
Ruby wasn't in a hurry to reply. She slipped into a dress and perfected her natural-looking makeup. After that, she grabbed her phone, car keys, and purse, then headed out.
Victor sent her two messages on WhatsApp. He asked: [Are you still at the entrance? Want me to come get you?]
Ruby finally replied: [You're at the club?]
Victor replied instantly: [Yeah, here with Adrian. Just chatting about something.]
Ruby said: [Okay, I guess I won't disturb you two while you're talking business. I'll just go ask someone else.]
Ruby drove to the club. Her phone buzzed with WhatsApp notifications from time to time.
Victor said: [You don't need to ask someone else. I'm already at the club. It is not a serious business, just helping my uncle make a connection, just a formality. Honestly, we're mainly here to play tennis.]
Ruby left him on read.
Fifteen minutes later, Elara and Ruby finally met up outside the club entrance.
Elara asked, "So, how did it go? What did Victor say?"
Ruby replied, "Just wait, he'll be out in under ten minutes."
Elara asked, "Really? You think a player like Victor would fall for your tricks?"
Ruby said, "So what if he's a player? Players or not, they all fall for this trick."
"Well, Adrian definitely wouldn't fall for that trick," Elara muttered to herself.
True to form, Victor appeared in a crisp white tracksuit and a baseball cap. He lingered at the entrance, scanning the area. Spotting Ruby's pink BMW, he strolled over and tapped on her window.
Elara was completely dumbfounded. She said, "Rubes, our Three Musketeers team would fall apart without you. Quick, get Victor to bring us in. I'm desperate to win Adrian over!"
"Got it covered," Ruby replied with a confident grin.
Elara and Ruby got out of Elara's car, pretending they were just waiting for someone.
Victor hurried over as soon as he saw them. He greeted, "Ruby! And, Elara? You're here too?" His expression darkened the moment he saw Elara. Clearly, to him, Elara was just an unwelcome third wheel.
Elara couldn't care less about being a third wheel right now. Making sure Adrian was on her side was all that mattered.
Ruby put on her best act of nonchalance. "Oh, you're here too?" she said.
Victor replied, "So, you wanted to play, right? Let me show you around."
Ruby asked, "Oh, who else is with you guys?"
Victor said, "Just Adrian and his assistant are left. My uncle already stormed off after Adrian pissed him off."
"Fine," Ruby said.
Ruby and Elara followed Victor into the tennis club and changed into the club's tennis uniforms. Ruby's was light pink, while Elara's was white.
With their flawless skin and radiant beauty, Ruby and Elara turned heads as they walked across the court, eliciting admiring whistles from the nearby wealthy playboys.
When they reached their reserved spot, Elara spotted Adrian from afar. Adrian, in his casual dress, looked relaxed and effortlessly cool. Elara couldn't help stealing a few more glances at him.
After all, since she met him, Elara had only ever seen Adrian in two extremes: either sharply dressed in a suit, or completely undressed.
Adrian lounged on a white wicker chair, legs crossed and eyes fixed on his phone. Beside him sat Zoe, dressed in a blue tennis dress.
Ruby walked over to greet them. She said, "Mr. Hartley, you're here too?"
Hearing this, Adrian looked up from his phone. His expression darkened as he spotted Elara.
Seeing Elara about to approach him, Adrian abruptly stood up, grabbed the tennis racket from the side table, and practically dragged Victor onto the court to play.
Elara thought with a sigh, 'Man, this guy is hard to please.'
From a short distance away, Justin spotted Elara and couldn't help but light up at the sight of her.
Elara pulled her long, silky hair back into a neat ponytail. The crisp white baseball cap gave her a fresh-faced, college-girl vibe. Her form-fitting top hugged her figure, accentuating her perky bust and slender waist. Beneath her short skirt, her legs were simply dazzling.
Justin thought that Elara didn't dress like someone who came here to play tennis.
Elara certainly didn't come here to play tennis, let alone the fact that she had zero clue how to play the game.
Seeing Adrian head straight to the court without even sparing her a glance, Elara could only find a seat and watch him from a distance, feeling a bit dejected.
Adrian wore a loose white polo shirt, his toned, muscular arms on full display. Prominent veins traced the back of his hand as he gripped the tennis racket. Each powerful, practiced swing made it clear he was no stranger to the game.
Adrian and Victor were longtime tennis partners. The way they volleyed back and forth made it obvious.
Elara was admiring the two handsome guys playing when, all of a sudden, a shadow fell across her view as someone stepped in front of her. She looked up and was met with Zoe's sickly sweet smile.
"Elara, what brings you here?" Zoe asked.
Elara retorted, "And why shouldn't I be here?"
Zoe said, "Can't you guys just find another court? Mr. Hartley finally has some personal time. He's always swamped with work and hardly ever gets to have this much fun. So please, don't bother him now."
Elara retorted, "Oh, are you planning to stand here all day?"
Zoe said, "Elara, you should just leave. Don't show up around Mr. Hartley anymore. He really can't stand the sight of you right now."
Elara let out a mocking laugh, clearly annoyed. She asked, "Tell me, Zoe, do you own this club?"
Zoe replied, "No."
Elara asked, "Then why would I leave?"
Zoe said, "Elara, you're being so selfish right now. Can't you see how exhausted Mr. Hartley is?"
Elara snapped, "Stop nagging me here! So annoying!" With that, she got up and made her way over to sit beside Justin, keeping a safe distance from Zoe.
Justin could tell at a glance that Elara had come over after being provoked, and he chuckled knowingly.
Elara sat down beside Justin and asked, "Why aren't you out there playing?"
"No tennis partner," Justin said, his eyes lingering on Elara.
Elara replied, "Oh, don't look at me like that. I have no idea how to play."
Justin asked, "Then why'd you even come?"
Elara replied, "I'm here to look for a job." She thought, 'More like trying to get back the job I just lost.'
Justin chuckled and said, "Want me to teach you? Adrian's busy playing anyway."
Elara glanced at Ruby and found that Ruby had already picked the hottest coach for some hands-on lessons. So Elara accepted Justin's offer.
Justin carefully selected a racket for Elara, led her to an open space nearby, and began by teaching her the proper stance.
Justin instructed, "Face the net with your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Lean forward, keeping your weight on the balls of your feet. Hold the racket in your right hand at a 45-degree angle to the ground."
Elara followed his instructions.
Justin noticed her grip was off, so he stepped in and gently adjusted her hands himself.
Adrian's eyes flickered over to the two of them. In that moment of distraction, the ball slammed into his shoulder.
The ball struck with tremendous force, aggravating Adrian's old shoulder injury. He winced and instinctively clutched his shoulder in pain.
Victor shrugged, stealing another glance toward Ruby. His mind was elsewhere. "Enough of this game," he said and tossed his racket aside, leaving Adrian behind as he made a beeline for Ruby.
Seeing Adrian come off the court, Zoe scurried over and handed him a bottle of water.
Adrian took the bottle, drank a few sips, and settled back into his chair to rest.
Zoe slid into the seat beside Adrian, whispered something, and just like that, she had him smiling. The gloom on Adrian's face vanished in an instant, replaced by a genuine smile.
Seeing the scene, Elara was fuming. She thought, 'What did that fake-sweet girl say?'
Noticing Elara was distracted, Justin reached over and gave her a gentle tap on the head. "Focus," he reminded her.
Adrian caught every single moment of their closeness.
Justin leaned in and whispered, "If you want to get Adrian's attention, just follow my lead."
Elara was momentarily taken aback.
Justin said, "Just let go and laugh, right now. The happier, the better!"
Elara was confused.
Justin explained, "The most sophisticated hunters often act like prey themselves. You can't just keep chasing after him. He's too experienced for that. Instead, play the prey. When he sees his little bunny about to fall for someone else, that's when he starts to panic."
Elara asked, "You really think that'll work?" Then she beamed at Justin and asked, "Does my smile look pretty like this?"
Justin grinned and said, "You're stunning."
Elara beamed even brighter at the compliment. Anyone watching might have thought she was head over heels in love.
Before long, Elara and Justin heard Adrian's impatient voice from nearby.
"Justin, come here and play tennis with me," Adrian called out.