Chapter 76
The manager’s eyes lit up as he thought, “This is my lucky break! Mr. Anderson will be thrilled to hear from Ms. Bentley. Maybe this will finally get me that promotion and raise I’ve been hoping for. And I’m the first to speak to her directly!
“Absolutely. Just a second. I’ll let Mr. Anderson know right away,” he said, already heading off at a quick pace.
Kristina watched him hurry away, feeling a little off. Usually, it was the boss calling the shots. She should be the one waiting to see if Devin even wanted to meet with her.
Trenton, standing next to her, looked annoyed as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.
Meanwhile, upstairs in the fancy suite, Devin leaped off the couch when his guy gave him the report. “Kristina wants to see me?” he said, his voice all excited.
“Yeah, Mr. Anderson. She’s waiting for you in the lobby. Should I bring her up?” the manager asked, hoping for some credit. Instead, he got a slap.
“Are you kidding me? How could you let her wait downstairs? Get her up here, now!” Devin snapped.
“Yeah, Mr. Anderson. I’m heading over,” the manager replied.
Devin felt a rush of excitement he hadn’t felt in years. He quickly patted down his suit and fixed his hair, then turned to the attendant. “How do I look? Ready to meet my sweetheart?”
The attendant nodded eagerly. “Mr. Anderson, you look sharp as always.”
Meanwhile, Kristina and Trenton reached the suite. Devin was known for being tough, so Kristína decided to keep Yasmine out of it. She didn’t want her friend to get caught in the middle.
When Devin saw his daughter, his eyes filled with tears. Her face was a perfect mix of his and Abby’s. “Kristina, what brings you here?” he asked, his usual stern look softening. His voice was gentle, almost tender.
The attendant couldn’t help but glance at Kristina. “Things are about to change–big time,‘ he mused.
Kristina got straight to the point. “Mr. Anderson, I don’t know what Stanley did to upset you, but he’s part of our McClain family. I want to figure out a way to get him back, and I’ll pay whatever it takes.”
Devin’s smile faltered. He hated how she called the McClains “her” family, like she was setting boundaries. And being called “Mr. Anderson” by his own daughter made him feel like a stranger. “Don’t call me Mr. Anderson,” he said.
Kristina blinked and fell silent. She realized Devin was as short–tempered as rumored. All she wanted was to pay the ransom for Stanley, but now she couldn’t even address him properly.
“If I can’t call you Mr. Anderson, what should I call you?” she asked cautiously.
“Call me Dad- Devin began, but Trenton jumped in.
“Just call him Devin. We’re all familiar here. No need to get formal,” Trenton said, shrugging like it was no big deal.
Devin’s face turned sour. ‘Who do you think you are, brat?‘ he thought. ‘I don’t care if you call me Devin or Mr. Anderson. But she’s my daughter. She should call me Daddy!
He was about to chew Trenton out, but Kristina’s gentle voice cut through the tension. “Devin.”
“Yeah, good girl,” he replied, softening at the sound of her voice. He figured being on a first–name basis wasn’t so bad; it made them seem closer. As for Trenton, Devin made a mental note to handle him later.
Devin waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, you can take Stanley with you.”
“Devin, how much do I owe you? What’s the process?” Kristina asked, her eyes steady and calm.
Devin shrugged like it was no big deal. “I’ve got a bunch of rules, but they’re mostly for everyone else. You can bring whoever you want.” He’d practically hand over the whole club if she asked–he was her dad, after all.
Kristina hadn’t expected Devin to agree so quickly. He even had his guys stop the match right away. Knowing she might never get another chance, she quickly thanked him and left with Trenton, half–expecting Devin to change his mind at any second.
As they walked out, Kristina glanced at Trenton. “Do you think there’s something off about Mr. Anderson?” she asked.
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3:23 PM N
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