Joe was used to being scrutinized—but he found it particularly annoying when it came from other men, especially ones trying to read too much into his private life.
“Wasn’t Paul the only one always around you? Since when did you get a beautiful secretary?” Rowan raised a brow, clearly skeptical.
To him, Joe suddenly having an attractive woman by his side wasn’t just a coincidence—it had all the signs of a hidden romance. He was convinced there was something more going on beneath the surface.
Among the group, only Rowan had the kind of friendship with Joe that allowed for such candid remarks. The others—Ethan, Mark, and Lukas—respected Joe too much, or perhaps feared him, to speak so directly.
Ethan, always quick to act, pulled the celebrity beside him out of her seat to make room. “Joe, want to play a few rounds?”
Lukas and Mark exchanged annoyed glances. Ethan had beat them to the punch again.
Knowing Joe rarely joined poker games, Ethan added, “Or just sit and let your secretary play for you. She looks like she could bring you some luck.”
Joe turned to Skylar. “Do you know how to play? If you win, the money’s yours. If you lose, it’s on me.”
Skylar’s eyes lit up at the offer. “I do know how to play… but I’m not very good,” she admitted modestly.
“That’s alright,” Joe replied with unexpected gentleness in his voice.
Mark observed the interaction closely. Joe wasn’t known for being tender—especially not around women. For Skylar to earn such treatment, she had to be either extremely capable… or deeply involved with him.
His curiosity was piqued.
Rowan smirked. “Skill doesn’t matter. Your boss is loaded. He can afford to let you lose a few rounds. But I’m not passing up this rare chance to win his money.”
Skylar took a seat, quickly calming her nerves. It had been a while since she last played, but she used to enjoy games like this with Viola.
Seeing her focused expression, Joe leaned closer. “Don’t worry about the outcome.”
Skylar turned to him and whispered, “If I win… will the money really be mine? You won’t change your mind? And what if your friends get upset about losing?”
Joe’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You’re overthinking it. Just play.”
The mood was light, the stakes high but friendly—at least on the surface. Being in a private club like this meant the game was more about leisure than strategy.
“Okay,” Skylar said with a quiet confidence, her eyes sparkling as she smiled.
Joe was momentarily captivated by the sight. Her smile was radiant, and her natural poise caught him off guard.
Their hushed conversation didn’t go unnoticed. Everyone in the room picked up on the unusual intimacy between them. No one believed she was just a secretary. The title was clearly a convenient front.
As the poker game progressed, staff brought out a grand birthday cake for Rowan. But the cake was more for show—most people were far more interested in the game and the tension at the table.
An hour passed in a blur.
Joe glanced at the growing stack of chips and cash in front of Skylar and realized something: she had been worried earlier that he wouldn’t honor his word if she actually won.
He chuckled inwardly. She really doesn’t know me yet.
Rowan was the one known for his impulsive gambling streak, but even he wasn’t prepared for what followed.
Lukas and Mark, who had initially underestimated Skylar, now looked visibly shaken. They had assumed she was just a pretty, delicate woman who’d fumble her way through the game. They only agreed to play out of courtesy to Joe.
But now—after losing several hundred thousand dollars between them—they weren’t so sure anymore.
Skylar, with her composed demeanor and unexpected skill, had completely turned the game on its head.
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