Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
Isabella instinctively wanted to keep Jared away from someone as dangerous as Lilian, but his demeanor had shifted from the first time they met her. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, distancing himself from Isabella.
“Jared.”
Isabella’s voice was calm but firm. He turned, offering her a reassuring glance. Years of working together meant they didn’t need words to communicate—Isabella understood immediately. Jared was willing to take a risk. Lilian had made the first move by approaching them, so why not turn the situation to their advantage?
Still, as Jared disappeared into the private room, unease settled in Isabella’s chest. He had never attempted something like this before. Their missions had always involved combat and strategy—never manipulation through charm.
She stayed put, unwilling to leave. Lilian was unpredictable, her temperament shifting without warning. If anything went wrong, Isabella had to be ready to act.
Jared’s decision to step inside pleased Lilian. A slow smirk curved her lips as she raised a brow toward the door.
“What’s this? You’d leave your little lover behind just to see me? Aren’t you afraid she’ll be heartbroken?”
The subtle mockery in her tone didn’t go unnoticed. Jared’s expression tightened for a fraction of a second before he forced himself to relax.
“Miss Perkins, I’d appreciate it if you watched your words. Miss Patton and I are nothing more than friends. There’s no need for baseless speculation.”
Lilian studied him for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
“Just friends, hmm? You’ve only met a few times, and already you consider her a friend? Well, we’ve met twice now—does that mean we’re friends too?”
There was something deliberately suggestive in the way she lingered on the word “friends.” A faint flush crept up Jared’s neck. He wasn’t used to handling someone like Lilian—her words, her presence, her unpredictable nature. But in that moment, something clicked.
“You’ve been looking into us.”
Lilian tilted her head, resting her chin on her other hand.
“Of course. I told you I planned to pursue you, didn’t I? Wouldn’t it be foolish to go in blind? I had to learn your likes and dislikes first—wouldn’t want to accidentally push you away.”
Jared exhaled slowly. There was no point in engaging with her in a conventional way—Lilian thrived on chaos. Instead, he steered the conversation elsewhere.
“Miss Perkins, why did you ask to see me?”
Lilian’s gaze remained steady.
“Didn’t I already tell you this afternoon? I like you. I want you to be my boyfriend—and eventually, my husband.”
Jared’s frown deepened.
“But there’s nothing about me that should interest you.”
He had stepped into this situation willingly, knowing it was an opportunity to infiltrate Lilian’s world. But at the same time, he was searching for the line—the one thing that might provoke her and push her to react.
The moment the words left his mouth, Lilian’s expression darkened.
Lilian’s eyes lingered on Jared’s face before she delivered her words with a hint of amusement.
“Mr. Cooper, has anyone ever told you that you really don’t have a way with words?”
A look of bewilderment crossed Jared’s features. Lilian continued, her voice carrying a mix of warmth and firmness, “You can insult yourself, but you can’t insult my taste. If I like someone, then that person is definitely worth it. From today on, I don’t want to hear you criticize yourself again, understand, Mr. Cooper?”
Jared fell silent, his eye twitching involuntarily. His previous investigation had painted Lilian as a competent individual, but now that he was in close quarters with her, she seemed to operate in a reality entirely her own.
If Lilian noticed his discomfort, she showed no sign of it. With fluid grace, she retrieved a wine glass and filled it with crimson liquid, gesturing invitingly to Jared.
“Mr. Cooper, sit down and have a drink with me. Maybe you’ll find that we actually have a lot in common?” Her confidence wasn’t unfounded. Beautiful, well-bred, and financially formidable, Lilian had always believed she could capture the attention of any man she desired. Now that she would discuss Fisherman’s Cove with Jared, she felt particularly assured.
Jared eyed the wine warily. The robust aroma promised potency, and safety remained a question mark in his mind.
When Lilian noticed his hesitation, her lips curved into a knowing smile.
“What? Are you afraid I’ll drug you?”
Without breaking eye contact, she lifted the glass and drained it in one smooth motion.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Cooper. I like you, so I wouldn’t use such dirty tricks on you. I’ve already drunk your wine, and I’m fine. You should trust me now, right?”
She wouldn’t use dirty tricks? Hadn’t she used such tricks many times before? The thought flickered through Jared’s mind, but he found himself taking the seat anyway. Lilian poured another glass, which he accepted.
The private room’s door remained ajar, offering Isabella a clear view of the unfolding scene. Settling into his chair, Jared fixed his gaze on Lilian.
“I’ve finished the wine. Miss Perkins, just get to the point. There’s no need to beat around the bush.”
A smile played across Lilian’s features.
“I wasn’t beating around the bush. I indeed like you, but the reason I invited you here tonight is more than just that.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“I know you want Fisherman’s Cove. I can use my family’s influence to help you get it.”
What did that mean?
Confusion clouded Jared’s thoughts. Their first encounter had brought an unexpected request for romance, and now she was offering her family’s power to aid him. The woman’s true motives remained an enigma. His mind raced through possibilities.
“Miss Perkins, you wouldn’t help me for no reason, would you?” Jared asked, his tone carefully measured.
Lilian’s response came with practiced elegance, her words flowing like honey laced with purpose.
“Of course, but the condition is simple. You marry me. With our union, my family becomes your fortress, and Fisherman’s Cove falls into your hands. Every advantage you can imagine will be yours for the taking. Mr. Cooper, my interest in you runs deep. This deserves your careful consideration.”
As Jared stepped out of the private room, conflicting emotions played across his features like shadows at dusk. As he exited the Homelight Club with Isabella, Isabella’s concern manifested in a quick question.
“Did she do anything to you?”
Jared’s head moved in denial as he struggled to articulate the bizarre encounter that had just unfolded within those walls.
“I haven’t given her an answer yet,” he began, weighing each word.
“I think this might be our window into investigating the Perkins family, but…”
His voice trailed off into uncertain silence. The opportunity dangled before them like a double-edged sword ??promising yet perilous. Isabella’s brow furrowed in contemplation.
“Let’s not rush. Unless we can’t avoid it, Estresa still remains our starting point.”
Back in the club, Lilian’s gaze settled on her assistant, curiosity dancing in her eyes.
“Do you think he’ll accept my proposition?”
Her assistant, known for unwavering loyalty and brutal honesty, didn’t hesitate.
“Given what we understand of Mr. Cooper’s character, the likelihood of him accepting your offer appears remarkably slim.”
A subtle, dangerous smile graced Lilian’s lips.
“Then we’ll simply have to guide his path until it leads directly to me.”
She leaned close to her assistant, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
After she shared her instructions, Lilian’s tone shifted to something more pointed.
“By the way, has my father uncovered anything about J?”
The assistant bowed his head slightly, his voice measured.
“Our initial assumption about their student status proved incorrect. After extensive investigation, Mr. Perkins traced similar investment patterns in the market’s history. Interestingly, he discovered another J from over a decade ago—someone renowned for their exceptional market insight. They made a single, memorable appearance before vanishing. Whether these Js are one and the same remains unclear. I was about to bring this to your attention. Shall we continue pursuing this lead?”
“Of course!” Lilian’s eyes narrowed to calculating slits as she straightened in her seat.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.