Chapter 350: Good Luck, Sister!

Riley understood what Zachary’s gaze meant. He quickly adjusted his expression.

“Uncle, please don’t be offended,” he forced a small laugh to ease the tension. “I only thought it was strange because I know how close you and Kevin are. I didn’t mean to question you.”

Zachary continued looking at him for a moment before turning his attention toward the guests gathered near the stage. He had already grown tired of the conversation, and Riley’s attempts to appear innocent were doing nothing to improve his mood.

Riley shifted in his seat, sensing that the atmosphere had become uncomfortable. He didn’t want to stay long enough for Zachary to ask questions about the lawsuit or the documents tied to the dispute. He had already said more than he intended, and he needed to be careful not to draw unnecessary attention to himself.

“Anyway, Uncle, I should go and find my father,” Riley said as he stood. “He might be looking for me.”

Zachary didn’t respond. He only gave a small nod, his expression remaining neutral.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Uncle.” He said, then walked away, heading toward where his father was speaking with several other business leaders. He kept his posture relaxed, but his thoughts were far less cheerful than his expression suggested.

Zachary watched Riley disappear into the crowd. Once his nephew was far enough away, the calm expression on his face gradually faded. His jaw tightened, and the hand holding his wineglass relaxed against the table.

He leaned back and rubbed his temples as a dull headache began to form.

“What an arrogant prick that boy,” he muttered under his breath.

Zachary had no intention of letting Riley rent-free in his mind. For now, however, he wanted to call Sienna. Thinking about his wife was the only thing that made the exhausting evening feel worthwhile.

…

Jessica Simmons’ Hotel Room.

The loud ringing of her cell phone pulled Jessica out of her thoughts. She grabbed it and checked the screen.

When she saw Riley’s name, her eyes lit up. She had been waiting for his call since earlier that afternoon, and the anticipation made it hard to focus on anything else.

“Riley, how is it?” She asked immediately, not even bothering with a greeting. She was too anxious to waste time. She needed to know whether their plan had worked so she could move on to the next step.

“Tsk. Tsk. You sound impatient, sister,” Riley said with a chuckle from the other end of the line.

Jessica tightened her grip on the phone. He was right. She had been growing more impatient with every passing minute, and now that he had finally called, she could barely contain herself.

“Ugh, Riley, please tell me. Did Zach drink the wine?”

“Of course he did. And… I saw him leave the ballroom a short while ago.”

Riley sounded pleased with himself, and the relief in his voice immediately brought a smile to Jessica’s face. She had been afraid something might have gone wrong, but his confidence eased her worries.

“You’re the best, Riley!” she exclaimed. “You handled the task like it was nothing.”

“Hahaha, yeah, it wasn’t difficult at all. Besides, my uncle is too distracted by business deals to suspect anything. He has been dealing with a billion-dollar project, so he probably won’t pay much attention to what we’re doing.”

Jessica’s smile widened as she listened to him. The thought of finally spending the night with Zachary sent a rush of excitement through her.

She had convinced herself that she only needed one opportunity, one night to make Zachary return to her and abandon Sienna. Everything would change once she got close to him again.

“I’m so thrilled!” she said excitedly, her voice filled with anticipation. She sounded as though she had just won an important award and could hardly believe her good fortune.

Riley laughed softly before his tone became more serious. “Sister Jess, don’t get too excited yet. Your part of the plan won’t be as easy as mine.”

Jessica’s body stiffened. The excitement on her face faded slightly as she listened to him. She knew he was right. Getting into Zachary’s room and carrying out the rest of their plan would require careful timing. Even if he had consumed the drug, she could not afford to become careless.

“Yeah, I know,” she replied, trying to sound calm.

“You can go to his room in about one hour,” Riley continued. “By then, the effects should have become stronger, and he may not be fully aware of what is happening around him.” He paused briefly, and Jessica heard a quiet chuckle through the phone. “His judgment will be impaired, and that will give you the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.”

Jessica’s cheeks grew warm. Her imagination immediately began to run ahead of her, and she glanced toward the keycard resting on the coffee table. It was the key to Zachary’s presidential suite, and she had been looking at it for so long that it almost felt like a promise of what was to come.

“Okay, I understand,” she said, reaching for the keycard. She held it tightly between her fingers, as though she feared it might disappear if she loosened her grip. “I’ll make sure I succeed.”

“Good luck, sister.”

“Thank you, Riley.”

Jessica could not hide her happiness. A broad smile spread across her face as she stared at the keycard in her hand. She had already imagined how everything would unfold, and the thought of finally getting what she wanted made her feel almost invincible.

After a brief silence, she added, “Riley, I’ll give you a reward after all this is over. You can name whatever you want.”

“No worries, sister,” Riley replied with an amused laugh. “I won’t ask for anything strange.”

“Deal!”

They continued talking for several more minutes, discussing small details and making sure they understood what each of them needed to do. Riley reminded her not to go to Zachary’s room too early, while Jessica assured him that she could wait. However, the moment the call ended, she realized how difficult that would be.