Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 29

Shattered Rose: He Held On Tight

Chapter 29 The Trap at the Bar

Finished,

And now that he knew Claudia had burned down the house Grandma left to Lydia–leaving Lydia crying secretly at night even in the hospital–Quade hated her with every bone in his body.

Because of her leg injury, Lydia had lost a crucial chance at promotion. Naturally, Claudia had to pay the same price.

But the woman was too much of a shut–in. Like a turtle, she holed herself up at home day and night, giving him no chance to make a move.

Tonight, when his eyes and ears at the bar reported that Ms. Sawyer and Claudia had shown up, Quade floored the gas and sped over.

“What’s this? After knowing each other for so long, Ms. Sawyer, Ms. Lancaster, you won’t even share a drink?” He glared at the two women, unmoved by their indifference.

“Heh, I don’t drink with simps,” Whitney fired back without mercy.

Claudia calmly sipped her drink. “And your face isn’t worth it.”

“Pfft.” Whitney burst out laughing.

The words cut in two directions.

For one, Quade was firmly in Lydia’s camp. By default, that made him guilty by association in their eyes, never mind his naturally loathsome mouth.

For another, the Zimmer family’s current power holder was his cousin Mandy. Though Quade was one of the only two direct grandsons of the Zimmer line, he had grown up spoiled and unchecked. These past two years, Mandy had crushed him so badly he had no standing left in public.

Quade’s face turned black.

These two women’s tongues were vicious.

But thinking of his purpose, he forced himself to hold back, snapping at the bar staff, “Bring the drinks.”

A rainbow of cocktails soon filled the table.

Claudia refused with a curl of her lip. “We don’t share tables.”

Damn it! Did he look so desperate he had to beg for company?

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Chapter 29 The Trip at the Har

1950

“Claudia, that little stunt of hiring people to curse me online—that was you, wasn’t it? Drink all of these tonight, and I’ll let it go.”

“Whether you let it go or not, who cares?”

It wasn’t like he’d ever left her alone before.

Every time she clashed with Lydia, Quade came charging like a rabid dog. Claudia was used to it by now.

“Then let’s make a bet. If you can outdrink me, I’ll leave you alone for three months and even give you a car. But if I win, you apologize to Lydia.”

“No.”

“Just ten minutes of repentance.”

“Not playing.”

Quade bristled. “What, scared you’ll lose?”

Claudia gave him a flat glance. “Even grade–schoolers don’t fall for that trick anymore.”

Ahhh! This woman was unbearable! Just like Lydia said–impossible to deal with.

Quade was so furious he paced in circles.

Finally, his eyes hardened. “You’re drinking tonight whether you want to or not.”

If she didn’t leave this place humiliated, she wasn’t leaving at all.

The atmosphere tightened, though it was hidden under the pounding music and chatter of the bar, unseen by others.

“Hey! You’re here too? Come on, let’s go to the event room for a drink!”

A few rich brats spotted Quade and hurried over eagerly.

Their families had money, though not old wealth. Even if Mandy overshadowed him at home, out in public Quade was still a Zimmer heir. There was never any shortage of sycophants around him.

Quade smirked at their approach. “Entertaining some beauties here. But they’re a little cold. Tell you what–anyone who can get them to drink a glass tonight, I’ll give a hundred grand. No limit, no rules.”

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Chapter 29 The Trap at the Bar

His eyes challenged Claudia as he spoke.

50

Finished

Since she refused the easy way, let’s see how she handled the hard way. These spoiled sons weren’t going to be as gentle as he was.

The newcomers‘ eyes lit up.

They weren’t nearly as rich as Quade. A hundred grand a glass? With dozens of drinks on the table, they swallowed hard.

Their gazes raked over Claudia and Whitney. To be honest, in all their time in bars, they’d rarely seen women this stunning. No wonder Mr. Zimmer was interested.

Young and reckless, they all understood what this meant.

A man with narrow, foxlike eyes stepped forward first. “You ladies don’t understand. When Mr. Zimmer offers you a drink, it’s for your own good. Come on, I’ll feed you myself.”

He reached to grab Whitney’s shoulder, trying to pin her by force.

But before he touched her, a hard leather clutch smashed into his face.

“Get lost! You mangy mutt, who gave you the guts to touch me?”

Meanwhile, Claudia had already flung her drink into the eyes of another man staring at her lewdly. Tears and alcohol mixed, and he howled in pain.

Humiliated in front of the crowd, the two men froze under the women’s sharp stares.

That look promised that if they pushed one step further, what awaited them wouldn’t be so simple.

The first attempt foiled, the rest hesitated. Anyone who dared stand up to a Zimmer like this- could these two be people they couldn’t afford to offend?

“Quade, resorting to such cheap tricks against women–it’s no wonder the Zimmer family head has no respect for you,” Whitney sneered.

“Two hundred grand.”

Quade’s face was grim, his voice low as he doubled the price.

The group still wavered. Finally, the most cautious of them spoke. “Mr. Zimmer… do you actually know these two?”

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Shattered Rose He Held C