Chapter 13: A Bet

Chapter 13: A Bet

Cedric raised a brow and let out a small laugh. “What do you take me for? … Of course, she’s an heiress. And true, she’s extraordinary. Not the kind of bees that buzzes after jars of honey all day.” He gave them a knowing look.

The twins exchanged looks and Cedric could notice mischief in their eyes. He laughed again, knowing that his words had hit the right spots.

“Well…” George’s lips curled up and he approached the guy. “That is something worth betting about,” he emphasized each word and his brother nodded in affirmation.

“In your dreams.” Cedric scoffed with a roll of his eyes.

“Come on, buddy. It’s just another girl.” Greg sauntered toward him and flung his arm around his shoulder. “Don’t tell me you’re scared.”

Cedric took a glass of wine from the tray of a passing-by waiter. He took a seat, then sat beside George who was already seated on one of the huge couches nearby. “That is nonsense. You can bet on someone else, not her… Our engagement is next week. That one is for a keep.”

“We are fully aware of that,” George muttered lazily. “Don’t you wanna hear the conditions first? Or…” He took a glass from one of the girls that had just joined them and said, “Is it the old scar? Not over it yet? Are you afraid you’ll lose this time also?”

Cedric cleared his throat and gave them a hard glare, thinking back to what happened back at university. The same kind of bet that had ripped him off in just one day. And the fact that it was in a foreign country made things worst. He quickly shook that horrible incident out of his head and turned to them.

By then, more girls had joined them and waiting for his answer with keen interest. “What’s the price?” He muttered nonchalantly.

Greg sat down on the other couch and placed one leg atop the other. “If you win,” he started, while twirling his wine glass. “That business collaboration is yours.”

Cedric’s eyes expanded but he quickly collected himself. The multimillion-dollar deal. Now, that’s a great take. If he landed that deal, on one hand, everything will be easier for him and he wouldn’t have to disappoint his father. And on the other hand, he would get to put the twins in their place.

“And, what if it turns out to be the contrary?” He asked with a yawn.

“If you lose,” George murmured and stroked his chin with a far-off look. “If you lose,” he went on with a chuckle. “Then everything will be ours. The collaboration, and also…”

“The girl.” Greg finished his brother’s words with delight.

Cedric almost dropped his wine glass before his expression darkened. That was ridiculous. However, he wouldn’t put it past the guys to come up with that absurd condition.

Both twins chuckled with raised brows.

“Speechless?” Said one of them.

“Don’t tell me it’s such a huge blow to take.” The other one added.

The girls started whispering among themselves and Cedric scoffed.

“Hold your horses, Guys.” He raised both hands and laughed. “No need to leap to conclusions.”

He started weighing the pros and cons of both conditions and under the gazes of those girls, there was no way they were going to make a fool of him. Besides, when they find out her family background, they’ll both regret coming up with this bet. It would actually be a double glory for him.

“Isn’t it just a bet? What’s there to fret about?” He stood up with both hands in his pocket. “I’m game,” he announced before looking down at his wristwatch.

“That’s the spirit,” George chuckled and the other twin also laughed. Even the girls let out gales of giggles as they all clapped in excitement.

“Tell me the trial,” Cedric said, preparing himself for whatever process or game they’ll have the bet on.

“In the meantime.”

“We’ll have a think into it.”

The twins answered and he nodded with a roll of his eyes.

“Sorry, guys. I have to hit the road. Got some important things to take care of,” He muttered, with his eyes still on the wristwatch. It was almost nighttime but he had to keep his words and make a good impression. The family must be expecting him.

The girls sighed in disappointment and the twins whined.

“Come on, Dude. The night is just starting.”

“Yeah, what’s so important to keep you from enjoying the moment?”

“It’s hard for single dogs to understand.” Cedric chuckled as he slapped them both on the shoulder. “We’ll catch up next time. Take care, beauties.”

“Ouch.”

“That went deep.”

The single dogs held their chests in dramatic gestures and he bid them good night then left for the parking lot.

Cedric drove through the city with the guys’ words running through his head. Was he willing to put her on the line just because of the deal? Would he be able to handle losing that collaboration he had been eyeing ever since he came to the city? Each one was as important as the other.

Why was he even worrying? It wasn’t like this was his first time gambling something he held dear. A few times he had lost, but many times he emerged the winner.

He took one hand off the steering wheel and grabbed the water bottle that sat beside him. He stopped the car at a corner, rinsed his mouth, and continued driving. Shit! He should have brought a mouth spray. A perfume was sitting inside the glove compartment. He took it and spray some on his body. That should help to get rid of the smell of alcohol. He knew he was half intoxicated, but it wasn’t anything to worry about. He could handle it.

His gaze darted to the pack of cigarettes in the glove compartment and his hand itched to pick it up, however, he was able to control himself. That could wait.

The time showed past eleven as he glanced at his wristwatch and he stifled a yawn. He finally reached the residential area and had to horn for some time before the gates were opened by the security.