Chapter 27: Clement's Invitation

Clement remained quiet for several days, which Freya appreciated. She had almost convinced herself that her rejection had finally damaged his pride enough to make him disappear when a courier arrived with an envelope addressed to her.

Inside was an invitation to a charity dinner hosted by Knox Group. A handwritten card had been included beneath it. "Freya, I hope you'll come. We should talk properly. Clement." Freya stared at the message and immediately wanted to throw it away.

Louis entered the living room while she was still holding the invitation. His eyes moved to the Knox Group emblem. "What's that?" "Clement invited me to a charity dinner." Freya handed it over without hesitation. "I'm not going."

Louis read the card. "Why not?" She looked at him as though the answer were obvious. "Because my ex-boyfriend invited me to an event specifically to talk privately. I'm married. Also, I don't like him."

"You used to." "People recover from bad judgment." Louis's mouth twitched. Freya took the invitation back. "Besides, I have deadlines. Wearing a dress for four hours so rich people can pretend to enjoy tiny food isn't worth losing writing time."

Louis leaned against the sofa. "Knox Group may be trying to use Clement to get information about me." Freya's expression immediately sharpened. "I knew it." "You suspected?" "He appeared the moment you went bankrupt. Melissa contacted me the next day. Neither of them cared about me for years."

Louis studied her with renewed interest. "What would you do if you went?" "Let him talk, reveal nothing, eat expensive food, and leave." "Not bad." "I'm still not going."

That afternoon, Clement called from a new number after discovering his old one was blocked. "Did you receive the invitation?" "Yes." "Then you'll come?" "No." His voice tightened. "Freya, stop acting childish."

She laughed. "You invited me. I declined. That's how invitations work." "I want to help you. There will be people at the dinner who could give Louis opportunities." "Louis can find his own opportunities."

Clement changed tactics. "What about you? You can't seriously plan to spend the rest of your life selling your possessions." Freya's eyes narrowed. He knew about the sales. That meant either Melissa had told him or someone else was watching her.

"How do you know what I'm selling?" Clement paused for just a fraction too long. "Melissa saw you." "She saw one transaction." "She mentioned you had several boxes."

Freya didn't believe him, but she didn't challenge the lie. "Either way, I'm not attending." She ended the call and immediately told Louis what Clement had said.

Louis's expression became cold. "He knows too much about your routine." "That's what I thought." For once, neither of them joked.

Freya crossed her arms. "Maybe I should go after all." "No." Louis answered instantly. She raised an eyebrow. "You just asked what I'd do if I went." "That doesn't mean you should."

"If they're trying to learn something through me, refusing forever won't tell us what they want." Louis looked at her for a long moment. Freya could practically see him calculating risks. Finally he said, "If you attend, you don't go alone." Her curiosity immediately rose. "Are you coming with me?"

Freya didn't answer immediately. Attending with Louis would change the entire purpose of Clement's invitation, but perhaps that was useful. If Knox Group truly wanted information, seeing the supposedly defeated Louis in person might force them to reveal more than another refusal would. She finally nodded. "Fine. But if rich people start discussing business for five hours, I'm leaving after dessert." Louis's expression softened slightly. "Agreed."