Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 50: : Cards on the Table

Chapter 50: : Cards on the Table

Anton leaned back in his seat, a slow smirk curling at his lips. "Didn’t think you had it in you, Bai."

Lucas chuckled, sliding into the booth across from him. "You wound me, Anton."

Ava followed, keeping her expression neutral, but her mind was already working.

Anton wasn’t just some random rich survivor.

He was comfortable. Connected. The kind of person who thrived in Level One because he knew how to move in silence.

And Lucas Bai?

He was making a statement just by sitting here.

Anton’s eyes flicked back to Ava, assessing. "You look new."

Ava tilted her head. "I learn fast."

Anton laughed. "Oh, I like her."

Lucas grinned. "So do I."

A waiter arrived, setting down a bottle of something expensive-looking, pouring glasses with practiced precision.

Anton raised his drink, swirling the liquid. "So, Bai. I assume you didn’t crawl back up here just for a social visit."

Lucas took his own glass, golden eyes gleaming over the rim. "Of course not."

Anton’s smirk didn’t fade. "Then let’s skip the bullshit. What do you want?"

Ava exhaled slowly.

Because this was it.

The real reason Lucas had come here.

Lucas took a slow sip of his drink, completely unbothered.

"Anton," he murmured, golden eyes gleaming, "can’t a man just visit old friends?"

Anton arched a brow. "Not when that man is you."

Ava hid a smirk behind her glass. At least someone here had common sense.

Lucas sighed dramatically. "You make it sound like I’m up to something."

Anton leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table. "Aren’t you?"

Lucas tilted his head. "If I was, you’d be the first to know."

Anton chuckled. "Right. Because you’re so generous with information."

Lucas grinned. "I am when it benefits me."

Anton exhaled, shaking his head. "So, if you’re really just here to visit, tell me—how’s exile been treating you?"

Lucas smirked. "Oh, you know me, Anton. I land on my feet."

Anton huffed. "Still a cockroach, I see."

Ava snorted, earning a side glance from Lucas.

Anton leaned back, swirling his drink. "Fine. Let’s pretend I believe you. You just came here to catch up?"

Lucas shrugged. "I wanted a drink."

Anton laughed. "Bullshit."

Lucas grinned wider. "And yet, here we are."

Ava exhaled slowly.

Anton sighed, setting his drink down with a quiet clink.

"Fine," he muttered, rubbing his temple. "I give up."

Lucas tilted his head, all lazy amusement. "Already? I was just starting to enjoy myself."

Anton shot him a flat look. "Bai, I’ve known you too long to play this game. If you say you’re just here for a drink, fine. I’ll pretend to believe you."

Lucas grinned. "See? That wasn’t so hard."

Anton ignored him, turning his attention to Ava instead. "And you? Are you actually here for business, or are you just stuck babysitting?"

Ava smirked. "Both, apparently."

Anton chuckled. "Smart girl."

Lucas raised his glass. "The smartest."

Anton exhaled sharply. "You’re insufferable."

Lucas winked. "And yet, you missed me."

Anton grumbled something under his breath before finally waving them off. "Fine. You’ve had your visit. Enjoy your drink. But if I find out later that you dragged me into some mess—"

Lucas smirked. "You’ll what? Complain about it?"

Anton glared. "I’ll raise your prices."

Lucas laughed, leaning back. "Now that? That would be cruel."

Anton shook his head but didn’t argue. He had already folded, and they both knew it.

Ava hid her smirk behind her glass.

Because whether Anton wanted to admit it or not—

Lucas Bai was back in the game.

Anton leaned back, watching Lucas with the tired frustration of a man who knew better but still played along.

"Alright, Bai," he muttered. "You got your drink, your nostalgia, your little reunion. What’s next?"

Lucas sighed dramatically. "Anton, you make it sound like I’m plotting something."

Anton arched a brow. "Aren’t you?"

Lucas grinned, swirling his drink. "Always."

Ava rolled her eyes but stayed quiet, watching the way Anton’s fingers tapped against the table—subtle, calculated.

The man was uncomfortable. Not panicked, not threatened, but wary.

And that meant one thing—Lucas being here had already disrupted something.

Anton finally exhaled. "Fine. Since you’re here anyway, let me give you some advice."

Lucas smirked. "Oh? A freebie?"

Anton’s eyes sharpened. "Leave."

Ava stilled.

Lucas chuckled. "Now why would I do that?"

Anton didn’t blink. "Because Level One isn’t the same as when you left."

Lucas tilted his head, golden eyes gleaming. "That so?"

Anton sighed. "Bai, I don’t care what grudge you’re holding or what game you think you’re playing. But if you start making noise again, the wrong people will notice."

Lucas grinned wider. "That’s the idea."

Anton exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Of course it is."

Ava watched the exchange carefully. "So, who’s in charge now?"

Anton hesitated just long enough for Lucas to catch it.

"Ah," Lucas murmured, smirking. "That’s interesting."

Anton’s jaw tightened. "I said too much already."

Lucas leaned forward, voice smooth. "Which means you’re more scared of them than you are of me."

Anton didn’t answer.

Lucas sighed, shaking his head with mock disappointment.

"Anton, Anton..." he leaned forward, golden eyes gleaming. "You’re always so generous with your warnings. Makes me feel like I should return the favor."

Anton exhaled sharply. "Bai—"

"Since you’re being so nice," Lucas cut in smoothly, "let me give you something in return."

Ava watched as Lucas reached into his jacket, pulling out a small data chip.

He set it on the table, tapping it once with a lazy finger.

Anton didn’t touch it. Didn’t even look at it.

His jaw tightened. "What’s on it?"

Lucas grinned. "A little insurance policy."

Ava stiffened.

Anton sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Bai, if this is one of your power plays—"

"It’s not." Lucas’s voice dropped slightly, all amusement fading. "It’s proof that whoever’s pulling the strings up here? They’ve been busy."

Anton hesitated.

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Define busy."

Lucas tilted his head, studying Anton’s face carefully. "I think you already know, don’t you?"

Anton’s fingers twitched.

Ava caught the slight tension in his shoulders, the way his breathing had changed.

He did know.

Anton exhaled sharply, reaching for the chip. "If you’re lying, Bai—"

Lucas smirked. "When have I ever lied to you?"

Anton gave him a flat look.

Lucas laughed. "Okay, fine. But not about this."

Anton studied him for a long moment, then tucked the chip away.

"Whatever you’re doing, Bai," he muttered, "be careful."

Lucas leaned back, flashing a grin. "Oh, Anton. Where’s the fun in that?"

Ava rolled her eyes, but her pulse was steady. Calculating.

Lucas stood, stretching lazily as if he hadn’t just upended an entire conversation.

Ava watched him carefully. "We’re done here?"

Lucas grinned, golden eyes glinting. "Not quite."

He offered a hand. "Dance with me."

Ava blinked. "Excuse me?"

Lucas tilted his head toward the center of the lounge, where couples swayed to the slow, elegant rhythm of a live quartet.

"Come on, Beauty," he murmured. "Let’s give them something to talk about."

Ava folded her arms. "Why?"

Lucas smirked. "Because I want them to see me."

Ava exhaled sharply. "You’re really trying to make a statement, aren’t you?"

Lucas chuckled. "Always."

Ava rolled her eyes but placed her hand in his. "You better not step on my feet, Bai."

Lucas laughed, pulling her onto the dance floor. "I would never."

The moment they stepped into the light, eyes turned.

Whispers rippled.

Lucas Bai —exiled from Level One—

Was back.

And not just back. He was leading a woman no one recognized, effortlessly commanding attention.

Ava felt the shift instantly. The weight of every stare. The calculation behind every glance.

Lucas?

He thrived in it.

His grip was firm but not forceful, his steps smooth, effortless.

Ava matched him, letting the rhythm guide her, feeling the tension in the air shift around them.

Lucas leaned in, voice a warm whisper against her ear. "They’re watching."

Ava exhaled. "I noticed."

Lucas grinned, golden eyes locking onto hers. "Then let’s make it worth their while."

And just like that, he spun her.

Ava felt it before she saw it.

The shift in the air. The weight of something dangerous pressing against the edges of the room.

Lucas was still leading her through the dance, but his golden eyes flicked past her shoulder.

His smirk didn’t drop.

"Well," he murmured, voice smooth, "looks like we have company."

Ava twisted slightly, just enough to glimpse the entrance.

And there they were.

Shifters.

Not just any Shifters. Level One muscle.

Bigger. Faster. Enhanced past the limits of what a human body should handle.

And they were watching Lucas.

Ava’s pulse steadied. "Friends of yours?"

Lucas chuckled. "Depends on your definition of ’friend.’"

One of the Shifters stepped forward—broad-shouldered, thick scars running up his forearm, eyes burning too bright.

Ava recognized the look immediately.

A man who had shifted too many times.

Lucas finally let go of her waist, stepping slightly in front of her, casual, unbothered.

"Enjoying the music, gentlemen?" he drawled.

The lead Shifter didn’t smile. "Boss wants a word."

Lucas tilted his head. "Which boss?"

The Shifter exhaled sharply. "You know which."

Ava kept her posture relaxed, but her mind was already calculating.

Whoever sent them wasn’t playing games.

Lucas sighed dramatically, turning to Ava. "Beauty, seems I’m in high demand tonight."

Ava arched a brow. "Should I be jealous?"

Lucas grinned. "Always."

But when he turned back to the Shifters?

The amusement in his eyes was ice-cold.