Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 61: : A Game of Distractions

Chapter 61: : A Game of Distractions

Lucas glanced up at the screen, fingers tapping lightly against the desk. His golden eyes narrowed as he zoomed in on a live surveillance feed.

"They’re moving."

Ava stepped closer, scanning the screen. "Who?"

Lucas sighed, tilting the display toward her. "Two top traders from Level One. One of them is a weapons dealer from Level Two."

Ava folded her arms. "And?"

Lucas smirked. "And your friend and Jessica? They’re double agents."

Ava went still. "What?"

Lucas sighed, stretching his arms like this was nothing new. "William managed to get the intel. They’re playing both sides—feeding information to the traders while working for Zhao."

Ava gritted her teeth. "And you just found out?"

Lucas grinned. "No, Beauty. I confirmed it."

Ava exhaled, rubbing her temple. "You could’ve told me sooner."

Lucas chuckled. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Ava rolled her eyes. "So what’s the plan?"

Lucas leaned back, smirking. "Simple. While they’re busy with their little trade negotiations, I’ll be stealing from a couple of their warehouses."

Ava arched a brow. "And me?"

Lucas tilted his head. "You, my dear Beauty, will be handling the distraction."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "How?"

Lucas grinned, zooming in on a different feed. "You’ll be drinking and talking with Angel’s boyfriend—the one in the military."

Ava blinked. "Excuse me?"

Lucas leaned forward, voice smooth as silk. "Very simple. You go to the bar, entertain him for the night, keep his eyes on you instead of the deal. Meanwhile—" He gestured to himself. "I’ll be elsewhere."

Ava huffed. "So I get to babysit some military idiot while you commit grand larceny?"

Lucas grinned as he leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "This should be easy for you, Beauty."

Ava folded her arms. "Oh? And why’s that?"

Lucas smirked. "Because he’s quite flirty."

Ava raised a brow. "You’re telling me to seduce a man with a girlfriend?"

Lucas chuckled. "Not seduce. Just... walk the line."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Clarify."

Lucas sighed, like he was explaining something to a particularly stubborn student. "He loves Angel. No question. But she’s possessive—borderline obsessive. So while she controls every move he makes, he’s constantly looking for an outlet."

Ava tilted her head. "And you think I’m the perfect outlet?"

Lucas grinned. "You don’t know he’s taken, do you?"

Ava huffed. "I do now."

Lucas chuckled. "That’s the beauty of it. You get to be the harmless distraction. A little conversation, a little attention—nothing serious, nothing that crosses the line, but just enough to keep him occupied."

Ava rolled her shoulders. "And if Angel finds out?"

Lucas shrugged. "Then you’ll be the poor, innocent girl who didn’t know any better."

Ava arched a brow. "You really think that’ll work?"

Lucas grinned. "I know it will."

Ava exhaled sharply. "I hate this plan."

Lucas winked. "You hate that it’s good."

Ava sighed, rubbing her temple. "Fine. I’ll play along. But if this gets messy, Bai—"

Lucas grinned. "That was Plan A, Beauty."

Ava paused, narrowing her eyes. "Meaning?"

Lucas tilted his head, golden eyes gleaming. "Meaning I always have a Plan B."

Ava crossed her arms. "Of course you do. What is it?"

Lucas leaned in, voice smooth as silk. "If you get discovered—if they figure out you work for me—you flip the script."

Ava arched a brow. "And do what, exactly?"

Lucas smirked. "Act like you’ve gone rogue. Betray me. Make it loud, make it dramatic. Double-cross me in front of them."

Ava blinked. "Are you actually asking me to sell you out?"

Lucas chuckled. "Oh, Beauty. No one sells me out unless I let them."

Ava exhaled sharply. "Alright. And if Plan B doesn’t work?"

Lucas grinned wider. "Then we go to Plan C."

Ava tilted her head. "Which is?"

Lucas turned, tapping a spot on the map projected on the tablet. "This is the Bai Hotel. Fifteenth floor, Room 35. Two miles from here. That’s our regroup point. If everything falls apart, you meet me there."

Ava studied the location, committing it to memory. "And if I can’t make it?"

Lucas shrugged. "Then I’ll come find you."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Because that’s reassuring."

Lucas winked. "Always."

Ava sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "You do realize how ridiculous this is, right?"

Lucas grinned. "Beauty, everything I do is ridiculous. But it works."

Ava exhaled sharply. "That’s the problem."

Lucas laughed. "Then let’s make sure we don’t need Plan C."

Ava glanced at the screen one last time, then straightened. "Fine. Let’s get this over with."

Lucas laughed, shaking his head. "Then let’s make sure we don’t need Plan C."

Ava exhaled sharply. "You better hope so, Bai."

Lucas grinned. "Oh, Beauty. That’s just where it starts. For me, I have Plans D to P already lined up. Lots to do, so little time."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

Lucas smirked. "Because you’re finally starting to understand how I work."

Ava crossed her arms. "You don’t plan. You prepare for chaos and pretend it was all intentional."

Lucas chuckled. "Exactly." Then, with an easy flick of his wrist, he gestured toward her. "But first, I need to dress you."

Ava blinked. "Excuse me?"

Lucas sighed dramatically, stepping toward a nearby wardrobe. "Beauty, you can’t walk into Level One’s finest establishments looking like you just crawled out of a tech lab. If you’re going to play the part, you need to look the part."

Ava glared. "I am not your dress-up doll, Bai."

Lucas grinned as he pulled out a sleek, form-fitting dress, rich in color but simple enough to avoid drawing too much attention. "No, but you are my distraction tonight. And distractions should be... memorable."

Ava snorted. "I hate you."

Lucas winked. "That’s the spirit."

Ava snatched the dress out of his hands, muttering under her breath. "If this thing is uncomfortable, I swear—"

Lucas laughed, already turning away. "Hurry up, Beauty. Time is money."

Ava gritted her teeth but headed to change, because like it or not—

Lucas was almost always right.