Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Murray obediently zoomed in on the screen, and in no time, the video took over the largest segment of the display.

In the footage, a woman knelt beside a man, gingerly massaging his legs. A mask covered most of her face, and the lighting around was dim, casting a soft glow. Despite this, it was clear what he was doing. The attendants in the background were the regulars from the casino floor; nothing seemed amiss. However, the woman massaging him didn't dare look up, her demeanor fraught with anxiety.

The man lounged in a robe, tied loosely at the waist, revealing glimpses of a well-sculpted physique. Since this was the pool area, he was obviously planning to swim, which meant he'd have to take off the mask at some point. Beside the screen, Murray's keyboard clacked incessantly, beads of sweat gathering on his forehead. His eyes questioned Brielle on how long they should watch; he was already under surveillance, and they were starting to strike back. "How long can you hold out?" Brielle asked.

Murray, fingers still flying over the keys, flashed a hand signal: five minutes. As skilled as he was, he couldn't withstand such an aggressive counterattack for long. Five minutes was the safe limit. "Then five minutes it is. The moment you can't hold out, pull back," Brielle instructed.

Murray nodded, his focus returning to the task at hand. Brielle, meanwhile, kept her gaze locked on the screen, not daring to look away for a second. The video flickered, and someone brought the man a drink and a platter of assorted fruits. He gestured for the massaging woman to leave, then sat up straight, fingers poised to untie his robe.

Brielle noticed a Bluetooth earpiece in his ear, glowing blue-someone was talking to him. But he remained silent, so the video feed was quiet. Brielle grew impatient, feeling time crawl by. The flickering became more frequent, like someone blinking rapidly. The screen's brightness fluctuated. Soon after, the image steadied, and the man stood up, now facing the camera. He slowly reached for the tie at his waist.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Though Brielle couldn't see his face, there was something tantalizing about the gesture, as if he was deliberately being provocative. Murray signaled with one finger-he could only hold out for one more minute. Brielle, frustrated with the man's dallying, wondered why he wouldn't just take off the mask.

The next second, the man looked directly into the camera. He pulled out his phone, a slight smirk on his lips, as if he were about to text someone. Brielle had a bad feeling, which was confirmed when her own phone buzzed with a new message.

If you like, I'll take it off in person for you next time.

Her lips pursed in anger, her face a portrait of displeasure. "Murray, pull back," she ordered.

Murray tapped a few keys, and the surveillance feed slowly faded away. Brielle's brow furrowed, her

expression dark as storm clouds et

She had underestimated the casino boss's capabilities, thinking she could sneak a peek at his true face, only to be outplayed. But how had he known it was her?

She couldn't understand; to the outside world, she was just the CEO of Stellar Stage Entertainment. The idea of infiltrating a casino's internat affairs was ludicrous. Yet this man had pinpointed her immediately. Brieffe glanced at Murray, then thought of Addison behind her, and felt a headache coming on. Neither of them could be the leak, but how had he guessed?

She felt an inexplicable irritation, like being toyed with repeatedly.

Elsewhere, Max had arrived at the hospital, where many members of the Dorsey family were gathered in the corridor: Most noticeable among them was William, flanked by his son Antonio. Antonio's looks didn't dazzle like the rest of the Dorsey clan but were considered pleasant enough. Antonio nodded subtly as Max approached.

William's face bore the weight of concern, and he patted Max's shoulder. "Dad's been talking nonsense all of a sudden. The doctors say we should brace ourselves."

Max brushed William's hand away and took a seat nearby. "Right."

The Dorseys stood or sat, all waiting for the doctor's report on the patriarch. Someone spoke up, unable to contain their frustration. "If you ask me, the old man's been riled up by certain people's antics. He was fine until Dorsey International released those ridiculous statements." The "ridiculous statements" referred to the announcement clarifying Max was single and pursuing someone which had saved him from marrying Alivia.