Victor cut her off coldly, his expression unreadable. "Ms. ine, Isadora considers you a close friend."


    Rowena froze.


    Everyone knew Victor had zero patience for other women-unless their name was Isadora.


    So, without a flicker of warmth in his voice, he continued, "She told me you once helped her, so she invested in your design firm. I never thought much of it, but I supported her decision. Clearly, that investment was a mistake."


    Rowena''s face fell.


    He could see right through her, all the way to the thoughts she tried so hard to hide.


    It was true.


    Jealousy and vanity had led her to nurse a hopeless crush on this man.


    Trying to defend herself, Rowena stammered, "I know you and Isadora go back longer than I do... I''m sorry, I don''t have any other motives-"


    Victor let out a mirthlessugh. "Then you should be grateful. It''s only because of her that you''re even standing here. Remember your ce. I won''t let Isadora get hurt because of you."


    Back in the private lounge, the chill in Victor''s eyes was gone. The stern mask he wore outside had vanished, reced by an easygoing air as he lounged on the couch. Watching theughter on Isadora''s face, he drew her hand into his, running his thumb along her skin. "What''s so funny over here?"


    Isadora was still giggling from a joke Nte had just told. Her lips curled in a perfect smile, and her eyes sparkled as she nced at him.


    "Just talking about you," she teased.


    Victor''s voice wasced with amusement. "Oh? What could you possibly have to say about me? Maybe I haven''t been wicked enough today?"


    Nte, thinking of her recent nomination for an indie film award, grinned and yed along. "With you, Prince Charming, how could anyonein? Isadora was saying she was really touched today."


    "Nte!" Isadora protested,ughing. "Don''t listen to her, Victor. She just loves to make up stories."


    Victor arched an eyebrow yfully. "Is that right?"


    Isadora tried to keep a straight face. "Of course not."


    He chuckled. "Well, true or not, I''ll have to do something about it, won''t I?"


    Isadora shot him a look. "I don''t buy it."


    Just then, the door swung open.


    Rowena reappeared, still visibly rattled from earlier. The sight of Isadora and Victor bantering so affectionately made her expression tighten even more.


    Isadora noticed. "Rowena, is something wrong?"


    Rowena averted her eyes, flustered. "Isadora, Nte, I''m not feeling well. I think I''ll head home early."


    "Wait, Rowena-?"


    But before Isadora could finish, Rowena had already grabbed her purse and


    hurried out, as if fleeing some unseen danger.


    Isadora blinked, puzzled. "What''s up with her?"


    Nte watched Rowena''s hasty exit, her expression unreadable.


    Victor, fingers drumming thoughtfully on the back of Isadora''s head, leaned in.


    "You really are hopeless sometimes, you know that?"


    Isadora rubbed her forehead. "What was that for?"


    "Are you really that clueless?"


    She yed along. "Oh, forgive me, Mr. Fitzgerald. Not all of us are geniuses like you."


    Victor''s eyes glinted teasingly. "Naturally. Call me ''big brother'' and I''ll give you some pointers."


    Isadora opened her mouth to protest.


    Nte chimed in, grinning, "I agree, Isadora-you should definitely call him ''big brother.""


    *


    Back at Summit Crest Estates.


    Isadora was still mulling it over. "Why did Nte want me to call you ''big brother''? Are you two in on something?"


    Victor, loosening his tie, shot her azy look from across the room. "Say it, and I''ll tell you."


    Isadora, curled up on the couch, flipped through TV channels. "No way."


    He tossed his jacket and tie onto the chair and sprawled beside her, arm draped casually over the back of the couch. His muscles flexed under the soft light of the TV, shadows ying over his face, his eyes deep and unreadable under longshes.