Victor couldn''t help but find her words amusing.


    How did womene up with this kind of logic, anyway?


    "Piggy Vaughan, what wild ideas are you cooking up in that head of yours?" he teased, half-grinning. "Is it so hard to believe I just want to do something nice for you?"


    Isadora met his gaze, catching the yful glint in his eyes. She felt her own confidence waver, so she flopped back into her seat and deliberately looked away.


    "Men always want something in return. I don''t want your shares," she huffed.


    Victor massaged his forehead, his tone shifting to something gentle and coaxing. "Why not take them? I''m offering them sincerely, you know."


    She only scoffed, "I said I don''t want them!"


    "Then what would make you take them? Do I have to beg?" Victor couldn''t remember ever lowering himself like this-pleading with a woman to ept his money.


    Isadora had to bite back a smile. After a moment, she replied, lips pressed together to hide her amusement, "It has to be your choice, not because I forced you."


    "Yes, yes," Victor relented, giving in with exaggerated earnestness. "I, of my own free will, am offering twenty percent of The Fitzgerald Group to the beautiful and kind Miss Vaughan."


    She lifted her chin with a sly little smile. "Well, I suppose, seeing as you''re so sincere, I''ll just have to ept-though it''s such a hardship."


    Victor arched a brow, eyes narrowing with bemusement. Why did it feel like he was the one getting swindled here?


    On the drive home, Isadora''s stomach started to grumble.


    She gazed out the window at the bustling strip of nightlife they used to frequent. Turning to Victor, who was focused on the road, she announced, "I''m hungry."


    He nced over, then popped open the center console and handed her two chocte bars. "We''ll be home soon. Have a snack to tide you over."


    How utterly uninspiring.


    Isadora barely looked at the choctes, uninterested.


    "Not your thing?" Victor asked, eyebrow quirked.


    He rummaged through anotherpartment and produced a small bag stuffed with snacks—crackers, a carton of milk, slices of whole-grain bread.


    "Why do you have so much food in here?" she asked.


    "In case you get hungry. I had my driver stock the car."


    Isadora closed the bag. "I don''t want any of this."


    Victor''s dark eyes wandered out the window, catching the glow of a row of upscale restaurants. He pulled the car over to the curb.


    His sleek ck Ferrari immediately drew the attention of a few passersby.


    "Wait here. Tell me what you want and I''ll go grab it."


    Isadora was already unbuckling her seatbelt. "I''ming with you."


    As they stepped out, Victor noticed her veering toward a lively market street, and


    though he frowned, he followed her withoutint.


    Isadora slipped into the heart of the night market.


    Shops lined both sides of the street, their windows zing with light. The ce was bursting with life-crowds pressed shoulder to shoulder,ughter and chatter blending into a lively din. Everyone seemed to be carrying some delicious treat, the air thick with the scent of freshly cooked food.


    Vol


    Down the center of the avenue, a troupe of dancers in borate Renaissance costumes performed for the crowd, giving the night a sense of magic and celebration.


    Victor caught up in two strides, draping his arm over her shoulders and drawing


    her close to shield her from the crowd.


    "We''ve never really done this before, have we?" he said.


    Isadora shot him a look. “Slumming it with themoners doesn''t really suit a prince, does it?"


    Victor arched his brow and gently nudged her toward the sidewalk, away from the thickest jostling. “Are you making fun of me?"


    She smirked. “Have you ever been to the Capitolion night market before?"


    "Never," Victor replied tly.


    To him, these markets had always seemed pointless-too crowded, too noisy, and


    you had to line up just to grab a bite, only to eat standing up.


    "Why not?"


    "Never had a girlfriend," he said simply.


    Isadora blinked. Was he ming her for dragging him here?


    He really was an expert in dry humor.


    Suddenly, she spotted a tiny shop she and Nte used to love when they were students-she could hardly believe it was still around after all these years.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!