The kitten, still spooked by the light, ret
Vespera stood up from the done. "I''ll poy it something Entyter themmells food, in Ter
Dominie pour as well, settling oods the edge of the bed "Ms, Olldum, do you like das linde karten?
the replied withe
But then her expression shifted, low furrowing: "Wall, where did it ever
Dominicanswered canally, "Oh, I''m guessing it was Eden''s gilt.”
Vespena''s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Mr. Locke''s gift to his beloved little. vite? No-Tosband? Wow. He really goes all
cut," she thought.
Dominic flicked her forehead lightly. "Map overthinking it
Vespera rubbell the spot with a semel
She rolled her eyes inwardly, Ovendin
"Ms. Gildon," Dominic said suddenly.
"Imin?"" Vespera looked at hin
Please. They were practically soulmates fitfront of Samar) I
a few hours ag
Since he was seated, her gaze naturally lowered. Their eyes iet -lls were deep, wann, and souciew dangerous.
Like a velvet swamp bubbling with something sweet and heady, in the blink of an eye, she was staking, trapped, and breathless,
The yed mood vanished in an instant. Her heart started pounding like somienne had cranked up the
"I believe in you. So, do you believe you can beat talen?" he asked canally, his voler almostzy but undeniably seductive.
Vespera didn''t answer. Hershes thattered like butterfly wings ielikate and uncertain, just like the lightrope she felt she was walking.
She was frozen, caught in the moment. The air felt different now.
Then, after a long pause, she suddenly lit up with mociuralization. "ohl You meant anising furcat, Mr. Held.
She put on a conflicted expression. “You know, I had a cat before. Got it all shiny and healthy—people loved it, flowers bloomed in its presence, total superstar.
"But then, it got cat madness of something and died. I cremated it myself, I was devastated for werk. I can''t do it. I''m out!" -
Throwing on a take heartbroken face, she covered her eyes like she was crying, then made a break for it, bolting out of the lounge.
sat there in silver
Dominic just sat
"Mew,mew-
The kitten crawled out from under the bed and padded over to Dominic, rowling twice as it looked up at him.
Dominic lowered his gaze, locking eyes with the tiny creature. He bent down and gently scooped up the palm-sized kitten, tapping, its round little head with a finger. "You''re already abandoned. That was fast."
Thettenlet out a soft met, one that somehow sounded genuinely heartbroken, like understand every word.
Meanwhile, Vespera had rushed out of the lounge and our of the office. She didn''t stop until she reached the restroom, where she sshed cold water on her face, trying to calm the absolute chaos swirling inside her.
"Ce second of distraction, and
a trap. No, a whole maze of traps!" she thought.
Whether she said yes or no to his ridiculous question didn''t matter-li was a setup either way.
No matter what she answered, it would''ve counted as adulting their "pammed rtionship" was real and from that point on, she''d forpletely trapped in his twisted logic
on her way back from the rest room, she remembered she still needed toy something for the kitten. She reached I het pocket where was her ce?
Then she remembered that it was with Dominic and cursed silently
Back when she''d tried to call Calvert, he''d taken it from her and never gave it back.
Vespera sighed and headed back to the president''s office.
Inside, Dominic was sitting on the couch with the kitten curled up lihtsp. The two of them looked surprisingly peaceful.
"Mr. Reid, my phone," Vespera said as she walked over.
Dontur pulled it out, about to hand it to her, but then a rapid burst of WhatsApp notification pings echoed through the quiet room.
He raised an eyebrow. "Your phone''s pretty popidar, Ms. Gilden."
Vespera blinked, confused-until sundenly, a vestailigh pitched, sweet voice echoed in her mind, "I''ll have the store owner send over nine of the new arrivals. Herbalisimamediately slot called