But she quickly realized she had nothing to worry about. With his level of intelligence, it would be hard to fool him.

She took out her phone and sent Sherwin an update through WhatsApp. “M’s still rady. A walk would be nice,” Dominic said.

She finished typing the message and looked up at him. “I’ll pass. It’s getting dark, and it’s scary to wander around in the woods alone. I’m staying right here in the villa.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed a strange look on his face and adjusted her response. “Oh! Were you thinking of going for a walk?”

“It is scary to wander around alone,” he said grimly.

“I’ll come with you,” she said with a forced smile.

She was dumbfounded by how oddly he phrased things. He could have just asked if she wanted to accompany him on a walk. Talking to him felt like taking a test, where she’d confidently pick an answer she thought was right, only to receive a big red X on the page. It made her look like a tool.

Dominic noticed that she was in formal attire and heels. “You should change into something comfortable.”

She nodded and returned to her room, slipping into a comfortable T-shirt and flats. They left the villa around 5:00 pm. Evening had come, but it wasn’t dark outside. The refreshing air carried a cool breeze, and the sunset bathed the distant mountains in a golden glow. It was breathtaking.

She walked behind Dominic at a comfortable pace. Given his height, she thought it would be hard to keep up with him, but he walked at a leisurely pace. With that, she took the liberty to savor the view and enjoy the stroll.

“Have you heard of the legend?” he asked casually.

“What legend?”

“Legend has it that sunset is a supernatural occurrence, also known as the Witching Hour. The demons lurking in the shadows emerge at this hour, either taking human form or possessing a human body. As they walk among us, they suddenly call out your name, and if you answer, your soul is devoured…”

His deep, soothing voice wrapped around her like the warmth of mulled wine. A hint of mystery and enchantment filled the evening air. Vespera went speechless for a brief moment before she slipped into character. “That’s so scary!” she said dramatically.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s just a legend. I found it interesting.”

“It is interesting. But does it only work if they call your name? What if a son calls for his mother and she answers? Does that count?”

She was as curious as a toddler. Dominic smiled faintly at her reaction. “Of course. Not only do they possess human bodies, but they can also take the form of someone close to you to lure you in. Once your guard is down, they devour—”

“Timbezgine you, stop already,” she gasped theatrically…

Dominic chuckled and dropped the topic. Vespera silently celebrated her successful attempt to play along with her boss’s joke. They continued down the path and eventually reached a gazebo. The sun had sunk lower by now, casting deep hues of red and orange across the sky. It was another dazzling spectacle.

She was completely absorbed in the view when Dominic suddenly called out to her in his gentlest voice. She started instinctively, but stopped herself just in time.

“Ms. Galdon? Are you okay?”

She kept her head down, refusing to answer. “Ms. Gildan?” “Vespera Gildon?” He called her name multiple times, clearly teasing her. “Vespera, can’t you hear me? What happened? Cat got your tongue?”

Dominic cupped her face in his palms. “Why are you ignoring me? Was it the legend I told you? You know that’s not real.” “Come on, talk to me,” he coaxed.

Vespera was determined to keep her composure. She shut her eyes to avoid falling for his tricks. Although this was just a game, she didn’t want to lose. It was like hide-and-seek, and all she needed was patience. What she didn’t realize was that while she played the game with all seriousness, Dominic’s mind had wandered elsewhere. His gaze lingered on her rosy lips, which were tinged with the fiery hues of sunset. Her eyes were shut, and she was entirely defenseless.

The gazebo was quiet, the only sound being the gentle breeze. He lowered his head and slowly leaned in closer.

Chapter 150

Vespera’s eyelid twitched, but her eyes remained shut. Her heart raced, and a nervous tremor crept over her. She felt Dominic’s warm breath trailing from the corner of her eye to her nose before it swept across her lips.

“Ignore me all you want, but I could still devour you whole,” he murmured in a husky, flirtatious tone.

She realized he was playing dirty, and she wasn’t going to just stand there and take it. At last, she opened her eyes. His impossibly attractive face was bathed in the colors of the sunset. At that moment, he did look like he was possessed by a demon.

She froze, as if bound by an unseen force. Her heartbeat and breathing were erratic. They stood so close that the slightest movement would have made their lips touch. After what felt like an eternity, Dominic let go of her face and stood up straight.

“What a pity you didn’t fall for it,” he said, sounding disappointed. He turned to gaze at the sunset. As she followed his gaze, she came to a realization that the Witching Hour was more than just a legend.

Her legs wobbled, and she sat down on the bench. She ran a hand over her face, which burned under the last remnants of sunlight. Her heart was still racing. She complained in her heart that he was too competitive and stopped at nothing to win.

Dusk swallowed the last speck of light, and the air turned cooler. “We should head back; it’s time to meet some real demons,” he said, rising to his feet.

Vespera stood up and secretly cursed Dominic for searing her like that. After what he had done, she had no energy left to deal with actual demons. She wondered if this counted as a work-related injury.

They returned to the villa. At 6:20 pm, they headed for Jordan’s villa. Upon reaching the door, Vespera pressed the doorbell. After a few moments, someone answered and let them in.

The person who greeted them was Jordan’s secretary, Serena. Vespera remembered her—Serena was the kind of woman whose unique charm was woven into her every movement. “Mr. Reid, please come in.”

Dominic ignored her and walked inside. Vespera shot a polite smile at Serena. They had entered at the same time, but Serena quickly took the lead and guided them in. She led them to the heart of the villa, a hall spacious enough to fit up to thirty people. It was connected to a bamboo grove and a relatively large heated pool outside.

As they stopped inside, the atmosphere was suddenly overwhelmed with a foul stench—a mix of cigarettes, liquor, cologne, and something odd. Dominic furrowed his brows.

“Oh my! Dominic, you’ve finally made it! I’ve been waiting for you this whole time,” Jolan said in a disgustingly sweet tone.

Jordan got up from the pot and walked toward them. He lifted his arms as if to drape them over Dominic’s shoulders. Unfortunately for him, Dominic saw it coming this time. He stepped aside, dodging Jordan and leaving his arms hanging in midair.

Jordan’s expression took a toll. However, Dominic had no intention of stopping there. “Mr. Aldridge, it looks like you’ve been indulging yourself to the fullest. Must be exhausting entertaining all your friends, and you couldn’t even get out of bed—maybe you should pace yourself,” Dominic sneered.

Jordan’s face twisted in a mix of rage and humiliation. Despite that, he was certain Dominic was only acting high and mighty. Sooner or later, he would reveal his true colors. To change the subject, Jordan turned his attention to Vespera, who stood behind Dominic.

“Ms. Gildon, is Mr. Reid in the clear today? It’s all better, he can drink, can’t he?” Jordan smirked.

“That was a good one, Mr. Aldridge. Mr. Held is free to decide if he wants to drink,” Vespera replied with a professional smile.

“Well then, tonight we drink until we’re drunk. Come, have a seat. I’ll introduce you to a few friends.” He gestured for them to sit.

The “friends” he mentioned stood up at his cue. They were elite members of high society, though their expressions made it obvious they were…

The women who accompanied them were also keenly aware of Dominic’s status. Beyond his power and influence, he was also young and attractive. As the men got up, several women in bikinis by the pool drew closer, eager to steal a look.

Vespera discreetly scanned the surroundings, mentally counting the ten women Sherwin had mentioned. She only found nine, including Serena. One was missing. Her gaze swept the area. Finally, she spotted the last one. Seated beside the pool, partially hidden behind a plant, she could only see her sleek legs in a pair of white sandals.