Chapter 197
“Really?” Vespera asked, her expression caught somewhere between a laugh and a cry. “But people always say the worst ones live the longest, that evil never dies.”
Dominic glanced at her. “Do you believe them, or do you believe me?”
“You,” she replied. I wasn’t like she could say someone else, anyway. And, honestly, there was something about the way he spoke that made her want to believe him.
Dominic eased off the gas. He looked at her again, and a faint smile played on his lips. His voice softened just a touch. “Good.”
That one word felt like it had some kind of magic to it. Vespera felt a slow warmth rise in her chest. It was like she’d just been converted into a believer.
Being superstitious about her boss—that doesn’t count as being brainwashed, right?
She looked out the window, recognizing the direction they were heading. It looked like the road to the office. “Um… can you just drop me off on the side? I can walk.”
Dominic replied, “Why?” Embarrassed to be seen coming to work with me?
Bridge-burning skills, truly getting more refined by the day.
“Dry, stop. I get it was wrong!” She admitted defeat.
In the end, of course, the car didn’t stop by the side of the road. It rolled straight into the company’s parking garage.
The whole way in, Vespera was hyper-aware, scanning all directions. She realized that it wasn’t just the fear of rumors; it was guilt. She felt like she was sneaking around, even though she technically wasn’t.
When they finally pulled in, and it seemed like no one had seen them, she got out of the passenger seat, looking calm and composed. But just two spots over, someone else got out of a car at the same time. They turned their heads at once, and their eyes met.
“Mr. Smith.” Vespera greeted him with a smile so forced it tasted like raw ginger.
Ale was just about to respond, until he saw who was getting out of the driver’s side. His face instantly went pale with shock.
Vespera watched him look at her, then at Dominic behind her, his expression twisting into something between betrayal and melodrama. It was as if he’d just witnessed a seductive succubus stealing his king away.
She could already imagine it—within a few hours, whispers would start mysteriously appearing around the office.
“Ms. Guidon made Mr. Reid drive her.”
“Ms. Guidon climbed the ladder.”
“Mr. Reid’s brain has officially left the building. Now, he only worships Ms. Gilden.”
She let out a long, heavy sigh.
As they got into the elevator, Alex turned to Vespera with a cheerful smile. “Ms. Glidon, you’re sharing a ride with Mr. Reid? What a coincidence.”
Vespera started to respond, “We live in the same—”
Before she could finish, Dominic cut in with a casually, unmistakably dry tone, “Do we need to tell you whether we live together or not?”
Alex’s eyes practically popped out of his head. Were they a couple living together?
Vespera jolted slightly, completely confused. Why was Dominic starting rumors now?
She tried to clarify, “Mr. Smith, don’t misunderstand. We live in the same neighborhood, not the same place.”
Alex nodded, a little too smoothly. “Ah, right, I see.”
But in his head, “You don’t live together, you just sleep together. What a total seductress.”
Vespera felt tension. Stir was about to explain… something, until she noticed Alex tapping away on his phone.
Alarmed, she darted a glance and caught a glimpse of the words “Mr. Reid Senior” on the screen. She was horrified. He was snitching to Samuel.
“Ath!” she shouted, clearly annoyed.
Alex flinched and quickly shoved his phone away. Just then, the elevator reached his floor, and he walked out as fast as he could.
Vespera made a move to follow; she felt like she had to clear this up with the company’s vice president. Things were getting way out of hand.
Just as she was about to walk out, Dominic pulled her back. “Where are you going? This isn’t your floor yet.”
The elevator doors slid shut again.
“Mr. Smith was texting Mr. Reid Senior,” she said, frustrated.
Dominic didn’t even blink. “Do you think this is the first time he’s done that?”
Vespera fell silent.