The kitten, still spooked by the light, retreated. Vespera stood up from the desk. “I’ll put something out for it later—the lamb’s food, in Ter…”

Dominie poured as well, settling on the edge of the bed. “Ms. Olldum, do you like das linde Karten?”

The replied with…

But then her expression shifted, her brow furrowing: “Well, where did it ever…”

Dominic answered casually, “Oh, I’m guessing it was Eden’s gift.”

Vespena’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Mr. Locke’s gift to his beloved little…vite? No—Tosband? Wow. He really goes all out,” she thought.

Dominic flicked her forehead lightly. “Maybe overthinking it…”

Vespera rubbed the spot with a smile.

She rolled her eyes inwardly, Overland in…

“Ms. Gildon,” Dominic said suddenly. “I’m in?” Vespera looked at him.

Please. They were practically soulmates (fit front of Samar). A few hours ago…

Since he was seated, her gaze naturally lowered. Their eyes—wells of deep, warm, and subtly dangerous allure. Like a velvet swamp bubbling with something sweet and heady, in the blink of an eye, she was staked, trapped, and breathless.

The playful mood vanished in an instant. Her heart started pounding like someone had cranked up the…

“I believe in you. So, do you believe you can beat Talen?” he asked casually, his voice almost lazy but undeniably seductive.

Vespera didn’t answer. Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings—delicate and uncertain, just like the tightrope 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 realization. “Oh! You meant an icing fur cat, 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 or something and died. I cremated it myself; I was devastated for weeks. I can’t do it. I’m out!”

Throwing on a heartbroken face, she covered her eyes like she was crying, then made a break for it, bolting out of the lounge.

Dominic just sat there in silence.

“Mew, mew—”

The kitten crawled out from under the bed and padded over to Dominic, mewing 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.”

The kitten let out a soft mew, one that somehow sounded genuinely heartbroken, like it understood every word.

Meanwhile, Vespera had rushed out of the lounge and out of the office. She didn’t stop until she reached the restroom, where she splashed cold water on her face, trying to calm the absolute chaos swirling inside her.

“A 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—it was a setup either way. No matter what she answered, it would’ve counted as admitting their “pampered relationship” was real, and from that point on, she’d be completely trapped in his twisted logic.

On her way back from the restroom, she remembered she still needed to lay something out for the kitten. She reached in her pocket… where was her phone?

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 in his lap. The two of them looked surprisingly peaceful.

“Mr. Reid, my phone,” Vespera said as she walked over.

Dominic 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 popular, Ms. Gildon.”

Vespera blinked, confused—until suddenly, a very high-pitched, sweet voice echoed in her mind, “I’ll have the store owner send over nine of the new arrivals. Herbalisma immediately.”