Chapter 377: Unpleasant surprise
KAEL
The moment her body eased against mine, the unease came crawling back, that sharp, instinctive sense that everything around me was starting to tilt. But then she turned her face up, her mouth set in that stubborn little line she wore whenever she was trying to be angry, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
"Don’t look at me like that," she said.
"Like what?"
"Like you think you can just charm your way out of this."
I leaned closer. "Can’t I?"
She scoffed and tried to push me off, but I caught her wrists before she could move too far. "Kael," she warned.
"Hmm?"
"Go. Back. To. Your. Office."
I dipped my head lower, close enough to brush my lips over hers but not quite kiss her.
"No."
"Kael—"
Something inside me snapped.
I pushed her against her desk, my hands framing her face as I devoured her mouth with raw, desperate need.
For a split second, she matched my intensity, her nails raking down my back, our bodies pressed so close I could feel her heartbeat hammering against mine.
She tried to talk again, and I kissed her a second time. Then a third. Until she made a frustrated sound against my mouth and shoved at my chest, eyes narrowing in mock fury.
"Are you done?" she demanded.
"Not even close," I said, smiling against the edge of her jaw as I stole another quick kiss.
She huffed, but the faintest curve pulled at the corner of her lips. "If you don’t stop, I’m going to drop kick you."
"Promise?" I murmured, half amused, half aroused, because even when she was angry she managed to knock the breath out of me.
She rolled her eyes. "Don’t test me."
"I missed you too," I said.
That earned me a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "You ignored my calls, Kael."
The smile slipped. Her words hit low, clean. For a moment, I couldn’t look at her.
"I know," I said quietly.
She didn’t answer, just crossed her arms and stared until I exhaled and gave up pretending. "I’m sorry," I said again. "You’re free to work. For now."
Her brow lifted. "For now?"
I smirked faintly. "I’ll come back for you later."
"Threats now?"
"Promises."
She rolled her eyes again but didn’t fight me when I brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. I was about to leave when she spoke again.
"Wait."
I turned back.
"The end-of-year gala," she said. "How are the preparations going? I was supposed to handle it before I... left."
"It’s being handled," I said. "Director Han is overseeing it with the PR department."
She frowned. "Oh."
I hesitated for a second before adding, "You can take over if you want. They’ll need extra authorization from me since it’s less than two weeks away, but if you’re ready, I’ll make the call."
Her eyes softened a little, and the corner of her mouth lifted. "You’d do that?"
I shrugged, pretending nonchalance. "Maybe I just want an excuse to see you in a gown again."
"Kael," she warned, but I could see her fighting a smile.
"What?" I stepped closer again, letting my hand rest at the edge of her desk. "It’s a legitimate business comment."
"Get out," she said, pointing to the door.
"Is that an order, Ms. Thorne?"
"Yes."
I bent slightly, close enough for her to feel my breath. "Fine," I murmured. "But I’m coming back for you."
She shook her head, but I caught the ghost of a smile before she turned away.
As I stepped into the hallway, the humor bled from me almost instantly. The weight came back, heavier this time, thicker. Andrew’s name still echoed in my head. So did Sarah’s threat. And though Aria’s laughter still clung to me like warmth, it couldn’t quite drown out the feeling that everything around me was about to burn.
....
The floor was nearly empty when I came back from a meeting. The tower had that hollow echo to it, the kind that only existed after hours when everyone else had gone home and the city outside had taken over the noise. Aria’s light was still on.
I leaned against her doorway for a moment, watching her. She was hunched slightly forward, every line of her face soft and focused, the screen’s glow tracing her profile in silver. For a second, I didn’t want to interrupt her at all.
"You should’ve clocked out hours ago," I said finally.
She didn’t even glance up. "You should remove yourself from my office immediately."
I smiled, because that tone, sharp, precise, unbothered, always meant she’d missed me. "You look good when you’re pretending I don’t exist," I murmured, pushing off the doorframe and walking toward her.
"Don’t you have somewhere else to be, Kael?" she asked, eyes still on the screen.
"Yeah. Right here."
She exhaled through her nose, a sound somewhere between amusement and disbelief. "If you’re not here to talk about work, then—"
"Actually," I cut in, "I am. I came to ask why you’re still doing it at this hour."
Her fingers paused mid-typing; then she turned, eyes narrowing. "Then answer this., how come the Vegas proposal was returned unsigned? I thought you approved it."
Ah. That. "I did," I said easily, rounding the edge of her desk to look at her screen. "But my father’s people wanted to review the cross-border clause. I’ll handle it tomorrow."
Something flickered across her face, suspicion maybe. She didn’t trust the simplicity of that answer, rightfully so.
Before she could dig further, I reached over and took her handbag from the table. "You’ve done enough. Let’s go."
She slapped my hand lightly, glaring. "Put that down. I’m not done yet."
"Aria," I said, voice low, "if I have to stand here much longer, I might start finding creative ways to make you stop typing."
She froze, eyes darting up to meet mine. I took a step closer, lowering my tone until it brushed the edge of a whisper. "Top floor. No one left but us. You really want to test me right now?"
Her lips parted, half annoyance, half something else, and I saw her pulse stutter at her throat.
"Very charming," she said dryly.
"Yes, Aria," I drawled back, smirking. "You remember the last time you teased me while a meeting was going on or would you like me to remind you?"
She gave me that glare again the one that usually comes right before she caves.
Finally, she shut her laptop a little too hard. "Fine. You win. Now let’s go before I change my mind."
I grinned, triumphant, and reached for her bag again. "Good girl."
She walked past me, muttering something under her breath about how insufferable I was. I followed her out, still carrying her things, still unable to stop smiling.
"Where are we going?" she asked finally as the elevator doors closed around us.
"A good place," I said. "Somewhere you can glare at me in better lighting."
And she rolled her eyes, but she didn’t say no.
...
The restaurant was one of those places that looked like it was trying too hard to be effortless, warm amber lights, soft music, too much glass and marble. They recognized my name at the entrance and guided us through to one of the exclusive corners usually reserved for politicians or old money. I could feel Aria’s eyes on everything, cataloguing, judging.
"This place looks like it charges extra for breathing," she muttered under her breath.
I laughed quietly. "You’re not wrong."
"Let me guess," she said, sliding into her seat as a waiter pulled the chair back for her. "You’re one of those people who thinks food tastes better when it costs the price of someone’s rent."
I leaned forward, smiling. "No. I just like the way you look in a place like this."
She blinked, unimpressed. "That line works on women who don’t have student loans, Kael."
"Good thing I’m not trying to impress them," I murmured back, which earned me that expression she did, half exasperation, half maybe a little flustered.
I was about to say something else when I felt rather than saw the change in the air, the subtle dip of energy, that instinctive shift when someone unwanted entered your periphery.
I looked around and immediately locked eyes with him.
Andrew.
He was dressed sharp, as always, dark suit pressed within an inch of perfection, his smile the kind that said I’m about to ruin your evening and I’ll enjoy every second of it.
And beside him, surprising yet somehow very fitting.
Sarah.
She looked bright in that unsettling, practiced way, soft curls, delicate smile, eyes focused on him like she was drinking in the chaos before it began. He whispered something to her before she turned.
"Well, isn’t this charming," Andrew said as he approached, voice all smooth silk and veiled venom. "Little brother. Miss Thorne. I didn’t think I’d run into you here of all places."
I could feel Aria stiffen beside me.
"Andrew," I said flatly. "Didn’t know you were in the habit of slumming it with mortals."