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BONUS
Chapter
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[EVE]
I had no idea how long I'd been glued to that chair in the office. My eyes felt like they'd been through a desert storm, and my muscles were staging a rebellion.
A glance at the clock told it was already seven in the evening. Seven! I groaned, rubbing my neck, which now felt like it belonged to an 80-year-old.
Looking back at the pile of papers, I noticed a miracle—they were actually decreasing. Thanks to Cole's team, I didn't have to read every single word in those soul-crushing proposals. Instead, they'd give a quick summary, and all I had to do was wield my mighty pen of approval.
The room was still buzzing with activity. Five of his people were quietly working in one corner, explaining things to in a professional manner, while I sneakily scrolled through my phone.
It was a rare mont of relaxation, and I was starting to feel like maybe I could survive this after all.
That is, until Cole decided to storm in like he owned the place. The door flew open with such dramatic flair that I half-expected background music to start playing. Behind him was an entourage of staff in white aprons, each carrying trays stacked with delicious-looking food.
"Alright, you're all dismissed," Cole declared with a wave of his hand, as if he were a king granting freedom to his loyal subjects. "Go have dinner at the restaurant downstairs—it's on ."
His team didn't argue. They simply bowed and vanished, leaving alone with the most dangerous man in the room.
I frowned at the pile of papers. There were only a few left, so it wasn't like I actually needed them anymore. Still, being left alone with Cole felt like being locked in a cage with a lion—except the lion had great hair and a handso face.
"And what are you doing here again?" I asked, trying to sound casual as I leaned back in my chair. My tone may have been calm, but my brain was frantically whispering, '
Don't you dare make this weird, don't you dare make this weird.'
Cole didn't answer right away. Instead, he strolled over and set the trays of food on the desk, taking his ti like this was so sort of culinary hostage negotiation.
"Dinner," he finally said, with a grin that was both charming and entirely too smug.
I raised an eyebrow. "And what if I already ate?"
He chuckled. "You didn't." Enjoy more content from empire
Of course, he was right, but that didn't an I had to admit it.
"Let's eat," Cole motioned to eat the food.
The sll of my favorite dishes hit like a tidal wave, and my stomach growled in delight. It was impossible to think clearly with the food right there, practically begging to dig in. My resolve to act unimpressed crumbled faster than I cared to admit.
I didn't even try to resist. Picking up my utensils, I started eating, savoring each bite. But it was hard to fully enjoy the al when Cole, of all people, was cutting pieces of at and placing them on my plate with surprising care.
"I can manage on my own," I said, swallowing a mouthful. "You should eat too. Watching you hover there like my personal chef is . . . unsettling."
"I like serving you," he replied, his tone casual but his gaze steady.
My heart did an ungraceful flip, and it was a good thing I wasn't mid-chew, or I might've choked. I placed my fork down, narrowing my eyes at him. "You've really changed, you know that?"
Cole chuckled softly, his lips curving into a small smile. "Love changes people."
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to scoff. "I liked you better when you were aloof, unapproachable, and always busy isolating yourself."
He leaned back slightly, feigning thoughtfulness. "I can go back to that, if that's what you prefer."
Hope flickered in for a second. "So . . . does that an you'll leave alone now?"
But instead of agreeing, he flashed that infuriatingly charming grin of his. "I can be aloof and indifferent while still chasing after you. Care to give it a try?"
I sighed, knowing I'd walked straight into his trap. "You know what? Forget I said anything."
The rest of the al passed in relative silence, save for the occasional clink of silverware. Just as I was beginning to think I'd get through the evening without any more of his antics, Cole reached into his bag and pulled out a magazine, setting it on the table in front of .
"I made so quick edits to this layout," he said, his tone as nonchalant as if he'd just rearranged a few photos. "Why don't you take a look and see if it's to your liking?"
I frowned, recognizing the familiar branding of
Élysée Luxe.
"You're still not over this?"
"Not until it's perfect," he replied, his expression turning serious.
Reluctantly, I picked it up, flipping through the pages. My jaw dropped as I realized just how much had changed. Nearly every image, every font, every detail had been reworked. "Wait . . . you redid all of this? In that short amount of ti? How?"
Cole shrugged like it was no big deal. "I bought the company."
I blinked, sure I'd misheard him. "You what?!"
"It wasn't easy," he said matter-of-factly, "since the company was full of incompetent fools. But it's a work in progress. This is just the preliminary layout—tell if it needs adjustnts."
I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. "You . . . you bought the entire company? For this? Just to remake this magazine?"
He nodded, his expression calm, like he'd simply ordered coffee. "It was the fastest way."
I dropped the magazine onto the table, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Are you out of your mind? Who does that?"
Cole leaned closer, his eyes intense. "," he said simply. "I'd do anything for you, Eve."
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