Ever since Everett had taken over the company, the number of female employees had dropped—most had been replaced with n.
Even his secretary? Always male. He never hired won.
Aurora gave an awkward little laugh.
"Yeah... I get it. Your charm isn’t exactly easy for most won to resist."
"And you?" Everett asked, expression softening. "You couldn’t resist either, right?"
Aurora dropped her gaze and stayed quiet.
That irritated Everett.
"Look at . Lift your head."
Being ordered around out of nowhere made Aurora bristle, but she still obediently raised her head to et his eyes.
His face was as striking as ever, but his gaze had cooled noticeably.
Seeing the innocence in her eyes, Everett’s annoyance faded. He let out a quiet sigh.
"Eat."
He gracefully cut a piece of steak and brought it to his mouth. Even the way he ate looked effortless and elegant.
Aurora stared, completely entranced.
When she realized it, her face went hot and she silently cursed herself for being ridiculous.
She barely ate anything during the al, but Everett didn’t push her. After all, this was technically their first date.
After dinner, soft, romantic music began to play in the background. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was a famous tango piece—Por Una Cabeza.
Everett walked over to her and offered his hand with a slight gesture.
Aurora froze, unsure what to do. Everett raised a brow, confident as ever.
"Get up. Dance with ."
Wait, that’s how you ask soone to dance?
Aurora was both amused and helpless. Still, she stood up and placed her hand in his.
"I... I’m a bit rusty. I learned this piece before, but haven’t danced in forever..."
Back when she was with Alexander, that guy was always working, juggling side gigs and acting like a robot. When did he ever have ti for dancing?
Aurora rarely went out dancing herself. Her free ti was spent training her vocals. She’d let dance fall by the wayside.
The company had recently told her to brush up on dance though—just in case.
Luckily, she had natural musicality, so her singing didn’t suffer even without much training.
"It’s fine. I’ll teach you," Everett said coolly.
He was a little nervous too. In truth, he’d never really danced either. But after watching Scent of a Woman, he’d beco intrigued by Por Una Cabeza and had practiced on his own.
Aurora... totally embarrassed herself.
She was too flustered, too jittery, and kept stepping on Everett’s shoes.
She wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
By the ti the dance ended, he pulled her into a quiet embrace. Nothing inappropriate—just a peaceful, warm hug.
Aurora’s eyes shimred like spring water, and her heart softened into mush.
But the romantic mont didn’t last long. Tobias knocked on the door—Everett’s father was calling. It was about Cassian.
Everett figured it had to be his uncle begging for rcy.
He really didn’t want to go, but knowing how his sharp-tongued uncle could push his father’s blood pressure through the roof, he had no choice. He asked Tobias to escort Aurora back to her hotel while he rushed ho.
Aurora thought... maybe they were finally starting sothing real.
The next afternoon, Everett ca to see her off at the airport. He looked relaxed and casual.
"Make sure you miss ," he said with a smirk.
Dominic, eavesdropping nearby, stifled a laugh behind his hand.
Aurora’s face flushed ever so slightly.
anwhile...
In Country S, within the city—
Alexander lay in a shabby rental apartnt, unshaven and lifeless. He looked up at Peyton as she walked through the door, his lips pressed into a cold line.
Peyton stood awkwardly, not daring to co any closer.
After all, Alexander was now "the guy with AIDS."
He coughed and said hoarsely,
"Peyton... why are you standing so far? I’m lonely. Co talk to for a bit."
Peyton’s eyes flickered with fear.
The doctor had said casual conversation wouldn’t transmit anything, but... she was still scared.
Because he had HIV. An incurable disease.
What if she caught it?
Would she have to die early too?
She was still so young—just in her twenties. She had friends, a promising future, and way too much to lose.
She also had wealthy parents backing her—why on earth should she keep dating Alexander?
Alexander’s so-called illness had been "discovered" a week ago.
He’d been pretending to have a cold. When Peyton ca over to take care of him, she accidentally saw a lab report—and it scared the life out of her.
"Alexander... are you okay? Do you want to see a doctor?" she asked, voice trembling.
"No need, Peyton. Right now... you’re all I have left. Can you stay with for a bit?" Alexander’s voice was extra gentle.
Peyton shook her head in a panic. There was no way she was sticking around a man with that kind of illness.
"I—I just rembered sothing urgent at work! I have to go, Alexander. I’ll... I’ll hire a nurse for you, okay?"
Without another glance at his pitiful expression, she slamd the door and bolted from the apartnt like she was fleeing for her life.
Alexander lay on the bed and let out a cold laugh.
Peyton was such an idiot—terrified over one piece of paper. He’d pulled off the act flawlessly.
He’d paid an HIV-positive patient to go get tested at a hospital—using his na.
So when Peyton checked the report, the na on it was Alexander’s.
The small clinic didn’t enforce strict protocols, and he’d exploited that loophole perfectly. Now that she’d run off in fear, he was free to worm his way back into Aurora’s life.
Alexander picked up his phone and dialed Aurora’s number.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off."
His mood instantly sank again. It had been ten days since her phone went off the grid.
What the hell had happened to her?
Worried, he tried calling Courtney. But she didn’t know where Aurora was either.
After a few seconds of thought, Alexander decided to call Peyton. He wanted her to really fear him. To hate him.
Peyton picked up after a long pause.
"Alexander? What’s wrong?" she asked softly, clearly trying to mask her unease.
"Peyton, are you free right now? I’m craving congee... would you mind making so for ?"
His tone was warm, intimate. "After all this ti, I’ve realized you’re much gentler than Aurora ever was, and..."
"N-no! I don’t have ti right now!" Peyton cut in, panicking.
Alexander let out a quiet, lancholy laugh.
"I see... well, maybe I’ll ask my mom to make it, then. Peyton, even though I really like you now, I don’t want to drag you down with . But I realized... I can’t lose you. Could you co see tomorrow? I want to go out for a bit..."
"W-what? Tomorrow?" Peyton practically dropped her phone in terror.
"I have plans tomorrow! I swear I’ll co when I’m free!"
"Alright then. You take care. I’ll call you again tomorrow. Bye," Alexander said gently before hanging up.
Then he chuckled to himself, clearly pleased. This woman is such an idiot. So easy to manipulate. He’d stressed over her for nothing.
On the other end, Peyton lowered her phone and muttered with disgust,
"An HIV patient who wants to go shopping? Isn’t he afraid of infecting other people? God, he’s disgusting. No... I have to think of a way to get rid of him..."
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