"Don't worry, sis. I won't cause any trouble."
Ryan Lawrence's eyes crinkled into crescents when he smiled.
He radiated the youthful energy unique to boys his age. When speaking to Sophia Sullivan, his eyes sparkled so brightly it seemed she was the only person in his world.
The moment the words left his mouth, Ryan felt an icy chill crawl up his spine.
But he pretended not to notice.
After all, he had thick skin. A few glares wouldn't flay him alive.
"Bold words."
Ethan Sullivan scoffed.
He glanced at his wristwatch, his posture deceptively relaxed. Yet an invisible frost emanated from him.
"If you want to play house, wait until after the gala. Miss Sullivan and I have business to attend to. We don't have time for your reunion games."
Ethan's lips thinned. Moonlight stretched his shadow long and dark as he turned to Sophia.
"What do you think, Miss Sullivan?"
He knew better than to believe two strangers could converse with such familiarity. Sophia was no pushover—if anyone dared harass her, she'd break their arm and toss them into international waters before he could intervene.
Mercy had never been her forte.
Yet the dynamic between Sophia and Ryan didn't feel platonic. The slight furrow in her brow moments ago tipped Ethan off—tonight was an unexpected reunion.
His words were meant to give her an out.
Though delivered with razor-sharp sarcasm.
Ryan: "..."
He wasn't deaf to Ethan's jab about his childishness.
He opened his mouth to retort, but Sophia nodded first. "The gala's about to start. Mr. Sullivan and I have matters to handle. We'll catch up later."
She hadn't anticipated Ryan's appearance.
More importantly, with Ethan present, certain conversations were off-limits. Her words were a coded message—they'd talk when the time was right.
That said, she had stood him up multiple times. Her tone softened imperceptibly.
"You've worked hard lately."
Sophia possessed a pair of mesmerizing peach-blossom eyes.
A single gentle phrase from her, and Ryan's head spun like he'd been drugged.
"O-okay!"
He'd originally planned to shamelessly tag along—this was a golden opportunity to get closer to his boss.
But one simple compliment from Sophia sent him floating on cloud nine.
Ryan had always been immune to threats but melted at kindness.
"It was nothing, really. All for you, sis. We'll talk tonight."
His boyish grin widened, teeth gleaming white against ruby lips. The expression bordered on dopey.
He remained blissfully unaware.
Even Ethan's glacial stare rolled off him like water.
Pure euphoria drowned out everything else.
Who didn't know Sophia Sullivan, founder of The Decagon, operated under the alias Crimson Serpent? Elusive and enigmatic, earning her praise was rarer than catching moonlight in a jar.
He'd completely forgotten how, just days ago, he'd moped around The Decagon headquarters.
—"Boss is such a tease. Promised to visit but stood me up twice. I'm like a concubine in the cold palace, waiting for the emperor's summons that never comes."
His subordinates had laughed, reminding him someone of her caliber wasn't easily accessible.
Yet here he was, taking initiative—and Sophia had agreed to meet later!
The only fly in the ointment was Ethan Sullivan's looming presence.