Just then, a series of very loud, very collective gasps echoed, breaking the silence.

Gavriel and Aliana both turned.

Standing a short distance away were Nigel, Jacob, and Cillian... all staring at them like they had just walked into the most scandalous scene imaginable.

Cillian blinked once before his mouth stretched into a disbelieving grin. "Well..." he drawled, clearly enjoying himself far too much, "that absolutely answers all your questions, and yet somehow raises several new ones."

Nigel looked like he might faint, his eyes wide as saucers while his jaw hung open so wide as though it had forgotten its purpose entirely.

Meanwhile, Jacob looked as though he had just witnessed the tragedy of the century before he whispered in sheer disbelief, "Aliana...?"

Aliana, on the other hand, paled at the sight of the three men staring at them. Slowly, almost mechanically, she turned her head to look at Gavriel.

Only to notice there was amusement dancing in his eyes. He raised a brow slightly, as though silently challenging her to explain herself.

She swallowed hard... because she knew how this looked.

She had just stepped out of the room of the half-naked chairman of a rival company, wearing his oversized shirt like it belonged to her, still dressed in last night’s gown, and, to make matters infinitely worse...

She had just declared, quite loudly, that she would not let him go... while still clinging to him.

’Oh dear God...’

Her mind scrambled frantically for a way to salvage what was rapidly becoming a complete disaster.

Just as she opened her mouth to explain herself, she paused.

An idea suddenly struck her, and her eyes gleamed as though she had just been handed the perfect escape.

Her lips, which had been trembling only seconds ago, slowly curved into a smile. The kind that rarely led to anything good, making Gavriel narrow his eyes slightly at her sudden change.

To his surprise, she shot him a playful, almost seductive wink before turning towards their very unwilling audience and letting out a light chuckle.

"Oh my, I didn’t expect to see the three of you so early in the morning."

All three men stared at her, their expressions shifting into varying degrees of confusion.

Releasing one of Gavriel’s biceps, she stepped beside him as though she belonged there and continued with a bright, composed smile, "Well, I must admit I did not expect to share this news with all of you like this, but since the moment has presented itself..."

Before anyone could react, she wrapped both her arms around Gavriel’s arm and announced, without a hint of hesitation, "I’m pleased to let you all know that I am in a relationship with him."

"...."

Then, turning her head, she looked straight into Gavriel’s striking blue eyes and added, far too sweetly, "Right, Gav?"

For a fraction of a second, even Gavriel looked taken aback, his eyes widening ever so slightly at what might have been the most absurd declaration he had heard in a very long time.

As for the three men standing across from them, they looked as though their souls had quietly exited their bodies.

Even Cillian, who rarely lost composure, appeared as though he had just been struck by lightning upon hearing what this she-devil had just proclaimed.

Gavriel, for perhaps the very first time in his long existence, found himself utterly speechless.

He had encountered countless kinds of humans over the years, yet never had anyone managed to make him feel as though the ground had been pulled out from beneath him.

And yet, here she was... this woman, staring at him with eyes that sparkled suspiciously, as though she were plotting something, making him question what the hell was going on in that mind of hers.

Leaning closer to her ear, he whispered in a low, restrained voice, "Aliana, what the f-"

Aliana swiftly lifted her hand and pressed a finger against his lips, silencing him as she fluttered her lashes in a dangerously sweet manner. "Careful there, darling," she murmured softly. "You wouldn’t want to create a scene right now, would you?"

His brows drew together, but she continued smoothly, "I told you I always get what I want... and it just so happens that what I want is tied to you. So technically, what I want is you."

Her voice lowered slightly, her tone turning almost thoughtful as she added, "Now imagine how this looks... especially if this shirt on me were to slip and reveal all those cuts on my skin." She let out a dramatic sigh before continuing, "Even if I deny anything, no one is going to believe me. Not after I just walked out of your room like this."

She tilted her head slightly, her expression deceptively innocent. "Not only would you be saving your reputation as the chairman who has only just stepped into the public eye, but you would also make the partnership between our companies appear much stronger. It keeps unnecessary trouble away from you."

A faint, mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "Trust me, it’s always beneficial to stay in my good graces. This she-devil knows how to reward... very well."

Then, almost as an afterthought, she added lightly, "Besides, it would be in your best interest if I remain alive rather than dead, because I can assure you, if something happens to me, I will make it my personal mission to haunt you... forever."

Her finger slowly slid away from his lips as she leaned back just enough to meet his eyes again.

"So," she finished with a soft, teasing smile, "be a good boy and play along... alright?"

She gave him a wink, leaving Gavriel standing there, completely and utterly speechless.

He simply stared at her, disbelief written plainly across his face.

He could not quite process the fact that ’he’, of all beings, had just been blackmailed by this woman!

Before he could respond or refuse outright, another voice cut through.

"A-Aliana... what is the meaning of this?"

Gavriel’s gaze snapped away from her to the man who had spoken. The moment he did, he caught it all at once, rage, jealousy, envy, every ugly emotion pouring out so openly that it made his eyes narrow.

"What do you mean, Jacob?" Aliana replied calmly. "I thought I made myself perfectly clear. I’m now in a relationship with Gavriel Valentine."

Her words struck like lightning all over again.

This time, however, Gavriel’s reaction was not the same.

The disbelief faded... and something else took its place.

Slowly, the corner of his lips curved into a devious smile, his eyes gleaming with something far more dangerous as his gaze lingered on Jacob’s ashen face.

But Aliana was far from done.

Her attention shifted to Nigel, who looked as though he had been turned to stone.

"Nigel," she called calmly, "once we head back to Astoria, I’d like you to assist Gavriel with our new living arrangements."

"....."

Heavy and absolute silence descended upon them until finally, a single, sharp gasp escaped Nigel’s lips. "Oh. My. God."