The dinner ended smoothly, with Kylian showing none of the arrogance you’d expect from a big


    boss. He wasid–back, almost too casual for someone with his status.


    Hayden, though, stayed mostly quiet the whole meal. Besides offering me food and checking if I


    needed water, he barely said a word. His cool, distant vibe made it seem like he was the one in


    charge.


    Once the meal wrapped up, Kylian left in his understated Maybach, and Ron, a little tipsy from the


    drinks, booked a sober driver service.


    While waiting, Ron slung an arm over Hayden’s shoulder. “So, Hayden, what do you think?


    Everything go smoothly tonight?”


    Hayden brushed his arm off with a calm look. “You’ve had too much to drink.”


    “I’m not that drunk,” Ronughed, lifting his hand to p Hayden on the shoulder again. “I know


    you’re worried I’ll say something dumb, but I got it under control.”


    This time, Hayden caught Ron by the wrist, stopping him. “I don’t like people touching my


    shoulders. And you probably shouldn’t do it to anyone else either. In feng shui, it’s said that your


    fortune rests on your _shoulders. You don’t want to go pping away someone’s good luck, right?”


    I nearly burst outughing. Hayden, caring about feng shui? Who knew?


    Ron blinked, stunned for a second before chuckling. “When did you get all superstitious? You sound


    like


    an old man.”


    “Your ride’s here,” Hayden cut him off, just as the driver pulled up.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Hayden wasted no time directing the driver toward Ron. “It’s his car. Take him.”


    Then, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, Hayden turned to me. “Let’s go.”


    “Hey, I wasn’t finished! Where are you two going?” Ron called out, but Hayden didn’t look back.


    As we reached the car, I stayed quiet.


    “What’s on your mind?” Hayden asked, picking up on my mood.


    Leaning against the car, I looked up at him. “Do you really think Kylian Hart seems like our


    company’s big boss?”


    Hayden frowned a little. “You don’t think so?”


    “No, I think you seem more like the boss,” I said, locking eyes with him.


    “I thought so too,” Hayden replied, his tone casual. Then, with a slight smile, he added, “But you


    know, looks can be deceiving.”


    Iughed softly, raising my hand to touch his face. “You do have that whole ‘romance novel CEO‘


    look going on. But you’re not.”


    “Are you disappointed? Or do you wish I was?” Hayden asked, his eyes searching mine.


    I shook my head. “No, don’t overthink it. I like you just the way you are–no crazy rich family, just


    simple


    and handsome. You make me feel… safe.”


    Even though I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, my emotions felt tipsy, like I’d had too much to


    drink.


    Hayden’s voice softened. “And if I came into money one day? Would you still feel safe?”


    I squinted at him, teasing. “nning toe into money soon?”


    He didn’t answer, and I thought about how hard it had been for him to afford Yuna’s surgery.


    Wanting tofort him, I said, “Security isn’t about money, you know.”


    After that, I pulled my hand back. “Let’s go.”


    But before I could move, Hayden caught my hand and pressed it gently back onto the car, leaning


    in closer.


    He’d had a drink tonight, and I could smell the faint scent of alcohol mixing with the night breeze. It


    made the air between us feel charged, like something electric was building.


    My fingers gripped the edge of the car door as my heart raced. “Hayden, what are you doing?”


    His eyes locked onto my lips, and I could see what he was thinking–he wanted another taste of the


    kiss I’d given him earlier.


    I nced at his lips too. The lipstick I’d left on him earlier was long gone, but I couldn’t help but


    tease him. “You know, lipstick kinda suits you.”


    “Hmm.”


    Iughed. “You always say ‘hmm.‘ What does that even mean?”


    “It means I want you to put it on me again,” Hayden murmured, his nose brushing against mine.


    “Only I get to put it on you?” My hand slid up to rest on his throat.


    “Hmm.”


    I ran my fingers over his Adam’s apple. “What if I want to put it here? Is that okay?”


    “You’ve already done that before,” Hayden reminded me, referring to the time I’d left a love bite on


    his neck, marking him.


    “Wanna do it again?” he asked softly when I didn’t respond.


    I didn’t answer with words. Instead, I leaned in and bit down gently on his neck.


    Hayden let out a low groan, and before I knew it, he had lifted me up, pressing me against the car


    door.


    The night air was cool, the car behind me cold to the touch, but Hayden’s body? That was burning.


    X