The way he said it… it was as if he had caught a cheating wife red-handed in bed. Somehow, Cecilia's mind flashed back to that day at the villa with Blair, and the night Blaze came home drunk, reeking of some unfamiliar perfume.
Blaze had been cozying up to some stranger, drinking and mingling, and she had never once asked a word. And now—now she had only exchanged a few sentences with Leano, and he had the audacity to be angry? She hadn't done anything wrong!
"That's right. I have plans with him!"
Cecilia took a deep breath, lifting her chin to meet Blaze's gaze directly. She deliberately ignored the flicker of anger in his eyes, repeating herself as if challenging him: "I have dinner with Mr. Leano tonight. You should go home."
The world seemed to freeze. Silence pressed down like a heavy curtain. Blaze said nothing, his scorching gaze fixed on her, burning into her very skin as if it could leave two holes in her chest.
After a long moment, Blaze finally turned and walked away.
Even the assistant standing nearby was dumbstruck. A woman who could make Blaze lose his composure—Cecilia was surely the first.
Blaze had rushed here, leaving the middle of a shareholders' meeting, just to pick her up after work… only to be told, "I have plans with another man." This Cecilia—this audacious, infuriating Cecilia—had completely betrayed the feelings of their company's top boss.
Leano pretended to fumble with his bike, sneaking a sidelong glance at Blaze's retreating figure. A subtle, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He pushed the bike to Cecilia and said politely, "Miss Spark, shall we go?"
"Ah… alright…"
Cecilia's eyes lingered on Blaze's disappearing back. She hesitated, lips pressed tightly together, but eventually she turned and followed Leano.
The restaurant he had booked was off the bustling streets. They walked a short distance before arriving at a somewhat shabby little eatery. The facade was small; inside, a few simple tables were scattered. A half-height red brick wall separated the dining area from the kitchen, and a corner gas tank was streaked with grease.
"Please don't mind—it's a bit rustic, but the food's decent," Leano said shyly, finally finding his voice after a long pause.
A few small heaters sat in the corner, doing little to warm the place. Scattered diners in faded coats sweated over their meals. Compared to them, Cecilia, dressed in high-end brands and spotless from head to toe, felt like a stranger in a foreign land.
"That's fine. I appreciate your thoughtfulness," Cecilia said with a faint smile as she sat down.
She didn't like this place. Not one bit. But the situation had escalated to this point, and she needed to figure out a way to handle it.
The middle-aged female owner, seemingly acquainted with Leano, came out cheerfully to greet them. Chatting for a few moments, her eyes flicked over to Cecilia like radar. "And who is this? Not introducing your girlfriend?"
"Ah, no, no!" Leano jumped slightly, glancing nervously at Cecilia several times. His face turned crimson. "This is my superior, the very person who sponsored my studies abroad!"
Cecilia gave an awkward nod and smiled faintly at the woman.
"I see… so this young lady is already so capable. Didn't expect it," the woman said, her tone carrying a subtle sting, as if implying Cecilia was a spoiled rich kid who had achieved nothing herself.
Cecilia forced a cold smile. "You're quite… interesting," she said lightly.
"Please don't mind her. That's just how she is," Leano said, ordering a few dishes and pouring wine into his own glass. He looked at Cecilia earnestly. "Let's get to the point. This one's for you—thank you for helping me back then."
He downed the wine in one gulp. Cecilia, however, stared at the greasy cup, her stomach twisting. She felt nauseous—everything about the restaurant seemed dirty, tainting the air itself.
"I appreciate the gesture, but I'll pass on the wine," she said firmly.
Leano's wide, bright eyes blinked at her, then he nodded. "Of course. I only wish to express my gratitude—nothing more, I promise."
The small space filled with diners. Benches pressed close together. Someone behind Cecilia elbowed her repeatedly. She felt a pang of irritation but forced a polite, composed smile for Leano's sake.
"I understand," she said curtly.
"Please, try the food—it's really good," Leano urged, picking up a piece with his fork.
Cecilia froze. The whitewashed tips were smeared with grease, instantly rekindling the nausea she had been suppressing. Her face paled. She could no longer endure it.
"Sorry… I just remembered some documents I need to handle. I'll have to leave," she blurted, standing abruptly.
"Ah… then you—" Leano's words died in his throat as Cecilia fled the restaurant.
Half an hour later, a man in a black baseball cap entered the eatery, dragging a chair to sit across from Leano.
"How did it go?"
Leano removed his glasses, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Should be fine. That woman, Cecilia, is very easy to manipulate."
The man across from him slowly lifted his head—it was Bruno.
"This has to go off without a hitch. I want you to use everything you've got to take down MAPLE CO, make that Cecilia woman taste some hardship."
"Mr. bruno… I don't quite understand. What kind of grudge could you possibly have?" Leano put down his chopsticks, resting his chin in his hand, his big, innocent eyes darting around. "You made up this entire tragic backstory for me—urinary disease mother and all? Do you really need such an elaborate scheme just to fool one woman?"
Everything about Leano was a lie. He had once been Bruno's business partner, but after going bankrupt, he joined forces with Bruno. Even though Bruno had been ousted from the Charlie shareholder meeting, the connections he had accumulated over the years were not so easily destroyed. He had been planning his comeback, and the first obstacle in his path was Cecilia.
"You don't need to know all that. Just do as I say, and you'll get your reward," Bruno said coldly.
Meanwhile, outside the little restaurant, Cecilia staggered onto the street. Her stomach churned violently; she pressed herself against the wall, vomiting repeatedly. Tears welled up, stinging her eyes.
She wasn't usually delicate, but in that moment, she felt utterly helpless and unfairly treated.
In the past, she would have left the moment she felt discomfort—she wouldn't have stayed a second longer in such a place, let alone forced herself to eat or drink. Or perhaps she would have argued with the owner. But with Blaze around, he always managed the fallout, leaving her free of consequence.
All of this, Cecilia realized, was because she had been stubbornly trying to "win" against Blaze. She had thought that without him, she could still live well and handle everything on her own.
But the truth seemed otherwise.
She stood frozen on the street, the cold wind biting at her tear-streaked face. Her phone had died, her car was at the company, and she didn't want to go back to the restaurant to find Leano. What could she do now?
Just as she was feeling completely trapped, a black BMW rolled up beside her, the horn startling her.
"Miss Spark?"
Behind the tinted window was a strikingly handsome man—eyebrows like distant mountains, features flawless and memorable. Cecilia studied him, trying to place his face, but couldn't recall where she had seen him before.
"Excuse me… may I ask who you are?"
"Heh, perhaps you don't recognize me," the man said, pausing briefly before curling his thin lips into a faint smile. "I'm with west Port Investments. We're involved in the MAPLE CO project bidding, and there's a chance we could become partners. That's how I know you."
Cecilia's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward to speak. "You're Adrian, right? Adrian Boss?"
The man in front of her was the partner of MAPLE CO's biggest project this quarter. She was supposed to sign the contract with him next week, but fate had other plans.
"That's me," he said, his voice warm, carrying a faint smile. "But why are you here alone? Did something happen?"
Cecilia hesitated for a moment, then replied, slightly embarrassed, "If it's convenient, could you give me a ride? I came out to handle something, and my car is still at the office."
"Of course. Get in."
Although a bit awkward, Cecilia got into Adrian's car. She had only expected him to drop her off at the office, but he kindly asked for her villa address and insisted on taking her all the way home.
It was past nine when Adrian finally stopped the car in front of the villa. The glaring lights of the BMW caught Blaze's attention. He closed his laptop and stared out at the darkness. Cecilia stepped out of a stranger's car and waved goodbye with a friendly smile.
That scene ignited a fire in Blaze. He crushed the cigarette between his fingers, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the front door.
The foyer light clicked on, spilling warm yellow light, blurring her face slightly. Blaze stood up and began walking toward her, each step deliberate.
Cecilia was bending down to take off her shoes when suddenly a strong hand pressed her against the wall. Blaze's one hand rested on her shoulder, the other around her waist, his gaze scanning her from head to toe. They were so close she could hear the beat of his heart.
"Who is he?"
Annoyed by his interrogating tone, Cecilia snapped, "Why should I tell you?"
In the dim light, his black eyes darkened with anger. His presence was overwhelming; the temperature in the foyer seemed to drop, as if they were inside a freezer.
Cecilia swallowed and straightened her back. "The man who brought me back just now is Adrian, the partner of MAPLE CO's next project. My relationship with him is perfectly innocent. It's not what you think."
Blaze didn't speak, but his gaze, sharp and predatory, pinned her in place. His grip on her arms didn't loosen an inch.
"If nothing else, I'm going back to my room," Cecilia said, trying to avoid his freezing eyes and gently pushing at his arm.
Suddenly, Blaze spun around like a beast unleashed. His large hand snatched her up. "Am I being too lenient with you?"
Cecilia swayed and stumbled into his embrace, then was harshly thrown onto the sofa. He didn't give her a moment to breathe, pressing his body against hers. His icy stare was laced with lethal authority, as if declaring that his patience had reached its limit.
"You forgot what we used to negotiate, didn't you?"
His cold words struck her ears, making her shiver. "What do you mean?" she asked, bewildered.
He pinched her chin with one hand, his thumb brushing over her lips, eyes glinting with ruthless intent. "I can withdraw my investment at any time, leaving MAPLE CO in debt, trapped, and never able to recover."
"No! You can't do that!"
They had a deal—she was supposed to save MAPLE CO with a Marriage Certificate. How could Blaze go back on his word?