Julia crushed the invite in her hand the moment they left.
"Well… who's this Alexander?" Carolina asked, placing her bag in the car. "Someone who can afford to rent a hall in Kfunds Club? I've never heard of him before."
"Someone who managed to steal someone's work and is enjoying the glory," Julia commented languidly.
"Hm… you don't seem too keen on him," Carolina noted, taking the front seat while Julia slid into the driver's seat.
"He's—"
Julia's phone rang, cutting her off.
"Excuse me," she said, picking up. It was James.
"Hey! James, what's up?" Julia said, her voice noticeably lighter.
"I'm fine, but… um, Julia… I have an unwelcome intruder in my house," he said, his eyes drifting to the woman standing outside.
"Intruder?" Julia's tone sharpened immediately. "If it's dangerous, call the police. Don't try to handle it yourself."
For a second, she wondered if Kelvin Kings had taken things too far.
"Julia… it's Lilly. Nothing serious," he replied.
He hadn't expected her to worry — but her concern made something warm stir in his chest.
"Ohh… then that's good too," Julia said casually. "Does anyone know she's there? This might be the best time to get rid of her for life."
"Emm…" James hesitated, completely missing her playful tone.
"I could invite her in and poison her," he said seriously after a moment of thought.
"Hahaha—"
Julia's laughter rang through the phone, making his heart skip.
"I was joking. Trust me, she's not worth the energy."
James nodded, a little embarrassed by his own readiness.
At this point, he realized that if Julia told him to jump off a bridge, he might actually do it.
"I think she's here to poach me," he said. Lilly had been digging into him for a while — he already knew her intention.
"Hm… of course she is," Julia replied, a devilish smirk forming on her lips.
"I just called to tell you in case—"
"I trust you," Julia cut in firmly.
"Since she's already there, go find out what she's after."
"Okay," James said, his shoulders sagging in relief.
He had panicked when he saw Lilly at his doorstep and was ready to leave her standing there all day — but since Julia wanted him to entertain her, he would.
Lilly pressed the doorbell for the tenth time, her patience running thin.
She forced down her anger — she needed this to work.
Just as she raised her hand again, the door opened.
A frowning James stood there, looking down at her.
"I didn't know Ms. Lilly enjoys playing with doorbells on random houses," he said coldly, his voice devoid of humor.
Lilly's eyes brightened instantly, relief washing over her. She flashed him a smile as though she hadn't noticed his mood.
"Nice to meet you once again," she said sweetly — too sweetly.
That alone made James frown deeper.
Someone as prideful as Lilly acting this nice?
Suspicious.
"Won't you invite me in?" she asked, her lips curling into a seductive smile, her gaze suggestive.
James's eyes flicked around quickly — and landed on a man partially hidden near the flower bed… holding a camera.
"Sure," he said, stepping aside and opening the door wider.
A triumphant smile spread across Lilly's lips, her eyes glinting wickedly.
She walked straight to the couch, deliberately swinging her hips as she passed him.
"James…" she called seductively, glancing around the small but tidy space.
"You deserve a bigger house," she added, watching his reaction closely.
"I don't need a big house. If that's why you're here, you can leave."
"Huff—" she scoffed. "Everyone needs something, James. We all have desires. It's okay to want things… and to do things to get them."
She stepped closer.
James moved back smoothly, avoiding her.
If he had known she would try to seduce him, he would have left her outside.
What am I? A horny teenager?
Swallowing his disgust, he asked firmly—
"Why are you here?"
Lilly noticed it.
He wasn't affected at all.
Instead, he was avoiding her.
Anger surged through her, but she suppressed it.
Every man has a weakness… I just need to find his.
"I can give you everything you want, James," she said smoothly.
"Everything you can imagine. I know working for Julia must be stressful and tiring. I don't know how much she pays you, but I'm willing to make it ten times."
James let out a short laugh.
"Ms. Lilly, you sound like the devil… or should I say Santa?"
Now he understood.
She needed a spy.
"James, I'm not joking," she pressed. "I can give you everything you want. You just have to get me something. If you want to work for the Kings, I can make it happen. Imagine it — a school dropout working with the Kings."
So she really dug into my background, James thought.
"Just random information," she added casually. "Anyone can get it. Which makes me wonder how you got the job as Julia's PA… you must have faked your résumé."
She watched him closely, expecting fear.
But his face remained blank.
"If you're trying to threaten me, Ms. Lilly, then you're not here for a deal. You can use the door."
He stood and walked toward it.
He knew she was desperate — throwing everything at him.
But Julia had asked him to find out what she wanted.
So it was too early to throw her out.
"James, you're making a big mistake," Lilly said with a sigh of fake pity. "I'll just find someone else."
"Ms. Lilly," he said calmly, "I don't enter deals without knowing what they're about. I'm anything but a fool."
Lilly took a deep breath.
This wasn't how she planned the negotiation.
But this… was her only chance to align with Kelvin Kings.
"I need to know who created the virus."
A flicker of realization crossed James's eyes.
Even if he told her… she wouldn't believe it.
Lilly watched him go quiet.
"This is highly sensitive information, Ms. Lilly," he said slowly.
"It will cost you."
Relief washed over her.
As long as he wanted something — she could control him.
"What do you need?"
James met her eyes.
"A meeting with Kelvin Kings himself."