Alicia hadn’t expected him to take the matter so seriously, and for a moment, words failed her. If he refused to accept her simple apology, then what did he want? A meal? Some other form of compensation? That didn’t seem like Caden’s style.

Before she could dwell on it, his deep, smooth voice cut through the silence. “Are you really sorry?”

Even over the phone, the weight of his tone sent a shiver down her spine. She felt light-headed, as though she were teetering on the edge of a trap she hadn’t seen coming.

“Yes,” she replied, though with some hesitation. “But… even though I didn’t like you, it’s not like you were affected, right?”

So, shouldn’t a verbal apology be enough?

Caden let out a low chuckle, but it was anything but amused. “You say you’re sorry, but you’re so quick to back away.”

At this, Alicia fell silent. Guilt gnawed at her, though pride made her insistent on proving her sincerity. “Then… how do you want me to prove just how sorry I am?”

His scoff echoed in her ear, making her wince. “Don’t you already know?”

Alicia froze. In that instant, she understood exactly what he wanted.

Her first instinct was to hang up on him. But Caden, calm as ever, added, “I won’t force you. No need to be so scared of me.”

“Who says I’m afraid of you?” she snapped, though her voice trembled just enough to betray her. “Even your breathing’s changed.”

Being exposed so easily, she instinctively held her breath, but his knowing silence only made things worse.

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Caden, not wanting to waste time, got straight to the point. “You don’t have to come to me. Just give me an hour of your precious time and stay on the phone.”

Her gut twisted.

This was a trap—and she had walked straight into it. Though they’d been intimate before, this was the first time she found herself engaging in phone sex.

Caden took the lead, guiding her into something far more intimate. His control was absolute, leaving no room for shame.

Halfway through, Caden’s voice broke the rhythm. “Answer three questions, and I’ll cut the call short by twenty minutes.”

Alicia, her mind still reeling from the intensity of the conversation, fell silent. She could barely think straight, let alone string together a coherent response. But somehow, her muddled thoughts told her that answering his questions wouldn’t do her any harm.

“Go ahead…” she murmured softly.

Hearing her tender voice, Caden became even more aroused. His tone dropped an octave, rough and deep. “Now that we’re apart… do you miss me?”

Alicia’s mind scattered, her pulse quickening. How could he ask something so shameless? What an asshole.

She sucked in a shaky breath, feeling like a fish gasping for air. She knew he wouldn’t believe her answer, but she refused to admit the truth. “No.”

Caden wasn’t looking for honesty. He simply wanted to toy with her, and his knowing chuckle made that clear.

“Second question—at the bar that night, did you enjoy it when that male escort flirted with you?”

Alicia blinked, trying to recall the guy’s face. She couldn’t even remember it clearly. She licked her dry lips, trying to bring the memory back. But no matter how hard she tried, all she could see was Caden’s face.

“No,” she replied, choosing the simplest answer.

Caden hummed in satisfaction. “Good girl.”

His breath grew heavier, and the tension in the air was palpable. Alicia bit her lip, feeling cornered in this game he was playing.

“One last question,” she urged, her voice trembling. “Then I’m hanging up.”

Caden paused, drawing out the silence before asking in a low, almost teasing tone, “Did this call… make you feel good?”

Alicia’s scalp tingled. She couldn’t bring herself to answer, but her ragged breathing gave her away. Caden couldn’t help but laugh. Sure enough, she was as easy to read as a book.

“Seems like you really enjoyed yourself.” His voice thick with seduction, he added, “I thought you’d be used to me by now, but I have to say… you picked up the trick on your first try.”

In response, a sharp beep blared into his ear. Alicia had hung up on him.

Caden stared at the phone, his chest rising and falling with laughter. How could someone so stubborn be so obedient at the same time? She always did whatever he asked, yet she acted like she had no choice.

He took a deep breath, glancing down at his restless body. It felt like a bundle of nerves—tense, unsatisfied, and in a word, a real headache.

With a resigned sigh, he rose and made his way to the bathroom to deal with the rest of his frustration. As absurd as it was, the incident left Alicia unsettled for days.

As Christmas loomed on the horizon, the city buzzed with activity, industries kicking into high gear. Alicia seized the opportunity, arranging meetings with a string of gallery investors. Thanks to Gerry’s well-placed connections, everything fell smoothly into place, and the negotiations went surprisingly well.

After one of the meetings with her investors, she called Gerry to invite him out to dinner.

Gerry’s response caught her off guard. “I didn’t do much, really. It was Caden who set everything in motion. I just arranged the meetings.”

Alicia’s heart skipped. Memories of the day she had fallen out with Caden flooded her mind. Despite their fight over the gallery project, it seemed she was still reaping the benefits of his foresight.

“Thank him for me, will you?” Alicia said, resigned.

Gerry chuckled, ever the peacemaker. “Why don’t you thank him yourself?”

Her pulse quickened, but she kept her tone steady. “He’s busy. I wouldn’t want to bother him.”

Sensing her reluctance, Gerry didn’t push further.

“Well, it’s your first venture. There’ll be hiccups along the way. If you ever find yourself in a bind and don’t want to call Caden, just call me.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hopkins,” Alicia replied, her gratitude genuine. “I really appreciate it.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Alicia hung up, feeling a bone-deep weariness settle over her. She had been running at full speed for days, barely pausing for breath. Now that the most pressing tasks were done, all she wanted was to collapse into bed. But there was still dinner with the investors tonight—at seven sharp.

With a tired glance at the clock, she squared her shoulders, pulled herself together, and dove back into work.

Meanwhile, Yolanda lingered in Caden’s office. They were both just about to get off work.

She had come to Warrington with a clear goal—to help Caden with the crucial chip development project. It was in its early stages, and there was no room for error. But Caden, worried about her health, wasn’t about to let her push herself too hard.

“It’s time to eat,” he said, his tone brisk and businesslike. “I’ll have the driver take you back to Joy Mansion.”

Yolanda hesitated, a soft smile curling her lips. She didn’t want the evening to end. Batting her eyelashes shyly, she asked in a soft voice, “Caden, could I join you for dinner?”