The assembly hall emptied in waves.

Neville watched them go from his position at the podium, his fingers still resting on the edge of the lectern. The holographic displays had dimmed to standby mode, casting the hall in that particular blue-gray light that always made the space feel empty and cold.

[Host, that was one hell of a meeting╰(°▽°)╯] Shelly’s voice chimed in his mind with an impressed horror tone.

Neville exhaled slowly through his nose. ’Yeah. But I’m still annoyed.’

[Then, Host, why did you let the military off so easily?] Shelly asked, genuinely puzzled. Her petals wiggled in confusion in the system space. [You had them cornered. That Colonel looked like he wanted to run away from this place as soon as possible.]

Neville’s jaw tightened. ’They were still Grayson’s previous comrades. They couldn’t help it if some people in power wanted to keep Ethan alive.’

For the military to fail, there must be someone behind it. These people let Ethan free for so long, providing the necessary facilities. There was no way they would let Ethan die just like that.

Politics, as always, made everything messier than it needed to be.

[So, you’re going just to let this all go, just like that?] Shelly pressed with a knowing voice. [Because forgive me for saying so, host, but that doesn’t sound like the person who spent months planning all of this until his last point was down, even spending his barely earned wealth.]

Neville’s lips twitched. ’You know and still made me buy all sorts of things with it.’

[It’s really necessary.]

’You could’ve just waited for me to earn it.’

[Uh-huh, and tell me that you will buy it next time? (¬__¬)] Shelly said with disdain. [You know, next time never really came.]

Before Neville could argue any further, Keaton approached him from the side. He seemed to have purposely stayed there with him.

Neville was about to wonder why when he saw that Keaton was holding a single flower.

It was a strange thing, crimson petals arranged in a pattern that resembled a daisy but nothing like any daisy Neville had ever seen on Earth. The deep red was so saturated it almost looked wet, like fresh blood pooled in the cup of each petal.

Keaton must’ve caught the confusion in Neville’s expression. He flashed a charming smile that would probably make the omega’s in a social gathering weak to their knees.

He said, "This is the last one, I promise."

But Neville didn’t reach for it.

His hands remained at his sides, but Keaton’s smile didn’t fade.

[He’s persistent, I’ll give him that,] Shelly commented unhelpfully. [Most alphas would’ve gotten the hint by now.]

’If every alpha is like this, I’d rather not be with any.’

The standoff lasted only a moment longer before Keaton did something unexpected. He snapped the stem cleanly with his bare hands and stepped closer to Neville.

Close. Too close.

Neville’s breath caught as Keaton’s fingers brushed against his ear. He tucked the bloodied flower into the strands of his hazel-brown hair, as it belonged there like Neville was some kind of canvas for Keaton to decorate as he pleased.

"There," Keaton murmured, stepping back just enough to admire his handiwork. His eyes swept over Neville’s face with undisguised appreciation. "That was quite the performance."

Neville arranged his expression into something polite but distant. "I just did as planned. Due diligence."

"It was a cunning move, I must say." Keaton’s smile widened, transforming from charming to something sharper and genuine in its own way.

"But I do admire that in a person. It was..." He tilted his head, considering. "Masterful."

Heat crept up the back of Neville’s neck that had nothing to do with attraction and everything to do with being seen.

It was just flattering.

But it was also dangerous.

Keaton’s hand lifted, reaching toward a strand of hair that had strayed. His fingers were mere centimeters away when—

Smack.

A larger hand intercepted Keaton’s wrist with enough force to make the sound echo in the emptying hall. Grayson appeared behind Neville like a shadow given form, his silver eyes cold enough to freeze the atmosphere.

Keaton raised an eyebrow. Even if that bothered him, he hid it well behind a disdain. "Mr. Maxwell. Hello."

Grayson ignored him.

Instead, he leaned down until his breath ghosted warm against Neville’s ear.

"Don’t let other people’s dirty hands lie on you that easily."

The words were quiet. Intimate. Meant for Neville alone.

His heart stuttered in his chest like a malfunctioning engine.

[KYAAAAA! (≧◡≦) ♡ Host! HOST! Did you hear that?!] Shelly’s voice had reached frequencies only dogs and transmigrated fish people could hear. [POSSESSIVE BEHAVIOR DETECTED!!]

Neville desperately wished for the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

Keaton’s expression soured. He raised his hand with deliberate slowness, making a show of examining his wrist as though checking for bruising. "Then would you prefer your boss’s hands lay on you?"

The question hung in the air, pointed and poisonous.

Neville should have responded. Should have diffused the tension with some light deflection, some professional nonsense about workplace boundaries and proper conduct. That was what a good employee should do.

Instead, he stood there frozen, distracted from Grayson’s warmth at his back. His presence seemed to take up all the oxygen in the room.

A flush spread across his cheeks. He could feel it, and from Keaton’s suddenly sharpened gaze, he should’ve seen it too.

[Host, you’re blushing,] Shelly reported, entirely unnecessarily. [Like, really blushing. Your face is almost beet red! ♡〜٩( ✧ ڡ ✧)۶〜♡]

’Shut up shut up shut up—’

"Ah~" Keaton drawled, there was something dangerous underneath his pleasant tone. "You could’ve just told me you’re in a relationship. I would’ve given you something else to woo you to my company."

Behind Neville, Grayson’s satisfaction was extremely obvious. His smugness even radiated through his pheromones.

But no. This was a misunderstanding that needed to be corrected immediately.

"No, we’re not," Neville managed, the words tumbling out faster than they should. "I’m just an employee."

Just an employee.