Alaric Blackwood: [Wanna ask me out?]

Staring at the instant reply from her "tool husband," Sophie Shaw couldn’t help but picture him: the slight smirk on his thin lips, the magnetic, teasing quality of his voice, and the roguish, smiling curve of his charming eyes.

She typed on the screen: [I want to go to an auction and look at some jewelry.]

An auction?

Alaric Blackwood stared at the message on his phone, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.

’Is she asking me to go and foot the bill?’

He wanted to call her, but he had just arrived at a music bistro to meet Evan Ford, and it was too noisy.

He clapped Evan Ford on the shoulder. "I’m going to make a call."

"Should I order for you then?"

"Go ahead."

Alaric Blackwood got up, found a quiet corner, and dialed Sophie Shaw’s number.

The call connected, and before Sophie Shaw could say a word, he cut in, "I actually have something tomorrow night, but it shouldn’t take too long. What time’s the auction? I’ll do my best to make it."

"Eight-thirty."

"Okay. You go on ahead. If you see a piece you like, feel free to bid."

Sophie Shaw felt a surge of confidence. "Got it."

As he hung up, Alaric Blackwood turned and bumped into a woman’s shoulder, nearly sending his phone flying.

The woman, with a phone pressed to her ear, said apologetically, "I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to..."

When she got a clear look at his face, the woman froze for a moment. Then, a smirk graced her red lips. She stopped talking on the phone and, ignoring the person still speaking on the other end, simply hung up to focus on sizing up Alaric Blackwood.

’He’s handsome, tall, with long legs... and that white shirt tucked into that lean waist... Just that killer waist alone makes him look like he knows what he’s doing.’

"Hey handsome, I didn’t hurt you just now, did I?"

Alaric Blackwood offered a polite smile. "I’m fine."

"You know, handsome, you look really familiar. Have we met before?"

"I just have one of those faces."

Alaric Blackwood tried to walk around her, but she raised a slender arm to block his path. "Hey handsome, can I get your number?"

"I have a boyfriend."

"..."

As if worried she wouldn’t believe him, he pointed toward where Evan Ford was sitting. "My boyfriend’s right over there."

With that, he left the dumbfounded woman behind and strode over to Evan Ford.

When she saw him actually sit down for dinner with another man—especially in a music bistro with such a romantic atmosphere—the woman had to admit he must be gay.

"Hitting on girls again?" Evan Ford shot him a cool glance.

He chuckled. "I used to flirt for fun. Now that I’m married, I have to respect the license. No more messing around."

Evan Ford’s gaze fell to the menu in his hands. "Is Jaden coming?"

Just as he spoke, a curvaceous woman walked past. She gave Evan a suggestive look, then glanced at Alaric Blackwood. "What a shame. Two gorgeous men..."

Alaric Blackwood recognized her as the woman who’d bumped into him earlier and pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.

The woman sighed. "Well, I wish you two a long and happy life together."

Evan Ford’s expression remained unchanged. After the woman was out of earshot, he lazily lifted his gaze to Alaric Blackwood. "So, I’m your boyfriend again?"

"What can I say? I’m too handsome. The women just flock to me. Good thing you were here to run some interference."

Evan Ford snorted. "And what about that flock of admirers you keep around? Have you dealt with them yet?"

"Do they need dealing with?"

"Don’t they?"

"Not necessary."

"When things go south, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

They ordered their food, and Jaden finally arrived.

He wasn’t alone; he’d brought his girlfriend, Stella Yarrow.

The young woman was a recent college graduate, now an intern at a law firm. Standing at five-foot-three, she looked particularly petite next to Jaden, who was over six feet tall. She had delicate features and wore very light makeup. She was the "pale, youthful, and skinny" type—what the internet would call a "first love face," with a pure and innocent look.

Jaden led her over, glancing nervously at Alaric Blackwood’s face. Seeing no major reaction, he cautiously made the introduction. "My girlfriend, Jasmine."

Alaric Blackwood’s eyes swept over Stella Yarrow. ’No difference between her front and her back. Flat as a runway.’

"Mr. Blackwood, Mr. Ford, it’s nice to meet you," Stella Yarrow greeted them shyly, her voice soft and gentle.

Alaric Blackwood didn’t respond, just leaned back nonchalantly in his chair and waited for the food to arrive.

Halfway through the meal, he got up to take a call.

As soon as he was gone, the oppressive atmosphere at the table lifted. Stella Yarrow breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Jaden, "Mr. Blackwood doesn’t seem to like me very much."

Jaden patted her shoulder. "All that matters is that I like you."

"How come I never see Mr. Blackwood at the firm?"

"He’s not involved in the firm’s day-to-day."

"But isn’t he a partner?"

"He’s very busy. I’m the one who handles everything at the firm."

There was a live performance at the bistro; a college-aged guy was on stage, singing and playing his guitar. The group at the next table was getting loud, and Evan Ford couldn’t quite make out what Stella Yarrow and Jaden were saying. He only vaguely heard her mention "Mr. Blackwood" a few times.

"Oh, right, isn’t Mr. Blackwood’s sister that famous actress? The one who said she was going to send cease and desist letters to the people slandering her?" Stella Yarrow changed the subject, though she still hadn’t strayed far from topics related to Mr. Blackwood.

"You mean Nina Halloway?"

Stella Yarrow nodded. "Could I handle her case in the future?"

A cold sweat broke out on Jaden’s forehead. "No, you can’t. Absolutely not."

"Why not? Who are you looking down on?"

Stella Yarrow huffed and shot Jaden a nasty look. She slammed her chopsticks on the table, grabbed her bag, and made to leave.

Jaden quickly pulled her back down into her seat. "Nina Halloway is a major client. She’d be furious if the firm assigned an intern to her case."

"My internship is almost over. It’s time you let me handle something on my own."

Jaden’s head throbbed. There was no way he could let Stella Yarrow and Nina Halloway meet.

"We’ll talk about this later."

Just then, Alaric Blackwood returned from his call, and all talk of the famous actress and cease and desist letters came to an abrupt halt.

After dinner, Jaden hurried Stella Yarrow out, saying they were going to see a movie.

Watching them leave the restaurant, Alaric Blackwood suppressed his anger and lit a cigarette.

"He hasn’t come clean to your sister yet?" Evan Ford asked.

"Doesn’t look like it."

If he had, his sister would have been raising hell for days. Nina Halloway has already started filming a new drama, and she hasn’t caused any trouble, which means Jaden hasn’t said a thing.

Having a troublesome friend like Jaden was a massive headache for Alaric Blackwood. But the guy was his brother, someone he’d grown up with. He’d fought back the urge to punch Jaden more times than he could count.

"What do you think of my sister?" he asked Evan Ford.

The man snorted. "I’m a confirmed bachelor. I’m not interested in women or relationships."

"You got the guts to say that in front of your grandmother? She’d come at you with a feather duster, and then your parents would give you a ’mixed doubles’ beating."

Evan Ford shot him a glare. "Shut your damn mouth."

"Hey, my words are blessed. It’s bound to come true sooner or later. Just you wait."

Evan Ford said, "Let’s go. To the boxing gym. You and I need to spar."

Alaric Blackwood didn’t want to go, but Evan Ford dragged him there anyway.

When Alaric Blackwood arrived at the office the next day, his lip was swollen. He’d taken a punch sparring with Evan Ford, splitting it open and drawing blood.

The first thing Lydia Wynn saw that morning was his lip. After brewing his coffee and delivering it to the CEO’s office, she attentively brought over the first-aid kit, wanting to treat the cut on his lip for him.