Chapter 8

"Thank you, Nicholas."

Stella looked at the colorful lights outside the window, listening to Nicholas's gentle voice on the phone. Her tense mood from the entire morning finally relaxed a bit.

Nicholas chuckled on the other end.

"I'm glad you like it. By the way, are you free tonight? I know this new restaurant that just opened..."

Before he could finish, Stella felt an invisible pressure coming from behind her.

She instinctively turned around and met Alexander's deep gaze.

Alexander was staring at her expressionlessly, his eyes unreadable.

Stella's heart skipped a beat. She quickly spoke into the phone.

"Nicholas, I have something to deal with. I'll call you back later."

She hung up, and the office fell into a brief silence.

"Mr. Brown..."

Stella spoke somewhat uncomfortably, not knowing how to explain taking a personal call during work hours.

Fortunately, Alexander didn't seem to care about that. He just asked casually.

"Who was that?"

"A friend."

Stella answered vaguely, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of her phone.

"Would a friend specially set off fireworks for you?"

Alexander's lips curved slightly, his tone calm, making it hard to tell if he was asking or mocking.

Stella's heart tightened. Afraid that Alexander would keep asking, she bit her lip and said reluctantly, "That's my fiancé."

As soon as the words left her mouth, even she felt it was ridiculous, but since she'd already said it, she couldn't take it back now.

Alexander's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly. His gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, as if judging whether she was telling the truth.

Feeling guilty under his stare, Stella instinctively looked away.

"Fiancé?"

Alexander repeated the word, his tone still flat, but Stella felt his voice was even colder than before.

"Yes."

Stella lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.

Seeing this, Alexander didn't ask further. He turned and walked back to his office, then dialed the intercom.

"Chase, send over the gift I picked out. I won't be coming home tonight."

After hanging up, his gaze returned to Stella.

"You're coming with me tonight."

He didn't say where, but Stella didn't dare refuse. She could only nod in agreement.

It wasn't until she followed Alexander into a private club that Stella realized he'd brought her to a drinking party.

However, looking at the group of young people in the private room, she couldn't help but wonder.

Was this really a business dinner?

"Alexander, it's rare to see you here, and you even brought a female companion today."

A man with silver-gray hair walked up with a smile, his eyes looking Stella up and down.

"Who is this?"

"Stella Hall, my assistant."

Alexander introduced her briefly, his tone flat.

"Assistant?"

Another man wearing gold-rimmed glasses smiled meaningfully but didn't say more.

Alexander didn't respond either, just pulled Stella to sit down in an empty seat.

Stella could feel the curious glances from around her, making her uncomfortable all over.

After the drinking party started, the atmosphere gradually became lively. The men chatted about business.

Stella sat quietly to the side, occasionally pouring wine for Alexander.

"Alexander, your assistant is quite sensible."

The silver-haired man, named Barry Taylor, came over with his wine glass. "But just being an assistant, isn't that a bit unfair to her?"

His smile carried a hint of teasing.

Alexander glanced at him coolly.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing, just think you two make a good match. Besides, the way Ms. Hall looks at you doesn't seem like how a subordinate looks at her boss."

Barry's smile was suggestive.

Stella's face instantly flushed red. She instinctively looked at Alexander.

But Alexander just raised his glass and took a sip, saying flatly, "Don't talk nonsense."

His ambiguous response only deepened the misunderstanding.

Stella cursed Alexander a thousand times in her heart but could only maintain her smile.

After drinking for a while, someone suggested playing a game.

"Truth or Dare, same old rules. Spin the bottle, whoever the bottle points to chooses truth or dare."

Barry's eyes lit up as he actively suggested this.

Everyone agreed and nodded.

Stella wanted to decline, but Alexander had already nodded in agreement, so she had no choice but to participate.

In the first round, the bottle pointed to a woman in a red dress. She chose dare and was required to call the third person in her contacts and confess her love.

In the second round, the bottle pointed to Barry. He chose truth and was asked about his recent romantic experience, which he shared generously.

In the third round, the bottle spun slowly and finally stopped in front of Stella.

Everyone's eyes immediately focused on her.

Stella's palms were sweating. She hesitated before speaking, "I'll choose dare."

"Brave choice."

Barry clapped his hands and glanced at Alexander, clearly Barry enjoying the drama.

"Then kiss the person on your right for ten seconds."

The person on Stella's right was Alexander.

As Barry's words fell, the air instantly froze.

Stella's eyes widened. She instinctively wanted to refuse, but the game rules were there, and the previous two participants had honored their choices. Now, everyone was watching her expectantly.

Stella was stuck.

Alexander turned his head, his gaze falling on her face, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"Can't handle it?"

Barry asked when she didn't move, his lips curving slightly.

Hearing this, Stella bit her lip. She closed her eyes, thinking it was just ten seconds—she could endure it.

She turned to face Alexander, quietly apologized, then leaned forward. Her lips gently touched Alexander's.

In that instant, time seemed to stand still.

Alexander's lips were slightly cool, carrying the sharp scent of whiskey.

Stella had planned to pull away immediately, but just as she was about to retreat, Alexander suddenly reached up and held the back of her head.

The kiss instantly deepened.

Stella trembled as if electrocuted, then came to her senses and quickly pushed him away. "Time's up."

Her voice carried a barely noticeable tremor, while the surrounding crowd erupted in even louder cheers.

"Alexander, that's not fair—taking advantage of the situation!"

The people around teased for a bit, then pushed wine glasses in front of Alexander.

"Ms. Hall's face is so red, you should apologize to her. Three drinks as punishment."

Alexander didn't hesitate. He picked up the glass and drained it in one gulp.

At the same time, at Vanguard Villa, Elodie sat in the luxuriously decorated living room. In front of her were the birthday gifts Chase had delivered on Alexander's behalf.