Chapter 42

A week ago, Seraphine had braced herself for Voren to confront her directly after his conversation with Desmond.

She had pictured it in vivid detail, the storm behind his gaze, the sharp cadence of his words, the kind of confrontation that left even the toughest people unsettled, but Voren had surprised her.

Not only had he refused to take the bait but had proven far more stubborn than she had anticipated. Ashkael Holdings itself had shown resilience she hadn’t fully expected, and the company’s foundations were too solid for a single server attack to topple.

Even with the chaos she had orchestrated, the stock dips were negligible. It was frustrating, and deflating, but she took cold satisfaction in knowing Ravyn would remain isolated.

Help would not come for him, not when Voren would be busy stabilizing his company affairs.

The next morning, Seraphine decided to grant herself a small reprieve. She called Corvine, her tone unusually warm, almost soft. “You’ve been good to me. Let me give you a treat p>

Corvine’s polite smile masked a quiet ache. No matter how close they had grown, Seraphine’s eyes never lingered the way he longed for. To her, he was family, a reliable presence, a protector, but nothing more.

Still, he accepted, clinging to the hope that this outing might mark the beginning of something new. “I’m flattered,” he said, keeping his voice steady, as Seraphine smiled confidently and subtle, led the way.

She moved with the quiet authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed without question, yet wrapped in warmth, rewarding loyalty without excess.

The drive to the restaurant was serene, the city blurring past in muted golds and grays. Only the rhythmic beeping of her phone punctuated the calm.

When she checked the caller ID, she answered immediately, her voice calm, precise.

“David, the IT manager of Ashkael Holdings needs your help. There’s been a server attack, and we already agreed on the price. 10 p>

Her voice cut through him mid-sentence, firm and unwavering. “Billion.” The call filter gave her tone a masculine resonance, demanding respect, or fear, without raising it.

“But… you said p>

“I know what I said. That deal is for others. Ashkael Holdings starts at ten billion p>

No room for negotiation or pleading. This was the moment she had been waiting for and it finally came but still, the boss himself was still too proud.

Seraphine wondered for how long it would last but the more the delay, the greater the damage. The agent exhaled a long, frustrated sigh, conceding, “I will get back to you p>

Corvine caught only fragments of the conversation but smiled quietly, sensing the subtle power Seraphine wielded. She had been with the company just over a week, and already, the tides were shifting.

For the first time in Stone Groups’ history, they ranked number four, a fact Corvine’s father had proudly shared just yesterday.

As they arrived at the restaurant, the hum of luxury wrapped around them, the faint clink of cutlery, soft murmurs of conversation, the subtle aroma of grilled fish and fresh herbs.

Seraphine’s attention shifted abruptly when a familiar voice rang out above the ambient noise. “It’s you! I’ve been looking everywhere for you p>

She turned, nearly missing the boy with the woman, but the moment she saw him, calm, bright-eyed, smiling, her chest lifted slightly.

“Thanks for helping me that day, ma’am. My dad told us to call you, but we didn’t have your number,” the boy said politely, gratitude curling his lips.

The gravity of his words told Seraphine that his age might be more than she predicted. Her lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes flicked to the woman on the phone, catching her words floating faintly through the air.

“Guess what? I just bumped into her,” the woman said, Corvine frowned, his curiosity piqued. “Who are you talking to p>

Lowering the phone, the woman’s face radiated gratitude. “My husband.” She looked at Seraphine like she just saw her childhood fictional hero. “Her prescription worked, and even my son’s pediatrician wants to meet her p>

Corvine’s smile was quiet, measured, unsurprised. He had assumed medicine was Seraphine’s expertise, but the past week had revealed layers of her skill and influence that defied even his expectations.

The boy stepped forward, earnest and polite, gesturing toward a vacant chair. “Do you mind if we share a table? My dad will be here soon p>

Seraphine hesitated. She found herself caught between the boy’s disarming innocence and the quiet intention she had carried with her all day, the simple act of rewarding Corvine.

Before she could respond, Corvine had already pulled a chair closer, the movement effortless, confident, almost practiced. “This table seems lively,” he said with a playful wink. “Don’t worry, she won’t refuse p>

The boy laughed, instantly at ease, and slid into conversation with Corvine as though they had known each other for far longer than a few seconds.

Seraphine settled into her seat quietly, the corners of her lips lifting despite herself. Behind her composed exterior, amusement flickered, warm, fleeting, unexpected.

The woman joined them moments later, her movements graceful, her smile open. “Order anything you want. It’s on us,” she said casually.

Seraphine pursed her lips, a crease forming between her brows as she considered the offer. She had come here with the clear intention to give, not to receive and yet here she was, seated at a table where someone else insisted on paying the bill.

“No,” she said finally, shaking her head. “You all order, I’ll pay p>

The woman laughed softly and shook her head in return. “Then you can invite me out another time. I invited you to join us, so we pay p>

She glanced at her phone, her smile lingering. “My husband just got off work. He should be here any minute p>

Seraphine’s gaze drifted briefly toward the entrance, something unreadable passing through her eyes, disappointment perhaps, or a quiet sense of displacement she didn’t quite name.

“Relax,” Corvine said gently, noticing the shift. His voice was steady, reassuring. “I’m always here, and we can have more lunches together p>

His words soothed her more than she expected, she exhaled softly, nodding once, the tension in her shoulders easing.

But if Corvine had known, if he had understood that this chance encounter, this shared table and easy laughter, would one day shake the fragile relationship between him and Seraphine, he might have hesitated, or even declined the invitation altogether.

Given another chance, he might have chosen differently.