ログインA transfer notification.One million Baymarks.Her grip tightened slightly. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to him.“What’s this for?”Calvin didn’t hesitate.“You said I was throwing money away,” he replied calmly, almost lazily. “Wouldn’t it be worse to throw it at strangers and not even spend a cent on you?”Her lips parted.But before she could speak.“I don’t want people’s gazes on you,” he cut in, his voice lower now, more serious. “I don’t want anyone looking at you and making you feel like you’re not good enough to stand beside me.”His hand moved across the table.Warm.Steady.He took hers in his.“I don’t want anything,” he continued softly, “that could make you doubt yourself.”For a moment—Cleopatra said nothing.The sharpness in her eyes faded, replaced by something gentler, something almost vulnerable.“Cal…” she called, her voice quieter now, slower.Then a small smile tugged at her lips.“Aww… you’re actually sweet,” she teased lightly, though her fingers curled around h
“You aren’t doing anything at the company today?” Calvin asked, leaning casually against the doorway, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.Cleopatra rolled her eyes, a small laugh escaping her. “Cal, don’t remind me of my foolishness. I wasn’t supposed to come to work like regular workers.”“Of course… I didn’t know,” he said, feigning shock. “I was honestly surprised to see you here all week, and you only had that one photoshoot. Did that monkey not tell you?”“Leave Joss out of this!” Cleopatra shot back, laughter dancing in her voice.Calvin’s brow furrowed slightly, mock-serious. “Damn… what is he even managing? Should I replace him?”“No!” she yelled, then giggled.Calvin’s face contorted, his voice dropping a touch. “You… like him more than me?”Her laughter softened, warm and teasing. “Aww, my jealous big boy. You’re irreplaceable,” she whispered, leaning closer as if to seal her words with the sincerity in her eyes.Calvin inhaled deeply, then exhaled, a small smile breaking t
Instantly, Cleopatra’s hand shot toward the car door handle, yanking it but it didn’t budge. Her pulse hammered in her ears as she turned sharply to Anthony, eyes blazing with a mix of fear and fury.“What… what is the meaning of this?” she demanded, her voice trembling yet edged with steel, every word dripping with accusation.Anthony leaned casually against the steering wheel, but his eyes burned into her like they were reading every hidden thought, every hesitation. “So… you don’t want me visiting your apartment today,” he said slowly, deliberately, “What about another time?”Cleopatra’s jaw tightened, every instinct screaming. Her gaze darted to Calvin’s parked car. ‘Locked,maybe he’s upstairs.’Then she forced her eyes back to Anthony, trying to anchor herself.“You agreed a few minutes ago. You won’t force your way into my apartment. Let me out now,” she said sharply, trying to wrest back control of the moment.Anthony chuckled softly, a sound that slid under her skin. “Why so t
Inside the room, Anthony sat like a man who owned the air in the room, his posture relaxed yet commanding. The thin fabric of his singlet clung to his frame, revealing the sharp lines of his chest and the dark ink of his tattoo that trailed along his skin like a silent warning. The table before him was bare, no drinks, no distractions. Just him, waiting.Cleopatra stepped inside, her eyes darting immediately toward the table.“Is it the usual? Let me go get your tray ready,” Cleopatra said, her tone flat, already turning.“No,” he said, his voice low and decisive, cutting through the space. “Don’t stress yourself.” His fingers tapped the empty spot beside him on the sofa, slow and deliberate. “You won’t be serving today, just come sit here.”Before she could respond, the door swung open.Cleopatra’s gaze shifted as the soft roll of wheels filled the room. Ana stepped in, expertly guiding the tray inside.“Hi, Cleopatra,” Ana greeted lightly as she passed.“Hi, Ana.”The clink of glass
Calvin dug in first, tasting it himself, and let out a small, amused breath that made the corners of his lips twitch.He watched her take the first bite, his gaze soft, almost searching, as if trying to read her thoughts. She chewed thoughtfully, and a faint crease appeared between her brows too salty for her taste.Her lips parted in surprise, and she looked at him with a mix of disbelief and amusement. “Ah… how come you ate it so naturally? It’s salty!”“It’s delicious because you made it,” he admitted softly, a small, honest smile tugging at his lips.She nudged him lightly, rolling her eyes with playful exasperation. “Is it that bad? Don’t eat it, I should make you instant noodles instead?”Calvin shook his head, his eyes warm as they met hers. “I’m happy to eat everything you make. If my stomach is full, I can save some for later but if you can’t eat it, I’ll have the maid make you another pasta.” He glanced down at his plate, smiling. “I can’t miss out on something so precious a
Her fingers curled into his tie, tightening as she pulled him back to her. This time, she kissed him slowly and deliberately. The urgency softened into something deeper, something that lingered.Her lips traced his bottom of his lips to the top with a lingering finality, with quiet intensity, unhurried yet certain, as if sealing something neither of them could deny. When they finally stilled, their faces remained inches apart.Breaths mingled.Eyes locked.“I didn’t know you were such a good kisser,” Calvin teased, a sly smile tugging at his lips as he glanced sideways at her.Cleopatra froze.And then like a switch had been flipped her composure crumbled.Color rushed to her cheeks in an instant, spreading all the way to her ears as she turned sharply toward the window, refusing to say a single word.Calvin leaned back into his seat, completely at ease, one arm resting lazily as his grin widened. “Oh? Getting shy all of a sudden after that bold kiss you gave me?”“Stop saying it lik
One of the decorators’ hands tightened around Cleopatra’s shoulder, grounding her in the moment.“If Guinevere were even half this stunning, we’d all be doomed,” someone murmured from the shadows, their voice a mix of awe and reluctant relief. “Thank God she isn’t.”Joss’s smile faded into somethin
Cleopatra stepped out of the taxi, slowly lifting her head as her breath caught at the sight of the towering INK Model skyscraper before her. Gleaming beneath the sky, its exotic design and flawless structure seemed to embody both elegance and ambition. For a moment, she simply stood there, mesmeri
A week later, Cleopatra jolted awake by a message from Katie, summoning her to the INK Model Company. She rose at once and freshened up. Midway through breakfast, her gaze drifted to the wardrobe she had already inspected; nothing inside would truly make her shine.Once she finished her meal, she r
‘Cal…’ he muttered under his breath, and memories he hadn’t dared touch in years surged forward, crashing over him like a river long buried, carrying the ache, the warmth, and the weight of a past he thought he had lost.”“What else can I serve you?” she asked again, a small smile curling at the co







