Chapter: 19

Before she could say more, the door swung open, and Hank's footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Without thinking, Alicia turned to flee, but Caden's strong arm snaked around her waist, pinning her between him and the desk.

Desperate, Alicia lashed out. She grabbed Caden's hand and sank her teeth in-hard.

It wasn't just a playful nibble-it was a vicious bite.

Caden's brows knitted together in pain as his grip on _ her involuntarily loosened.

The footsteps grew closer, each one chipping away at Alicia's composure. Left with no other option, she shoved Caden away and dropped to her knees, scrambling under the desk.

As soon as Joshua entered, he found a disheveled-looking Caden slumped in his chair, hair tousled, an unreadable expression darkening his features.

Being a man himself, Joshua quickly pieced things together. "Caden, I'm sorry; did I come at a bad time?"

Beneath the desk, Alicia curled into a tight ball, her heart thudding wildly in her chest.

She could practically feel Caden's gaze burning into her hiding place, half expecting him to expose her any second.

A thick, tense silence hung in the air for a few beats.

Then, Caden slowly leaned back, his chair creaking under the movement, and grabbed a tissue to press against the bleeding bite mark on his hand.

His voice, like ice, cut through the quiet. "You sure did. A minute earlier, and you would've witnessed something a lot more... interesting."

Joshua chuckled. "I thought you don't get involved with women?"

“That depends on the woman," Caden replied, his voice cool, almost lazy.

Alicia's body stiffened, a familiar tension creeping up her spine.

Joshua, in an attempt to lighten the mood before discussing business, forced a smile. "Oh? So, what kind of woman could possibly make you break your own rules?"

Caden let out a low, almost sinister laugh, his eyes narrowing. "Do you really want to know?"

The sudden change in his tone sent a ripple of unease through the room.

Joshua's confidence faltered, and his smile wavered. "Who's the girl?" he asked.

For a brief, charged moment, the air between them crackled with tension.

Alicia could almost hear Joshua's gears turning, connecting the dots that pointed to her. But Caden enjoyed toying with his little half- brother.

He let the question hang in the air for a tad too long before casually shifting the conversation. "So, what brings you here?"

Joshua swallowed hard, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.

He tugged Lilliana closer to his side, using her presence as a shield.

"I came to talk about the entertainment company you acquired recently," he said, his voice a little too forced. "Caden, I know you've just returned, and I know you probably have an elaborate plan in place, but Lilliana's situation... it's delicate. If you're willing to back off from the deal, I'll pay you double."

Alicia's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't thought Joshua, shameless as he was, would be brazen enough to parade his mistress in public.

Lilliana?

That was the same name Monica mentioned... the name of the person that purchased the drug.

She strained to catch every word, her pulse quickening.