Chapter: 809

Alicia paused and frowned at him. “I'm not hiding anyone!"

Of course not. Caden also knew that she would never dare take a lover. He hummed and eyed her up and down. “Then what did you wrong this time?"

Alicia clutched his coat and took a deep breath. "Nothing, really. I just haven't seen you in a while and... I missed you a little, is all."

Hearing that last sentence, Caden became all the more sure that she had committed some big blunder. “Did someone pick on you?" he asked calmly.

"No."

“Is there a problem with the project? Did you lose a million dollar?"

Alicia shook her head. “Not at all. In fact, we've actually made a lot of profit in the last few days.”

“Then... Have you committed a murder?"

Alicia's jaw fell as she gaped at him in disbelief.

“Ah, looks like I hit the nail in the head," Caden joked and nodded nonchalantly. "So, you need me to help you dispose of the body, is that it?"

Alicia gave him a wry look. "You're thinking too highly of me, you know."

“What the hell is wrong, then?" Caden asked in exasperation.

Alicia heaved a long sigh. "Do you think you can take a beating?"

Caden's eye flashed. “Are you interested in trying something exciting."

"No, no, not with me." Alicia sighed again. "I meant, can you handle taking a beating from your grandma?"

Caden glanced toward the back garden, a vague idea already forming in his mind.

Alicia quickly grabbed his hand. "That's right, the birds flew away. But it wasn't on purpose, I swear! I was just so excited when I heard you arrive that I accidentally released them. I had no idea they were so eager to escape the cage..."

Caden could feel the telltale signs of an impending headache. "You do realize that those two birds are Grandma's babies, and that she hangs them by her bed every night, right? And you let them fly away?"

Alicia was already getting desperate, and Caden's words only added another layer of dread to her anxiety. "Come on, you're her grandson. She wouldn't punish you. Me, on the other hand... She might kill me. I'll owe you one, okay? Just take this hit for me, please?"

Caden didn't mean anything by his comment, not really. He just Liked teasing her.

Seeing her pleading expression now, he couldn't resist pushing further. “Look, Grandma may claim that she dotes on me, but she never holds back when it comes to punishments. You're not expecting me to take the blame for you for free, are you?"

Alicia stared into his eyes. She could see the hint of mischief there, but she didn't really have much of a choice. Heart racing, she leaned into his ready embrace.

Caden wrapped his arms around her waist and reveled in the feel of her soft, warm body pressed against his.

"Then..." Alicia murmured softly. "What if I indulge you in a request? Nothing too excessive, mind you."

There was a pause, and he noticed that her ear had turned red.

"Something in bed."

Caden felt all the blood in his body rush downward. He swallowed audibly. "How does wearing an outfit I choose sound?"

Alicia's cheeks were burning. Caden had mentioned this kind of thing before, but she backed out after seeing the pictures of these so- called outfits. She had sworn up and down that he would never wear them.

Now, however... Well, he had her cornered.

“Fine, but nothing too revealing.”