“Tab me back, okay?”

What do you want then? Vespera snapped. “Fine, I’ll let you stab me!”

She glanced at Dominic, who still looked completely unbothered—hair chest on full display—then mentally replayed what she’d just said. She was horrified. Just what was she thinking?

Dominic narrowed his eyes slightly and lowered his head as if searching for something near the pillow. Was he looking for the pin?

Vespera’s chest tightened. Forget it—whatever he was doing, she wasn’t sticking around to find out. She bolted from the room like her life depended on it.

Ten minutes later, Dominic stepped out of the lounge, freshly changed into a suit. He was back to his usual refined, polished self. When he spotted Vespera still standing in his office, he looked genuinely surprised. He thought she’d have vanished by now.

“What are you still doing here?” he asked.

Vespera rolled her eyes inwardly. Did he really think she wanted to be there? Det loud, she said, “Mex. Reid called a little while ago. She’s arranged a blind date for you tonight. She sent me the time and location and told me to remind you to…” She sent it all in one breath, then handed him the info. Task complete.

Dominic’s phone buzzed twice. He didn’t even glance at it. Instead, his cool, sharp gaze fixed on her, his expression slowly turning serious. “You’re telling me to go on a blind date?”

Vespera corrected him immediately. “Your mother told you to go.” This had nothing to do with her. She was simply passing along a message. She didn’t have the authority to order him around.

“You want me to go on a blind date?” Dominic repeated, but this time, his voice was quieter and colder.

Vespera wanted to cry, “Please, can you not do this right now?” she thought. She asked me to tell you. That’s all. She said you need to go,” she said carefully.

Dominic stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. But it wasn’t a smile of amusement.

“If my mother chose to send the message through you, she must’ve had a reason. Maybe she thinks my blind dates keep failing because I’m doing it alone, so she sent me a strategic advisor.”

Vespera’s eyes widened in disbelief. She wondered if he was even hearing the words coming out of his mouth.

Vespera started, “I think…”

Dominic cut her off smoothly. “I think my mother finally made a smart move this time. Ms. Caldon, my advisor, thank you for your service.”

Vespera rushed to respond. “I think…”

“I think you can get back to work now,” he interrupted again. Then, added with a faint smile as if just remembering something, “Unless you’re free later, we can have a little talk about that stabbing incident. You did try to stab me in the back; I haven’t forgotten.”

As an afterthought, he pulled the lapel pin out of his suit pocket.

Vespera went completely silent. He was actually carrying that thing around? What a psycho.

She turned and walked away.

When the workday ended, Vespera still couldn’t leave. Beberra called, “Vera, what time are you getting off? Guess what? Mrs. Sawle gave that necklace to Tina! Tina said she’s having dinner at the Stung residence tonight! Hurry up; we might be onto something big!”

“You go to the Try Place first. I’ll be back later,” Vespera replied.

Having a dating advisor for the company president. Absolutely ridiculous. Vespera couldn’t even say it out loud. No matter how she phrased it, it sounded completely insane.

But later, she managed to convince herself that this was just Dominic’s delayed act of rebellion against Fawn. He wasn’t happy his parents were punishing him over…

On the plane, Rebecca said, “Okay, I’ll head to your place and wait for you to get back from your overtime.”

Vespera gave a quiet ‘hmm’ and hung up.

She worked until 6:29 pm, then packed up and headed to the president’s office, forcing a polite, professional smile. “Mr. Reid, your date with Ms. Moreno is at 7:00.”

Dominic was still working. Without looking up, he replied coolly, “You seem very cheerful. Looking forward to it, are you?”