Chapter 148

Alice fell asleep on the bed in the dimly lit living room. Caden, however, remained awake, despite their recent intimacy. Her body vibrated with a lingering warmth, satisfaction coursing through her veins.

He retrieved the flash drive Randolph had given him, its contents previously unexamined. He'd intended to view it with Alice, but she'd tired sooner than anticipated—a situation he'd subtly engineered. Exhausting her had been part of his plan; a clever way to ensure her complacency, perhaps even to entice her into cooking for him.

Caden plugged in the USB and opened the audio file. A humming sound emanated from the speakers, followed by the unmistakable crackle of a secret recording, raw and untouched. His nonchalant demeanor shifted as the conversation filled the room. Initially, it seemed like typical incriminating evidence, unremarkable in its criminality. But as the recording progressed, a deep furrow creased his brow.

His gaze drifted to the closed living room door, where Alice slept peacefully. He lowered the volume to a whisper, straining to catch every word. The recording was short—less than five minutes—but densely packed with damning detail. It reached back three years, to the tragic plane crash. The headlines had declared no survivors, an accident deemed terrible. Except it wasn't.

Joshua's name surfaced in the recording; he'd been one of the orchestrators. Caden clenched his jaw, the weight of the revelation heavy. Though he'd distanced himself from the Yates family, their misdeeds remained within his reach. They reaped what they sowed, and he wouldn't be ensnared again. Crucially, Alice's parents had perished in that crash.

His mind raced as he reviewed the details. While no direct evidence linked Joshua to their deaths, the pieces fit together disturbingly well. Caden's lips tightened, his face starkly illuminated by the harsh overhead light, the stark contrast amplifying the tension beneath his controlled exterior.

Without hesitation, he called an anonymous number. "Do it for me. I want answers within a day." After the call, he secured the flash drive in a safe.

Two hours later, Alice awoke, her mouth dry and her body aching in familiar places. Each encounter with Caden left her groin and legs throbbing, a discomfort she'd sadly grown accustomed to. Wincing, she slowly rose from the bed. Darkness had fallen.

In the dim office, only two wall lamps cast long, indistinct shadows. Caden sat by the window, lost in thought, a half-empty glass of wine in his hand. Alice found her eyes drawn to him, studying the stray locks of hair falling over his forehead. His slightly wrinkled shirt, several buttons undone, revealed his muscular chest. Faint red scratches and bite marks marred her skin, evidence of their passion—the depth of the marks reflecting the intensity of their intimacy.

She leaned against the wall, biting her lip as memories flooded her mind. The familiar wave of shame washed over her. How could she remain so inexperienced, so vulnerable to his touch? She never seemed to harden, no matter the frequency.

Sensing her presence, Caden turned, his dark eyes meeting hers with unreadable intensity. "You're awake," he murmured softly.

Alice swallowed, attempting to mask her awkwardness. "So… where's what you were going to give me?" she asked stiffly.

"The flash drive?" Caden replied indifferently. "It's damaged. I'll bring it to you the day after tomorrow."

He sent a quick text before rising. His movement made her pulse quicken, a flicker of fear crossing her face as he approached. "Don't tell me you don't plan on giving it to me," she stammered, more anxious than defiant.

"With your attitude, do you think I'd lie to you?" Caden, ever calm, filled his glass with water and offered it. "Accidents happen. How about this? If you don't have it by the day after tomorrow, feel free to burn my company to the ground."

She frowned, speechless. He wasn't a ruthless monster capable of such destruction. She accepted the water, thirsty. He drank deeply, almost emptying the glass. "How did you know I was thirsty?" he asked, his voice softer.

Caden smiled slightly, leaning closer. "Don't you remember how wet you were earlier?"

Heat flooded her cheeks. She closed her mouth, too embarrassed to speak. The warm water settled, causing a rumble that revealed her hunger.

Caden barely blinked. "Food will be here soon," he announced flatly.

Alice set down her glass with a sharp clink. "You can eat alone. Just looking at you has taken away my appetite."

He smiled slyly. "Really? That's a shame. I was just about to tell you something about Joshua's company." His cold demeanor cracked. "Why, what happened?"

"There is a problem," he replied, pausing for effect. "You have run out of liquidity."

Alice's lips curved into a slow, wicked smile. Karma had been swift.

"How are you taking it?" he asked, amused.

Caden settled back in his chair, crossing his legs. "I'm starving," he said lazily, "and too tired to talk. Let's eat first, then we'll talk."

Alice stared, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Did he really want to play this game? Sighing, she sat across from him.

"Do I suddenly seem appealing to you now?" Caden joked, arching an eyebrow.

"Sure, whatever you say," she replied after a moment.

The arrival of the food broke the tension. The elegant containers released tempting aromas. Alice involuntarily swallowed and picked up her cutlery. Before she even took a bite, Caden leaned forward and revealed what she wanted to hear. Alicia’s eyes sparkled; the corners of her lips lifted slightly. “So, if Joshua wants to keep his little empire from crumbling, he’s going to have to swallow his pride and ask for help… wherever he can find it. Right?”

Caden nodded, watching her closely. A flash of unexpected sympathy sparked within him. "Do you feel better now?"

Alice, unable to hide the sparkle in her eyes, was clearly in a better mood. She picked up a piece of chicken, struggling to conceal her smile. “I guess.”

He leaned closer, a knowing smile on his face. “Do you want to feel even better?”

She blinked, intrigued. “You’re planning to make your move now, aren’t you?”

Caden hesitated. It was tempting—very tempting. A few well-placed moves and Joshua would be cornered. But ending things now would cut short their agreement. (This section was repeated in the original text and has been removed here for clarity)