Chapter 405

Caden glanced at Blake, who stood across from him. Blake's expression was weighty; being outdone by Caden clearly unsettled him. Caden's actions that evening transcended mere extravagance; he was asserting dominance.

Caden broke the silence. "Mr. Langstaff, aren't you off work yet? It's quite late."

Blake replied, "You needn't worry, Mr. Ward. I'm accompanying Ms. Bennett on a business trip—for work and her safety. I won't leave until I've seen her safely to her hotel."

"There's no need," Caden responded coolly. "She has other commitments and won't require your services."

Blake's gaze shifted to Alicia. She understood Caden's presence concerned the gallery land.

Alicia suggested, "Mr. Langstaff, you should rest."

Blake smiled, his voice kind. "Alright. And you should rest too, Ms. Bennett. Don't overwork yourself." He exchanged a look with Caden—not hostile, but tense. Caden offered a cold smile. Blake genuinely cared for Alicia, but needed to know his place.

Once Blake left, Alicia said, "Let's go to the restaurant."

She cut to the chase. Caden responded leisurely, "Blake's a relic restorer. Why bring him?"

"His presence is necessary in certain places, and as a man, it's safer."

"Have you considered he could be the danger?"

Alicia subtly rolled her eyes. "He's been here a month without incident. How much of a threat could he be?"

Caden had reserved a restaurant across the street. As they crossed, he instinctively took her hand, guiding her to his side. The warmth sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.

In a quiet voice, she murmured, "We're just crossing the street; you don't need to." She'd experienced grander gestures from him, so this didn't greatly affect her.

Caden replied without hesitation, "It's always better to be safe than sorry."

Alicia tried to withdraw her hand, but his fingers intertwined with hers. She protested softly, "Caden."

He glanced down, a soft smile on his face. "I drove for an hour, speeding to arrive twenty minutes early, just to see you sooner. Can't this be my reward?" The dim night softened his expression, but his sincerity remained captivating. Alicia couldn't meet his gaze for long. Refusing to be charmed, she changed the subject. "How did you know where the event was?"

"You forgot to turn off your location sharing," Caden answered simply.

"Oh wow… uh, okay. So, I'm guessing you got quite a show," she added, slightly embarrassed.