Chapter 41

Alicia suspected Caden was the person Gerry had mentioned. Determined to act on her hunch, she bought the Viagra. Noticing Caden's stern look, she suppressed a silent laugh. It was perfect. She had chosen the ideal gift.

Maintaining a gentle demeanor, he said, “Knowing you're so particular, Mr. Ward, I made sure to choose the most expensive ones.”

Gerry chuckled. "You're the only one bold enough to give Caden something like that," he said.

Alicia blinked, then looked back at Caden, offering a bright smile. “I may be a little presumptuous, but we're all pretty familiar. Practical gifts are best, don't you think? Do you like it, Mr. Ward?”

Caden's face remained unreadable. He stared at her for several seconds before reaching for the bag. “I like it. It’s exactly what I need,” he replied.

Alice's smile faltered. She worried less about Caden losing his temper and more about his hidden intentions. What underhanded tricks might he use in retaliation?

Without hesitation, Caden opened a box, took two pills, and swallowed them with a sip of wine. Alice felt a jolt of surprise. Gerry looked at her in disbelief. “Really, Caden? Are you really taking these?”

Caden maintained a stoic expression. The wine lingered on his lips, enhancing his dangerous appeal. He swallowed and stared at Alice. “Miss Bennett, you have excellent taste. These go down very well.”

A tingle ran through Alice as he looked at her. Her confidence evaporated, leaving her speechless. She seemed to have gotten herself into serious trouble.

Gerry, incredulous, picked up the box and inspected it closely. It was definitely Viagra. He marveled at Caden's audacity. “You're amazing, Caden. The instructions recommend one pill a day, and you just took two! Aren’t you afraid of staying up all night?”

Caden casually unbuttoned two buttons on his collar. Alicia’s eyes caught a glimpse of his well-defined chest. He quickly looked away.

She tried to ignore it, but his voice broke through. “Staying up all night might be overkill, but five or six times isn't a problem.”

Gerry leaned closer, curious. “You seem to know this from experience. When was your last time?”

Caden chuckled, ensuring Alicia heard. His heart raced. He picked up a bottle, nearly spilling its contents before realizing what he was doing and speaking slowly. “In a private theater.” His hand shook. Gerry sat up, surprised. “Wait, that was after you got back to the country?”

“Yeah, the day I came back,” Caden replied.

“Wow, that's impressive! How many times has this happened?” Gerry asked.

Caden paused. Alicia felt Caden's gaze like a snake coiling, poised to strike, yet hesitant.

“Five times?” Caden mused. “Or was it six?” Sweat formed on Alicia's palms as she raised her cup.

“Alice!” Caden shouted sharply.

Alice looked up, her face pale and flushed. Was he planning to reveal everything to Gerry?

Caden kept his eyes on her and said casually, “That’s wine you’re about to drink.”

Frozen, she dropped the glass. Gerry noticed her reaction. “What's wrong with the wine? Can’t you drink it?”

She wiped her sweaty hands and forced a smile. “I'm allergic to alcohol. I almost forgot.”

“Seriously? How could you forget that?” Gerry commented. “Even Caden remembers.” A sudden thought struck him. “Wait, Caden, how do you know Alicia is allergic to alcohol?”

Caden smiled slightly. “There was one time she drank too much and went crazy around me.” Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead again. She wished he would stop talking.

Gerry pressed him. “Did she go crazy around you? What exactly did she do?”

Caden prepared to respond, but Alicia interrupted urgently. “I really need some water. I’m really thirsty.”

“I’ll have someone bring you some,” Gerry offered.

Alice couldn't wait. Clutching her chest, she stood. “I’ll get some myself.” She ran from the room. Gerry looked confused. “Why are you in such a hurry to drink water?”

Caden remained silent, smiling with satisfaction. He opened a bottle of wine. “How about a drink?” he suggested.

Gerry readily accepted. He loved wine, but his low tolerance meant a few glasses made him dizzy. Caden, however, remained clear-headed, glancing at the door occasionally.

Alicia intended to leave, but needed to speak with Gerry. After composing himself, Gerry returned to the private room, the aroma of wine heavy in the air. Gerry had just finished another drink; his cheeks flushed, eyes glassy.

Seeing him, Alice asked worriedly, "Mr. Hopkins, are you all right?"

Gerry wiped his face. "Of course I'm fine. I could drink all night and not get drunk." He lay back, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

Alice was speechless. She turned to Caden. “He acts like that after only a little alcohol. Have I never gotten in trouble for it?”

Caden took a sip of wine, swirled it, and asked, “What kind of problems are you referring to?”

"You know, the kind of problems that happen when people drink too much. Men can't act when they're drunk," she stated bluntly.

Alice thought this rather blunt. She responded with a simple “Oh” and fell silent.

“But when it comes to women, who's to say?” Caden continued. He looked at her seriously. “Did you need to talk to Gerry about something?”

Alicia hadn't planned to share her motive, but decided to be polite. "I wanted to ask him to recommend a lawyer," she explained.

Caden put down his glass. “I can't hear you from there.”

She hesitated. Caden pointed to the seat beside him. “Come here and tell me,” he said.