Chapter 97:


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    Alice remained silent for about ten seconds, leaving the room in an awkward silence.


    Hank, though outwardly calm, was internally panicked, worried that Alice might disconnect the call. After a brief pause, Alice finally spoke.


    "Caden asked me toe here on some business, correct?"


    She was skeptical of Caden''s motives, but she knew Hank was no fool.


    “It seems Caden has something important to discuss,” Hank admitted, surprised by his frankness.


    "Mr. Ward gave no specific reason for the meeting. He only insisted that I make sure you were here in twenty minutes."


    “Did he mention anything in particr?” Alice asked. Hank paused, then replied, “I mentioned the Gray family.”Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Alice understood.


    He paused for a moment, thoughtful.


    To break the silence, Hank added jokingly, "Although Mr. Ward isn''t nning a striptease, I''d be willing to do one if it would ensure his arrival."


    Alice giggled at this, but then turned gloomy.


    "It''s rming how much Caden pushes everyone to their limits."


    Hank felt conflicted.


    The job was well-paid, but challenging often. He awkwardly reminded her, “Mrs. Bet, we only have twenty minutes, and five have already passed.”


    "Okay, I''ll be right there," Alice confirmed.


    Hank was touched by his kindness, thinking it was no wonder Caden valued his presence.


    Alicia arrived at thepany in exactly eighteen minutes.


    Hank greeted her with a coffee. “Thank you, Mrs. Bet.”


    epting the coffee, Alice felt a pang of guilt, wondering if her maniptions had caused Hank any trouble.


    “Mr. Ward is waiting,” Hank motioned for him to go ahead.


    Alice and agreed continued.


    As he went through security, Hank nced at the monitor and saw something that looked like a spray can in his bag.


    “Miss Bet, is that pepper spray?” he asked, unable to contain his curiosity at the variety of items she carried, remembering that she always seemed well prepared.


    Ensuring Caden''s safety was paramount, no matter the circumstances.


    Alicia was momentarily stunned, then awkwardly rified as she touched her purse. “Oh, that’s not pepper spray.”


    Finding it difficult to exin, she opted to leave her bag outside, hoping to ease Hank''s worries.


    Hank trusted her and didn''t take the bag. Instead, he knocked on the door of the CEO''s office to announce her. Both Caden and Alicia clearly understood the purpose of their meeting.


    In a mix of persuasion and insistence, Caden made Alicia sit on hisp.


    Feeling a little anxious but holding her ground, Alice asked cautiously, “Have you decided to apany me to the Gray family’s house?”


    Caden replied sarcastically, “Just because you’re on myp, you think I’m easy to persuade?”


    Alice paused, her gaze fixed on her lips.


    She leaned closer to him.


    As their lips were about to meet, Caden tilted his head, his lips brushing his cheek as he asked, “Do you know what I want?”


    Struggling to maintain herposure, Alice replied, “One kiss should do it.”


    Wondering at his intentions, she looked into his dark, piercing eyes.


    “Aren’t you worried that I might take things further?” Caden probed deeper.


    With instinctive confidence, Alice replied, "You won''t."


    “And why?” I insisted.


    “You once said you wanted my voluntary participation,” Alice recalled firmly. Assertively, she added, “You will not coerce me.”


    Cadenughed at her assertiveness, his breath warming her face and sending a shiver down her spine.


    She thought, “How many men can truly be trusted? What if I break my word?” Then she mockingly reminded him, “Remember that I have been a troublemaker since my youth. Don’t forget that you once lost to me in our past challenge.”


    Alicia felt overwhelmed, feeling her heart pounding under her intense gaze.


    Instinctively, she tried to pull away.


    Caden pulled her into his arms.


    The next instant, I kissed her, catching her off guard. She was clearly at a disadvantage at the moment. Sensing his dominance, she inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself, though he quickly released her.


    He looked at her intently, noticing her reaction.


    Breathless, Alice''s lips parted as she breathed heavily. Bewildered, she looked into his eyes.


    “Did you expect me to kiss you before we got here?” Caden asked.


    Alice, surprised, stammered a denial. "Not…"


    Caden stepped even closer, his intense gaze making the moment seem endless.


    "You were too little for me before, but today you are surprisingly sweet," I observed.


    Alicia, speechless, blushed deeply, remembering the fruit-vored breath spray she had used earlier.


    Realizing how foolish her preparations might seem, she firmly pushed him away, dering, "Now that we''ve kissed, I''m leaving."


    Caden didn''t loosen his grip, though, determined to keep her there.


    Caught in his firm grip, Alicia stopped resisting. When he moved in to kiss her again, she shyly covered her eyes. Caden’s voice, soft but clear, taunted, “It seems you were eager for my kiss.”


    His smile increased his embarrassment.


    Trying to regain herposure, she retorts, “I would react like that to anyone.”


    Caden, intrigued, continued to ask, “Oh? “How many men have you kissed?”


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