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[EVE]
I had no idea how long Iâd been glued to that chair in the office. My eyes felt like theyâd been through a desert storm, and my muscles were staging a rebellion.
A glance at the clock told me it was already seven in the evening. Seven! I groaned, rubbing my neck, which now felt like it belonged to an 80-year-old.
Looking back at the pile of papers, I noticed a miracleâthey were actually decreasing. Thanks to Coleâs team, I didnât have to read every single word in those soul-crushing proposals. Instead, theyâd give me a quick summary, and all I had to do was wield my mighty pen of approval.
The room was still buzzing with activity. Five of his people were quietly working in one corner, explaining things to me in a professional manner, while I sneakily scrolled through my phone.
It was a rare moment of relaxation, and I was starting to feel like maybe I could survive this after all.
That is, until Cole decided to storm in like he owned the place. The door flew open with such dramatic flair that I half-expected background music to start playing. Behind him was an entourage of staff in white aprons, each carrying trays stacked with delicious-looking food.
"Alright, youâre all dismissed," Cole declared with a wave of his hand, as if he were a king granting freedom to his loyal subjects. "Go have dinner at the restaurant downstairsâitâs on me."
His team didnât argue. They simply bowed and vanished, leaving me alone with the most dangerous man in the room.
I frowned at the pile of papers. There were only a few left, so it wasnât like I actually needed them anymore. Still, being left alone with Cole felt like being locked in a cage with a lionâexcept the lion had great hair and a handsome face.
"And what are you doing here again?" I asked, trying to sound casual as I leaned back in my chair. My tone may have been calm, but my brain was frantically whispering, â
Donât you dare make this weird, donât you dare make this weird.â
Cole didnât answer right away. Instead, he strolled over and set the trays of food on the desk, taking his time like this was some sort of culinary hostage negotiation.
"Dinner," he finally said, with a grin that was both charming and entirely too smug.
I raised an eyebrow. "And what if I already ate?"
He chuckled. "You didnât." Enjoy more content from empire
Of course, he was right, but that didnât mean I had to admit it.
"Letâs eat," Cole motioned to eat the food.
The smell of my favorite dishes hit me like a tidal wave, and my stomach growled in delight. It was impossible to think clearly with the food right there, practically begging me to dig in. My resolve to act unimpressed crumbled faster than I cared to admit.
I didnât even try to resist. Picking up my utensils, I started eating, savoring each bite. But it was hard to fully enjoy the meal when Cole, of all people, was cutting pieces of meat and placing them on my plate with surprising care.
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"I can manage on my own," I said, swallowing a mouthful. "You should eat too. Watching you hover there like my personal chef is . . . unsettling."
"I like serving you," he replied, his tone casual but his gaze steady.
My heart did an ungraceful flip, and it was a good thing I wasnât mid-chew, or I mightâve choked. I placed my fork down, narrowing my eyes at him. "Youâve really changed, you know that?"
Cole chuckled softly, his lips curving into a small smile. "Love changes people."
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to scoff. "I liked you better when you were aloof, unapproachable, and always busy isolating yourself."
He leaned back slightly, feigning thoughtfulness. "I can go back to that, if thatâs what you prefer."
Hope flickered in me for a second. "So . . . does that mean youâll leave me alone now?"
But instead of agreeing, he flashed that infuriatingly charming grin of his. "I can be aloof and indifferent while still chasing after you. Care to give it a try?"
I sighed, knowing Iâd walked straight into his trap. "You know what? Forget I said anything."
The rest of the meal passed in relative silence, save for the occasional clink of silverware. Just as I was beginning to think Iâd get through the evening without any more of his antics, Cole reached into his bag and pulled out a magazine, setting it on the table in front of me.
"I made some quick edits to this layout," he said, his tone as nonchalant as if heâd just rearranged a few photos. "Why donât you take a look and see if itâs to your liking?"
I frowned, recognizing the familiar branding of
ĂlysĂŠe Luxe.
"Youâre still not over this?"
"Not until itâs perfect," he replied, his expression turning serious.
Reluctantly, I picked it up, flipping through the pages. My jaw dropped as I realized just how much had changed. Nearly every image, every font, every detail had been reworked. "Wait . . . you redid all of this? In that short amount of time? How?"
Cole shrugged like it was no big deal. "I bought the company."
I blinked, sure Iâd misheard him. "You what?!"
"It wasnât easy," he said matter-of-factly, "since the company was full of incompetent fools. But itâs a work in progress. This is just the preliminary layoutâtell me if it needs adjustments."
I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. "You . . . you bought the entire company? For this? Just to remake this magazine?"
He nodded, his expression calm, like heâd simply ordered coffee. "It was the fastest way."
I dropped the magazine onto the table, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Are you out of your mind? Who does that?"
Cole leaned closer, his eyes intense. "Me," he said simply. "Iâd do anything for you, Eve."