chapter 60

The conversation continued, tension simmering beneath the surface like an undercurrent neither acknowledged outright. The clink of cutlery against porcelain was methodical, almost calculated, as if each movement was meant to test the patience of the other.

Caesar took a slow sip from his glass, setting it down with careful precision before meeting the older man's gaze. "Hard work is only as valuable as the outcome," he remarked, his voice devoid of emotion. "Effort without result is meaningless."

Alexei leaned back in his chair, amusement flickering in his expression. "And yet, some would argue that the process itself refines the final product." He tapped his fingers against the edge of the table. "After all, the original design wasn't perfect from the start, was it?"

Caesar didn't answer immediately. Instead, he picked up his fork again, pushing the food on his plate as if weighing his response. "Perfection is an illusion," he finally said. "But control… that's real. And I don't intend to lose control over this project."

Alexei chuckled, swirling his wine. "Spoken like someone who understands the stakes." His smirk widened. "Then, I look forward to seeing how you handle the inevitable… imperfections."

The laughter echoed through the grand dining hall, a deep, hearty sound filled with amusement. Alexei leaned back in his chair, a broad grin stretching across his face as he chuckled. "Just like how you don't betray a lover you've worked hard for~!" he jested, his mirth ringing through the room.

Across from him, Caesar remained still, his expression unreadable. The candlelight flickered against his sharp features, casting shadows over his cold, impassive gaze. His silver hair was neatly styled, not a single strand out of place, and his vest sat perfectly against his broad shoulders. Unlike Alexei, he did not laugh. He did not even smirk. Instead, he lifted his glass of wine, took a slow sip, and placed it back onto the pristine white tablecloth with calculated precision.

The amusement in Alexei's eyes didn't waver. He observed the young man before him with an air of curiosity, tapping his fingers idly against the arm of his chair. "So," he drawled, tilting his head slightly, "when do you plan to reveal it to the industry? The hacking program?" His voice carried a note of anticipation, a touch of excitement that he made no effort to hide.

Caesar's fingers traced the rim of his glass, his movements measured, deliberate. His gaze flickered up, meeting Alexei's with the same cold detachment he always carried. There was no rush in his response, no eagerness to engage in the older man's enthusiasm.

'I dunno it depends when I'm in a good mood maybe years to come' Caesar said swirling his drink

Caesar finally turned his head, the barest hint of a smirk ghosting over his lips. "Time is a luxury only fools fail to appreciate," he said smoothly, setting his glass down with a soft clink. His gaze was piercing now, assessing. Calculating.

"That's easy for you to say." His voice was lower now, restrained, but there was no mistaking the frustration lurking beneath.

Eun-jae stepped into the dining hall, the scent of rich, seasoned meats and warm bread wafting through the air. The grand chandelier overhead cast a golden glow over the long dining table, where Caesar, Alexei, and an unfamiliar man—Hyunji, most likely—were already seated. The scrape of silverware against porcelain filled the otherwise quiet space.

His stomach clenched slightly. He wasn't particularly hungry, but he knew better than to refuse a meal in such company. That would only invite unwanted attention, and the last thing he needed was Alexei or, worse, Caesar, reading too much into his actions.

"Oi, over here, Mr. Bitgaram." Alexei's voice cut through the air, casual yet laced with something unreadable. He patted the empty chair beside him, an invitation—or a command—depending on how one chose to hear it.

Eun-jae hesitated.

Sitting next to Alexei meant being within arm's reach of the man who had a habit of prying into places he had no business poking his nose into. But refusing would make him look suspicious. He forced a neutral expression and moved forward, pulling out the chair before sinking into it with an air of reluctant compliance.

His eyes flickered toward Hyunji, who had barely touched his food. His posture was stiff, his expression unreadable, though Eun-jae caught the way his gaze briefly landed on Caesar before darkening. The tension in the air shifted, subtle but unmistakable.

Then, without a word, Hyunji pushed back his chair and stood.

"Excuse me," he said, his voice clipped. But before he turned to leave, he cast a sharp glare in Caesar's direction.

Eun-jae stiffened.

'What the hell was that?' he thought, his mind racing. 'Did Hyunji just glare at Caesar? Why?'

His pulse quickened. If Hyunji knew something, if he had caught onto who Caesar really was—

'Has Caesar been found out?'

Alexei, ever the unreadable enigma, leaned back slightly, watching Hyunji leave with a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, don't worry about him," he said smoothly, reaching for his glass of wine. "He'll be fine. He's just a guest."

Eun-jae wasn't convinced.

The servant approached, setting a steaming plate of food before him. The aroma did nothing to ease the tension coiling in his stomach. His appetite was nonexistent, but he forced himself to pick up his utensils.

As he took a slow bite, Alexei, ever the conversationalist, leaned in slightly.

"So," he mused, eyes gleaming with curiosity, "that hacking program you and your team spoke about… has it been commercially used in Korea yet?"

Eun-jae didn't even blink. His expression remained carefully composed as he chewed, swallowed, then dabbed at his lips with his napkin. Only then did he meet Alexei's gaze.

"I can't disclose that information, Mr. Karpov-Troitsky," he said smoothly. His tone was polite but firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Alexei chuckled, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "My fault, my fault. Excuse my thoughtlessness." His lips curled into an easy smile, but Eun-jae didn't miss the way his eyes gleamed with something sharp.

Meanwhile, Caesar, who had been listening in silence, finally smirked and stood.

"Well, Mr. Alexei," he drawled, stretching slightly, "as much as I'd love to sit here and indulge in more of this wonderful meal, I'm satisfied."

Eun-jae's fork paused mid-air. His eyes narrowed slightly.

'Shit. He's leaving me alone with this old man.'

He shot Caesar a glare, but the bastard only smirked wider before walking away, his departure as smooth as his entrance had been.

Eun-jae barely resisted the urge to groan.

Alexei wasted no time filling the void. "So," he said, picking up his wine glass and swirling the liquid lazily, "what do you like to do in your free time?"

Eun-jae raised a brow. The question was harmless on the surface, but he knew better than to take it at face value.

Before he could answer, Alexei leaned in slightly, his gaze turning shrewd. "Do you have a lover? Are you married?"

Eun-jae stilled for half a second before composing himself.

A slow, measured smile curved his lips as he finally turned his gaze to Alexei. The dim candlelight cast sharp shadows over the older man's face, his expression unreadable, yet unmistakably probing.

'Ah. So that's what this is about.'

Eun-jae exhaled softly, his fingers tapping against the stem of his water glass. He tilted his head ever so slightly, as if amused. "Would that be of any help to our cooperation?" he asked, voice smooth as silk.

Alexei's smile didn't falter. "Well," he mused, his tone carrying an edge of playfulness, "maybe it could."

Then, with deliberate slowness, Alexei reached across the table and, with the lightest of touches, ran his fingertips along the back of Eun-jae's hand.

A barely perceptible jolt shot up Eun-jae's spine, his muscles instinctively tensing.

'The fuck?'

The touch was featherlight, fleeting, but unmistakable. His skin prickled where Alexei's fingers had brushed against it.

Eun-jae barely suppressed his reaction, but internally, alarms were blaring.

'Is he testing me? Is he flirting? Or is he just trying to throw me off?'

His mind raced through possibilities, weighing the consequences of each response. Then, before he could stop himself, his body reacted on its own—

He pushed back his chair, standing abruptly.

"Excuse me," he said, forcing a smile, though his pulse was hammering against his ribs. "I think I'm done with my meal."

Alexei blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before his lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"But wait—dessert isn't… up." He exhaled, shaking his head. "Well, I suppose I'll just have to eat dessert alone."

Eun-jae clenched his jaw, turned on his heel, and left the dining hall without a backward glance.

The moment he stepped into the corridor, he exhaled sharply, his pulse still slightly erratic.

'What the hell was that?'

Eun-jae stormed into his room, barely managing to keep his irritation in check. The moment he stepped inside, he froze, his eye twitching at the sight before him.

There, sprawled across his bed like he owned the place, was Caesar, lounging as if he had paid rent and signed a lease. One leg was bent over the other, his arms propped behind his head, and a smug expression plastered across his annoyingly perfect face.

Eun-jae shut the door behind him with more force than necessary and shot Caesar a glare. "Don't you know how to tone down that pheromone scent of yours? It's choking up the whole damn room."

Caesar smirked, tilting his head. "Oopsie. Not my fault. Sometimes it just comes out when I'm really excited. You wanna know wh—"

"NOPE!" Eun-jae interrupted immediately, dragging out the 'P' sound as he marched toward his desk, putting as much distance between them as possible.

Caesar chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Touchy."

"Did you find anything?" Eun-jae asked, changing the subject and refusing to entertain whatever nonsense Caesar had been about to say.

"Find what?" Caesar said, feigning innocence.

Eun-jae shot him another glare. "You said you were going to check the study. Did you find anything useful?"

Caesar hummed as if thinking deeply. "Hmm, right. That. Nope, didn't find a thing."

Eun-jae let out a sigh, rubbing his temples. "Neither did I… That leaves only two places: the attic in the spiral tower and Alexei's room. If we don't find any trace of Voron there, then this entire plan is doomed."

He folded his arms, tapping his fingers against his biceps in thought. Alexei's room was bound to be heavily guarded, and breaking in unnoticed would be nearly impossible. If they failed this mission, there was no telling when they would get another chance. The window was closing fast.

Eun-jae frowned. "Hey."

Caesar raised a brow in amusement. "Hmm?"

"Let's just capture that old man and beat his ass until he talks." Eun-jae said it like it was the most logical solution in the world.

Caesar snorted, shaking his head. "We'd end up with a lot of extra holes in our bodies before we even get the chance. We don't even know how many guards he has stationed around here."

Eun-jae hated to admit it, but Caesar was right. They were outnumbered, and brute force wasn't an option. It was frustrating.

Caesar stretched lazily. "Sometimes, you know, taking a gentle approach works better."

Eun-jae narrowed his eyes. "Are you suggesting we seduce him or something?"

Caesar didn't respond right away. He just sat there, staring at Eun-jae with an expression far too amused for his liking. The silence stretched uncomfortably, and Eun-jae's stomach sank as a horrifying realization dawned on him.

"Wait." He pointed at Caesar, his voice rising in alarm. "You want me to seduce him?!"

Caesar nodded, completely unfazed. "Bingo."

Eun-jae recoiled like he'd been burned. "OH HELL NO. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! I'M NOT DOING THAT SHIT!" He shook his head furiously, stepping back as if he could physically distance himself from the ridiculous idea. "You've lost your damn mind."

Caesar sighed dramatically. "Come on, it's obvious he's interested in you. He was practically undressing you with his eyes at dinner. Looks like the old man has a thing for betas too. Lucky for us, huh?"