27. Silk, Chocolate, and a Well-Behaved Ava

The car glided into the private lane outside Victor & Co. Luxuries, the boutique's soft golden lights casting an inviting glow against the dark city streets.

Leah stepped out first, her gaze sweeping over the sleek glass storefront, the air scented with vanilla, cocoa, and luxury itself.

Ross followed, adjusting his jacket, eyes scanning for security cameras and exits like the store was a potential battlefield.

The comm crackled, and Ava's voice purred into their ears, dripping with anticipation.

"You've never been inside before, have you?"

Leah exhaled, bracing herself.

"No. But I already placed our order. We're just picking it up."

Ava gasped.

"You're in Victor's and you're only picking up pajamas? Leah. Darling. Sweetheart. No. We're shopping."

Leah sighed, but stepped inside anyway.

The World of Indulgence

Victor & Co. was exactly what she expected—and somehow even worse.

The interior was pure decadence, bathed in warm lighting, rich mahogany shelves lined with handcrafted confections, silk garments, and luxury imports. Every surface gleamed, every display deliberately arranged for temptation.

A polished attendant in a sleek black uniform approached, her smile sharp and perfectly trained.

"Good evening. Welcome to Victor & Co. How may I assist you?"

Leah tapped the display on her wrist, bringing up her pickup confirmation.

"We have an order under Vale. Twelve silk pajama sets."

The attendant's fingers glided over her tablet, her expression poised.

"Ah, yes. Your order is prepared for pickup. Shall I have it brought out?"

Before Leah could confirm, Ava's voice cut in through the comms, dripping with mischief.

"Stockings."

Leah blinked.

"What?"

"Silk stockings. Add them to the order."

Leah pressed her lips together, already regretting bringing her comm.

"Ava—"

"Oh, and more silk dresses! And chocolate. All of it. Just... everything chocolate, Leah."

Ross chuckled lowly, watching Leah's expression flicker between tolerance and regret.

"So, to clarify," he murmured, amused, "this is all for Ava."

"Obviously," Ava said cheerfully.

Leah exhaled slowly, signing her own fate.

"Fine."

Ross blinked, actually surprised.

"That easy?"

Leah's voice was dry.

"But these are for your future well-behaved Ava."

Ava gasped, scandalized.

"Leah. Darling. Are you bribing me?"

"I prefer to think of it as an investment."

Ross smirked, clearly enjoying this way too much.

The attendant, ever the professional, took the update in stride.

"Of course. I'll have those added to your order."

She turned, heading toward the back, and that's when Leah's attention drifted to the true prize—

A crystal-clear display case, lined with sleek, gold-trimmed boxes.

Victor's Reserve Chocolate.

The Chocolate Problem

Leah moved toward the display with purpose, already knowing what was about to happen.

Ross followed, hands in his pockets, blue eyes assessing like this was just another high-stakes mission.

The attendant returned, elegant and composed, but her tone shifted into something carefully diplomatic.

"Ah, I should mention—Victor's Reserve is extremely limited. We have a one-box-per-customer policy."

Leah's brows lifted slightly.

"One?"

A beat of silence.

Then—Leah's gaze slid to Ross.

No words. Just a look.

Ross exhaled slowly, then rolled his shoulders back like he was preparing for battle.

His voice, smooth and absolute:

"That's not going to work."

The attendant's polite mask didn't slip, but there was a flicker of hesitation.

"I understand, sir, but—"

Ross took a step closer, his calm, steady presence shifting the air.

"We're not asking for the policy." His tone, pure velvet and steel:

"We're asking for your stock."

A pause.

The attendant's professionalism didn't waver, but Leah saw it—the tiny shift in her posture. The moment she realized she was dealing with someone who didn't lose negotiations.

She nodded once.

"I'll... check the back."

As soon as she disappeared, Ava's cackle filled the comms.

"God, I love when Ross does that voice."

Ross sighed.

"What voice?"

"The you will comply voice. So effective."

Ross shook his head, but Leah caught the amusement in his eyes.

A minute later, the attendant returned.

This time, her tone was different.

"We can offer you... our entire Reserve collection."

She paused.

"That's... twenty-six boxes."

Leah's lips curled into something slow and satisfied.

"We'll take them."

Ross, deadpan:

"All of them."

The attendant's fingers glided over her tablet.

"Understood. They'll be packed and ready within ten minutes."

Ava let out a low whistle over the comms.

"Damn. That's enough chocolate to bribe half the tower."

Leah smirked.

"Or hoard it all and let them suffer."

Ava gasped, mock scandalized.

"I trained you so well."

Ross, watching her with pure amusement:

"You know she's going to abuse this, right?"

Leah grinned, stretching her arms behind her head.

"Work hard, Ava."

Ava snorted.

"Oh, I will."

The Victory Haul

Minutes later, Leah and Ross stood near the luxury carrier station, watching sleek ribbon-wrapped boxes being carefully loaded into secured transport.

The attendant returned, composed but wearing the look of someone who had just been completely out-negotiated.

"Your items have been packed and secured. Would you like them delivered or taken with you?"

Leah tapped the console, finalizing the split order.

"Half to the tower. Half with us."

As they stepped back into the cool night air, Ross adjusted one of the carrier cases against his hip, glancing at Leah.

"So... Ava just won the lottery."

Leah's eyes flickered with amusement.

"She earned it. Barely."

Ross chuckled, shaking his head.

"This might be your first tactical mistake."

Leah smirked, tossing him a glance over her shoulder as they moved toward the car.

"Nah. It's an investment."

Ross raised a brow. "In what?"

Leah, grinning as she slid into the passenger seat:

"A very well-behaved Ava."

Ross's laugh was low, deep, and entirely disbelieving.

"Good luck with that."

The comms crackled again, and Ava's voice slid in—smug, expectant, and completely unbothered.

"Speaking of good luck—Leah, go pack my things."

Leah's brow twitched. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, darling. You're already out, and I am very busy keeping this whole operation from falling apart. Therefore, I am delegating."

Ross glanced at Leah, amused. "You do keep telling her to work hard."

Ava made a pleased sound. "Exactly. And now I have people to do the menial labor for me."

Leah dragged a hand down her face.

"Ava, if I go to your apartment and find a disaster zone, I swear—"

"Leah, please. Have some faith in me."

"Do I need to remind you of the last time I opened one of your closets?"

Ross raised a brow, interested now. "Do I want to know?"

"An avalanche of dresses, weapons, and empty chocolate wrappers fell on me." Leah shot a look at the console. "Somehow, she managed to be a hoarder and selective at the same time."

Ross chuckled, shifting gears as the car pulled into the next lane. "So we're going to Ava's first, then your place?"

"Yeah." Leah exhaled, flicking her wrist to adjust the route on the display.

"Oh, and Leah?" Ava's voice turned teasing, almost singsong.

"Yes, Ava?"

"Take only what's important. And treat everything with care."

Leah narrowed her eyes. "Do you want me to do this, or do you want to keep talking?"

"Carry on."

Ross smirked, already pulling into the next turn.