In progress

Veil rolled his eyes dramatically. "Not only am I coming tonight, I'll be back tomorrow night, and the night after that too!

What's it to you? You think tailing someone is fun or something?"

Lisa's expression turned cold. "So now a girlfriend isn't even allowed to know where her boyfriend goes?

You're messing around outside and I'm not allowed to ask about it? I can't even question you anymore?"

Huh?

Veil raised a brow.

This didn't sound like some snarky little comment—this sounded more like a full-on domestic drama, with the main wife catching the mistress!

Good grief, Lisa was really letting her emotions get the best of her tonight.

Not wanting to provoke her further, he said earnestly, "I came to talk to Jodie about business. The new company I'm setting up needs someone capable to manage it. She's a good fit."

"Another company? Don't tell me you already blew through that one billion startup fund the Lancaster family gave you, and now you're just looking for a new excuse to scam more money?" Lisa said, like she could see right through him.

It wasn't like she was just being cynical—Veil had pulled that sort of thing in the past.

She snorted. "Need people? Go hire from the job market like everyone else. What are you doing bothering Jodie? Did you get hit in the head? She's the heiress of the Murphy family. You think someone managing a massive corporation has time to play secretary for your half-baked business idea?"

"That was then. This is now. I'm serious this time."

Veil took a step forward and braced one arm on the wall beside her, cornering Lisa underneath him, towering over her with a full-on kabedon. His gaze was focused and intense.

Lisa's heart skipped. She pressed her hands against Veil's chest, trying to shove him away, but no matter how hard she pushed, he didn't budge an inch.

Gritting her teeth, she hissed, "What does your being serious have to do with me? You think running a business is that easy?"

Sure, Veil had once pretended to be a spoiled playboy, but it was always easier to fall than to climb back up.

If starting a company were that simple, the world would be full of CEOs. Who'd be left to work office jobs or dig foundations?

Veil undid the button of his blazer, keeping his arm braced against the wall.

Lisa started to panic. "What are you trying to do? Veil, I swear, if you try anything without my consent, I'll bite you!"

She grabbed onto his arm, her mouth poised over his wrist like a little beast ready to strike and run if things went south.

Veil calmly pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jacket and held it in front of her. "Can you not jump to the worst conclusions? What's going on in that head of yours all day long? Could you maybe try being a little more pure?"

"Veil! You're dead meat!" Lisa's face flushed with embarrassment and rage. She raised her knee, aiming directly for his lower half.

But how could she ever hope to land a blow on him?

Within two moves, Veil had pressed his leg firmly against the backs of her knees, locking her in place.

Just like that, Lisa found herself helpless—like a frog pinned to a dissection board. Except instead of lying down, she was hoisted up against the wall, feet off the ground.

"Let go! Let me go!" she shouted, her voice sharp with fury. The compromising position made her blood rush to her head—her flawless, pretty face turned crimson.

She was fuming, humiliated, on the verge of snapping.

But Veil calmly ignored her struggles and held the paper up to her face.

"What is this?" she demanded, still flustered.

"A skincare formula. Isn't your company focused on beauty products?" Veil asked, matter-of-fact.

He wasn't in the mood to handle this kind of product himself—not when he had other priorities. Lisa, though? She had experience, the supply chain, the sales channels. She was the perfect free labor.

Who wouldn't want a free expert on board?

Lisa took a quick glance and instantly scoffed. "Are you serious? Who gave you this? You think you can just throw in a few fancy ingredients and call it a beauty product? If formulas were this easy, why would companies spend millions on R&D?"

"You're a complete idiot. You don't even know you're being scammed! And you seriously think you're going to launch a company with this thing? Dream on!

And… let me down already! My knees are killing me!"

Veil glanced down and saw that Lisa, in her tight pencil skirt, had red marks behind her knees from where he had pinned her. He finally relented, gently setting her back down.

"I don't care if you think I've been scammed. This formula is real. You can test it if you want. But be careful—the effects are extremely potent. Don't follow it exactly. Dilute it at least ten, maybe fifty times."

Of course, the formula he gave her wasn't a one-to-one copy of the system's original version. He had already diluted it a hundredfold himself.

Even so, a pill made from this recipe could still drastically improve healing and skin condition, albeit far milder than the original miracle-level effects. It was still overkill for cosmetic purposes. That's where Lisa's expertise would come in—refining it into something viable for the market.

Lisa stared at the paper, frowning. "You're serious about starting this company? About recruiting Jodie?"

She'd thought Veil had come here in the middle of the night chasing women. Turns out she might've been wrong about everything.

"Does it matter if I'm serious or not?" Veil adjusted his jacket. "Just do what I asked. The rest is none of your concern."

"And don't forget—this whole relationship between us is based on a contract. Once that's void, we're done. So don't pull this tailing nonsense again."

This wasn't just a love game anymore—Lisa had clearly caught feelings.

But even if she tried to pretend otherwise, Veil wouldn't let her. He had to remind her—shatter that fantasy before she got too deep.

If Lisa wanted to keep pretending their contract gave her special status, she was wrong.

She needed to tear it up herself.

He wouldn't let her keep appearing in his life like some untouchable, haughty goddess. That needed to change.

Lisa stormed off, face stiff, not even sparing him a glance.

She looked so pissed you'd think he owed her a few million bucks.

"Don't forget to test it! My first pot of gold depends on that formula!" Veil called after her.

VROOOOM!

Her white BMW roared to life, speeding away like a bullet.

Once the car vanished at the end of the street, Kai awkwardly stepped out from the shadows, scratching his head. "Sorry, Young Master. I didn't think Miss Lisa would actually go so far as to follow you. That one's on me... I should've caught her earlier."

"It's not your fault," Veil waved him off. "You've done well these past few days. Everything I asked, handled cleanly.

Tonight, gather the guys and head to the club. Blow off some steam."

Whoa!

Kai's eyes lit up the moment he heard "club."

He had been dying to ask how Veil managed to pull off that crazy rescue from the Black Dragon Society's lair, but all that curiosity instantly flew out the window.

Who had time for questions?

The club was calling.