The Heiress, The Hacker, and The Man Who Should’ve Shut Up

"I heard her dad disowned her for stealing shampoo."

"Isn't that the girl from that stream?"

"No way she's rich. It was just a prank. PR stunt or something."

The whispers started as soon as Selene stepped inside the restaurant. Everyone looked like they had just closed a billion-dollar deal or divorced someone who did. And every one of them looked like they were being paid to hate Selene. 

Selene smiled without smiling. Ignoring all the stares.

Her grey dress was simple and sleek.

With a short pleated skirt and a collared neckline. It held a one-million-dollar waist chain made from the purest diamonds.

"That must be a fake…" Someone scoffed bitterly.

Selene sighed inwardly.

'Is Bianca's PR still working overtime to slander me?'

She noticed Aaron sitting by the window. He wore a loose white hoodie this time. But his expressions were as dark as they could be. He looked like someone who hated being in public, hated attention… and possibly hated people.

Selene slid into the chair before him.

"Make it quick," he said coldly, not bothering to even glance at her.

Selene tilted her head. "Do you eat olives for breakfast? Why are you always so bitter?"

Aaron slowly glanced at her.

His eyes narrowed as if to silently threaten her.

Selene couldn't help but laugh.

The waiter arrived there just then and asked with a polite bow. "Welcome to The Golden Knife, ma'am. Have you decided what you would like to order?"

At The Golden Knife, anything could be bought at a price.

Selene was about to say something, but then suddenly paused. Her expression turned slightly worried. 'All I can think of is instant ramen… or cup noodles.'

With a fake bored expression, she gestured at Aaron.

"Get whatever he wants for us both."

After being so used to eating the cheapest thing possible, Selene could no longer remember what her father had told her about ordering during business meetings.

'You can't be careless. The business dinners are a tactic, Selene, He had said, and she forgot everything he mentioned after that.

Aaron did not glance at the menu.

In a calm, indifferent voice, he stated. "Crocodile."

Selene choked on her breath.

She looked at Aaron as if he suddenly had seven eyes on his forehead.

"Do you mean chocolate milk?" she asked.

Aaron ignored her words and added. "Pair it with your most expensive wine and a side of salad."

The waiter smiled awkwardly and nodded.

He couldn't help but judge the bankrupt CEO and the banished heiress. 'Weren't they both supposed to be dirt poor? Why do they have such weird tastes?'

Clearing his throat, he added, "The crocodile is… uh… 74,000 dollars. Per plate."

Aaron glanced at Selene, "I am sure you can afford this?"

She was still looking at him as if he suddenly had seven eyes on his forehead. 'Is this some weird power move? Is he trying to scare me? Who the fuck orders a crocodile!!!'

But Selene did not let her disgust appear on her face.

She looked at the waiter and nodded, "It's fine. Please prepare ten crocodiles. All for Aaron—he seems to really love them.

Aaron's expression turned colder.

"Don't." He said darkly.

"Please do," Selene said with a sweet smile.

The waiter hastily bowed and left.

Selene leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table. "You already know why I'm here. I want Arcane Labs. I want to turn it into something big. Revolutionary. And I need a CEO position."

Aaron didn't blink. "You're not qualified."

Selene smirked. "Last night, someone hacked your triple-layer encrypted computer. You think I am not qualified?"

He looked away, jaw tight. "That wasn't skill. That was a fluke."

"The fluke came with half a million dollars."

"Which you wired like a bribe."

"Like an investment."

Aaron stared at her. Then said nothing.

A silence hung over them like an unsent email.

Selene sipped her drink. "You're not easy to impress."

"And you're not easy to trust." 

No sooner had Aaron said those words, the system announced nonchalantly.

Ding!

[Target Trust Level: 27% → 19%]

[Warning: Trust Level dropping! Affinity level reduced!]

[Aaron Wolf: 11% → 9% ]

Selene licked her lips slightly. Laughing a little in her heart, and suddenly felt a prickle of nervousness. 'Well, time for Plan B.'

"Selene?"

That voice.

Selene froze. She turned, slowly, like a horror protagonist realizing the call was coming from inside the house. Adrian Hale was right behind her.

Perfectly combed hair, blazer way too formal for a casual lounge. 

The man had the audacity to look surprised, as if he hadn't stalked her location via ten different newsfeeds. All to please Bianca.

"I can't believe you're here," he said, softly. "You look… different." He then noticed Adrian and suddenly looked offended. "And you're on a date?!"

Selene looked at Aaron with a troubled gaze.

Hoping to increase their affinity, she tried lightening the mood and asked in a low whisper, "Should I pretend I don't know him, or tell him we're engaged? Flip a coin?"

Aaron whispered back. "Jump out the window."

Selene rolled her eyes and leaned against her chair. She looked at Adrian with a bored expression. "I thought you died."

Adrian clenched his fists tightly.

'I don't have time for your drama, Selene! Bianca has refused to even speak to me ever since you escaped the prison! Why? I have no goddamn idea!'

Adrian refused to be pushed around anymore.

All he wanted to do was make Selene agree to their simple demands.

He gritted his teeth and stated calmly. "You're confused, Selene. Are you seriously going to trust some unknown rich man instead of your own family?"

Selene nodded with a fake, innocent look.

Adrian scoffed, "Why are you being so selfish? I was just concerned! I mean—it's barely been what, a week? And here you are, dining with a stranger. How weird."

Selene shared a look with the waiter.

He paled slightly when he noticed who she was talking to, but nodded in a hurry and went to call the manager. Her gesture had been obvious to him, 'Have this man scram, or I'm about to make a scene.'

Adrian pressed on, "Are you going to seduce your way into more wealth, Selene?!"

She frowned.

Aaron glanced at Adrian briefly. One eyebrow raised, his expression was faintly amused—or faintly murderous. It was hard to tell.

But Adrian swallowed hard. 'Who is this man? I have never seen him among the elite families… and yet… he has a strangely intimidating aura.'

Selene stated firmly with mock offense, "I would NEVER seduce my way into anything!"

Adrian opened his mouth to retort.

Selene added, gesturing at Adrian, "Unless he asks nicely."

Adrian was taken aback.

"You're crazy."

Selene shrugged.

Aaron tapped an impatient finger on the table.

And without another word, Adrian stormed away.

The Golden Knife's manager, tall and narrow-eyed like he was born in a warzone, was halfway to the table when—

"Excuse me," Adrian Hale said curtly, stepping into his path.

The manager blinked. "Yes, sir?"

Adrian's smile was all syrup and arsenic. "Before you go… there's something you should know about the woman you're about to serve."

The manager raised a polite brow.

Adrian lowered his voice, just enough to be conspiratorial—but loud enough to inject doubt.

"She's not who you think she is. That woman is Selene Sinclair—yes, the same one disowned by her family, banned from elite events, and recently seen faking her own innocence on a livestream."

The manager hesitated. "She made a reservation through—"

Adrian cut him off with a chuckle. "Exactly. She made it. But not under her own name, did she?"

The manager frowned. "It was an anonymous reservation backed by a verified fund—"

"It has to be fake! She must have used some stolen credit card or something!" Adrian said with rising urgency, leaning in. "I dated her, you know. I've seen her fake things before. Fake wealth, fake status, fake relationships. Have you forgotten she ran away from our wedding altar? TWICE?"

The manager awkwardly scratched his neck.

Adrian slid his hand into his blazer pocket with the flair of a magician about to pull a rabbit out of his enemy's hat.

Out came a sleek, obsidian-black card with the Sinclair crest stamped in gold foil.

He flicked it forward like it was a curse.

"Vice President of External Affairs. Sinclair Group," Adrian said smoothly. "Want to call and verify? I'm sure the Sinclair board will be thrilled to know you're personally sponsoring their banished embarrassment."

The manager's eyes widened slightly. The card glinted with enough legitimacy to make angels question morality.

"I—this… this is irregular, sir…"

Adrian leaned in, voice dropping into a whisper. "But is it worth risking your career over a girl who once shoplifted bubble tea and blamed it on a unicorn?"

The manager blinked. "She… what?"

Adrian smiled like a man who just made the stock market crash. "It's a long story. Let's just say she's crazy."