Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104 Playing Nice, Playing Dirty

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Finished

She knew he’d absolutely do it, too. The man had zero shame and zero boundaries.

Reluctantly, Arden walked over. Dorian pulled out the chair for her himself. She sat.

Lucien moved quickly to seat Dorian. Once he was down, he nudged the menu toward her. “Order whatever you want. Don’t be polite.”

Around the table, the women started whispering.

Some of the women at the table were clearly starting to stir.

One leaned toward Ares with a sugary smile. “So… who’s the man? Never seen him before.

Ares gave her a brief glance, his tone casual as ever. “He’s Dorian Vale. From Avalen.”

The table went dead silent for half a second. Then the whole thing practically exploded. “Wait, you mean

Dorian?”

Ares twirled his lighter between his fingers and gave a lazy nod.

The girl who asked the question suddenly felt the mood shift. The man next to her grabbed her jaw with a smirk. “What, see Dorian and lose all interest in me already?”

“No, babe, no. It’s just–he’s got that aura, you know? Intense. I was just curious,” she said quickly, giggling and lifting her wine glass to pacify him.

A bunch of women were now actively trying to get Dorian’s attention. But he didn’t even look up.

He sat there, effortlessly aloof, like the chaos around him didn’t exist. The only person he looked at–even just occasionally–was Arden.

She was focused on the menu, studying it carefully. After a moment, she selected just two dishes she liked and slid, the menu back to him.

Dorian frowned. “Didn’t you say you were hungry? That’s it?”

“There are a lot of people here. I don’t want to be greedy”

“You order for yourself. Let them worry about themselves.”

He flagged down the waiter and added a few more dishes. Arden was, in fact, starving. So when the food came, she dug in quietly and seriously.

Dorian watched her. Not a glance in his direction, not even a word. She just ate like he didn’t exist. He stared at her profile, jaw tightening. “Arden.”

She looked up. “Hmm?”

She must’ve found her long hair annoying while eating, because she reached for a hair tie and gathered it up in a loose ponytail, letting it fall down her back.

The move exposed the smooth skin of her neck and the soft line of her collarbone. From where he sat, he could clearly see the subtle swell of her chest as she leaned forward slightly—just enough to make his throat go dry.

19:09 Thu, Feb 5 BNB.

Chapter 104 Playing Nice, Playing Dirty

His voice dropped. “I want shrimp.”

Arden glanced at his plate. The shrimp were huge, golden, crispy–clearly amazing. “So take some.”

“Peel them for me.”

She gave him a look. “Don’t you have hands?”

He didn’t back down. “You’re my assistant.”

Arden stared at him. “Assistants are still human, right?”

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Dorian didn’t even flinch. Ares overheard the conversation from the other side and clicked his tongue. “Seriously, Dorian? Since when do you need someone to peel your shrimp for you? That too from a girl?”

But Dorian wasn’t even listening to him. He was watching Arden’s mouth move. All he could think about was kissing her again.

That soft, sweet mouth…

He tapped his finger against the table, eyes never leaving her lips. “You don’t get it.”

Ares snorted. “Yeah, I really don’t. You’re the guy who used to down raw oysters like shots, and now you’re making her peel shrimp? Sure you’re not the one chasing her?”

But Dorian wasn’t joking. He wasn’t trying to be difficult for fun. He just wanted Arden to do something for him. Anything.

She didn’t move. He leaned a little closer.

Dorian kept staring at her.

Then he said it again, his voice calm but unmistakably threatening. “You’re my assistant, Arden. You represent the planning department. Aren’t you worried about pissing me off? What if… the team loses their year–end bonus?”

Arden blinked, staring at him like he’d lost his mind. “You’re holding our bonuses hostage over shrimp? Seriously, Dorian, that’s abuse of power!”

If that bonus went up in smoke, she’d be public enemy number one back in the department. Everyone was counting on it–tens of thousands, at the very least.

He shrugged. “Well, I’m your boss. Perks come with the title. Peel a shrimp for me and I’ll be the bigger man. Let it go. Your department’s safe. Bonus stays intact.”

Arden stared at him in speechless disbelief. “Corporate tyranny at its finest.”

Humiliated. Bastard. Bastard. Bastard.

She cursed him silently, three times, just to feel better.

Grabbing a shrimp, she slipped on a glove and started peeling. Her movements were stiff, irritated. “You know what? No wonder you don’t have a wife.”

Dorian watched her pouty lips, that full–on sulky expression, the way she mumbled under her breath.

19:09 Thu, Feb 5 BNB

Chapter 104 Playing Nice, Playing Dirty

She looked so annoyed. It was cute. “What are you mumbling about, Arden?” he asked, half–smiling.

“Nothing.”

Finished

His eyes dropped to her lips again. She peeled the first shrimp like she’d been doing it all her life, then popped it right into her own mouth.

Didn’t even glance his way. In fact, she turned slightly, shielding herself from view.

Dorian raised an eyebrow. “I saw that.”

“I peeled it, I’m eating it first.”

“Fine. Eat.”

He never really cared about the shrimp. He just wanted to see her talk. Banter. Engage with him. Once she’d had her fill, she finally started peeling some for him.

At one point, someone tried to toast her, nudging a glass in her direction. Dorian stepped in without missing a beat.

“She’s basically a kid. Doesn’t drink. Milk and juice only,” he said smoothly. “I’ll drink for her.”