Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 126

Chapter 126 Dinner Is Now a Job Requirement

“Work already drains me enough,” she said flatly. “Why should I sacrifice even more?”

Besides, having dinner with him is… terrifying.

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Finished

She stood there calmly. The breeze stirred her hair. He lips were slightly pink, her face small and fair in the light.

“Fine,” Dorian said. “Then I’ll take you to dinner. My treat.”

Arden was about to refuse, but he cut her off. “Don’t forget, you’re my assistant. Dinner counts as work.”

She stared at Lucien in disbelief. “Lucien, do you eat with Mr. Vale all the time?”

Lucien straightened. “Never. I wouldn’t dare. Only you get that honor. Everyone else would be thrilled to even try.”

Plenty of people had tried and been turned down. “I don’t want that kind of honor,” Arden muttered.

Dorian heard her anyway. “Well, I’m giving it to you anyway.”

“Oh, you’re the boss, so you can do whatever you want?”

Dorian gave her a crooked smile. “You look sweet, but you’re a rebel underneath.”

He slid into the car. “Get in.”

Arden got in. He took her to one of the Vale Group’s branches. While he led a meeting, she sat beside him and listened to all the department heads give their reports.

Dorian said almost nothing–just sat there with a cold face.

But his silence carried weight. The tension in the room was so thick no one dared breathe too loudly. Arden felt it too.

Suddenly, he glanced her way. “Arden, bring me a coffee No sugar.”

Everyone stared. Was he… being gentle?

No one had ever seen Dorian bring a female assistant to a meeting. His tone was casual, almost indulgent.

The room was full of gossip–starved eyes, all turning toward Lucien for answers. Lucien stood, not even blinking.

What’s the big deal, he thought. The woman getting coffee? That’s basically his wife.

The meeting dragged on for hours. And Arden got a firsthand look at Dorian’s power.

Even just skimming slides, he could spot errors that no one else noticed. And when he pointed them out, he didn’t hold back.

If you messed up, you were getting yelled at–no matter your title.

The whole atmosphere was suffocating.

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Chapter 126 Dinner is Now a dob Requirement

Finished

Arden made a mental note when Dorian was in work de, do not mess up Getting scolded in a room full of people would absolutely make her cry.

Being a corporate lackey was no joke. When the meeting ended around six, Dorian took her to dinner. The rest of the staff watched Arden climb into the boss’s car

They swarmed the windows, gossip flying.

“That’s the first time he’s ever had a female assistant nes to him, right?”

“Isn’t headquarters all male assistants?”

“Yeah. You think she’s actually a secretary? Or maybe his girlfriend, tagging along under the radar?”

“Remember that gorgeous girl from HQ? Tried to seduce the boss and got fired on the spot. She couldn’t even stay in Avalen after that.”

“Of course I remember. She was insanely pretty, tall, curves for days, total femme fatale. Still got iced out. I thought the boss might be into men.”

“Did you see this girl though? Total ‘first love‘ vibes. That face! I swear he was actually nice to her. Even asked Lucien to bring her warm milk.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. What if she ends up like the last one?”

“Honestly, I don’t know what kind of woman could ever handle him.”

Arden didn’t hear any of it. She was too hungry to care.

Dorian took her to a rooftop steakhouse–candlelit tables, violinists in tuxedos, soft lighting, fresh flowers at every table.

Floor–to–ceiling windows showed off the Zevia skyline. Arden ordered steak and dessert. She didn’t eat much at night. Dorian ordered steak too.

While Arden was focused on cutting her food, a familiar voice chimed in.

“Dorian!”

She looked up. Oh.Mira.

Dorian didn’t even lift his eyes. But he did glance at Arden.

T

Arden calmly kept cutting her steak, eyelashes casting light shadows as she lowered her gaze again. Not her business.

“Dorian, it’s really you?” Mira sounded surprised. She’d sent him countless messages–all ignored.

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