Chapter 129: Blanett Corporation (II)

Rosalie:

My heart pounded so violently that I could hear it in my ears.

The younger security officer had already lifted his hand toward the radio on his shoulder while the older man watched me with the cold, practiced expression of someone who had dealt with corporate spies before.

Every possible excuse I had rehearsed on the drive here had deserted me. I stood there, trapped inside the president’s office, knowing full well that one wrong move would not only expose me and Kaiser, but potentially destroy everything we’d been investigating for weeks.

Then a calm, familiar voice drifted into the room.

"There you are."

All three of us turned toward the doorway.

Time seemed to stop.

Zaiden stood there as though he belonged on this floor more than anyone else in the building. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit that fit him like it had been made exclusively for him, the silver cufflinks catching the light each time he moved. His expression was relaxed, almost mildly amused, as if he’d simply wandered into the wrong meeting instead of walking into a tense confrontation.

The older executive blinked. "...Mr. Nightfang?"

The younger guard immediately lowered his hand from the radio. The change in their attitudes was so abrupt it almost made me stare. Neither of them knew Zaiden as the Rogue Alpha. But they most certainly knew Zaiden Nightfang.

In the human world, he wasn’t just another businessman. He was one of the youngest and most influential corporate figures in the country, someone whose companies attracted investors from around the world. Even people who had never met him recognized his face.

Zaiden didn’t acknowledge either man. Not even once. Instead, he walked straight toward me as though we were the only two people in the room.

"I have been looking everywhere for you," he said, his tone carrying just enough concern to sound genuine. "You disappeared from the exhibition hall for bathroom break, and you weren’t answering your phone."

For a second, I simply stared at him. What... was he doing here? Then my brain finally caught up. He was saving me.

I forced myself to recover from my surprise. "I’m sorry," I said quickly, slipping into the role as naturally as I could. "I wandered off while looking around the building and must have lost track of time."

Zaiden stopped directly in front of me. "I was beginning to worry." His hand gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face before tucking it behind my ear.

"There you are," he murmured with a relieved smile. "I knew you’d managed to get yourself lost somewhere."

The older executive hurried forward. "Mr. Nightfang, we sincerely apologize, but we found this young lady inside the president’s office-"

"I know." Zaiden’s interruption was calm. Effortless. "She might have come here because of me."

Both men froze.

"Because of you?"

"She likes architecture and interior design." He glanced around the office with the faintest smile. "I mentioned that the president’s office had recently been renovated. She became curious."

I nearly admired how smoothly the lie came out.

"I see..." the older man replied uncertainly.

"I should have informed someone beforehand." Zaiden’s voice remained perfectly polite. "That’s my mistake."

The tension inside the room began melting away. Neither man looked entirely convinced. But neither seemed eager to challenge Zaiden Nightfang either.

Then, before I could even guess what he intended to do, Zaiden gently cupped my cheek. My eyes widened as he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against my lips. It lasted only a brief moment - warm, tender, and completely natural. When he pulled away, his forehead almost brushed mine.

"You really worried me," he murmured quietly enough that only I could hear.

My face immediately grew warm. "You weren’t supposed to come looking."

"And let you wander into executive offices alone?" His eyes sparkled with unmistakable amusement. "Never."

Behind us, I heard the older executive clear his throat awkwardly. "I... believe everything has been resolved."

"So do I," Zaiden answered without even turning around.

The younger guard suddenly looked embarrassed. "We’re terribly sorry for the misunderstanding, Mr. Nightfang."

Zaiden finally glanced toward them. "No harm done." He slipped an arm comfortably around my waist.

"Come on."

I nodded, deciding not to risk saying anything else. The two men stepped aside immediately, allowing us to leave without another question. Only after the office door closed behind us did I finally release the breath I’d been holding.

"I cannot believe that worked," I whispered.

Zaiden chuckled. "They’d already decided you were important the moment they recognized me."

I lightly nudged his arm. "You could have warned me before kissing me."

"And ruin the performance?"

"You call that a performance?"

"I call it convincing."

Despite everything that had just happened, I couldn’t stop smiling. "You are unbelievable."

"I have been called worse."

We rode the elevator back to the exhibition floor together. The lively atmosphere downstairs hadn’t changed at all. Business representatives continued greeting guests, presentations played across enormous screens, and investors wandered from booth to booth discussing partnerships.

Relief washed over me as I discreetly scanned the crowd. Charlotte wasn’t here. Neither was Alastor, nor Darien. Even better, none of Charlotte’s relatives had ever met me personally, meaning I could move through the exhibition without worrying about being recognized.

For the first time all day, I allowed myself to relax.

Zaiden kept his arm loosely around my waist as we blended naturally into the crowd, occasionally stopping beside different displays to maintain appearances.

"You know," he said quietly, "Eiden is going to lecture you for this."

"I’m aware."

"And I’ll probably join him."

"I know."

He sighed dramatically. But before either of us could continue, I noticed a familiar figure emerging from the opposite end of the hall.

Kaiser.

He was moving quickly, scanning every face around him. And the moment his eyes landed on me... he stopped. Then his gaze shifted to Zaiden’s arm around my waist and his expression changed instantly. Every trace of composure disappeared. His jaw tightened and his shoulders became rigid. Even from several meters away, I could feel the storm brewing behind those icy eyes.

Oh no.

He started walking toward us. Fast.

Zaiden noticed him a second later. His easy smile faded, and the playful warmth in his posture disappeared almost immediately as he instinctively straightened.

Neither man looked away from the other. People nearby had already begun glancing between them, sensing the sudden tension cutting through the exhibition hall.

Wonderful.

Exactly what we didn’t need.

If Kaiser confronted Zaiden here, we’d draw far too much attention. Without giving myself time to think, I slipped out from beneath Zaiden’s arm just as Kaiser reached us. Before either of them could say a single word, I caught Kaiser’s wrist.

"Come with me."

He blinked in surprise.

"Rose-"

"Now."

I didn’t loosen my grip.

Ignoring the questioning looks surrounding us - and the unmistakable weight of Zaiden’s gaze on my back - I pulled Kaiser through the crowd and out of the exhibition hall before either stubborn Alpha could turn the middle of a corporate event into the scene of a very public confrontation.