"This is so much nicer than my usual streaming backdrop."
Edgar looked down at her with a smile. "As long as you like it."
"Tomorrow's launch event, I'll have the tech team set up a full 360-degree livestream for you. Guaranteed to push your followers past ten million."
"Thank you, babe!"
Lydia bounced on her heels, then caught sight of me out of the corner of her eye. She let out a little gasp. "Oh my God, isn't this Katherine? What are you doing here?"
She'd spotted Edgar picking me up for a family dinner once before. Back then, she'd come tiptoeing over trying to ingratiate herself, only for me to not even spare her a glance.
Now she was asking a question she already knew the answer to, clearly looking to settle that old score.
Only then did Edgar turn toward me. His gaze was cold, laced with a flicker of disgust.
"What are you doing here?"
"Don't tell me you're stalking me again, like last time. I already told you, our engagement is just to keep the families happy with their little alliance. Don't kid yourself into thinking I'll ever fall for you."
He slid his arm around the woman beside him and pulled her close, deliberately showing off for my benefit.
"See this? This is the one I actually want."
"Edgar, I'm going to strongly suggest you don't get in the way of my business."
I held up the gallery exhibition brochure, my expression cooling by several degrees.
"I booked this space two weeks ago."
"While I'm still being civil, take your people and get out."
The workers around us had all stopped what they were doing, ears perked. A few of them were already whispering among themselves.
"What's going on? That woman actually knows Mr. Fox."
"Think they've got something going on? Or maybe they go way back?"
"She's got some nerve, though. Flat-out refuses to give up the space. This is about to get interesting..."
The venue manager tried to step in and smooth things over, but a single look from Edgar shut him down.
Edgar lifted his gaze slowly, a mocking smile curling at his lips.
"I'm taking this space."
He pulled out his wallet, drew out a thick stack of bills, and tossed them at my feet.
"Is that enough?"
The crisp hundred-dollar bills fluttered down like a shower of petals, and every pair of eyes in the room went wide.
Lydia's mouth fell open in surprise, but she quickly recovered, pouting with exaggerated displeasure.
"Babe, you're way too generous. With that kind of money, you could've bought me a Birkin bag instead. Why waste it on some random woman?"
She shot me a venomous glare as she said it.
Edgar chuckled indulgently and ruffled her hair. "Relax. You'll get all the bags you want."
"Every dollar I earn out there is for you to spend. Who else would it be for?"
Lydia squealed and threw her arms around his neck. "I knew it. You're the best to me."
She rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his. Edgar let her cling to him, making no move to pull away.
But the moment her kiss landed, his gaze drifted lazily upward, settling on me with deliberate ease.
"Katherine, do you really enjoy watching other people's love life that much? Get lost already."
The bills lay scattered across the floor.
I didn't give them a single glance.
"Edgar, you really are something."
"Or have you already forgotten that we just sealed our families' alliance?"
I fixed him with a frigid stare and let out a quiet scoff.
"You're publicly crossing me for some influencer with a face full of plastic surgery. You really aren't afraid of me telling your grandfather?"
Edgar's expression shifted.
"You're threatening me?"
Old Mr. Fox valued reputation above all else. If he found out that Edgar was tangled up with another woman right after formalizing their alliance, he'd break his legs.
Lydia clapped both hands over her face and let out a piercing shriek. "Plastic surgery?! My face is one hundred percent natural!"
"Babe, did you hear what she just said about me?!"
"My livestream is about to start, and all these people heard her! How am I supposed to show my face in this industry after this?!"
