?Chapter 1396:
Alexander swayed slightly, as if her words bore enough weight to knock him off his feet. But Dani was not finished. She straightened to her full height, maintaining that dazzling smile. “You ever wonder why we never grew close?” A humorless chuckle escaped her lips. “It’s not because I’m some untouchable angel with no desires. The truth is—I’ve never wanted you. Not once.”
Her gaze swept over him, leaving no doubt of her contempt. “You’re not just uninteresting. You repulse me. So let’s do us both a favor—stick to business and stop fantasizing about anything beyond that. It’s never going to happen.”
With that, she turned on her heel and left the room as decisively as a mmed door.
Just outside, she passed Niks, who also stood frozen. She didn’t stop. She didn’t speak. She didn’t acknowledge him at all.
Although her words were directed at Alexander, Niks felt every syble like a blow. A sharp, sinking shame filled him—not just for Alexander, but for himself. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that Dani’s rejection reached him too.
The sting was so overwhelming that Niks found himself wishing the floor would swallow him whole and end his misery.
While making her way back to the office, Dani spotted Carol approaching with a spring in her step and a smile that practically sparkled.
Leaning in, Carol lowered her voice just enough to keep their exchange private. “Niks looked like he’d been pped across the face. That move of yours? Brilliant. Two birds, one stone.”
Dani let azy smile curl the corner of her lips.
Curiosity dancing in her tone, Carol asked, “Think he’ll back off now?”
“He will,” Dani replied, calm and unwavering. Yet she couldn’t shake the suspicion that somewhere deep inside, Niks was clinging to a final shred of resentment.
“But how can you be so sure?” Carol pressed, tilting her head.
Dani shrugged and offered a knowing look. “Niks isn’t Alexander. Alexander’s shameless, but Niks grew up under Hamilton’s wing. That kind of upbringing breeds both arrogance and selfcontrol; he clings to his pride like armor. My words stripped that away. Now he sees the truth—he’s just Niks, not Cedric. And now that he knows how ruthless I can be, he’ll bury whatever is left deep and stay out of my way.”
Carol still looked unconvinced. “But what if he doesn’t?”
Dani’s expression darkened just slightly. “Then he’s a fool. If he behaves, I won’t waste another thought on him. But if he oversteps, he’s out—no hesitation.”
Even so, Dani felt certain that anyone with sense would know better than to test their luck.
One person who definitelycked such sense was Alexander. As he stormed out of the building, his fury boiled over, twisting his face into something unrecognizable.
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