Alyssa was angry at what Basil did. With so many people around, she didn’t want to make a scene, though. She tried to clear things up, yet Aaron remained nonchalant. The frigid expression on his face made her shudder. She wanted to cry her heart out.

Basil pulled her into his arms and said with a smile, "Mr. Gu, could Alyssa leave the party earlier? We have a date."

Aaron looked at Alyssa, and meeting his eyes, she lowered her head silently. Then she heard him reply coldly, "Of course."

Basil smiled a friendly smile. But somehow, it felt weird. It was quite obvious that he was provoking Aaron.

The look in Aaron’s eyes darkened as he watched them leave.

Pamela walked elegantly to him with a glass of wine in her hand. After sipping some wine, she asked, "Aaron, why haven’t you fired her already?"

Pamela and Aaron were alumni. They graduated the same year. When she heard that he had left the army and started his own company, she chose to work with him. So, she had contributed to JK Group’s success.

And she was the only one, among the female employees, that called Aaron by his name.

Aaron drained his glass. The years of strenuous training in the army had made him a tough, stoic man. He used to be a courageous soldier in battlefield. Now, he was a clever, resolute businessman.

Once they were alone, Alyssa pried Basil’s hand off angrily.

"Why did you say that to Aaron?

Did you do it on purpose?

Were you trying to get me fired?" she demanded, raising her voice, which was crisp and thin.

She was so loud the decibel level bordered on insufferable.

"Calm down. I was just worried about you. I figured that if I mentioned it in public, he would be embarrassed and wouldn’t treat you that way anymore," Basil explained tenderly, holding her in his arms.

They had been going out for five years. He knew her well. When she was angry, arguing with her would only make things worse. Comforting her, on the other hand, usually worked.

"He would fire me!

He would think he was embarrassed because of me."

She didn’t think Basil's explanation held water.

"No, he wouldn’t, because people would think he was getting back at you using his power."

Alyssa thought about it. It sounded risky but seemed to make sense. That way, Aaron wouldn’t be so harsh on her and she would still be able to keep her job.

Convinced, Alyssa became cheerful and got in Basil’s Porsche, setting off for seafood.

After dinner, Basil offered to drive her home. Alyssa had eaten so much her belly looked swollen. She put her hands on her belly and began dozing off in the passenger seat like a pregnant lady. Basil turned to look at her with a smile.

The night deepened. As the car sped along the street, he thought about him and Alyssa. They had been dating for five years, but they had never slept together. He loved Alyssa, and she was the only woman he had ever loved.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and swore to himself that he would never let her go.