Taylor stood frozen, clearly not expecting my comeback and momentarily lost for words. Just then, Aiden arrived. She instantly put on a different face, smiling sweetly as she slipped her hand around his arm. “Aiden, the setup for tonight’s banquet is all done. Want to take a look?” Aiden’s gaze remained steady. He glanced at me and said coolly, “Raelyn was late today. Dock three days’ pay.” I let out a breathy laugh. This damn heir—his logic really is something else, huh? Avoiding my eyes, Aiden followed Taylor out to inspect the venue. About half an hour later, Aiden’s Beta came up to me and murmured, “Raelyn, the CEO wants you in his office.” I frowned. I really didn’t feel like going. But seeing how nervous the Beta looked, I sighed, stood up, and made my way there. When I opened the door, Aiden was sitting casually in the lounge area, looking indifferent. “You needed something?” Just looking at that cold face of his made my blood boil. I stood where I was, arms crossed, silently glaring at him. He pointed at a gift box on the table and said, “You’re coming to the banquet with me tonight.” I blinked in surprise. Was Aiden… asking me to be his date? “You’re inviting me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “But what about your childhood friend? She’s not going to be too happy.” He frowned, then shoved the gift box into my hands. “It’s your gown for the evening. Make sure you change.” “And if I say no?” I said with a sweet smile, arms still crossed. His voice dropped, serious and low. “Then I’ll dock half a month’s pay.” I shot him a deadly glare, hugged the box to my chest, and stormed out of the office. What a classic domineering CEO—always threatening to dock wages.Still, being his date would be a great way to slap Taylor across the face. So I made sure to walk past her on purpose, the huge gift box cradled in my arms. Sure enough, her expression twisted magnificently. That evening, I brought the box to the restroom to change into the dress. I hadn’t been inside long when Taylor walked in behind me, retouching her makeup. She wore a pale pink dress, which—paired with her naturally sweet features—made her look soft and charming. But when she glanced at me, the fake sweetness vanished in a heartbeat. “Raelyn, I’m warning you. Don’t try anything with Aiden. I won’t let you off if you do,” she snapped, face twisted like she was about to shift into wolf form. I casually tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “What I think or do really has nothing to do with you, does it?” Taylor sneered, “Aiden and I grew up together. What we have isn’t something you can just wedge yourself into. I suggest you step back now, before it’s too late.” I clicked my tongue and shook my head dramatically. “You grew up together and he still doesn’t like you? Damn, that’s rough.” “You’re talking nonsense!” she shrieked, losing her temper. I pressed on, “Tell me, Taylor—has he ever acted like he likes you? Even a little?” She stared at me, face dark, then spat, “Aiden’s just confused about his feelings. But no matter what, he’d never fall for someone like you!” I nodded slowly, cheerful. “Alright then. Let’s wait and see.” Her eyes narrowed with rage. She threw her lipstick hard onto the floor, then stormed out. I rolled my eyes and opened the box to change—only to find the gown inside had been shredded to pieces. That damn btch.* I tossed the ruined dress in the trash, ready to head out and buy a new one. But when I reached the door, I realized it had been locked from the outside. I pulled out my phone—only to see the battery had died. I frowned, tightly, and muttered, “Seriously? Could today get any worse?”Aiden’s POV: I waited and waited, but Raelyn never showed up. A knot began to form in my gut. I tried calling, only to hear the disconnected tone. My worry deepened. Could something have happened to her? Just as I was about to go look for her, Taylor suddenly appeared, smiling sweetly. “Aiden, are you waiting for someone?” I nodded. She tilted her head and said, “I just saw Raelyn. She said she was heading to the restroom first. She’s been in there a while and didn’t want to hold things up, so she told us to go ahead without her.”