"What?!" Thomas yanked at his shirt, baring a sharp, defined collarbone that seemed to echo his intensity. "That old fossil dares to even think about her? Jason, you despicable creature!" His fury was palpable, a strange mix of indignation and possessiveness bubbling up within him—like watching his prized treasure being handed over to someone unworthy. This was unacceptable. That overstepping old man needed a warning, and I'll deliver it personally! Jayden, hearing the emotional display, couldn't help but stifle a laugh. These kids these days—always full of theatrics. They bottle up their feelings until the moment someone else steps in, and then they're all fire and brimstone. "Mr. Smith, I've got to go," Thomas barked, his tone sharp with urgency. "Alright, alright," Jayden replied, amusement still playing in his voice. "Don't worry about the girl. She's safe and sound here, and no one's going to mistreat her under my watch." Thomas muttered, already distracted, as he ended the call. "Thank you, Mr. Smith." He began relentlessly dialing Jason's private number over and over again, his mind racing with plans to set things straight. For a grueling ten minutes, he persisted, only to be met with the maddening monotony of a busy tone. Finally, when Jason wrapped up another conversation on his side, Thomas' call connected. With a slight furrow of irritation creasing his brow, he answered, his tone curt and businesslike. "Speak." His voice carried no trace of pleasantries—leaving no room for idle chatter. "Jason, you despicable beast!" Thomas spat, his anger crackling through the line. Jason's expression darkened. This wasn't like Thomas. Sure, he had always been cocky, but he'd still greeted me with a respectful "Jason" in the past. This newfound insolence? Jason wasn't having it. Click. Without hesitation, and with icy precision, he ended the call, leaving silence as his final statement! Thomas froze, staring at the blank screen, disbelief plastered across his face. Then his expression hardened, and with a mix of determination and annoyance, he redialed the number. "If you hurl another insult, I'll block you permanently," came Jason's deep, commanding voice, every word laced with a quiet but unmistakable threat. Thomas clenched his jaw. He knew better than to test Jason's resolve, so he swallowed his irritation and restrained himself, focusing on the matter at hand. "I hear you've taken a fancy to a sixteen-year-old girl," he remarked, his tone dripping with mockery. "She's seventeen!" Jason corrected sharply, his tone calm but resolute. "Oh, so you're admitting it then!" Thomas' tone shot up, now tinged with a sharp chill that conveyed both disbelief and simmering anger. The audacity was unbelievable! A grown man of twenty-four, eyeing a seventeen-year-old girl? The nerve! Jason smirked quietly, unbothered. "Who I choose to like isn't something you need to concern yourself with." Thomas couldn't suppress his incredulity. "Mr. Jason, aren't you embarrassed? You're so much older than her—don't you fear being branded a predator?" Jason brushed off the comment. "That's not your concern." Thomas, barely able to hold his temper, shot back, "Oh, really? Have you gotten my permission to go ahead?" Jason was clearly uninterested. "I'm busy." Without waiting for a response, he hung up the phone once again. Thomas angrily tried calling his number again, only to find himself blocked. "D*mn it!" he cursed in frustration. "Jason, you really know how to play dirty!" His assistant was startled by the outburst, as he was used to a more composed demeanor from Thomas. "Is something wrong, Thomas?" he asked hesitantly. Thomas waved him off, signaling it wasn't worth worrying about. His gaze hardened as a thought crossed his mind: if he couldn't deal with Jason directly, he would focus on Sera instead. With that in mind, he located Seraphina's WhatsApp and, after mulling it over, composed a carefully worded message. Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, the soft ping of a new message echoed through the room. Glancing at her phone, she saw that it was Thomas. 'Happy birthday, Sera. I ran into a dilemma while filming and thought I'd ask for your opinion. What type of guys do beautiful girls tend to be interested in? Someone like you, for instance.' She stared at the message, her thoughts clouded. Could it be… that he's interested in me?!