Chapter 3 Chapter 3 She's Taking Another Man's Side

Carol turned her head toward the laid-back man beside her, face calm. "Nope, nothing on my mind."

Edward's smirk deepened a little, voice casual but clearly poking, "Come on, Carol. Don't lie to me. What were you whispering to my brother just now? Something shady? Too secret for me to hear?"

Carol's tone stayed chilly. "You're overthinking."

Edward chuckled meaningfully. "Am I though? Or are you just trying to throw me off?"

His eyes locked onto hers, making her heart skip a beat. To hide her nerves, she shifted the topic and handed him the file she'd prepped. "The acquisition plan for Moran's Serenor Group is done. HQ finished the risk assessment and asset valuation. Waiting on your review and signature."

In the Dawson family, she was Edward's step-sister on paper. At the company, she was his top assistant.

Not that Edward ever acknowledged her as his sister. Just calling him like that once had set him off. And he clearly didn't see her as an assistant worth his time either.

Carol started explaining calmly. "PR over on the Moran side hasn't dared to take it on. Though West City's going well, Mr. Moran still won't budge, so if you want more market share..."

Edward cut her off, clearly annoyed. "I've said it enough times. Before they recover, stir things up deeper."

Carol knew his temper well and nodded. "Got it, I'll pass the word."

She thought that would be the end of it, but Edward suddenly asked, with that casual tone, "Heard my big brother's getting all cozy with the Moran family. That true?"

He didn't even lift his eyes, just idly fidgeted with the prayer beads on his wrist.

The air felt heavy for a second.

Carol's heart thudded, but she kept her expression still. "I've heard something."

Edward gave a sharp little smile, like a blade's edge. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

As she paused, unsure what to say, Edward leaned in close, that dangerously handsome face just inches from hers. "What? Still got a soft spot for him? Gonna team up and take me down together?"

Her hand tightened on the steering wheel, palms sweaty. "That's not it."

Edward caught her hand, his fingertip trailing across her clammy palm. "Sweaty and sticky. Still wanna say you're clean?"

She yanked her hand away. Edward casually pulled out his phone. "That guy who sold my intel last time-send him somewhere remote. I don't want to see his face again."

Carol froze inside, fingers clenched till they turned white. She knew damn well he was warning her.

With one arm resting on the car door, Edward let the chilly wind blow in through the crack, eyes flicking toward the traffic light. "Turn left up ahead."

"What?" Carol blinked, puzzled. Just had to ask, "Aren't we supposed to go right to the company?"

Edward lit a cigarette, taking a drag and exhaling a stream of smoke. "Not going to the office. We're heading back to No.1 Residence."

Carol's brows pinched slightly, mood turning impatient. "Didn't you just say you had stuff to handle at the company?"

The glowing tip of the cigarette dimmed to ash. Edward's gaze drifted, unreadable. "What, you think I'd be able to leave if I didn't say that?"

Carol paused slightly. "Then why lie?"

Edward gave a smug little grin, lips curling in that cocky way of his. "Because I wanted to."

Outside, a layer of fog had crept across the windshield, cool air sliding along the glass, blurring the view-isolating the tense atmosphere inside the car from the rest of the world.

Neither of them said anything for a good while, each stewing in their own silence.

Finally, Edward broke it. "Don't you wanna ask who Grandpa picked out as my fiancée?"