Chapter 4 Your Terms

Aydan's breathing came hard and uneven, his logic and ego clashing violently inside his head.

At last, he shut his eyes, and when they opened again, the fury had been dragged down by sheer force of will.

"Your terms." He forced the words out between clenched teeth. "What do you want in exchange for treating me and keeping this buried for good?"

The impatience on Ximena's face vanished, replaced by sudden brightness.

She looked at him as though he were no longer merely a patient, but something far more profitable.

She moved back to her chair at once, folding her hands atop the desk, slipping neatly into the posture of a negotiator. "First, my time is extraordinarily precious. Private sessions will eat into my research hours, so my charges won't be modest."

Aydan's expression didn't change. "Say the number."

"Second, because of who you are, safeguarding your privacy puts added pressure and risk on me, which calls for further compensation."

Aydan's mouth twisted into a cold, derisive smile. "Spare me the buildup."

"The thing is..." Ximena leaned in slightly, her gaze gleaming. "My research team is currently underfunded-we're short by roughly... eighty million."

For a moment, Aydan questioned whether his ears had betrayed him.

He had dealt with blackmailers and outrageous demands before, but never one delivered with such polish and solemnity.

"Eighty million? Dr. Hayes, you've got some audacity asking for that much."

"Mr. Dixon, you're mistaken." Ximena met his probing stare calmly. "That figure covers my research funding, every future private treatment you'll need, and my lifelong commitment to confidentiality. A single, all-inclusive arrangement, no follow-up charges down the line. From a business standpoint, you should recognize how favorable that is."

She looked up at him, and then continued, "Naturally, you're free to decline and visit Dr. Barnes tomorrow or consult someone else. But remember, the wider a secret spreads, the harder it is to contain. Your name-and Dixon Group's share value-are certainly worth more than eighty million."

Aydan stared at her, his eyes burning.

She had struck exactly where it hurt the most.

After a prolonged silence, he finally said a single word, "Agreed."

"But..." He stepped closer, his commanding presence closing in on her again, "if I discover even the smallest leak from you-"

"Mr. Dixon, you may doubt my personality, but not my professional integrity." Ximena cut him off, already pulling out her phone and opening her notes app. "To protect both sides, I'll prepare a medical service contract and research donation agreement right away. Please give me your email address and your lawyer's contact details, and I'll forward the draft."

Watching her switch entirely into business mode made irritation coil in Aydan's chest.

In the end, he recited an email address and phone number, his face dark.

"Perfect." Ximena wrote them down swiftly, and then lifted her head with a practiced smile. "Now, Mr. Dixon, you may open the door. I need to get home."

Her clear eagerness to leave tightened his chest all over again.

Without a word, he turned and pulled the door open.

Outside, Colby was pacing restlessly. The moment the door swung wide, he hurried over. "Mr. Dixon, you-"

He stopped short as his employer, scowling, brushed past him like a sudden storm, heading straight for the elevator without sparing a glance.

Colby stood rooted in place, peeking into the room.

The strikingly beautiful doctor was calmly packing up her belongings, a faint trace of satisfaction on her face.

Colby was utterly baffled.

What in the world had happened in that room during the last hour?