Sophia reached out, her fingers gently adjusting the peonies on her bedside table.
As she bent over, her loose blouse shifted, unintentionally exposing a hint of her cleavage.
Hades, watching from his hidden vantage point through the camera, immediately felt a surge of tension.
His wolf stirred inside him, reacting instinctively to the sight of his mate.
His jaw clenched, and he turned his face away, fighting the pull.
He knew too well what could happen if he allowed himself to linger on the image.
The bond between them had always been volatile, filled with heat and temptation. But it wasn't just the attraction—it was the history, the emotions, the lingering connection neither of them could entirely sever.
After a moment, Hades glanced back at the laptop.
Sophia was still adjusting the flowers, completely unaware of the effect her movements were having on him.
As she moved, her blouse shifted again, revealing more skin—along with something else.
His eyes caught sight of a tattoo etched onto her fair skin, just above her cleavage.
Hades froze.
A tattoo?
He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the small script. His name. Hades.
It was written clearly across her sensitive skin. His chest tightened as surprise and confusion swirled through him.
Sophia had never been the type to get a tattoo.
He would have known—he had seen her body in its entirety when they had given in to their desires.
She had always been soft and delicate, without any ink marking her skin. And yet, here it was. His name.
Hades shook his head, unable to comprehend it.
He never got tattoos himself because of the pain involved, and he couldn't imagine her going through the agony of having it done, especially in such a sensitive area.
And yet, she had done it. For him.
His gaze lingered on the tattoo for a moment longer, wondering what it meant, why she had done it.
But as Sophia adjusted the flowers one last time and sat back down, his thoughts were interrupted by her soft voice.
"Hi, Hades."
Hades stiffened, his eyes widening.
She had addressed him directly.
How?
His heart pounded in his chest.
Did she know there was a camera in the flowers?
His eyes darted back to the screen, watching her closely.
Sophia chuckled softly as if sensing his confusion.
"Relax. I'm a reporter, remember? Detecting a hidden camera is second nature to me." She glanced at the flowers with a knowing look. "I saw it before you even walked into the mansion."
Hades let out a low groan, his hand slamming against his forehead in frustration.
He cursed under his breath, feeling like an idiot.
She had outsmarted him, and the realization stung. His wolf growled in irritation.
Sophia, however, didn't seem angry or offended. In fact, she seemed almost amused by the situation.
"Don't turn it off yet," she added quickly, her voice calm. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
Hades paused, his finger hovering over the button to cut the feed.
He narrowed his eyes at her, waiting for her to continue.
"I know you probably won't be interested," Sophia said, her tone professional now, "but my boss has been insisting on doing an interview with a celebrity or someone wealthy. I've tried reaching out to others, but they've all turned me down. I was hoping you might be willing to consider it."
Hades raised an eyebrow.
An interview?
He had no interest in public exposure or talking to the media.
The idea of it grated on his nerves. But as Sophia spoke, he felt his resolve waver.
Was it the mate bond? That invisible thread that tugged at him whenever he was near her, making him more lenient, more willing to listen?
He couldn't deny that it was influencing his reaction.
"I know it's not your thing," Sophia continued as if sensing his reluctance, "but... it would really help me out. And I'd find a way to repay you someday."
Hades almost dismissed her outright, his hand moving toward the laptop to shut it off.
He had no interest in repaying favours, especially not for something as trivial as an interview.
But then, Sophia added one last sentence. "Aurora will also be in the interview."
Hades's hand froze mid-air.
His eyes brightened instantly, and a slow smile spread across his face.
Aurora?
He leaned back in his chair, his interest now fully piqued.
If Aurora was going to be involved, this was no longer just about helping Sophia. This was an opportunity. A chance to be near Aurora, to understand more about her, maybe even to shift her feelings in his favour.
"Fine, I'll do it," Hades said, his voice low but clear, as if Sophia could hear him. But she couldn't, and only he could hear and see her.
Sophia couldn't hear Hades's reply, but she sensed his shift in demeanour. He was probably considering her proposal.
Taking that as a sign, she spoke again, her voice steady yet hopeful.
"I'll send the details to your email right away," she said. "I really hope you'll come. It would mean a lot."
Without waiting for a response, she reached for the flower arrangement, her fingers carefully plucking out the hidden camera.
Hades's eyes narrowed as he watched her movements.
She held the tiny device between her fingers for a moment as if inspecting it and then—without hesitation—dropped it into a glass of water on the table beside her.
The water instantly short-circuited the device, and the screen in front of Hades went black.
"Dammit," Hades muttered, leaning back in his chair, realizing what had just happened.
The connection was severed, and he couldn't see or hear anything anymore.
Sophia had destroyed the camera with one swift move, leaving him cut off.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, both impressed and annoyed.
She was clever—too clever. But the fact that she had taken him seriously and destroyed the camera meant she had nothing to hide.
His wolf simmered down as he sat in the silence of his office.
He couldn't help but smirk, though. Sophia had played her cards well, but now it was his turn. The interview—especially with Aurora involved—was something he wouldn't miss.