"What's wrong with you?" Emma Winter was already waiting at the complex entrance when Alex arrived downstairs.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, puzzled. Learning from their previous misadventures, they'd both woken up early today. No need to run like the first day or take a taxi like yesterday—just a normal, civilized walk to work.
"The panda eyes!" Emma pointed at his face.
"Oh, didn't sleep well last night," Alex replied listlessly. The morning sun was making him even drowsier.
"Too many misdeeds weighing on your conscience? Nightmares?" Emma smirked, looking rather pleased with herself.
"Perhaps," Alex sighed deeply.
"Hm?" Emma's smirk faded as she studied her unusually subdued companion. Based on their previous interactions, she'd expected a sharp retort to her teasing. His docile response was disconcerting.
"So maybe you'll learn your lesson and stop ogling women on the street, or leering at every pretty face that passes by, or—"
"I'm not in the mood to argue today," Alex cut her off with a weary glance from his bloodshot eyes before heading toward the subway station.
Sensing his genuinely poor spirits, Emma hurried to catch up. She wanted to ask what was bothering him but, realizing she hardly knew him, couldn't figure out how to broach the subject. She settled for walking quietly beside him, stealing glances from the corner of her eye, trying to decode his unusual behavior.
They rode the subway, changed lines, and arrived at their office building. As usual, Alex paused before entering, gazing up at the towering structure. Thinking about the CEO's daughter currently ensconced in his apartment and the unknown "surprises" surely awaiting him, he heaved another deep sigh before trudging inside.
"Good morning, Alex!" The three beautiful receptionists greeted him warmly. During his idle moments, Alex often wandered the multi-story building, winning female admirers with his unique blend of professional polish and roguish charm. The reception desk had naturally been among his first conquests.
"Not good," Alex muttered, heading straight for the elevator without his usual flirtatious banter.
"What's wrong with Alex?" one receptionist wondered, watching his retreating form.
"Work troubles maybe?" suggested another.
"Impossible—he's Carter's star performer. Must be personal," the third concluded thoughtfully.
"Why don't you go comfort him then?"
"I would if I thought he'd let me!"
...
"Brother Alex, 8:50? You're early today!" Lily exclaimed as Alex entered the office. Usually, he wouldn't appear until the last possible minute.
"Mm," Alex nodded, dropped his bag on his desk, and promptly buried his head in his arms.
"Alex, what's wrong?" Sarah asked with concern from across the aisle.
"Tired. Need sleep," Alex raised his head just long enough to display his panda eyes before slumping down again.
Sarah shot a questioning look at Emma Winter, who had followed Alex in. She could only offer a helpless shrug—she was equally mystified.
"What a fantastic evening!" Grace burst into the office, radiating satisfaction. She dropped her bag on her desk and patted Alex's slumped form. "Alex, that strategy you suggested worked perfectly. I really got my revenge last night!"
Seeing no response, she pushed him harder.
"Hey, stop playing dead! Wake up!"
"Grace..." Lily called softly, pressing a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. Grace looked around questioningly, but no one could explain Alex's state.
She pulled up a chair and patted his shoulder more gently.
"What's wrong? Someone give you trouble? You seemed so energetic yesterday," Grace prodded.
Alex remained silent.
"Hey, let me tell you about last night! I used that trick you taught me and really played that fool. He spent over ten grand, and—" Grace broke off as Alex continued ignoring her.
"Stomach ache?"
"Pregnant?"
"Heartbreak?"
"Miss Grace, I'm trying to sleep here. Didn't get any rest all night!" Alex finally raised his head, fixing her with exhausted eyes.
"Something's definitely off." Grace felt his forehead. "Your mood's completely different from yesterday afternoon. You're hiding something—spill it!" She seized the opportunity to trap him in a headlock.
To everyone's surprise, instead of his usual protests and struggles, Alex simply rested his head against her and closed his eyes.
"What's wrong? Bad mood?" Grace asked Emma Winter.
"Seems extremely depressed," Emma confirmed.
"Anyone who can depress our Alex must be quite something," Grace mused, steadying Alex as she stood before him.
"Look, Alex! My new mini skirt—how do I look?" Grace twirled, showing off her model-worthy figure. Normally, this would prompt enthusiastic compliments followed by shameless requests for treats. Today, Alex barely cracked his eyes open to glance at her provocative poses.
"Nice skirt, but your legs aren't quite mini enough."
"What? You dare say that?" Grace yanked his ear angrily. "Care to repeat that?"
Alex responded with a snore.
Grace frowned, hands on hips as she surveyed the office. Her failure to extract information clearly rankled. Lily clenched her fists in silent encouragement, echoed by the others' supportive nods.
*Fine,* Grace thought, *I've never failed before, and I won't start now!*
"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Talk to me," Grace cooed in his ear with exaggerated sweetness.
"You're giving me goosebumps," Alex muttered without raising his head.
Grace clenched her fist, gritted her teeth, and shot him a threatening look before plastering on another smile.
"Alex, if you tell me what's bothering you, I'll tell you my measurements," Grace offered seductively, shocking their colleagues with her tactics—though they seemed to approve of her methods.
"Whoosh!" Alex's head shot up so fast it created a breeze, startling everyone nearby.
*Typical pervert!* Emma Winter thought, noting his reaction.
Alex gave Grace's triumphant form an appraising look.
"33D-24-34."
"How... how did you know?" Grace's smug expression crumbled into disbelief. Though she did have reason to be proud of those statistics.
"You lived at my place for months without paying rent. I'd have been a fool not to notice. Besides, it was hard to miss when you kept walking around in just your—mmph!" Grace clapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish, clearly not wanting that particular detail shared.
She laughed nervously at their colleagues before leaning close to Alex's ear.
"You know how perfect my figure is. Want to know more? If you tell me what's wrong today, I'll let you... cuddle with this body that makes men dream and women jealous all night. How about it?" During her months staying with Alex, she'd often wandered around in her underwear, and they'd occasionally fallen asleep together on the couch after late nights. But being completely platonic—Alex saw her as a brother, Grace saw him as a sister—nothing had ever happened, even during those cozy moments. It had actually made Alex question his masculinity at times.
Just when Grace thought her offer would succeed, Alex deflated her with his signature sarcastic style.
"Right now, you don't even whet my appetite, let alone any other appetites," he said with a dismissive glance at her generous curves.
"Alex Stone, you're asking for it—!" Grace backed up, preparing to deliver retribution.
"No way, you pervert! I won't agree!" Jennifer stormed in clutching a stack of documents, apparently finishing a heated phone conversation. She angrily hung up, still fuming.
"What's wrong, Jennifer?" Emma asked with concerned curiosity. It took a lot to anger their perpetually cheerful colleague.
"Must be client trouble again?" Grace postponed her revenge, turning to Jennifer.
"Yes! I finally understand what they mean by 'wolf in sheep's clothing'!" Jennifer dropped Alex's documents on his desk before collapsing into Grace's vacant chair.
"Another creep?" Emma brought her some water.
"Mm-hmm, the worst kind! Looks respectable but is completely twisted inside!" Jennifer declared heatedly.
"Thanks!" she accepted the water from Emma.
"Then don't deal with people like that!" Emma advised. She particularly despised perverts, especially the deceptively refined ones. After all, it was her family's company—she wasn't concerned about losing business.
"Who is it?" Sarah looked up from her work.
"That Jin guy from Billion Star Properties. He has land outside the city that the company wants to acquire. I went to negotiate the price, but he... he demanded I spend a month 'entertaining' him, or he'll put it up for public auction. It's infuriating!" Jennifer explained indignantly.
"Aren't we a sales company? Why are we buying land?" Emma asked, confused.
"Buying low and selling high is one of our business lines," Sarah explained, then turned to Jennifer. "If it's not working out, just drop it."
"But the commission is so tempting! Though just thinking about that creep makes my blood boil. Forget it!" Jennifer declared.
"Good for you!" Alex opened his eyes briefly, catching sight of Jennifer's documents on his desk. He suddenly sat up straight, eagerly flipping through the papers.
"Alex! You scared me!" Grace, still standing nearby, jumped at his sudden movement and pinched his arm in retaliation.
"Hahaha!" Alex's sudden laughter startled Grace again.
"Have you lost your mind?" Grace waved her hand in front of his face.
"Jennifer, I'll take this case!" Alex brandished the documents, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"Really? Brother Alex, I love you!" Jennifer leaped up and threw herself at him, clinging to him like a koala in her excitement.
"Don't forget you owe me dinner," Alex patted her bottom, signaling her to get down.
"Mm-hmm!" Jennifer nodded eagerly, her big eyes sparkling adorably.
"Alright everyone, back to work!" Alex announced before sitting down.
The entire office was puzzled by his sudden energy, except for Jennifer who remained blissfully ignorant of his earlier mood. Though noting the time—half an hour into the workday—everyone returned to their desks and began their tasks.
*Mr. Jin, what a coincidence meeting you again. You're the reason I met the heiress, plus you burned my wallet. Time for some payback!* Alex smirked at the photo on the first page of the documents—none other than the refined-looking predator from his restaurant encounter with Emma Carter.