Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Richard was the one who understood him better than anyone else. Maybe that's why Richard had never once looked at Clara like she was some oddity.

He just didn't get the whole men-and-women thing. To him, those feelings were nothing but a hassle.

Ever since he was a kid, women had always seemed like trouble, and romance was even worse. The rush he got from winning in the business world was a thousand times more exciting than chasing after a woman.

That adrenaline-living on the edge-no ordinary love affair could ever compare. So he never really understood why everyone seemed so obsessed with romance.

He didn't get it, but he respected it.

Maybe once you'd reached the top and all the power a person could want, you started chasing after things that felt, well, ordinary and even a little cheap.

Yeah, to him, romance was just that: ordinary.

Jackson couldn't help but feel a little annoyed at Richard's attitude.

"Richard, you've got the overseas shipping line all sewn up now. Does that mean anyone who wants to move cargo has to go through you?" he asked.

Owning the shipping route was a goldmine. The fact that Richard had managed it showed just how much work he'd put in behind the scenes.

Richard gave a half-smile, a little smug, and stretched out his legs. "Yep. From now on, your shipments are on the house. Hundred percent off.”

Jackson propped his chin on his hand, eyeing Richard's cocky attitude. He couldn't help but prod, "That's not what I meant. What I want to know is, you've been working here and abroad for years-how come there's never been a single scandal about you? Don't tell me you're still a virgin?"

For a second, the arrogance slipped from Richard's face, and his smile faded.

Even Nicholas, who'd been quietly watching, shot Richard a quick glance, then looked away with a small, amused laugh.

Richard pressed his lips together, closed his eyes, and muttered, "I'm not as basic as you guys."

Women only got in the way when it came to getting things done.

Jackson raised an eyebrow, blatantly checking Richard out.

Out of all of them, Richard was the coolest under pressure. He'd also been the first to notice that Dylan liked Clara. It wasn't that Richard was clueless about feelings he just really didn't care.

Jackson found himself wondering: would Richard ever fall in love? Maybe, if he lived long enough, he'd actually get to see it happen.

He was still mulling it over when footsteps echoed from upstairs.

Clara had finally finished settling Dylan and was about to come down for a break.

But as soon as she spotted the three men waiting below, she froze.

She managed a few steps down, then spun around and hurried back up.

No way was she walking into that.

Richard, all sharp smiles and hidden warnings. Jackson, who never bothered to hide his dislike for her And Nicholas, who looked down on her more than anyone else. If she went down there, she'd be walking right into the lion's den.

Honestly, Dylan's room felt safer.

Watching Clara retreat, Nicholas snorted. "Looks like she knows she's not wanted here."

Richard glanced over at him. Henoveldrama

knew all too well how fiercely some people protected their own. If Nicholas kept messing with Clara, he'd only be asking for trouble. So Richard gave him a rare warning.

"Lay off Clara from now on. As long as she's got that title, even for Dylan's sake..."

Nicholas waved him off, already impatient. "Yeah, yeah. Got it."

That was all Richard was willing to say. If Nicholas insisted on stirring things up later, he'd have to deal with the consequences himself.

Clara hurried back to Dylan's bedroom and finally spotted Aiden. Her irritation flared up.

"Aiden."

Aiden pulled out his earbuds and responded, respectful as ever, “Ma'am."

Clara couldn't care less about the formalities. Ever since her supposed marriage, Aiden had been nothing but polite-but when it mattered, he was always nowhere to be found, leaving her to clean up the mess.

"Mr. Dylan's weak as a kitten right now-he even fainted just now. Where were you?" she snapped.

Aiden met her eyes, completely calm. "With you here to take care of him, I didn't worry."

"You-!"