Chapter 116

"Lower your voice, Adrian," Dominic murmured, stepping closer. His breath tickled Adrian's ear. "If Vivian hears you, prepare for fireworks."

As he spoke, Dominic's eyes suddenly darted over Adrian's shoulder. "V-Vivian! What a surprise!" he stammered.

Adrian turned to see Vivian struggling under the weight of multiple packages - three overstuffed shopping bags and several cardboard boxes teetering in her arms. Her eyes widened comically at the sight of Adrian, shock freezing her in place.

Dominic greeted her with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, a side of him Vivian had never witnessed before.

Startled by his sudden energy, Vivian fumbled with her precarious load. The boxes tumbled to the ground with a crash, their contents scattering across the polished lobby floor. She shot Adrian a venomous glare before pointedly turning away from both men to gather her belongings.

Seizing the opportunity, Dominic grabbed Adrian's wrist. "Let us help you with that, Vivian," he insisted.

Dominic immediately knelt beside her, efficiently collecting the spilled items while Adrian remained stiff as a statue, his expression unreadable. One of the shopping bags had split open, its contents now impossible to repack neatly. The mess made it clear Vivian couldn't possibly manage alone.

From his towering height, Adrian's voice dripped with condescension. "Can't even handle basic errands. If you're incapable, why not use PrimeCart's delivery service like everyone else?"

Vivian kept her eyes trained on the floor, her voice steady but edged with steel. "Not all of us can afford to burn money like you, Mr. Blackwood. Some of us actually budget."

Dominic, sensing the rising tension, shoved a box into Adrian's hands. "Come on, help out."

He then scooped up most of the remaining packages himself, leaving only a few snack items behind. "Vivian, you take these. We'll carry the rest up for you."

Vivian stood abruptly, shaking her head. "That's very kind, but unnecessary. I'll have security assist me later."

Dominic clutched the box tighter, unwilling to relinquish it. "No need to bother them. We're free right now - might as well make ourselves useful." He nudged Adrian sharply with his elbow.

Adrian's eyes narrowed to icy slits. "Must you always create unnecessary work? People are paid to do their jobs, not cater to your whims. If everyone behaved like you, how would our service staff cope?"

Dominic opened his mouth but found no rebuttal, shaking his head in frustration at Adrian's stubbornness.

Too exhausted for further argument, Vivian stated bluntly, "Mr. Blackwood, after all your years in business, you still don't understand? Let me be perfectly clear - I don't want you in my apartment."

This direct challenge ignited Adrian's temper. "What are you afraid I'll see? The squalor you live in?" he sneered.

Vivian studied him silently - the sharp angles of his face, the commanding presence that naturally drew every eye in the room. All that magnetic appeal evaporated the moment he opened his mouth.

With a resigned sigh, Vivian realized Adrian was determined to invade her space today. She pressed the elevator button, then turned to Dominic with a polite nod. "Thank you," she murmured softly, pointedly ignoring Adrian as if he were invisible.