Bryan was utterly dumbfounded. Future sister-in-law? So... he hadn't even succeeded yet? He'd been by Erik's side for years and had never seen him show interest in any woman.
"Miss Rovella, shall we?" Erik gestured politely towards the exit.
Janelle took Sara's hand and walked out.
"Erik, what's going on?" Bryan pressed. "Weren't you handling affairs on the border? What brought you to Graham City? How are things back in the Imperial Capital?" Erik hadn't answered his questions earlier.
Erik ignored the first part. "Everything proceeding as expected?" His absence from the Imperial Capital was deliberate, a test to see if certain individuals had learned their lesson.
"Everything is firmly within your grasp, Erik," Bryan confirmed. The difference between men was stark; those others stood no chance against Erik. "How's your preparation for the assessment going?" Bryan wasn't a direct Lorenz descendant; technically, he shouldn't qualify for the Institute's assessment. But with Erik, the impossible became possible.
"I've been studying diligently, Erik. I won't let you down," Bryan vowed.
Erik clapped him on the shoulder. "You only brought one assistant for this trip. Need me to send some more people?"
"Unnecessary." Erik didn't need extra lightbulbs. "Didn't you want to compete in the Graham City F1 race? The invitation is in the Presidential Suite at the Grand Court Hotel. Go get it."
Bryan froze. His parents had forbidden him from participating, citing his Institute assessment preparation. He never imagined Erik would grant him this. He threw his arms around Erik. "Erik! You're better to me than my own parents! You're my savior!" Tears of gratitude welled in his eyes.
Nearby, Sara watched, equally stunned. The sight of two top-tier gorgeous men embracing? It was a visual feast she adored.
"Janelle," she whispered, wide-eyed, "is Erik... bisexual?"
"Possibly," Janelle conceded, a flicker of doubt crossing her own mind. Bryan seemed around Simon's age, nineteen, possessing the unique allure of youth. Yet, beside Erik, he seemed like a younger brother. Erik's face alone was enough to make countless girls throw themselves at him, moths to a flame.
"What do I do!" Sara feigned anguish. "Suddenly I don't know whether to ship you with him, or him with him!"
"Thanks," Janelle replied dryly. "Ship him with him. I don't need it."
Bryan's ride was an outrageously flashy red supercar. Parked curbside, it drew crowds. Men and women alike couldn't resist its allure.
"Keys," Erik demanded. They'd arrived by police car; his own vehicle was still at the riverside restaurant. Bryan wouldn't hesitate to give Erik his life, let alone his keys. He tossed them over.
"Erik, I'll get out of your hair. I'll make sure this lovely lady gets home," Bryan offered, demonstrating impeccable awareness. He approached Sara. "Miss, may I see you home?"
"Of course... little brother," Sara purred, deliberately emphasizing the last two words.
For some reason, a flush crept up Bryan's neck. Seeing him blush sent a thrill of amusement through Sara. So this is what flirting feels like!
Bryan hailed a taxi and opened the door. "Miss... after you," he managed, the term still feeling slightly awkward.
"Janelle," Sara called out before slipping into the cab, "he really is great. You should give him a try. Go for it. Sleep with him." The taxi sped away.
Janelle finally turned back. Erik was leaning against the supercar, waiting. A bold girl had approached him, cheeks flushed. "Hi, can I have your WeChat? Please? I made a bet with my friends. If I don't get it, I lose."
"What does your bet have to do with me?" Erik's tone was icy.
The girl was her university's beauty queen, accustomed to being chased. Her first initiative had crashed and burned. "Move. You're in my way," Erik stated flatly, annoyed.
"I really just want your contact. I won't bother you!" she pleaded.
"Get lost." Erik's patience vanished. She was bothering him.
The girl looked lost. Seeing Janelle watching the scene unfold, Erik strode over and slid an arm around her shoulders. "Seen enough? Let's go. Time to change that dressing." His chest wound wasn't healed; she owed him that much.
The girl had been confident in her beauty. But seeing the young woman beside Erik, she was overcome with shame. Neither the man nor the girl spared her another glance. He opened the passenger door of the supercar, shielding the girl as she got in, his gaze fixed solely on her. The warmth in his eyes was a world away from the coldness he'd shown her. She felt a pang of envy for the girl he protected.
The red supercar roared away, leaving only exhaust fumes. His indifference only fueled her fascination. She wanted to conquer him, to see him begging at her feet for her affection. "Who was that?" she asked her companion.
"Don't know the man. But the girl? That's Janelle Rovella. The disgraced heiress the family threw away."
"You wouldn't know her, Layla. She was already dumped on the border when your family transferred here three years ago."
"Lillie's sister? The one sent to the border?" Layla's father had been posted to Graham City three years prior; his career was soaring, with a return to the Imperial Capital expected after his term. "I'm going to pursue him," Layla declared, eyes gleaming.
"Layla, guys in Graham City line up for you! Why lower yourself to chase some man?"
"You wouldn't understand. That man radiates intensity. My first time... I want it to be with someone like him." Background didn't matter. She just wanted to sleep with him, not marry him.
The red supercar sliced through the city, arriving swiftly at the Grand Court Hotel. Erik swiped the keycard and raised an eyebrow at Janelle still standing in the hallway. "What? Afraid to come in?"
Janelle shoved past him. Was there anything in this world Janelle Rovella feared?
The moment she stepped inside, Erik closed the door behind them and turned the lock. Janelle arched an eyebrow. Was that necessary? She leaned back against the wall, watching him, her captivating fox eyes holding a dangerous allure.
Erik planted his hands on the wall on either side of her, pinning her between the wall and his hard, sculpted chest.
"Didn't you need me to apply the medicine?" she asked coolly.
He leaned closer, his gaze intense and anything but innocent. "Actually... I'd rather have you." The words, laced with a barely contained, dangerous charisma, were delivered with a potent mix of raw desire and the undeniable magnetism of his striking features and powerful physique, making them lethally seductive.