Chapter 318: Ken lingered in the shadows, his dark eyes almost merging with the dim light.
Tall and lean, he carried an air of brooding intensity as he perched on the chair, his stoic expression etched across his face.
Yet, he remained silent, the words trapped in his throat.
Allison had been intimate with him just moments ago, but Ken held no official position in her life.
Unaware of his unspoken possessiveness, Allison furrowed her brow and instinctively withdrew her hand.
Do you have any idea what youre doing? Gordon shook his head, his voice soft as he replied, Are you talking about the kiss on your fingertips? I did this all the time when I was abroad.
I must have forgotten that people here might not take it well.
His eyes sparkled with innocence.
You lived in Vrining before, right? I spent some time there too, so I guess its just a habit now.
With a yful wink, he added, If that bothers you, feel free to kiss me back.
I wouldnt mind at all.
Allison was momentarily lost for words.
She gave him a light tap on the forehead.
Quit with the antics.
Sit properly and pay attention to the auction.
If you stir up any more trouble, dont me me for giving you a whack.
Ouch, Gordon immediately feigned a pained expression, clutching his forehead.
He had nned toin about her strength but decided it was wiser to let it slide.
Dont worry, Ill behave.
With that, he genuinely returned to his seat, as if everything that had just transpired was merely a misunderstanding.
Once Gordon was gone, Kens expression darkened as he fixated on the jade pendant resting on Allisons wrist.
The vivid green lotus flower seemed to entuate her elegance.
Ken unconsciously pressed his finger against the rim of his wine ss.
Ms.
rke, were you and Gordon close before? he asked, his tone measured.
We were colleagues, Allison replied, her brow slightly furrowing.
But back then, I had no clue he was the heir to the Herbert family.
Her decision to recruit him into Cobweb had been a twist of fate.
Initially, Gordon had been rebellious and resistant to authority, and without his remarkable talent inputer science and investigation, he would have faced severe repercussions.
Allison and Gordon had oncepeted in the game Hackers World.
Unsurprisingly, she came out on top, eliminating him at least thirty times in the holographic game.
After that day, he seemed to undergo aplete transformation, actually following the rules.
But it wasnt long before she began receiving love letters from him.
Sometimes, they were crafted from lines of code forming hearts.
Other times, he seemed to take pleasure in frustrating her by embedding viruses in her web pages that opened to reveal stick figures and smiley faces.
To Allison, Gordon seemed rather childish.
But his heart remained as pure as freshly fallen snow.
Do you have feelings for him, Ms.
rke? Ken asked, his tone measured.
Allison chose not to respond directly.
Instead, she looked up at him with a teasing smile.
What, Mr.
Lloyd, are you feeling jealous? Her yful banter shifted the atmosphere between them.
In truth, both were acutely aware that she and Ken could never be anything more than friends.
Setting aside his special status, Allison wasnt the type to be tied down by anyone.
After three years of a tumultuous marriage, she found it hard to open her heart again.
Ken knew that men were nevercking around her; only the strong enough could hope to remain by her side.
No, he scoffed lightly.
I just think someone as exceptional as you wouldnt even bat an eye at that boy.
Ken met her gaze, their eyes locking in a charged exchange.
The distant sounds of the auction rose and fell, the spotlight highlighting his rugged features.
Amid the chaos and noise, an unspoken tension hung in the air, warning of the danger that lingered in allowing themselves to grow closer.
.
.
.