?<strong>Chapter 461:</strong>


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    Ken’s expression darkened the moment heid eyes on Carole. “Get off my chair!”


    Carole froze, taken aback by his bluntness. But she quickly stood, shrugging nonchntly. “Alright, alright. I didn’t know you were so particr about your chair. I was just sitting, you know.”


    Ken’s voice turned icy as he shot her a piercing look. “What were you saying to Ms. rke?”


    The coldness in his tone cut through the air, making the room feel thick with tension.


    Carole fought the urge to flee, forcing herself to remain calm as she adopted a yful tone. “Ken, I wasn’t trying to upset Ms. rke. Besides, you just walked in. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you.” After a moment, she finally answered his question. “I just offered to introduce Ms. rke to a boyfriend, and she agreed.”


    A boyfriend? Agreed?


    The atmosphere shifted, thickening like fog rolling in. Ken’s dark eyes glimmered with a steely intensity, his presence demanding and formidable.


    “Yes, Mr. Lloyd, Miss Perry is certainly kind-hearted and brimming with enthusiasm,” Allison remarked, rising to her feet and casting a quick, knowing look toward Carole. She could feel the tension radiating from Carole, her presence bristling with unspoken spite. But she had no time to engage with it.


    “This is the final report for the new product testing, awaiting your review,” she said, sliding the folder forward. The title “Thorny Rose” was emzoned on the front page, its name hinting at both allure and danger, inviting curiosity into the report.


    Her words carried a yful undertone, and Ken immediately caught on, sensing her jest. Yet, a trace of her earlier words lingered, unsettling him ever so slightly.


    “Fine.” Ken averted his gaze, loosening his tie in an attempt to calm the flicker of irritation that had surfaced unbidden. He focused on the report, casually signing his name before turning an impassive look toward Carole.


    “There’s more business to tend to. My secretary will escort you to the cafeteria for lunch,” he said, an unmistakable dismissal.


    Carole, however, pretended not to catch his drift.


    “Oh, Ken, I’m really not all that hungry,” she chirped. “I’ll wait until you’re done, and then we can eat together!” She then feigned a moment of mncholy, her gaze shifting as if recalling some forgotten sorrow.


    “You know, I just got back to the country. I hardly know anyone here, and I don’t have many friends…” She let out a wistful sigh, then raised a hand, as if taking an oath. “So, Ken, let me stick around with you. I swear, I’ll be as quiet as a mouse, won’t disturb a thing!”


    In her mind, any gentleman worth his salt would melt in chivalry at her appeal. But Ken was not your typical man.


    He met her with a chilling stare. “Do you truly believe we’re close enough for that?”


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