Chapter 577 - I’m the lucky one
Seraphine was not new to these kinds of things, but she only wondered if her ring was so invisible, so she answered in a calm and even tone.
"Thank you for the offer, but I’m on my way out of here after this and I have other businesses to attend to across the city. Corvine’s deputy will be handling affairs in our absence." She nodded toward the middle-aged woman seated on her left.
At the same time several phones started beeping and vibrating around the table. The prominent men pulled them out one after another.
Shock registered across their faces as they stared at whatever had lit up their screens. One by one their expressions changed, some looking stunned, others suddenly nervous, a few going pale under the conference-room lights.
Eventually Seraphine watched Voren lower his phone, but for the rest of the meeting almost no one looked at her for more than a second.
It was as if they were afraid of her, or more accurately afraid of what might happen to them if they dared to stare too long.
After they wrapped things up, she went around to shake hands with a few of the investors. Most of them refused the handshake, and few joined their hands with hers in a hurry, offering only tight, nervous smiles before rushing out of the conference room like someone was chasing them down the hallway.
How could they forget everything that happened at the Bohemian Grove when Seraphine was poisoned? How could they forget the way Voren dealt with Riven and Gray when they tried to ran?
They had no idea what happened after Voren threw liquor bottles to hit them on the head without missing a beat before dragging them out by the legs, but one thing was clear. Wisdom was the ability to stay clear of the man called Voren Ashkael, and anything that belonged to him.
Seraphine was still confused when Leon walked over to Voren. Only Corvine, his deputy, Seraphine, and Voren remained in the quiet conference room.
"Mr. Ashkael, what a shrewd way of announcing your marriage. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. I still can’t believe she chose you over me. I’m more handsome, and I’m not insecure like you."
Voren looked at Leon with a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Mr. Hawthorne, are you enjoying your yacht?"
It was as if he hadn’t heard Leon’s jab at all. His mood was unusually good, almost light. Leon’s mouth tightened when he realized he couldn’t get under Voren’s skin, so he turned to Seraphine instead.
"Sera, see what your husband did to those men?"
Hearing the word husband, the deputy CEO froze where she stood. No one in the company had known Seraphine and Voren were married.
The revelation landed powerful, romantic, and judging from what had just happened, downright terrifying.
Seraphine paled as she read the message displayed on Leon’s phone.
’Sera is mine. I’ll pluck out the eyes of anyone who dares to look at her the wrong way.’
It wasn’t just a private message sent to the Sovereign Circle members. The same post had gone up on Voren’s Twitter account and had even been pushed to several media houses.
The internet had already exploded with the news, and Seraphine, despite having the skills to pull it down, would not dare.
It was one thing for Voren to send something like that among the pack communities, but in the human world too? In New York? Seraphine was completely lost for words.
"See?" Leon smiled smugly, rocking back on his heels. "It’s not too late to divorce him and marry me before people begin losing their eyes because of you. If he could send those eyes to me, I could use them for those who need eye transplants."
Corvine could not hold back his laughter. It burst out of him sharp and sudden. "Seriously?"
Before Leon could retort, Voren offered in a mild tone, "Why don’t we start with you?"
Leon bolted toward the entrance before the words had even fully settled, throwing over his shoulder, "how ruthless, Mr. Ashkael. I need my eyes to work, but I also need your wife’s help at the hospital."
He didn’t wait for a response. He was gone like the room was on fire. This time Seraphine and even the deputy CEO joined in the laughter, the sound bouncing off the glass walls.
Only Voren’s expression remained stoic until the moment his gaze landed on Seraphine. The hardness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a softness reserved only for her.
"Sweetheart, can we leave now?"
"Sure, just ten minutes," Seraphine requested. She still needed a quick sit-down with Corvine’s deputy before they left with the kids and Jasmine, planning to grab lunch on the jet.
Voren already knew his way around Paris, so it wasn’t until they made it to the runway show that he reached out to Elodie. Elodie answered on the first ring, voice crisp. "Mr. Ashkael."
"Elodie, I’m here, at your runway show."
Elodie sounded shocked but recovered fast and made his way over to meet them amid the backstage chaos of models, stylists, and rolling racks of clothes. The air smelled of hairspray, perfume, and hot lights.
"Welcome, Mr. Ashkael. I can’t believe you’ll make it to the fashion show," Elodie greeted seriously before his gaze settled on Seraphine. "And you brought the lucky woman."
Seraphine recognized him instantly. He was the one who had brought her wedding gown and all the other outfits for her wedding. A small smile curled the corner of her lips.
"Nice meeting you," she was saying when Voren interrupted, voice warm but firm.
"I’m the lucky one. You already met everyone here, so can we see your boss?"
Elodie raised a brow. Mr. Ashkael had never requested a meeting with Miss Spencer before. A flicker of worry crossed his face.
"Mr. Ashkael, do you have a problem with my services? I can do better." His voice carried a clear edge of concern, like he was already bracing for trouble.
Voren smiled faintly, the expression soft around the edges. "No, your boss happens to be a friend of my wife."
"Oh."
Elodie’s eyes widened, but the surprise quickly gave way to a troubled look. He glanced back toward the chaos of the backstage area, voices rising and fabric rustling in every direction.
"I doubt she’ll be ready for a visit. She hasn’t slept since she returned, and there’s so much chaos backstage."
Corvine’s expression tightened, disturbed by the news. Voren’s face hardened just as fast. "What’s wrong? Can you take us to her?"