Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever-Chapter 138 – I’ve heard about MindNest

Seraphine didn’t like this, because something in her gut that refused to quiet down no matter how composed she tried to appear, and the truth was simple in a way she couldn’t ignore.

She didn’t know this man, nor his intentions, nor the extent of his reach, and everything about him, from the way he stood to the way his eyes locked onto hers, made it very clear that he was not someone to take lightly.

"Well, Mr. Ashkael’s friends aren’t really my friends," she said, her tone carrying more weight than the words themselves, a subtle line drawn in the sand that she hoped would be enough to create distance between them.

Instead, it only made him smile. Santiago Russo didn’t look the least bit offended, his dark gaze steady and unshaken as it held onto her, as though her resistance only made her more interesting to him. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

There was no denying that he was attractive in a way that could easily mislead someone who didn’t know better, the kind of presence that commanded attention without effort, the dangerous aura around him was enough to caution Seraphine.

"Well, we aren’t really friends," he said smoothly, the corner of his lips lifting just slightly. "Put us in the same room long enough, and we might just end up killing each other."

His glance toward Voren carried a quiet challenge, unspoken but very much understood, and before that tension could stretch any further, Leon stepped in, closing the distance between himself and Seraphine as he pulled her gently into his arms, his hold firm enough to make a statement without turning into a scene.

Leon didn’t need to say it out loud for the weight of it to be felt, because the history he had with men like Santiago was written in the countless surgeries he had performed, the lives he had tried to piece back together after they had been torn apart by violence tied to people like him, and that alone was enough to make his protective instinct kick in without hesitation.

Corvine watched it happen and didn’t interfere, because as far as appearances went, Leon was still officially playing the role of Seraphine’s boyfriend, and right now, that role was serving a purpose.

"Mr. Russo, meet my girlfriend, Sera," Leon said, his voice calm and controlled, carrying a smooth confidence that masked the tension underneath. "Unfortunately, she’s had a long day at the hospital before coming here for business, and my aunt is already waiting for us, but she couldn’t even have dinner with her because she’s completely exhausted."

Santiago didn’t buy it. If anything, his focus sharpened, because Seraphine was the entire reason he had adjusted his schedule to be here, and time was not something he wasted, not on people, situations, or anything that didn’t serve a purpose, and right now, she was the only thing that mattered.

"Then perhaps I should take her number," he said, his tone steady but firm in a way that made it clear he wasn’t making a casual suggestion. "Because what I intend to discuss with her is serious business."

Seraphine felt a flicker of nerves rise despite herself, because nothing about her had been made public yet, nothing that should have drawn this kind of attention, and yet here he was, standing in front of her like he already knew enough to make a move.

And for reasons she couldn’t fully explain, the idea of being alone with him, even for a conversation, felt like stepping into something she wouldn’t easily walk out of.

"Mr. Russo, right?" she said carefully, keeping her tone polite but distant. "I don’t think I have any special business to discuss. Augustine here is an old friend, and we were just catching up."

"That isn’t what I heard." He raised a brow slightly as he spoke, lifting his cigar just enough to take a slow puff, the smoke curling into the air in a way that made Seraphine instinctively turn her head to the side to avoid it, her discomfort subtle but unmistakable.

"I’ve heard about MindNest," he continued, watching her closely. "And I want to invest."

The words hit harder than expected.

Augustine froze where he stood, the realization settling over him all at once. Was this what Seraphine wanted him to invest in? She had been serious about everything she had said, and for someone like Santiago to take notice, meant he might regret not giving her a chance.

But the question that followed was, was it too late for him to invest? He couldn’t ask here, not now, because everything about the way Seraphine carried herself in this moment made it clear that she did not want Santiago digging deeper into her business, not beyond what she allowed.

"Interesting," Seraphine said, her mind already working to redirect the situation before it slipped out of her control. "That’s actually being pioneered by Corvine here."

She angled the conversation with careful precision, easing the focus away from herself without making it obvious, her expression steady even as she added, "I was privileged to attend a meeting of the sovereign circle with my boyfriend, and I helped present it on his behalf. Isn’t that right, Corvine?"

Corvine caught on immediately. There was no hesitation in the way he picked up the thread she handed him. "Mr. Russo—"

"It’s Don."

The correction came smoothly but firmly, cutting through the moment with quiet authority.

Corvine’s smile didn’t falter, even as he adjusted seamlessly. "Don Russo, I’m preparing to launch the company as its CEO, so if you’re interested in investing, I’d be more than happy to assist you."

For the briefest second, something changed in Santiago’s expression, a faint crease forming between his brows as doubt flickered beneath the surface, because that wasn’t the version of events he had been given, and he wasn’t the type to accept inconsistencies without testing them.

"I have a video of the presentation she gave," he said slowly, his gaze still fixed on Corvine now. "So if you are indeed the CEO, then you should know the details better than anyone. I’d love to hear you explain it."

And just like that, the pressure moved, but was Corvine capable of handling it?