NovelOnlineAurelia suspected Beverley hadn't finished her thought that Fredric, Leopold and herself were the former.
But Leopold would beg to differ. He was firmly in the latter camp, and there was no arguing that.
Elvis couldn't help but let a sardonic smile creep across his face. "Melissa, if you had even a tenth of Aurelia's grace, I'd count my blessings." Aurelia chuckled lightly. "Melissa is far prettier than | am. She's the acknowledged as a hottie." Elvis didn't share that opinion. Melissa was too overtly glamorous for his taste. He preferred someone like Aurelia, who was refreshing, unpretentious, and stunning in her simplicity.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Her beauty must have cat the cost of her 1Q." Leopold bristled at that. Melissa might not be perfect, but she was his sister, and he wouldn't let an outsider like Elvis take cheap shots at her.
Aurelia caught his drift and whispered, "Melissa isn't dumb. She's a bit lovesick. Once one gets bitten by the love bug, the dopamine rush can mess with his cognitive functions, leading to a bit of an IQ overdraft." Elvis glanced her way, his eyes full of subtle meaning. "Do you ever get lovesick?" he teased, his tone light and playful.
Aurelia offered a wry smile. "Everyone has their moments, and I'm no exception. It's not like we can control the dopamine." She shifted gears smoothly. "But right now, my heart is still. I'm not interested in romance anymore." Beverley jumped in. "Because Leopold broke your heart. You need tto heal before you can open up to love again, right?" Aurelia didn't respond, which seemed to be an admission in itself.
Leopold's eyes flickered in the lamplight, looking in deep contemplation.
Was her refusal to reconcile because he had wounded her, and the scars hadn't yet faded? She didn't care about him, so why would she be hurt? He sighed inwardly. Maybe it wasn't about being hurt. The only person who could truly get to her was Arnold, the one she had truly loved.
For him, it was probably just a matter of trust.
Elvis sincerely hoped he could be the one to soothe her wounds but didn't know how to bridge the gap to show her he cared.
Over the years, he had played the field, never really investing himself in any of the women he dated, which was all for kicks.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAurelia was the first woman he wanted to care for, to bring hand spend his life with.
"Aurelia, you deserve someone better. If you want, | could be that friend you can count on for anything you need." Aurelia smiled softly. "Mr. Cooper, we've always been friends, right?" Elvis let out a chuckle at that, a little embarrassed. "Good, | was worried you didn't seethat way." "How could | not?" Aurelia replied earnestly. "Even though Ethereal Gems and Astral Enterprises are rivals in the business world, business is business, and it doesn't affect our relationship." Elvis' lips parted into a charming smile. "I admire your ability to separate business and personal matters. It's one of the many reasons | hold you in such high regard." Across from him, bodyguard Leopold clenched his fists tight.
That Elvis guy wouldn't give up, seizing any chance to worm his way in.
He wanted nothing more than to sweep Aurelia off her feet and carry her away, but as a bodyguard then, he was powerless. Any impulsive act would only raise suspicions and blow his cover, so he had to grit his teeth and bear it, even as it felt like his patience was bleeding him dry.
This woman had better make it up to him at night, or he might succumb to his wounds.
Beverley giggled. "Mr. Cooper, I'd love for Aurelia to be part of the Stirling family forever, but | wouldn't object to you pursuing her.
After all, everyone deserves a shot at love. You can compete with my brother Arnold fair and square." Elvis' brow quirked, noting the omission. "And what about Leopold?"
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