Serena showed up at the office door carrying a vacuum flask.

She was the adopted sister of Ray Simonds, the male lead, and she had just come back from overseas.

"Arnold, I heard you've been sick and haven't come to work all week. Are you okay?"

The comments exploded.

[Rich bad boy meets soft, innocent girl. Yep, that's the vibe we signed up for.]

[The female lead is finally here! Look at her, so delicate and gentle. She's nothing like Eva, who can go ten rounds with Arnold.]

[It's obvious now. Arnold acts normal around Serena, but he turns feral with Eva. That's love. You hide the crazy for the one who matters.]

I rolled my eyes.

They were making it look like he was barely hanging on. I was the one with the actual crisis here!

"Eva, what are you standing there for?"

Arnold didn't even look up from his documents when he ordered me around.

Remembering that my deal for getting out of the basement was becoming Arnold's assistant, I quickly reached for the vacuum flask in Serena's hands.

Serena shot me a look but still forced a smile and handed it over.

For some reason, the big boss was upset again.

Seeing that I was about to guide Serena to the couch, he strode over, grabbed me by the back of my collar, and growled at me through clenched teeth.

"I told you to send her away. I didn't tell you to carry her things. Is that how you do your job as a personal assistant? Go, make her leave. Do it like a proper lady of the house."

Was he crazy?

I wasn't a mind reader. If he didn't say it clearly, how was I supposed to know?

The comments were just as confused.

[What's happening? Isn't Arnold supposed to fall for the innocent heroine at first sight, feel "dirty" because of Eva, go home, scrub himself raw, and beg Serena not to judge his past? Why does it look like he's mad that Eva isn't jealous?]

[Relax. Arnold just hasn't realized he's in love with Serena yet. Once he does, he won't even look in Eva's direction.]

[Arnold is stressing himself out. One minute, he's terrified his girl will run, and the next, he's scared she'll shove him at someone else. Why am I suddenly shipping Arnold and Eva? Why aren't they the endgame?]

As if I'd ever be paired with someone so messed up!

I rubbed my neck and walked up to Serena.

"Um, Mr. Wright is busy today. You should come back tomorrow."

But she wouldn't give up and pushed past me. "I just want to say a few things to Arnold."

"Don't, please."

For my sake.

I grabbed her arm in a panic, and only then realized that for someone who looked fragile, she had a surprising amount of strength.

When she shook me off, her heel slipped, and she fell backward.

At that exact moment, the door opened, and another tall figure stepped inside and caught her smoothly.

"Serena, didn't I tell you not to cause trouble for Arnold?"

The comments went berserk.

[Oh, wow! The male lead is here! This is where Eva falls for Ray at first sight and later goes after Serena like it's her life's mission, which is how Ray and Arnold make her lose her mind eventually.]

[The funniest part is that Ray is also a pureblood incubus, and he's actually the bonding match Eva's family picked for her. Peak love-triangle chaos.]

[So the main characters are doing the incest route? That's wild!]

So Serena was the only normal human in this story?

But after reading the part about losing my mind, I decided I'd better not mess with her.

I rushed over to help Serena up.

And then, I looked up to see Ray right in front of me.

Oh, dear. He was handsome in a dangerous way.

The man was around six feet two, with perfect legs and a narrow waist.

If I still had a tail, it would've been sweeping the floor like a broom.

Serena hit the jackpot. She actually landed two hot guys.

This wasn't fair. Why did she get everything? Couldn't I have just one?

Evil thoughts exploded in my brain, completely out of my control.

I blurted out, "What's your name? Can I call you 'honey'?"

Before the last word even finished, a furious voice rang out behind me.

"Eva Day! Don't you know where your 'honey' is?! Get your filthy little hands off him! Now"

The moment the shout rang out, I realized this man was the male lead; he wasn't someone I was allowed to touch.

I awkwardly pulled my hand back and was about to run, but Ray recognized me first. He grabbed me excitedly, smiling widely.

"You're Eva Day? My aunt showed me your picture."

I could feel a burning stare hitting me from behind.

It was painfully intense.

I forced a greeting out and tried to usher the two of them toward the door.

However, Serena had zero awareness and happily clung to my arm.

"No way! You're my brother's bonding match?"

Of all things to say, she had to pick that one.

I panicked and covered her mouth, but it was already too late.

Arnold shut the door. He pressed his tongue against his cheek and walked toward me with a face full of anger.

"Bonding match? Since when were you planning to bond with someone else?"

I stumbled back in panic and fell onto the couch.

What I wanted to say was, "There are a lot of things you don't know."

But then the comments popped up.

[All four of them finally crossed paths. He loves her, she loves someone else, and that guy loves a different girl… Boom, the whole plot just melted into chaos soup! Everyone, grab a spoon.]

[But it's already a disaster. I'm telling you, Arnold is in love with Eva. Otherwise, why is he this possessive? He doesn't care about Serena at all. Why is this man refusing to stick to the script?]

[No clue, but I hope it stays unhinged. I love this pairing. Every time I think Eva's out of the mess, the author finds a new way to drag her right back in.]

[Eva, babe, just give in a little. His tail is already out. Which means: one, he's an incubus and ready to bond; two, he's pissed; and three, he's about to use that thing to ruin you. Girl, you don't wanna be ripped in two. Trust me.]

Wait, ripped in two?

I watched as a thick black tail wrapped around my ankle.

I made a split-second decision.

I reached up, grabbed Arnold's face, and kissed him.

Sure, we shared a bed for three years, but we had never kissed anywhere else.

And definitely not a kiss like this. No tongue, just lips.

Arnold froze.

While he was still short-circuited, I switched to my sweetest voice.

"He's just someone my family picked. I've never even met him. You're the only one in my heart."

The room went dead quiet.

The pale skin on his face flushed pink in seconds. Along with it, his anger and jealousy vanished.

And then something weird happened: He started purring.

It was low and soft, like a cat. The kind of sound only a very happy incubus would make.

I was utterly puzzled.

Meanwhile, the comments lost their minds.

[I declare Arnold the least flirt-resistant man in history.]

[This is hilarious! One innocent kiss, and his brain shorted out!]

[If an incubus keeps making that sound, it means one thing: Either they're sick, or they're in heat.]

I tested the waters.

"Honey, are you listening?"

Arnold's pupils snapped tight, as if he had just woken from a dream.

He straightened up in a rush and pretended to inspect the office. Then, he cleared his throat and tossed me a black card.

"Take it. Buy whatever you want."

"Huh?" I stared at him in confusion.

Being stared at made him flustered and irritated all over again. "I told you to buy whatever you want. Stop asking."

I hadn't even said anything.

The comments scrolled like crazy.

[Arnold's inner monologue: Why is she this good at flirting? How is that even legal? I need to keep it together. Why am I purring?? Say something smooth, idiot. Act cool. And did she just confess? I'm so happy! She really loves me. I'd give her the world!]

[That comment above is the definition of a chaotic but loyal puppy. Love follows the cash, I guess. Universe, please… Just once before I die, let me date someone like that.]

[I'm losing it. The wholesome couple makes me want spice, and the spicy couple makes me want romance. I'm a wreck, but this is too cute!]

-

To stop me from running away again, Arnold put a restriction on me.

An invisible leash kept me within 30 feet of him at all times. I couldn't go any further.

But with the chat's guidance, I suddenly figured out how to deal with Arnold.

I had always fought him head-on and never realized he responded better to softness than force.

Maybe if I just gave in a little…

The moment his meeting ended, I stood waiting outside his office, all smiles.

"Honey, are you hungry? Lift the seal, and I'll go home and cook for you, okay?"

I waited for him to say yes.

But Arnold just gave me a cool, sideways glance. "Why cook? When I'm hungry, just you will be enough for me."

I froze.

See, this is why you date a pure man.

With the impure ones, no matter what you say, his brain goes straight to R-rated territory.

I rubbed my hands together and tried again. "Then… How about I order takeout for you? From your favorite taco place. Thin tortillas, lots of filling…but it's pickup only."

Arnold sneered.

"Trying to go out?"

Wow, he saw right through me.

I took three deep breaths and made myself look weak and pitiful.

"How could you think that of me? If I could, I'd glue myself to you 24 hours a day. But you've been having stomach pain lately. I just want you to eat on time because I'm worried about you. How could you misunderstand my intentions?"

I covered my face and shuffled back to my desk, sniffling so hard that my throat burned.

[You have received 2,000 dollars in your account.]

I snapped my head up and looked at Arnold.

He crossed his arms and gave me a creepy little smile.

"Run again, and you're dead."

I looked down, and the faintly glowing mark on my wrist was gone.

I rushed over and kissed Arnold hard on the cheek.

"Thanks, honey. I love you so much!"

Then, I bolted.

Arnold stood there staring after me, cheeks puffed out as he struggled to hold in his grin.

The chat caught on immediately.

[What's happening? Did Eva switch tactics? Does she know the plot and decide to cling to Arnold instead?]

[But she's not obsessing over Ray anymore. How's the rest of the story supposed to work? If Eva doesn't mess Serena's life up, Ray wouldn't even realize his feelings for Serena.]

[Wait. The plot is still moving. Eva… Looks like she's about to sabotage herself again.]

-

By the time I came back to my senses, I had somehow traveled eight blocks.

Ray stared at the mashed-up taco blob in my hand, a troubled look crossing his face.

I just wanted to get some air. How did I end up here, offering Ray snacks like some eager puppy?

Was this the power of the storyline?

How terrifying.

My phone was blowing up. Arnold was probably starving. Or furious.

My scalp tingled. I awkwardly said goodbye.

"These tacos are squished. I'll feed the strays with it. I'll get them for you another time."

Ray stepped in front of me.

"It's okay, Eva. Let me take you to dinner. Since we're supposed to bond, I think we should try to learn more about each other first."

He was standing against the light, looking insanely handsome from this angle.

But he was Serena's man. I'd be doomed if I touched him!

I was just about to refuse.

But what came out of my mouth was, "Okay."

I clamped my hands over my lips in shock.