Chapter 44

Serena's POV

His next words shook me to the core. “I’m not going to come then.”

I blinked at him, not fully comprehending.

“I’m going to honor each and every word you say, Serena,” Hades said quietly, his eyes unreadable.

I didn’t expect that. For once, his usual dominance was replaced by something far more vulnerable, and it left me unsettled. He reached over, took the report from my trembling hands, and placed it on his desk.

“You can go.”

I stood quickly, eager to escape the storm of emotions swirling inside me, but in my haste, I stumbled.

Before I could fall, his arms caught me—strong, steady, and warm. His touch lingered just a moment longer than necessary, and my heart tingled in response. Slowly, he released me.

One of his hands brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear, the gesture so gentle that it made my breath hitch. He looked at me as if he wanted to say something more, but then, almost as if reproaching himself, he let me go.

I turned and hurried toward the door, determined to leave before I lost all sense of control.

“Serena,” his voice called just as I reached the door.

I froze, back still turned to him.

“All I ask is that you give me a chance—like you’re giving Aeson and Caiden. It’s fine if you want to keep hating me, though.”

His words were a quiet plea wrapped in resignation. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t find my voice.

I gulped, feeling the weight of every word pressing against my chest. My heart felt heavy, as if a part of it didn’t want to leave him behind in that office. But I did.

As I stepped out, guilt tugged at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have said those harsh words. Maybe, just maybe, I was pushing him away too hard.

My phone chimed.I stared down at it, sighing at the message from my mother: Don’t forget to bring Hades along for dinner. I made a lot for him.

My shoulders sagged. She must’ve spent hours preparing. Was it fair to ignore her efforts because of my unresolved feelings toward Hades? The internal tug-of-war left me feeling drained.

The door opened and Caiden strode in.

“Hey, Serena.” His familiar, self-assured voice broke my thoughts. “I’m taking you home, Sunshine.”

I blinked at him. “I’m fine, Caiden. I’ll get home by myself.”

He grinned, ignoring my words entirely. “There’s this great diner on the way. I want to take you. Dinner’s on me.”

“I’m not hungry,” I said firmly.

He only stepped closer, undeterred. “You will be once you see the food. Trust me, it’ll be fun.”

The intensity in his gaze made me uneasy. “Okay, let me grab something first,” I muttered, trying to sound casual.

“Okay. Give me a moment to get my jacket from my office,” he said and left. Better.

I turned and walked off quickly, grabbing my bag as I headed to the female restroom in the foyer. Once inside, I locked the door, exhaling sharply. My fingers worked fast to send him a text.

“Something urgent came up. I rushed home.” Then, I switched off my phone to avoid further calls or texts.

Moments later, I heard voices outside.

“She needs space, Caiden,” Hades’ deep voice resonated through the door.

Caiden’s reply was sharp. “Just because she doesn’t like you doesn’t mean she doesn’t like me. So don’t tell me what to do.”

Footsteps followed. I cracked the door open slightly, peering out. I saw Caiden walking back to his office. My eyes immediately found Hades, standing a few feet away, looking pensive. Before I could overthink it, I reached out and pulled him into the restroom, shutting the door behind us with a quiet click.

We ended up standing chest to chest. My breath hitched as I turned the lock again. Only then did I realize just how close we were.

Hades’ eyes widened in surprise. “You? Caiden said you left.”

“Ssh,” I whispered, placing my hand over his mouth without thinking. My ears strained for any sound of Caiden returning, but there was only silence. My heartbeat, however, was deafening.

I dropped my hand and exhaled. “I didn’t want Caiden taking me home.”

Hades’ brow furrowed. “Why? It’s safer and—”

“You’re coming with me for dinner with my family,” I interrupted before he could finish. The words spilled out in a rush.

His gaze softened, but his expression remained unreadable. The small space between us buzzed with unspoken tension, making my skin tingle.

“Dinner, huh?” His voice was low, but the way he looked at me stirred something I didn’t want to confront. I didn’t know what I expected him to say next, but I braced myself.

I straightened up, squaring my shoulders. “I just don’t want my mother to feel bad if you don’t come.” My tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Hades’ lips curved into a slight smile. “That’s the only reason?” he asked, his gaze lingering on me.

“Yes,” I said quickly. “That’s it.”

He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. “Alright, I’ll come.”

He took a step back and reached for the door handle, but I grabbed his hand. “Wait. What about Caiden? I don’t want him seeing us leave together.”

Hades paused, tilting his head in thought. “I have a plan.”

I raised a brow. “And what’s that?”

He smirked. “We’ll use the back stairwell. There’s a side exit near the parking lot. He won’t see us if we move fast.”

I nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

He opened the door slightly, peeking out to make sure the coast was clear. With a quick glance back at me, he motioned for me to follow. We slipped out quietly, our footsteps muffled by the carpeted hallway.

Hades led the way, his movements sure and precise. My heart thudded in my chest with every step we took, but we didn’t encounter anyone. When we reached the stairwell, Hades held the door open for me, and we descended quickly.

As promised, the side exit opened into a small parking lot behind the building. Hades’ car was parked just a few feet away. Without another word, we climbed in. He started the engine, and the soft hum of the car filled the silence between us.

We pulled out of the lot smoothly, leaving the building behind. The tension I’d felt all day slowly began to ease.

“I didn’t think we’d actually pull that off,” I admitted, glancing over at him.

Hades chuckled. “You don’t give me enough credit, Serena.”

I folded my arms, leaning back against the seat. “You’re too used to making plans, aren’t you?”

He gave me a sidelong look, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I’m just good at thinking on my feet.”

As we drove, I found myself relaxing in his presence—a feeling I hadn’t expected. The air between us felt lighter somehow, yet there was still an underlying charge I couldn’t ignore.

We didn’t speak again until we were halfway down the road. Hades finally broke the silence. “Your mom must be pretty persuasive if she got you to change your mind about bringing me for dinner.”

I sighed. “She’s more persistent than persuasive.”

He nodded thoughtfully, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Well, I’m looking forward to dinner.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant it, but something in his tone made my heart skip. The rest of the drive stretched out before us, but the weight of the day was already behind me—at least for now.

As we approached the last turn before my house, he slowed the car, a mischievous glint lighting his eyes.

“Serena,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “are you nervous because you’re bringing me home... or because you’re imagining what might happen after dinner?”

My heart stopped, and my mouth went dry. “W-What?”

He smirked, leaning slightly toward me. “Just curious. You’ve been jumpy all day.”