Chapter 49 Out in the cold

Colin's POV
Kingdom Hotel, the rooftop terrace.

I was reclining on a large lounge chair, and today was not a good day weather-wise. A heavy fog hung over the distant sea, as thick as the unresolved knot in my heart.

"Not interested in an Alpha?"

"If he took a fancy to you, you wouldn't have to live like this."

Remembering Claire's expression then, I tightened my grip on the stemmed glass in my hand until my knuckles turned white.

I'd only meant to tease her but didn't expect such a big reaction from her. These past few days, she wouldn't let me into the bedroom and maintained a coldly polite distance from me.

This atmosphere nearly suffocated me, always so composed and self-possessed, close to madness.

If I could turn back time, I'd definitely throttle that careless version of myself!

A helicopter slowly descended onto a nearby landing pad, the wind from its rotor blades blowing my hair into disarray and lifting my shirttail.

Kevin got off the plane, lively as ever, and upon seeing me on the terrace, ran over.

"You look terrible!" Kevin stared at me, puzzled: "I specifically had the hotel prepare truffles and caviar for you, and you haven't touched it. That’s not like you at all."

This time Kevin was wise, silently sitting down on the opposite chair, eyes fixed on me, probably hoping to get some kind of hint from my expression.

"We can't guess the thoughts of an Alpha; if he doesn't want to talk, then let it be." Dennis never liked guessing about someone carelessly, preferring to quietly drink his coffee and review documents with Anne.

Eventually, Kevin couldn't take the somber and eerie atmosphere anymore.

Chuckling awkwardly, he scrambled for something to say, "So, Alpha Colin... I've shown Claire's sales proposal to several of my directors, and they've been singing its praises, saying it's incredibly professional. They even joked that whoever did it is a real talent and considered poaching them for our company!"

Was he suggesting that having Claire at his company would help them work together more closely?
I shot Kevin a dark look.

He trembled slightly and added cautiously, "My assistants all say we should talk about a partnership. Rainbow Trade Company has been trying to set up a meeting with me these past few days, Alpha Colin, what do you think, should I go?"

I replied icily, "That's your company's business; why are you asking me?"

Kevin looked as if I was deliberately making things difficult for him.

I asked, "The dinner at Eternal Star Hotel, did you arrange for me to attend?"

"Yeah," Kevin was startled, "Isn't this what you wanted? We didn't let her linger at the door dealing with the Watson family. We made sure she got inside to eat well and rest easy, all without seeing you. So, I arranged for her to have a room..."

Colin exploded, "If you've arranged for her to come, couldn't you have also provided a stylist to help her dress up for the ball?"

"But wouldn't that reveal your identity?" Kevin replied with a look of cleverness.

"Sooner or later. she'll find out! What's the difference between knowing now or later?" I asked coldly.

Licking his lips and looking confused, Kevin responded, "But that's not what you used to say! Why the sudden change of heart?"

"You can't even handle a small matter! What a waste!" I exclaimed indignantly, glaring at Kevin before turning and striding away.

Third-person POV

Kevin remained in a daze long after Colin's figure had vanished. It wasn't until he saw Dennis's equally perplexed face that he finally came to.
"What's with him? Hormonal imbalance again?" he asked.

Dennis smirked without a word.

"Dennis, you don't think he's really lost it, do you?" Kevin said, shrugging helplessly, "So inconsistent, it's not normal at all!"
Dennis gave him a meaningful look, "Ever since he met me, do you think there's been a normal day?"