Chapter 127
Chapter 127:
He placed two stones on the board to resign.
“I yield,” he said softly.
He hadn’t lost a game in ten years. He should be furious. Instead, he felt a surge of adrenaline. He threw his head back and laughed. It was a rich, genuine sound that startled Aurora.
“You’re amazing,” Elias said, looking at her with unfiltered awe.
Aurora felt her heart skip a beat. “You’re not so bad yourself. For a billionaire who buys lipstick in bulk p>
Elias froze. “You… you know p>
Aurora grinned. “Who else would send an armored courier in a hurricane? And who else would organize them by color gradient p>
Elias rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks turning a faint pink. “I didn’t know your shade p>
“So you bought the store p>
“It was the only logical solution to ensure success p>
Aurora reached across the table. She placed her hand over his.
“It was perfect,” she whispered. “Thank you p>
The touch of her skin against his was electric. Elias turned his hand over, lacing his fingers with hers.
“One more game?” she challenged, her voice husky.
Elias squeezed her hand. “Double or nothing p>
“What are the stakes p>
Elias looked at her lips. “Winner gets to ask a question. Any question. And the loser has to answer truthfully p>
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Aurora’s eyes widened. “Deal p>
They reset the board. The atmosphere had shifted. It wasn’t just a game anymore. It was a courtship dance, played out on a grid of nineteen by nineteen lines.
Halfway through the second game, Aurora leaned back, stretching her neck.
Without asking, Elias signaled the server who was waiting outside.
“Bring the Osmanthus cake. Less sugar. And fresh hot water,” Elias ordered.
Aurora looked surprised. “How did you know I like Osmanthus cake? I’ve never ordered it with you p>
Elias poured the fresh tea. “I reviewed the archive logs of the top players before I joined the ladder. You mentioned it in a match against Viper three months ago. You typed, ‘Victory tastes like Osmanthus cake p>
Aurora stared at him, her mouth slightly open. “You read the archives? That’s thousands of lines of text. You went back three months just to study me p>
“I study all potential threats,” Elias said, sliding the plate toward her. He paused, his eyes softening. “And all potential partners p>
Aurora felt a warmth spread through her chest that had nothing to do with the tea. He paid attention. Sterling had never remembered her coffee order in three years of marriage. Elias remembered a cake preference from an archived chat log he had dug up.