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As soon as I entered the place, my eyes quickly scanned the salon. I had to force myself not to grin at the sight of the face I had been waiting for. Finally, he emerged from his cave. Prisne walked toward the bar counter, but I continued to look at Raymond’s side profile. He sat at a small table across from a man who chattered cheerfully about something, while he listened with an unreadable expression, his gaze fixed on the tabletop. Then he lifted his eyes and glanced at my direction.

I had to look away with a strange sense of embarrassment. Being noticed in such a crowded place made my face flush. As I walked behind Prisne, I realized a thing about myself: I wanted to show him the new me—the confident person I had become. The last time Raymond had truly seen me, I had been a broken, confused teenager, barely holding myself together. But now I knew what I wanted.

Him.

Raymond might hate me, and if I were the old Mina, that would have been enough reason to run away. But the current Mina was more selfish than ever. The days when I felt guilty for being a witch were long gone. I no longer cared which mask he had once fallen in love with; after all, I was the creator of the all of them. He was in love with me anyway.

While Prisne was talking to the bartender, I tapped her arm. “I’ll be right back,”

With my head held high, I strode toward Raymond.

Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. What’s the worst that could happen?

Unfortunately, whenever I thought this, the worst always happened.

“Ms. Olind! It’s been a long time!”

The other man greeted, and I smiled broadly. I had seen him at the same conference last year; he was a columnist like me, but I couldn’t remember his name.

“It’s been a while, I hope you’re well.”

I pulled the empty chair and placed myself between them. Sitting down uninvited wasn’t exactly polite, but if I was going to play the persistent, clingy type, it was necessary. I crossed my legs and put my bag on the table. Although my hands trembled slightly under the gaze of the eyes on me, I managed to do everything in a nonchalant way.

“I’m fine, but… I was in the middle of an interview with Mr. Loxton. Is there something urgent?”

I forced myself to smile. I stared on Raymond, but he was silent. His blue eyes were slightly narrowed, observing me.

“No, not at all. I was just surprised.” I put my elbow on the table, turning to the man in a know-it-all manner. “You guys do interviews in bars now? If I’d known, I’d have brought my tablet too. It’s hard to catch Mr. Loxton, after all. He hasn’t given our agency a single interview in years! Seeing such a busy man here, I couldn’t resist coming.”

“Indeed! Thanks again for taking the time, sir!” The man bowed in respect, and Raymond briefly lowered head in return. I had prepared myself for his indifference, but still, being ignored like this was annoying. Clearing my throat, I continued in a cheerful voice.

“Forgive my rudeness, sir, but could you make room in your schedule for the UE Agency as well?”

His gaze found me. With those ocean-blue eyes, his sharp, clean-shaven jaw, and hair slicked back to perfection… he was devastating. Sight of him forced a hard swallow down my throat.

“I’m very busy this month.” At the sound of his first words, my smile spread.

“Oh, such an unfortunate. Next month, then?”

“I’m busy as well.”

“The month after that?”

He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table. Our faces drew closer, I unconsciously throw my head back. He didn’t break eye contact for a moment since sitting down at the table, but now he seemed to be staring even more intensely. In the past, I was never scared of his gaze; Remi’s eyes always sparkled with affection, never gave off the unapproachable aura like the man sitting across from me now.

“I’ll never give you an interview, miss.”

So cold, so unreachable. I swallowed hard. Surely, something must remain of the polite boy I once knew, right?

“May I ask why?”

“Didn’t know I was obligated to answer.”

I gave a quiet laugh. “How polite of you, Mr. Loxton, to decline me like that. But did you know your attitude is causing some rumors?”

The reporter man muttered, “I’ve heard them too, Ms. Olind, but… talking in sir’s presence…”

“Why not? We’re saying it for his own good!”