The entertainment reporters weren’t pushovers. They were always trying to unearth a big story. In the past, even if they dared to investigate him, they could never dig up anything decent.

If he were to leak just a tiny bit of information to them now, it wouldn’t be long before they’d churn out one well-documented scandal after another, complete with photographic evidence.

Clara Grant lowered her gaze in thought. He had a point, but she couldn’t help but feel that going with him to the company was a bit too brazen.

Seeing her looking down without a word, Seth Quinn immediately lifted her chin. "You’re not backing out, are you? I’m telling you, you already agreed to go public ahead of schedule. You can’t go back on your word!"

Seeing how nervous he looked, Clara Grant couldn’t help but laugh. "Who said I’m backing out? If we’re going, we’re going. I’m not scared. Wait here, I’ll go get my purse."

With that, she pushed him away and ran upstairs to get her handbag.

Watching her graceful figure retreat up the stairs and knowing she was genuinely willing to go public, a smile returned to Seth Quinn’s eyes.

...

Downstairs at the company building, Clara Grant stared at Seth Quinn with an incredulous expression. ’Fine, we’re going public, but does he really have to be like this?’

They could have driven straight into the underground parking garage, but he had insisted on parking in the outdoor lot, claiming that walking in from there would get them more exposure.

She remembered he used to be camera-shy. As the president of Aegis, his face had almost never appeared in the news. She wondered if he was really willing to go to such lengths just to announce their relationship.

She sighed to herself, shifting uncomfortably in Seth Quinn’s tight embrace.

’Walking in from outside is one thing, but how am I supposed to walk properly when he has his arms wrapped completely around me?’

Clara Grant turned her head to look at Seth Quinn and said tentatively, "Seth, you don’t really have to do this to show everyone I’m your girlfriend. If you just hold my hand, people will get the message."

Seth Quinn looked down, meeting her gaze. "Oh, really? I’ve never gone public with a relationship before, so I’m not sure how it works."

As he spoke, he actually did let her go, taking her hand in his instead.

Clara Grant: ...

’I thought he was just teasing me, but I guess not...’

Seeing the mix of joy and slight nervousness on his face, Clara Grant lowered her gaze and smiled. ’I never knew Seth Quinn had such an adorable side.’

The two of them walked hand in hand into the first-floor lobby. When the receptionist and the other staff in the lobby saw Seth Quinn, they started to greet him with a smile, but they all trailed off after getting out a single "Presi—"

Their eyes were all glued to Seth Quinn and Clara Grant’s tightly clasped hands.

Everyone’s gazes shifted back and forth between their joined hands and the faces of Seth Quinn and Clara Grant. Clara could see the sheer disbelief in their eyes.

Being stared at by everyone as if she were an alien, she grew a little embarrassed, lowered her head to stare at the floor, and focused only on walking.

Only after the couple had crossed the lobby, rounded the corner to the elevators, and disappeared from sight did everyone snap out of it, immediately erupting into a cacophony of chatter.

"Hey, hey, tell me, was that really President Quinn just now? He actually walked into the company holding a woman’s hand?" someone asked, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the spot where the two had vanished.

"If it wasn’t President Quinn, who else could it be? Is there any other man in the world as handsome as our President Quinn?"

"Oh my god, does this mean President Quinn is about to go public with a relationship? Ah, my heart is breaking!"

"I think so. Didn’t you see that irrepressible smile on President Quinn’s face? That’s the kind of smile you only see on a man who’s in love."