His sudden, out-of-the-blue comment left Clara Grant a little confused. But a moment later, she realized he was picking up the conversation they’d had while waiting for the elevator in the lobby.

’His reaction time is ridiculously slow, isn’t it? The elevator has already gone up thirty floors, and he’s only just now remembering to reply? Isn’t that a little bizarre?’

If Seth Quinn’s words had only struck Clara Grant as a little odd, the other people in the elevator were shocked beyond belief.

A moment later, the elevator filled with the sound of long, sharp gasps.

’Is this really their aloof and arrogant president? Is this the same man who acts like he wants to encase himself in another layer of ice whenever a woman gets near him?’

’It hasn’t even been a full morning, and he’s already learned how to flirt with a woman?!’

’No, no, I have to ask around later. Besides his younger brother, does the president have an identical twin with a completely different personality?’

Clara Grant and Seth Quinn were standing at the back, so they couldn’t see the faces of the people in front, but they could hear their gasps. She realized at once—Seth Quinn was doing this on purpose!

’He didn’t say it downstairs, nor did he say it when there were fewer people in the elevator. He just had to wait until it was packed with people. If that wasn’t on purpose, what was?’

’His goal was probably not just to let his employees see them together, but to make sure they heard him too, right?’

’With both visual and auditory proof, their relationship would be set in stone.’

’Tsk, he’s really going to great lengths just to make this public!’

DING. The elevator arrived at the thirty-eighth floor.

The people at the front looked up at the floor number, then glanced at one another. ’Wait, what are we doing on the thirty-eighth floor?’

’Oh, man, the president and her threw us completely off. We forgot which floor we were going to and what we were even doing.’

Having gone to the wrong floor, but not daring to admit it, the whole group rushed out of the elevator and scattered in different directions.

Seth Quinn acted as if he hadn’t noticed their mistake. He simply led Clara Grant out, his expression calm, and headed toward the president’s office.

The group that had just exited the elevator immediately turned back, re-entered it, pressed the ’close’ button, and headed back down.

The moment the elevator doors closed, a flurry of excited chatter erupted from within.

Just like before, all eyes were on them the entire way from the elevator to the president’s office. Once they had passed, a buzz of discussion, both excited and disappointed, began.

Clara Grant felt a little overwhelmed. ’If I’d known it would cause such a commotion, I never would have come!’

Her subtle shift in demeanor didn’t escape Seth Quinn’s eyes. He glanced over at her but said nothing, simply tightening his grip on her hand.

Feeling the warmth of his palm, a strange strength seemed to flow through Clara Grant, and she instantly calmed down.

’I’m an actress. On-screen and off, I’m destined to be the center of attention. How can I not even handle a few stares from a crowd like this?’

The door to the assistant’s office, next to the president’s, was open. River Sterling was perched anxiously on the edge of Chase Childs’s desk. "Hey, Assistant Childs, when is Seth getting here? I’m in a hurry."

Chase Childs sounded a little exasperated. "President Sterling, please be patient. Just a little longer. President Quinn should be here any—"

He trailed off as he spotted Seth Quinn and Clara Grant in the doorway. He immediately shot to his feet. "President Quinn. Mrs. Quinn."

River Sterling’s back was to the door, but he spun around at the assistant’s words. His eyes immediately fell on Seth Quinn and Clara Grant’s clasped hands.

He froze. ’Looks like they’re going public!’