Clara Grant smiled and nodded a greeting to Chase Childs and River Sterling. Seeing her smiling so warmly at other men, Seth Quinn tightened his grip and pulled her toward his office. As they walked, he told her, "You don’t have to be so polite to them in the future. And you don’t have to smile at them."

Clara Grant was puzzled. "Aren’t they your friends?"

’Even if they aren’t friends, they’re colleagues, or subordinates, right? Besides, I know both River Sterling and Chase Childs, so it was only natural to greet them.’

Seth Quinn wanted to say that it wasn’t just them; she shouldn’t be too polite to *any* man, nor should she smile at them. But he was afraid that if he said that, she would think he was controlling and get upset.

"One of them is a playboy, and the other is a block of wood. Why bother with them!"

His words were overheard by River Sterling, who had followed them. As he entered the CEO’s office behind them, he said indignantly, "Hey, Seth, what are you talking about? Who’s a playboy? Who’s a block of wood?

...Uh, of course, there’s no doubt Chase Childs is a block of wood, but I’m no playboy. Don’t ruin my image in front of Clara."

After speaking, his gaze swept across Seth Quinn’s and Clara Grant’s faces, a teasing expression filling his own. He said, "Well, well, Seth. So that’s why you were so slow getting here. You were lost in your lover’s arms and couldn’t pull yourself away."

Clara Grant flushed at his words and pulled her hand out of Seth Quinn’s. "You... you guys talk. I’ll just look around on my own."

Seth Quinn glanced at his now-empty hand, then gave Clara Grant a doting smile. "Alright, feel free to look around."

Then he shot a glare at River Sterling and said irritably, "If you hadn’t interrupted, I’d still be lost in my lover’s arms, with no desire to come out."

’One second, he’s giving Clara Grant that doting smile, and the next, his face darkens when he looks at me. He changes expressions faster than a woman!’

River Sterling wasn’t bothered. He just went "Tch!" then said in a grave, heartfelt tone, "Seth, I’m just looking out for you. Now that you’re finally getting some, you can’t go too wild. What if you overdo it and wear yourself out? The loss would far outweigh the gain. Just think, you’d be able to look at Clara, but not touch. How torturous would that be..."

Before he could finish, Clara Grant let out a fit of coughing.

’River Sterling’s words made me choke on my own saliva. He’s just so... blunt. Do men always talk about *that kind of thing* so directly and openly with each other?’

’And I’m right here! I’m a woman; I can get embarrassed.’

’Was he speaking so loudly because he thought I was deaf? Or did he think I was shameless like them and wouldn’t get embarrassed?’

With that in mind, she deliberately coughed even more forcefully, hoping to interrupt their overly casual conversation.

Thankfully, she succeeded in cutting River Sterling off.

Seth Quinn, however, walked over to her, a little anxious, and asked worriedly, "Clara, are you okay?"

Clara Grant gave a few more token coughs before stopping. She waved a hand at him. "I’m fine, I’m fine. Go on, you’re busy."

Seeing she was really alright, Seth Quinn relaxed. He still patted her on the back a few times before walking back to his desk.

First, he called his secretary and instructed her to bring a glass of water for Clara Grant. After hanging up, he sat down.

’I feel like I’ve just been force-fed another round of PDA. It’s bad enough having to watch Linden and Poppy act lovey-dovey all the time, but now there’s another couple to deal with.’

’If I have to stomach any more of this PDA, I’m going to burst!’