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“I mean—” I clear my throat, desperately attempting to salvage what little dignity I have left. “There’s no need for that. Dinner is acceptable.”

Acceptable?

Artemis…he invited you to dinner, not a business meeting.

Stephen’s amusement deepens. “Good.”

One word.

One stupid, little word.

And somehow, my stomach decides to do a happy little somersault.

“An hour?”

“Fine.”

Stephen’s gaze lingers on me for a second.

Just one.

That’s all the time my weak, hopelessly traitorous heart needs to throw a full-blown party inside my chest. Something flutters beneath my ribs, my stomach does a ridiculous little flip, and I suddenly forget every language I’ve ever learned.

Yeah… that’s my brain parasite right there.

Stephen gives me a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting into that infuriating smile that does things to my heart. “See you then.”

And then he leaves.

The door clicks shut behind him and silence swallows the room.

It only lasts but a second.

Then—

“OOOOOOOOOOOH!”

The collective shriek that erupts from my laptop is so loud I’m fairly certain the citizens of Seoul heard them.

Yeah… I’m done.

I slam the laptop shut and the call disconnects immediately.

I breathe a sigh of relief, only for the realization to hit me a second later.

I agreed to dinner.

Dinner.

With Stephen.

Alone.

“Ugh… what have I done?”

“You’re going on a date, buttercup.”

Mika.