Under the heiress facade

The moment Hera clicked on her conversation with the Grandmaster of Astral Nova, she found herself picturing Tyler's pretty face.

Tyler was waiting for her outside the clinic.

He was dressed in a champagne-colored suit and carried a massive bouquet of blue roses. Passersby couldn't help glancing his way as he leaned lazily against the blue Bugatti parked in front of the clinic

entrance.

"Hey, baby. Long time no see. Did you miss me?" Tyler asked, winking at Hera as soon as he spotted her.

Hera hadn't expected him to show up just as she was about to text him.

"Let's go somewhere we can talk," she said as she approached the car.

She opened the passenger side door and got into the vehicle.

Tyler was surprised that she was being so cooperative. He opened the door on the driver's side and handed her the bouquet of roses. When she didn't take it, he shrugged and put the bouquet in the backseat.

He closed the door and locked it, asking, "You're just going to get in my car like that, no questions asked? Aren't you worried that I might spirit you away?"

eyed Hera with amusement. However, his hand froze in midair before touching her, and he slowly withdrew it. Hera was holding a needle to his jaw in a silent warning. If he came any closer

appointment if you want us to treat your hyperactivity," Hera pointed out wryly as she

other words, she wouldn't hesitate to stab him to the point of paralysis if he tried to

of her and wisely

"Put on your

The car zipped down the road and whooshed past

a quiet drinking joint as she watched Tyler open shop and make himself a drink at the bar. "Here you go, a Bloody Mary for your ruthless, bloodthirsty soul,"

behavior the last time she got drunk and

a

worried I

if to prove his

look and lied, "I'm

"Fine," he said acceptingly.

juice from the refrigerator and poured her a

She wondered how she should broach the topic of Astral Nova when Tyler brought it

stand to be a little more grateful after I lured security away

try to help me. They chased me

his left hand and noticed that the thumb ring he had worn the other night was gone. An odd feeling rose