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?"

seat and 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

Presgrave, you'll have to make an appointment if you want us to

stab him to the point of paralysis if he tried to touch

at this prickly side of her and wisely left her

"Put on

started the car and stepped on the gas. The car zipped down the road and whooshed past

featured grunge-inspired elements. Hera noted it was 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

embarrassing behavior the last time

like a

Are you worried I spiked your

his eyebrows. As if to prove his innocence, he raised the glass and sipped the

a withering look and lied, "I'm

"Fine," he said acceptingly.

of orange juice from

but did not drink the juice. She wondered how she should broach the topic of Astral Nova

more grateful after I lured security away

They chased me down

and noticed that the thumb ring he had worn the other night was gone. An