Chapter 282

The receptionist looked as though all the color had drained from her face. She followed Claude in a flustered panic, her voice trembling on the edge of tears. "I-I'm so sorry, Mr. Jones!I tried to stop him, but I just couldn't..."

Vincent's glare was frigid. His left hand, resting on the chair's arm, tightened-just barely, but enough to make his knuckles stand out stark white.

Derek, quietly observing from the sidelines, caught the cue instantly. He gently escorted the receptionist out, shutting the door with barely a sound.

A heavy silence settled over the office. The atmosphere now buzzed with tension, the new arrival shifting the mood completely.

"Claude?" Hannah stared at the man who'd just walked in,thrown off balance."Why are you here?"

Her mind whirled, replaying everything that had happened moments before. Then it clicked. Her phone. Vincent had tossed it aside. Her eyes shot to it. The screen still faintly lit up,the display showing "In Call." That kiss-the breathless struggle,every sound-had Claude listened to it all in real time?

Panic flashed across Hannah's face. She lunged for the phone,snatching it off the table and ending the call, her hands trembling ever so slightly. She took a steadying breath, trying to compose herself, and then faced Claude. "About what just happened..."

Claude's eyes paused on her tense fingers gripping the phone,but his face stayed composed and warm, not giving anything

but his face stayed composed and warm, not giving anything away. He didn't mention the call. He offered no accusation.Instead,he moved closer, meeting her gaze with quiet care. "I was worried about you," he said, his voice gentle. "So I came."

His words were direct-protective, yet pointed. "You're okay?He didn't lay a hand on you, did he?"

Hannah shook her head right away. "No, not at all. It was just work stuff. Things... just got a little heated, that's all." She tried to make it sound like nothing but a workplace spat.

Claude studied her for a second and then offered a small nod,letting the subject rest.

Meanwhile, Sharon had been quietly sizing up their unannounced guest-a polished young man with a quiet authority, whose protectiveness toward Hannah hadn't gone unnoticed. A trace of curiosity and skepticism flickered across her face. "And you are..."

Hannah opened her mouth to respond, but Claude beat her to it. He stepped in closer, slipping a gentle arm around her shoulders and nodding courteously. "Glad to meet you. I'm Claude Hobbes, Hannah's boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Sharon's eyes flew wide, the news clearly taking her by surprise. She glanced back and forth between Claude and Hannah and then shot a quick look at Vincent-still standing silently and looking none too pleased-before returning her gaze to Claude.

"Hannah, you have a boyfriend already?" Sharon asked, a mix of astonishment and something more complicated in her voice.

Claude's hand tightened just a fraction on Hannah's shoulder,and in that moment, she knew exactly what he was doing-stepping in to shield her. She didn't offer any further explanation. instead, she met Sharon's eyes and gave a tiny,silent nod, quietly backing Claude's claim.

From the instant Claude entered, Vincent's eyes had never left Hannah. The word "boyfriend" had set his jaw rigid, and when he caught her silent nod, a dangerous heat sparked in his gaze,raw and unrestrained.

Claude, for his part, easily picked up on the undercurrent in Sharon's surprise, and he didn't miss the crackling tension pouring off Vincent. He offered a smooth, courteous smile."Hannah is... truly remarkable and endearing."

Affection colored every syllable. With a slight turn, he aimed his next words directly at Vincent. "Mr. Jones, you've already made a name for yourself in the business world-formidable and accomplished. Maybe it's time to think about settling down?"

He let the suggestion linger and then added, voice cool but sharp, "It doesn't exactly look good to be hanging around someone else's girlfriend, does it?"

The implication was crystal clear-and provocative.

Claude's arm tightened protectively around Hannah's shoulders,drawing her closer in a clear display of where he stood.

Claude's move was nothing short of a public claim,unapologetic and clear.

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

Vincent's face gave nothing away, but his gaze darted to Claude's arm around Hannah, chilled and sharp, as if his stare alone could scorch it off. Then, he looked at Hannah, his words flat as he said, "No rush for that."

Claude picked up on Vincent's stiff reply, and for a moment,a glimmer of amusement, tinged with something almost cutting sparked in his eyes. He pulled Hannah even nearer. "Is that so?Funny, because we're in a bit of a hurry."

He leaned in a little closer to Hannah, his eyes softening as

He leaned in a little closer to Hannah, his eyes softening as they lingered on her. Then, in a voice full of quiet conviction,he said, "If it were up to me, I'd marry her tomorrow."

With that, he pressed a gentle kiss to her hair, his expression a mix of satisfaction and open, possessive pride.