Kris Cooper’s face darkened.
"Uh..." Seeing his displeasure, Vera Wave quickly forced a smile. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I forgot that you’ve ditched your old ways. I’ve got to get back to work, I’ll catch you later!"
With that, she turned to leave.
Just as she was about to step away, he grabbed hold of the collar of her coat.
Taking a step forward, he positioned himself on the same step as her. Kris Cooper reached out and held onto the railing next to her, gradually moving in closer.
Vera put her hands against his chest.
"Manager... Manager Kris, we can talk things out!"
Kris Cooper slowly bent her arm, his left hand rising to cup her cheek.
"As far as I know, the ’Prince’ isn’t gay. So, if you want to have free rein in Glimmer, you’d better sleep with him."
Instinctively, Vera leaned backward, her waist pressed against the railing, her upper body arching over its edge.
"That... is not possible. I... How could I possibly have your abilities?"
"What kind of abilities do you think I have?"
"You... You’re handsome and charismatic, suave and debonair, a sophisticated... beast..." she trailed off, realizing her mistake.
Kris Cooper lifted an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"No, no, not beast! I meant sophisticated and cultured, skilled in both arts and combat, with wealth pouring in, and in..."
"In... in... close..."
The man smirked, leaning in a little closer to her. "Close ?"
"No, I meant in... wait, yes! When you advance, you can overwhelm sweet young things, and when you retreat, you can... offer your rear to all the guys!" As soon as Vera blurted those words, she regretted it. "I... I made a mistake, what I mean is in..."
"Is that so?" Kris Cooper ground out the words from between his teeth, his entire body pressing against hers. "If you can’t recite the correct one today, I’ll be the one ’pinning you down’!"
Vera leaned back as far as she could, feeling like her waist would snap against the railing.
"Stop, you... let me think, it is... yes, ’caught in a dilemma’!"
This was exactly her current predicament!
A barrier behind her, and a predator in front.
Kris Cooper gazed at her small face, his rage still simmering.
"Di... ’Partners in Misfortune’!"
"No, I mean, ’inseparable’... ’A Fateful Dream’!" Vera Wave took a deep breath. "Your name is Kris, and I’m Vera. It’s like our names together *are* ’A Fateful Dream’! Hehe!"
Those four words, like a spell, instantly took Kris Cooper back to a party six years ago.
The girl, wearing a white dress and a mischievous smile, had said, "Your name is Kris, what a coincidence! My name is Vera. Our names together... they just *sound* like an idiom, don’t they?"
"Manager Kris, Brother Kris, Sir Kris..." Vera Wave panted. "I... I really can’t recite anymore. Let me breathe for a moment, my waist... my waist is going to break!"
Her back was already bent at more than a 30-degree angle. Even with her previous dance training and flexibility, her waist was at its limit.
His thoughts returned to the present. Seeing Vera’s flushed face, Kris Cooper realized he had unknowingly pinned her against the railing.
Taking a step back, he helped her stand upright.
Vera still held onto his suit as she caught her breath, finally managing to steady it.
She stealthily peeked at the man’s expression. His face was unreadable, his gaze complex as he seemed lost in thought.
This is my chance! She glanced at the staircase, then turned and ran upstairs.
Snow Prince: Vera, recently many people think you’re a clueless sweetheart.
Vera Wave [Rolling her eyes]: In reality, I’m the comic relief the Prince hired.