Rebirth: Love me Again

Chapter 176 The Lengths of Devotion

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[eve]

i had no idea how long i'd been glued to that chair in the office. my eyes felt like they'd been through a desert storm, and my muscles were staging a rebellion.

a glance at the clock told me it was already seven in the evening. seven! i groaned, rubbing my neck, which now felt like it belonged to an 80-year-old.

looking back at the pile of papers, i noticed a miracle—they were actually decreasing. thanks to cole's team, i didn't have to read every single word in those soul-crushing proposals. instead, they'd give me a quick summary, and all i had to do was wield my mighty pen of approval.

the room was still buzzing with activity. five of his people were quietly working in one corner, explaining things to me in a professional manner, while i sneakily scrolled through my phone.

it was a rare moment of relaxation, and i was starting to feel like maybe i could survive this after all.

that is, until cole decided to storm in like he owned the place. the door flew open with such dramatic flair that i half-expected background music to start playing. behind him was an entourage of staff in white aprons, each carrying trays stacked with delicious-looking food.

"alright, you're all dismissed," cole declared with a wave of his hand, as if he were a king granting freedom to his loyal subjects. "go have dinner at the restaurant downstairs—it's on me."

his team didn't argue. they simply bowed and vanished, leaving me alone with the most dangerous man in the room.

i frowned at the pile of papers. there were only a few left, so it wasn't like i actually needed them anymore. still, being left alone with cole felt like being locked in a cage with a lion—except the lion had great hair and a handsome face.

"and what are you doing here again?" i asked, trying to sound casual as i leaned back in my chair. my tone may have been calm, but my brain was frantically whispering, '

but instead of agreeing, he flashed that infuriatingly charming grin of his. "i can be aloof and indifferent while still chasing after you. care to give it a try?"

i sighed, knowing i'd walked straight into his trap. "you know what? forget i said anything."

the rest of the meal passed in relative silence, save for the occasional clink of silverware. just as i was beginning to think i'd get through the evening without any more of his antics, cole reached into his bag and pulled out a magazine, setting it on the table in front of me.

"i made some quick edits to this layout," he said, his tone as nonchalant as if he'd just rearranged a few photos. "why don't you take a look and see if it's to your liking?"

i frowned, recognizing the familiar branding of

élysée luxe.

"you're still not over this?"

"not until it's perfect," he replied, his expression turning serious.

reluctantly, i picked it up, flipping through the pages. my jaw dropped as i realized just how much had changed. nearly every image, every font, every detail had been reworked. "wait . . . you redid all of this? in that short amount of time? how?"

cole shrugged like it was no big deal. "i bought the company."

i blinked, sure i'd misheard him. "you what?!"

"it wasn't easy," he said matter-of-factly, "since the company was full of incompetent fools. but it's a work in progress. this is just the preliminary layout—tell me if it needs adjustments."

i stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. "you . . . you bought the entire company? for this? just to remake this magazine?"

he nodded, his expression calm, like he'd simply ordered coffee. "it was the fastest way."

i dropped the magazine onto the table, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "are you out of your mind? who does that?"

cole leaned closer, his eyes intense. "me," he said simply. "i'd do anything for you, eve."