CHAPTER 385: OR SHOULD I DO IT?

"Looking good!" Lola exclaimed as she eyed Cedrick, who had just climbed into their van. "Wow! I’m with a celebrity."

Cedrick blushed, scratching the back of his head. "I’m not really a celebrity."

"The heck are you talking about?" Haji grumbled from the back seat, scrunching up his nose. "If you’re not a celebrity, then what the heck are you?"

"Shh—" Lola hissed, glaring at the diva in the back before turning to Cedrick again. "Just ignore him. He’s been moody lately because he’s being eaten alive by jealousy."

Haji stared at her blankly, deadpan.

I hope the proposal goes horribly wrong.

"Heh." Cedrick raised a brow as he glanced around the van.

Inside were only him, Lola, and Haji. Up front, a large man in a suit drove while another, smaller man sat in the passenger seat.

"Where’s Silo?" Cedrick asked. "I thought he’d be here."

"He’s on a date, apparently."

"A date?"

"Mhm. Don’t mind him." Lola waved dismissively. "Just focus on being pretty tonight, okay? Oh, and I’ll be posting some photos on your socials, so make sure to look good for the cameras."

Cedrick nodded earnestly. "Of course."

At the end of the day, Lola might have been attending to support a friend—but for Cedrick, this was work. This could be his first luxury brand deal, and he didn’t want to screw it up. Even at his peak back then, he’d never reached the upper tier of stardom before his career fell apart.

As they drove to the venue, the group exchanged casual chatter. Still, Cedrick’s mind kept circling back to Silo.

Was the date spontaneous? he wondered. Last night, he told me to rest before he picked me up.

Even so, Cedrick decided to let it go and focused instead on Lola’s lively banter with Haji.

*****

At the same time, in a restaurant...

Silo sat perfectly still inside a private dining area. His hair was neatly styled, his face powdered, and his outfit—well-fitted and unusually formal for him. Anyone could tell he’d put effort into his appearance.

Lifting his hand to his mouth, he exhaled and sniffed his breath.

"Hehe." He grinned, satisfied with the minty scent. "Ahem! Ahem!"

He straightened his posture, sitting upright and composed. To any observer, it would look like he was preparing for a date.

Unfortunately, the moment his "date" arrived, that illusion vanished.

"Did I make you wait long?" Atlas asked casually as he sat down. He checked his wristwatch. He was neither early nor late, just right on time.

Silo smiled, shaking his head a little too quickly. "Of course not. I just got here, Atlas." His cheeks flushed slightly. "Anyway, should we eat first before talking about the proposal?"

Atlas paused thoughtfully, then nodded. "Okay."

Had Lola known who Silo’s "date" really was, she would’ve chained him in the basement. She had every reason to gatekeep her man—especially from Silo, who was a top-tier candidate for the snake friend archetype.

*****

MEG Fashion was a rising brand that had taken the industry by storm since its launch. Its bold designs and daring marketing strategy had redefined the local fashion scene. Hence, hosting a show in Novera was a massive deal.

Elites from all over the world—designers, investors, and celebrities—flew in to attend. As an invite-only event, just being there was enough to stroke one’s ego and prestige.

Hours before the show, the streets outside the venue were already crowded. Guests strutted in designer outfits, some posing for street photographers, others flooding social media with pre-event posts. Paparazzi and professional photographers lined the area, capturing images of familiar faces, rising stars, and discreet millionaires.

"Alright. I’ll see you inside?" Lola turned slightly toward Cedrick.

He furrowed his brows. "You’re not walking in with me?"

"Nah." She gestured at her dress. "With this outfit, people might start calling us lovers. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow to headlines calling me your girlfriend."

Cedrick’s face flushed red.

"Don’t forget," Lola added firmly. "You can’t afford any scandal right now. Understood?"

"Y–Yes!" He straightened, nodding quickly. "Don’t worry, Taz. I’ll do my best."

"Good. Now, off you go."

She turned to the back. "Haji, make sure he doesn’t get into trouble."

"I know."

With that, Haji stepped out of the van and stood by as Cedrick exited. The road had been closed for the event, so they had to walk a short distance to the entrance while flashes from countless cameras lit the night.

Lola watched them go, smiling in satisfaction. Cedrick carried himself well—confident, calm, and composed.

"People wouldn’t even guess he’s too innocent for his own good," she murmured with a small laugh before turning to the front. "Let’s go, boys. We’re about to cause more traffic in this traffic."

Izu glanced back as Baby started the car, driving toward their designated parking area. "Young Madam, why aren’t you going with them?"

"Cedrick’s a celebrity. Exposure is what he needs to boost his popularity," Lola explained. "Ever since that accusation about him stealing Ryker’s role, he hasn’t made major headlines. This’ll help balance that."

Though Cedrick’s reputation had been slowly recovering, Lola knew maintaining momentum was crucial.

"So, it’s better if people see him here. As for me, I don’t need the exposure." She smiled slyly. "Aileen already told me about a private entrance straight into the building. No cameras, no chaos. Look out there—just watching them is exhausting."

Izu turned to the windshield, spotting the crowd of glamorous guests posing for photographers amid the blinding flashes.

"We’ll stay with you at all times," he said, returning his gaze to her. "Some of our men are already inside, posing as staff. You don’t need to worry about anything else."

He paused, then added, "The Big Boss said... just focus on having fun tonight."

Lola’s lips parted as her cheeks turned rosy. "How sweet," she whispered under her breath. "I’m not flattered—not at all."

But her face told another story.

Everything Atlas did for her flattered her.

Damn it! she thought, pressing her lips together to hide her grin. He should just propose already! Even if it’s another adoption offer, I’ll take it!

Then she paused and rubbed her chin.

"Or should I do it?"