Back in her room, the moment the door closed, Karina couldn't hold it in any longer.
Leaning against the door, she screamed at the top of her lungs to vent her fury.
She only stopped when her throat began to hurt.
Lifting her head, she glared in the direction of Serena's room above and growled viciously, "Serena Knowles, how dare you humiliate me like this-I won't let you get away with it! Just you wait!"
Outside the presidential suite on the 36th floor.
After Karina left, Xavier waved his hand and said to Brody, "Keep all the footage from today safe. It might come in handy later."
Brody asked in confusion, "Sir, didn't Miss Knowles promise just now that the videos wouldn't be made public? If that's the case, what use would they be?"
With a slight frown, Xavier's lips curled coldly, "When did you become so talkative?"
Brody's face turned awkward, and he quickly replied, "Yes, yes! That was out of line! I'll make sure to keep the videos well protected. Please rest assured!"
"Great. If there's nothing else, you may go now," Xavier said indifferently.
Brody hoisted the camera onto his shoulder and walked a few steps, then stopped and turned back, asking, "Sir, aren't you leaving?"
The man shot him a cold glare, and Brody immediately fell silent.
Shrinking his neck, he quickly said, "Sorry, sorry, I spoke out of turn again! Sir, I'll take my leave now! If you need anything, just call for me!"
With that, he turned and fled, not daring to linger.
At last, only Serena and Xavier remained on the 36th floor.
Just as Xavier lifted his foot to enter the room, Serena stepped forward and blocked him at the door.
"Mr. Blaze, what do you think you're doing?"
"Going back to our room," he replied as if it were the most natural thing.
"Sorry, but I'm the one staying in this room now!"
His expression changed as he tried to coax her, "Serena, don't make a fuss."
"Who's making a fuss?" Serena's face was serious. "Not too long ago, didn't you act all businesslike and pretend not to know me?"
"I was trying to protect you!" he insisted righteously. "Karina is cruel and vindictive. If she found out about our relationship, she would definitely take it out on you. I was only trying to shield you."
"Hmph! Whether you were protecting me or sparing her feelings, you know the truth in your heart!"
"Serena! What are you saying?!" Xavier grew anxious. "I thought there was nothing between me and Karina that needed explaining! You saw what happened-I was on your side the whole time!"
Serena blinked but said nothing.
Even though she knew there was nothing between him and Karina, she couldn't help feeling stifled.
Especially when she remembered how Karina called him 'Xavier' in that sweet, clingy voice-it made her chest feel tight and her mood irritable.
"Serena, be good! Let me in. Whatever you want to say, let's talk inside, okay?"
"This isn't your room!"
Serena still wouldn't budge.
"What do you mean it's not my room? This is our room-yours and mine!"
"Oh really?" Serena gave a sarcastic smile. "After calling security, I also called the front desk. They told me that this room is registered under my name only. There's no record of you staying here."
"This hotel is mine. Do I still need to register to stay here?"
"I don't care! The fact is, you're not registered, so this room doesn't belong to you! I'm the one officially staying here, so whether or not you can come in-that's up to me!"
Xavier looked at her carefully for a moment.
Seeing her serious expression, he stopped joking and put on a solemn face.
"Can you at least tell me what you're mad about?"
"I..." Feeling exposed, she turned her head away and stubbornly replied, "I'm not mad! Karina already apologized. Why would I be mad?"
"You're still saying you're not mad?" He gently pinched her puffed-up cheeks. "Look at you-your face is all puffed up like a little pufferfish."
Serena swatted his hand away. "Pufferfish are poisonous. You're the pufferfish!"
"That's right. Because pufferfish are highly toxic, it makes me think you're just like one-charming on the outside, deadly on the inside."
"What do you mean by that?!" Serena became even more annoyed.
"Silly girl! I've told you already-Xavier Blaze is poisoned by Serena Knowles for life, and there's no cure!"
Her heart skipped a beat, and although she felt a little better, she still refused to give in.
"Tch! Don't try to sweet-talk me! I'm not cute or gentle, and I don't call you 'Xavier' in a soft voice. What's there for you to like?!"
"Oh..." The man's eyes lit up in realization. "So that's what this is about?!"
"I... What do you mean?! I didn't say anything!"
"You don't have to-I already know!" Taking advantage of his height, he reached out and ruffled her hair, his voice full of affection. "Don't worry. From now on, other than you and my mom, I won't let any other woman call me by my first name without a last name!"
"I... I didn't... I'm not..."
"Okay, okay, no need to explain-I understand! You're not mad about Karina calling me 'Xavier,' and you're not jealous of her!"
Seeing how clearly he saw through everything, Serena felt even more embarrassed and annoyed.
It was like being completely exposed, and it made her feel like a child-petty and immature.
Before she could speak again, the man leaned closer and softly whispered in her ear, "Little girl, can I come in now? There's something I've been wanting to do since this afternoon..."
Serena blinked and blurted out, "If you need to use the bathroom, can't you just go to the hotel lobby?! Don't tell me there are no restrooms there?"
"Haha..." He chuckled and leaned even closer.
His cool lips brushed against her burning ear as he murmured, "What I want to do can't be done without you."
As soon as the words fell, he tilted his head and, as if by instinct, captured her lips with perfect precision.
***