CHAPTER 35: DANCING ON THE EDGE

The heels lingered for an agonizing beat, Catherine’s voice cutting through the air like a blade... "Schedule the follow-up for tomorrow. Yes, I’ll tell James."

Victoria’s pulse hammered, her mouth still full of Alex’s release, throat working to swallow every drop as panic surged.

The door could swing open any second, exposing her... Victoria Blackwood, senator’s wife, CEO, on her knees in a bathroom, lips swollen with betrayal.

Alex froze above her, hand tight in her hair, his eyes mirroring her electric fear, their bodies locked in the aftershock of climax.

No escape. No window, no stall to hide in.

If Catherine walked in, the scandal would incinerate her life... James, her reputation, everything.

Alex’s mind raced for a cover, a distraction, anything to protect this dangerous conquest.

But then... the click-clack of heels softened, retreating down the hall.

Catherine’s voice faded, "...alright, handle it," as if she’d decided against entering, perhaps drawn to another room.

Relief crashed over them, laced with the lingering thrill of near-discovery, turning terror into a heady rush that pulsed in their veins.

Victoria pulled back, gasping, a thin strand of saliva breaking as she wiped her lips with trembling fingers.

Her body still quivered, her own climax hovering just out of reach, the denial sharpening her hunger.

She stood, smoothing her gown, adjusting her hair in the mirror, slipping back into her poised facade while Alex’s taste lingered like a secret brand.

He exhaled, tucking himself away, his smirk returning with a wicked edge.

"Too damn close," he murmured, pulling her in for one last kiss... deep, possessive, her lips soft and yielding.

She broke away, eyes blazing with unspent desire.

"Just wait for me," she whispered, her voice husky with promise. "We still have the whole night ahead of us."

She moved toward the exit, the quiet sway of her body saying more than words ever could.

Alex lingered, splashing cold water on his face at the sink, grounding himself.

Lilith’s voice purred in his mind. "Mmm... that thrill in her pulse, darling? It’s the taste of a woman who’s realized she craves danger more than safety. Keep feeding her that... and she’ll chase the edge for you."

He stepped into the hall, heart steady, ready to rejoin the party.

But a muffled groan from a shadowed alcove stopped him.

Curiosity tugged him closer.

Behind a velvet curtain, an older man... silver-haired, suit rumpled... leaned against the wall, eyes half-closed in pleasure.

Kneeling before him was a young woman, her head moving with eager rhythm, lips wrapped around him as he groaned low.

Alex caught her face in the dim light... Madison.

William Thompson’s girlfriend, his smug classmate who flaunted his "perfect" life.

Madison, with her designer bags and sanctimonious fidelity lectures, now on her knees for a sugar daddy, sucking with desperate fervor.

Her eyes flicked up, meeting Alex’s through the curtain’s gap.

Shock flared in her gaze... recognition, horror... before she looked away, cheeks flushing as she continued, unable to stop.

Alex’s lips curled into a predatory grin.

Leverage.

He’d dig into her later... blackmail, seduction, whatever it took to make her the perfect weapon against her smug boyfriend.

For now, he walked on, the image seared into his mind.

_____

The ballroom’s energy had shifted.

James’s speech had ended, met with polite applause, but the elite core... senators, CEOs, the true power players... had slipped away, likely to a private family meeting deeper in the venue.

The remaining crowd buzzed softly, a few couples swaying in the side lounge where a jazz quartet played a slow, sultry melody.

Alex’s eyes scanned the room, sensing opportunity in the dim lights and swirling bodies of the dance area.

Then he saw her... Dr. Tisha Wells... his former academic advisor, the one who had always helped him, offering guidance when the rest of the faculty kept their distance.

She had even stood by him during the Marcus and Sophia case, quietly pulling strings and shielding him from the worst of the fallout.

She stood alone, elegant in a sapphire gown that hugged her curves, sipping champagne with a quiet grace.

Surprise flickered through him... her, here?

But then it clicked... whispers of her family’s old money, her ties to the elite.

Of course she’d be at an event like this.

Lilith’s voice slithered in: "The advisor who fought for you. Charm her, darling... she’s a key to doors you haven’t even seen. The president’s wife is her friend. Play this right, and you’re in."

[Mission Update : Seduce the Mentor]

[Reward: 3,000 CP]

Alex approached, his charm igniting like a slow-burning flame.

"Dr. Wells? Didn’t expect to see you in a place like this."

She turned, her hazel eyes widening with recognition, then softening with a mix of surprise and warmth.

"Alex," she said, her voice carrying the same measured calm from their last meeting, though the champagne added a slight lilt.

"It’s been... what, over a month? You’ve been a ghost since you filed for that leave."

He flashed a disarming smile, stepping closer.

"Had to lie low, you know. After the... gala incident. Thanks for having my back, by the way."

She tilted her head, studying him, her gaze lingering on his tailored suit, the confident set of his shoulders.

"You’re welcome. Though I’ll admit, I wondered if you’d vanish for good. Most students don’t walk away from your situation and come back looking..."

She paused, searching for the word, her eyes flicking over him. "...like this."

"Like what?" he teased, offering his hand. "Care to tell me over a dance?"

Her lips curved, a spark of intrigue in her gaze as she set her champagne flute on a passing tray.

"You’re bold, I’ll give you that. Alright, let’s see if you’ve learned any new moves since you left."

They moved to the dance floor, joining the slow sway of couples under the soft glow of chandeliers.

The jazz quartet’s melody wrapped around them, a smooth saxophone weaving through the air.

At first, it was proper... his hand at her waist, hers on his shoulder, their steps measured and polite.

She smelled of jasmine and champagne, her movements graceful but relaxed, the alcohol loosening her usual restraint.

"You didn’t answer my question," she said, her tone light but probing, echoing their prior conversation’s directness.

"What have you been doing, Alex? You walk in here like you own the room. That’s not the student I saw in my office, signing leave forms under pressure."

He guided her through a gentle turn, his voice low and smooth.

"I’ve been... finding my place. Building something bigger than lecture halls and essays. You told me to stay ahead of the story, remember? I took your advice."

She raised an eyebrow, her eyes meeting his, searching.

"You’ve changed. It’s not just the suit or the confidence. You’re... sharper. More handsome, maybe."

Her voice softened, a hint of admiration creeping in. "What did you do, Alex? It’s like night and day."

He smirked, letting his hand slip just below her waist, testing her boundaries.

"Just found my fire, Dr. Wells. Learned how to take what I want."

His fingers rested lightly on the curve of her hip, a subtle challenge, his eyes locked on hers to gauge her reaction.

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away.

Her gaze held his, a silent acknowledgment of the shift between them... her curiosity, her attraction, the champagne blurring the lines of professionalism.

"You were always bold," she murmured, her voice quieter now, almost intimate. "But this... this is something else."

His hand drifted lower, brushing the swell of her round ass, a gentle squeeze that sent a shiver through her.

She bit her lip, swaying closer, her body responding where her words hesitated.

"Careful, Alex," she said, but there was no warning in her tone... only a playful challenge, her eyes gleaming with a mix of nerves and desire.

He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear, mirroring the directness she’d shown in her office.

"You told me not to stand in the road. I’m not. I’m choosing my path."

His fingers tightened briefly, teasing her curves, pulling her just a fraction closer.

Her hand, resting on his chest, began to explore... fingers tracing the hard lines of his pecs, then lower, brushing his abs through the crisp shirt.

She paused, her hand grazing the edge of his belt, then lower still, until her fingers brushed the unmistakable bulge in his pants.

Her eyes widened, a flush crept up her cheeks.

"Well," she said, her voice a hushed tease, "that’s... quite the surprise you’re hiding."

He grinned, his voice a low growl. "Like it?"

She laughed softly, a mix of nerves and boldness, her fingers lingering for a moment before retreating to his chest.

"It’s not every day I stumble across a surprise that... substantial."

Her eyes flicked up to his, sparkling with mischief, but there was a hesitation there, a reminder of the crowded ballroom around them.

"You could have it," he said, daring her to cross the line, his tone echoing the confidence he’d shown when he assured her he wouldn’t get "run over."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, she leaned into him, her body swaying closer as the music slowed.

"I... want to," she admitted, her voice barely audible, raw with honesty.

"But not here. Too many eyes, too many risks."

She pulled back slightly, her gaze still locked on his, a promise lingering in her eyes.

"Come back to campus soon. I’ll be in my office. We’ll... figure out what’s next."

Lilith’s voice purred in his mind: "Well played, darling. She’s your bridge to power... her friend, the president’s wife, is a step closer to the top. Don’t let this slip."

Alex nodded, his smile predatory but warm, mirroring the resolve he’d shown when he took her advice to stay ahead.

"I’ll be there, Dr. Wells. Count on it."

She gave him one last lingering look, her sapphire gown catching the light as she stepped back, rejoining the crowd with a composed smile.

Alex watched her go, the dance floor humming with possibilities, his web of influence expanding with every calculated step.

[Mission Completed : Seduce the Mentor]

[Reward: 3,000 CP]

The night deepened, ripe with conquests, and Alex moved forward, ready to claim his next prize.