Page 40 of No Mane, No Gain

His phone buzzed on the nearby desk. He ignored it, knowing it was likely another message from Tia. His sister had been relentless lately, her disapproval of Olive growing more vocal with each passing day.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Chaos frowned, setting down his glass. He wasn’t expecting anyone at this hour.

“Mr. Amato?” His housekeeper’s voice came through the intercom. “There’s a Miss Vanessa here to see you. She says she’s a friend of your sister’s.”

Chaos suppressed a groan. Vanessa. Tia’s best friend and perpetual thorn in his side. “Send her up. Thank you.”

He straightened his tie, steeling himself for the encounter. Moments later, the elevator dinged, and Vanessa sauntered into the penthouse.

“Chaos, darling!” she cooed, air-kissing his cheeks. Her designer dress clung to every curve, leaving little to the imagination. “I was in the neighborhood and thought we could grab dinner. I know this divine little place in SoHo...”

Chaos took a step back, maintaining a polite but firm distance. “Vanessa. This is... unexpected.”

She giggled, twirling a lock of platinum blonde hair around her finger. “Oh, don’t be silly. Tia mentioned you’ve been working too hard lately. I thought you could use a night out.”

The pieces clicked into place. Of course, Tia was behind this. Chaos’s jaw clenched, his patience wearing thin.

“I appreciate the thought, Vanessa, but I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.” His tone left no room for argument. “I’m actually seeing someone.”

Vanessa’s perfectly plucked eyebrows shot up. “Oh? Tia didn’t mention that. Who’s the lucky girl?”

“Her name is Olive,” Chaos replied, unable to keep the warmth from his voice. “And it’s quite serious.”

Vanessa’s smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. “Well, that’s... nice. But surely you can spare one evening for an old friend?”

Chaos shook his head. “I’m sorry, Vanessa, but no. And I think it’s best if we clear up any misunderstandings. Tia was wrong to encourage any ideas of romance between us. I’m not interested in you that way.”

The words hung in the air, sharp and unmistakable. Vanessa’s face flushed, a mix of embarrassment and anger flashing in her eyes.

“I see,” she said stiffly. “Well, I suppose I’ll be going then. Give Tia my best.”

As the elevator doors closed behind her, Chaos let out a long breath. He’d have to have a serious talk with Tia about boundaries.

Hours later, Chaos sat at his desk, poring over quarterly reports. The incident with Vanessa had thrown off his concentration, but work always grounded him.

“Boss?” Baxter’s voice crackled through the intercom. “You need to see this.”

Moments later, Baxter strode into the office, tablet in hand. His normally composed expression was tight with concern.

“What is it, Bax?” Chaos asked, dread pooling in his stomach.

Wordlessly, Baxter handed over the tablet. A gossip site blazed across the screen, the headline making Chaos’s blood run cold:

“TECH TYCOON TIED DOWN: CHAOS AMATO ENGAGED TO SOCIALITE VANESSA SINCLAIR”

The article was a masterpiece of speculation and falsehood, complete with candid photos of him and Vanessa at various events over the years. Chaos’s grip on the tablet tightened, his knuckles turning white.

“This is bullshit,” he growled. “Where the hell did they get this information?”

Baxter shifted uncomfortably. “The article cites an ‘anonymous source close to the family.’ But boss... the timing...”

“Tia,” Chaos finished, his voice dangerously low. “She’s gone too far this time.”

Without another word, he snatched up his phone, dialing his sister’s number. She answered on the third ring, her voice syrupy sweet.

“Chaos! To what do I owe the pleasure of-”

“Cut the crap, Tia,” he snapped. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

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