The gala was packed.
Crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in golden light, and the scent of power hung heavy in the air—cologne, wine, and polished ambition.
Jin Zhi clutched his invitation with both hands, heart thudding in his chest. He wore the suit Bai Xue had gifted him, the fabric hugging his frame too perfectly. He felt exposed.
Vulnerable.
He spotted her instantly—Bai Xue at the center of a swirling conversation, dressed in a deep sapphire gown that shimmered like midnight. Her snow-white hair was pulled into a sleek knot, her golden eyes scanning the room like a queen surveying her kingdom.
And when she saw him, the room disappeared.
She moved toward him slowly, parting the crowd with every step. The moment she reached him, her hand slid possessively to the small of his back.
"You're late," she said, though he wasn't.
"Sorry," he murmured.
Her gaze raked over him. "You wore it. Good bunny."
He blushed so hard he forgot how to breathe.
Then a flashbulb went off—someone had taken a photo. The cameras were here. So were reporters. So were rivals.
Jin Zhi's panic must have shown in his eyes, because Bai Xue leaned down and whispered, "Do you trust me?"
"I… I don't know," he admitted honestly.
"Then stay close and watch who touches you."
They moved through the crowd like predator and prey—except no one could tell which was which.
A CEO from a rival firm approached. "Bai Xue. This your new acquisition?"
Jin Zhi stiffened.
She smiled. "He's mine."
The man chuckled. "Looks fragile."
Bai Xue took Jin Zhi's hand and laced her fingers through his. "He doesn't need to be strong. I'm strong enough for both of us."
Jin Zhi blinked up at her, stunned.
Her fingers tightened around his. Then she turned to him and said, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear:
"Tonight, you don't speak unless I tell you to. But you smile. And you stand beside me. Like the prize you are."
He swallowed and nodded. "Yes, Alpha."
Her smile widened, all fang and control.
And just like that, the whole room knew:
Jin Zhi wasn't just her assistant.
He was her chosen.
Her bunny.
Her leash-less possession.