Love Across the Light Years -The Devil CEO Indulges My Lies.-Chapter 40: Annoying woman.

With a black trench coat draped over his shoulders, Dylan stepped out of his company building. The long tail of his coat swept through the air with quiet majesty, adding an undeniable charm to his cold and aloof presence.

Ford spotted him descending the stairs and immediately stepped forward to hold the door open. Behind Dylan trailed with his secretary, Wyatt Reed, carrying his work tablet as usual.

Dylan slid into the car. And Ford closed the door after him before moving around to the driver’s seat, while Wyatt followed and took his place beside the driver.

"We need to reach The Imperial View before 8.30," Wyatt informed.

Ford nodded in acknowledgement and started the engine.

As the car pulled away, Wyatt turned slightly and began briefing Dylan about the meeting arranged with the foreign partners.

Meanwhile —at the same time, elsewhere —

Karl was on the phone, his voice low but eager.

"Did you check properly? Has my brother really left the office?"

The woman secretary from the CEO’s office replied promptly, "Yes, Fourth Master. Sir has just left with Secretary Reed. They have a meeting with our West-East partners at the Imperial View at exactly 8.30 this evening."

Karl smiled in satisfaction. He turned on his heels and stared ahead at the golden plaque that read The Imperial View in bold, elegant writing.

"Good. That’s all I needed to know. You may return to work."

He ended the call and checked the time on his watch.

Although he had enough time to prepare everything, he still didn’t want to leave anything to the last minute.

He was almost staking his life on this —and he didn’t dare make a wrong move.

If everything goes well, he would be saved. Otherwise, no one would be able to save him from the wrath of the Old Demon.

Just the thought sent shivers down his spine.

But he quickly shook it off.

Now was not the time to be afraid. It was the moment to muster the courage.

For Eira.

And also, for himself.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and adjusted the cuffs. His steps remained brisk as he headed toward the grand entrance of the hotel.

It was not his first time in such a place.

He has grown up with luxury, yet somehow, walking inside today made him uneasy.

How could it not?

He had entered this place many times before —but never to plot against his older brother.

Warm golden lights spilled from the towering glass doors. The polished marble floor reflected the glow like liquid sunlight.

Guests moved in elegant streams —laughter, perfume, quiet conversation —everything felt expensive, deliberate ... controlled.

Karl barely spared anyone of it a glance.

His mind was busy rehearsing timings, angles, entry points, and possible interruptions. He had to be careful because every small detail mattered. He could not afford to come to his brother’s notice, or else everything would fail.

Which was exactly why —

Thud.

He walked straight into someone.

The impact was light but sudden. His shoulders jolted, and the small glass vial hidden between his fingers nearly slipped free.

Karl’s heart lurched.

His reflexes snapped in instantly —fingers tightening, palm closing protectively as he caught it mid-fall.

The faint liquid inside sloshed dangerously before settling again.

And for a brief moment, the world went silent.

He exhaled slowly, relief loosening his chest only when he confirmed the vial was safe.

Then he looked up.

A woman stood before him, elegantly dressed in midnight blue with a long charcoal coat draped over her, equally halted mid-step. Her brows were slightly raised, her expression calm —not flustered, not apologetic ... just mildly observant.

As if she were assessing whether he had been worth bumping into at all.

Seeing her like that, unapologetic, Karl’s irritation rose immediately.

"You should watch where you are going," he said, his voice clipped.

Her gaze dropped —not to his face —but briefly to his hand. The one he had very deliberately tucked behind his back.

Then her eyes returned to him, as if she knew enough to know exactly why he was irritated.

"My apologies," she said smoothly, a faint curve lifting her lips. "I didn’t realize the floor was exclusively reserved for you."

Karl took a beat of a moment to process the second half of her statement. And when he did, his brows twitched.

"That’s not what I meant." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Of course not," she replied pleasantly. "You meant I should develop eyes on the side of my head ... in case someone decides to storm through a hotel lobby like a charging bull."

Karl stared at her before pointing at himself. "Ch-charging bull?"

Did she just call him a charging bull?

Wasn’t she a little too audacious?

His patience thinned visibly.

"You were standing in the way."

"And you were moving as if you had somewhere illegal to be," she returned without any hesitation, without missing a beat.

His jaw tightened.

For one sharp second, he genuinely considered telling her exactly what kind of plan she had almost ruined.

But then, he held himself back and forced a thin smile.

"How observant."

"I just try," she said lightly.

Her gaze flickered once more toward his concealed hand. Not intrusive ... rather simply aware.

That tiny glance of hers made Karl bristle. He didn’t like it. But before he could say anything, her phone rang.

The crisp sound sliced through the tension.

She glanced down at her phone screen and sighed softly. "You almost made me delay something far more important."

"You —"

She raised a hand at him, stopping him mid-word as she answered the call.

Karl had no obligation to obey her gesture —yet he found himself pausing anyway, as if defying her would require effort he didn’t want to expend.

"Yes, Sister Freya," she said gently, "I have arrived. I will come find you right away." And with that, she ended the call and lowered the phone.

Then she looked back at Karl —calm, polite, entirely unbothered.

"Well then ... Mr. Charging Bull, I hope whatever you are protecting so carefully survives the evening."

Karl froze.

Did she —?

She just sent him a smile and stepped away, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Karl remained where he was.

Still.

Silent.

Slowly ... very slowly ... he looked down at the hand still holding the vial.

Then in the direction she had gone.

He couldn’t help but mutter, "... Annoying woman."