Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Lux turned to her with all the charm of a serpent offering gold. "Miss Ninevyn, would you like something to drink?"

She smiled sweetly. "Champagne would be lovely."

He gave a subtle nod to the nearest servant, then leaned just slightly closer—his cologne brushing her senses like silk and smoke.

"Careful," he said softly, a glimmer in his eye. "Not all guests survive the game."

Aelitha blinked. Smiled.

And for the first time, wasn't sure if he was flirting—or threatening.

Lux's words had been soft. Smooth. Laced in gold. But beneath that silky CFO tone, there was an edge—like an investment clause written in invisible ink. Friendly on the surface, but fatal in fine print.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and laughed lightly, adjusting her dress as if brushing off the chill. "You're very funny, Mr. Vaelthorn."

Lux smiled. That effortless, polished smile that belonged in Forbess magazine and divorce court at the same time. "I hear that a lot."

What Aelitha didn't know?

Lux had already texted Fiera.

Lux: Really? You sent your cousin instead of coming yourself?

Lux: Bold portfolio diversification, Fiera. But was this an investment? Or a liquidation event?

No reply yet.

But that was fine. He didn't expect one.

Because tonight wasn't about Fiera. Or even Aelitha.

Tonight was about control.

Lux turned and strode ahead. "Come," he said with that faint rumble in his voice. "Let me show you what a real housewarming looks like."

The dining room was gorgeous.

Elyndra paused as they entered. Even she was momentarily silenced.

Vaulted ceilings carved with spellscript. Crystal chandeliers that glowed like captured starlight. A long black-marble table lined with silver and obsidian cutlery.

Fresh roses bloomed in vases of etched glass. Not just red—but pure gold. Real petals, dipped in magical alchemy.

And the scent.

Savory meats glazed in honeyed citrus and wine reductions. Roasted root vegetables dusted with black sea salt. Flaky pastries filled with molten cheese and mana-infused truffle.

Lux raised a brow as the scent hit Aelitha's nose.

"Lyra's been busy," he said. "And Sira may have bullied her into adding five courses. I lost track after the wine list hit millions."

"Millions?" Elyndra echoed, eyes wide.

Sira, seated near the head of the table already, smirked. "What can I say? I have high expectations. And expensive tastes."

Aelitha laughed lightly, her heels tapping against the polished floor as she followed them to the seats. "Well. I'm honored. I didn't know I'd be dining with… such refined company."

She meant it as a compliment.

Sira took it like an audit.

"I'm sure you'll survive," the Pride-born woman said with a smile so pleasant it came with hidden interest rates.

Lux gestured toward the chairs. "Make yourselves comfortable. First round is wine. After that, survival depends on your liver."

Elyndra giggled and sat down. Aelitha followed, eyes lingering on the seat beside Lux like it was an open stock acquisition.

But just before she could sit—

Naomi sat down.

Aelitha froze mid-step. "Oh—Naomi… I didn't see you—"

"I know," Naomi said, smiling softly. "I'm quite good at avoiding hostile takeovers."

Lux covered his mouth with his hand. Coughed into it.

It might've sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

Aelitha slowly sat down across from Naomi, her smile freezing like a stock that just got hit with insider scandal.

"Shall we toast?" Lux asked, already lifting a silver-rimmed flute.

And that's when Aelitha struck.

"Oh! Wait, let me pour for you," she offered brightly, grabbing the wine bottle with one hand.

This was her chance! She just needed to splash some wine so she could make Lux wear her suit.

Lux raised a brow. "That's not necessary—"

"No no," she insisted, stepping behind him. "My honor as guest~"

Sira's gaze sharpened.

Naomi tilted her head.

Elyndra blinked.

And Aelitha tilted the bottle just a bit too hard.

-SPLASH!

The dark red liquid sprayed across Lux's shoulder. At least, that's what it should have happened.

"Oh no!" Aelitha gasped dramatically, hand flying to her lips. "I'm so sorry! My grip—how clumsy of me—"

But Lux was already gone.

Before the liquid touched his shirt, his body had shifted, tilted, dodged with all the smooth calculation of someone dodging tax audits and divine judgment.

Aelitha's hand froze mid-pour. The wine hit empty air and splattered onto the floor instead.

Lux looked back at her with a deadpan smile. "You missed."

Her fake gasp stalled. "I—I was just—!"

"Trying to help," Naomi finished kindly. "We know."

"Such thoughtful hospitality," Sira added. "Very… hands-on."

Aelitha froze.

This wasn't a party.

It was a trial.

Lux didn't even bother to look down. A servant was already there, wiping the spill before it had fully settled. It was fast. Too fast. Almost like they'd been trained for this exact brand of chaos.

He sat down again, swirling the untouched wine in his glass. "Don't worry about it. Happens all the time. That's why I invest in stain-resistant suits."

Aelitha didn't speak. Couldn't. Her tongue was a ghost.

But Lux didn't stop.

He smiled. But it was different now.

Not flirtatious. Not polite.

It was the smile of a predator holding a quarterly report that showed who owed what, and how much longer they could fake solvency.

Then he turned away from her. Fully.

Engaged Sira in conversation. Leaned close to whisper something that made her smirk and bite her lower lip.

Elyndra coughed into her napkin.

Naomi laughed softly and reached for her wine.

And Aelitha?

Sat there.

Frozen.

Like a leveraged loan.

That had just defaulted.

Later, as the food was being served—plates of sizzling grilled tenderloin, butter-glazed mana shrimp, goldenroot soup with floating emerald herbs—Lux's phone buzzed.

Fiera had replied.

Fiera: …What???

Fiera: I didn't send her.

Fiera: That little—!

Fiera: I'm coming. Don't let her leave. Don't kill her either. Yet.

Fiera: Five minutes. I'm changing shoes.

Lux smiled faintly at the message. He tilted his phone slightly so Sira could see it.

She leaned in. Read it. Sipped her wine.

Then whispered, "How much do you want to bet she tries to seduce you next?"

Lux didn't even blink. "That one's overdue."

Elyndra giggled, relaxing now. "This is cruel."

"It's math," Lux corrected. "We're just balancing the books."

Aelitha tried to speak again. Tried to catch Lux's gaze. But it was too late.

The real women had taken their seats.

The market had shifted.

And her IPO had just failed to launch.