Chapter twelve: Lucas POV

William's  reply lit up my screen before I even finished closing the door to my office.

“Sir, we still haven’t found the reason why she quit. But there’s talk she’s dating a board member. She left the country yesterday.”

I exhaled, slow, irritated. Not surprised.

“And what member of the board is it?” I asked.

His answer came fast.

“Samuel.”

Before I could react, Serena turned to me so sharply her hair whipped over her shoulder.

“Sorry—Samuel? The same Samuel you fired today?”

Her disbelief was loud enough to echo.

“Yes.” My jaw felt tight enough to crack. “That Samuel.”

I put the phone on speaker and leaned against the desk, eyes still on Serena.

“William,” I said, “dig everything. I want the timeline of how they met, their conversations, any odd transfers, unauthorized access, every single meeting he’s had with anyone suspicious. Open every drawer you can find and dump it on my desk.”

“Yes sir. Should I alert HR to repost the secretary position?”

“No.” My eyes drifted to Serena, who was still staring at me like she hadn't experienced much more than what was happening right now. “I already have someone in mind.”

There was a subtle pause on William’s end. “Understood, sir.”

I hung up.

Serena folded her arms, watching me like she was trying to read between the lines. “So… who exactly is this ‘perfect person’ for the job?”

“You.” I didn’t even bother softening it.

Her brows flew up. “Me?”

“You wanted to help,” I said, pushing off the desk, stepping closer. “This is how. I need someone I trust to handle confidential files, sensitive meetings, board agendas, back–channel communication, everything. You’re smart. You’re observant. And you’re not scared of any of them.”

She blinked. “Lucas, I… don’t know the first thing about being a secretary.”

“Good,” I said. “Means you won’t have any bad habits to unlearn.”

She gave me a look. The kind that said: You’re insane, but keep talking.

“And you trust me with your entire company’s throat?” she asked quietly.

“I trust you with more than that,” I said, voice low. “And right now, I need eyes and ears I won’t have to second–guess.”

She inhaled, shaky but steady. “You really think Samuel and your ex-secretary are connected to Ethan?”

“I think people don’t run unless they have somewhere to run to,” I said. “And Samuel never liked that I refused his proposal about merging distribution with one of his offshore friends. He’s exactly stupid enough to sell company secrets for validation.”

Serena stepped closer, fingers brushing my forearm. “And you really believe I can handle this?”

I lifted her chin gently. “Serena, you walked into a conference room full of people who tried to destroy your name, and you didn’t flinch. You slapped Ethan twice and didn’t apologize. You kept your head up. You protected yourself.”

Her breath hitched a little.

“If you can do that,” I said, “you can sit outside my office and scare half of these board members into telling the truth.”

She snorted, cheeks warming. “You make it sound like a battle position.”

“It is.” I smirked. “And I always put my strongest fighter close.”

Her eyes softened, a small smile formed on her face, but she didn’t melt into it.

“So if I’m taking this job,” she said, lifting her chin, “you’re giving me full access? Files, calls, meeting agendas. No hiding anything from me.”

“Everything,” I said. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it together.”

She stared at me for a minute, then nodded once, decisive. “Then fine. I’ll do it.”

“Good.”

I stepped even closer, brushing my thumb over her cheek. “And Serena?”

“Hm?”

“You’re not here as a decoration.” My voice dropped lower. “You’re here because I trust you more than anyone in that boardroom.”

Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak.

For the first time in the entire chaotic day, something settled in me. Not calm. Not peace. Something stronger.

"You should go home, I'll have the driver send you home," I said, softly, glad that she didn't argue.

"Which one leads to the private elevator," She asked as she stepped outside my office, still holding back her smile.

"You know very well that I'm not going to bite if you smile Serena, let out that laughurged.

"I'm not holding it back," She argued, pressing the door to the elevator.

"Yes you are,"

She stepped into the private elevator and turned halfway, chin tilted like she was fighting gravity and feelings at the same time.

“I’m not holding anything back,” she repeated.

A lie so obvious it practically slapped me.

I leaned an elbow on the doorframe. “Serena… you walked in here looking like you were ready to set the whole building on fire. Now you can’t stop smiling. It’s fine. I can handle it.”

Her brows lifted. “Handle what?”

“You.”

Her eyes widened just a little, just enough that I knew I got her.

She huffed, rolling her eyes as she hit the button. “Goodnight, Lucas.”

“It’s barely five,” I said.

“It feels like midnight after the day I’ve had.”

“Then go home,” I murmured. “Rest. Tomorrow’s going to be worse.”

“Oh, you really sell jobs beautifully,” she shot back, stepping fully into the elevator.

“Serena.”

She paused.

I didn’t move, didn’t look away. “You did good today.”

For a moment, it wasn’t Lucas-the-CEO and Serena-the-woman-thrown-into-chaos. It was just us. Her eyes softened again, not with shyness but with something steadier, something neither of us were naming.

“Goodnight,” she whispered.

The elevator doors slid shut between us, and for a second, I stood there like an idiot staring at metal.

Annoying woman.

Brilliant, infuriating, necessary woman.

I ran my hand down my face, exhaled, and walked back into my office. But the moment I sat, my phone buzzed.

It was a simple text from her.

“You better not change your mind by morning.

I already accepted the job.”

I smirked as I typed into my phone.“You’re stuck with me now,” I replied.

Her typing bubbles popped up instantly. “Good.”

I stared at that one word way longer than I should have.