Chapter 11

‎As the meeting came to a close, the air in the room seemed to hang heavy with the tension of the discussions that had just transpired. Edward, his face set in a grim expression, rose abruptly from his seat. Without saying a word, he strode quickly toward the door, his steps quick and purposeful, as if he had no time to waste. His demeanor was far from pleasant, and it was clear that whatever had been discussed had left him in a foul mood. The weight of his frustration seemed to settle around him like a cloud, and yet, despite his dark mood, something else lingered in his mind.

‎

‎He was eager to see her, the naughty girl, his thoughts immediately drifting toward her mischievous smile and playful energy. He could already feel the familiar warmth of anticipation rising within him. It was strange, though, how the thought of her could shift his mood so quickly. As he hurried toward the elevator, a faint, unintentional smile tugged at the corner of his lips. It wasn’t big, not a full expression of joy, but a small, knowing smile that only appeared when he thought about her. And he didn't even notice it. His mind was too preoccupied with the thought of her, but in that fleeting moment, his usual scowl softened, leaving behind an expression of quiet contentment.

‎

‎Anthonio, who had been quietly observing from across the room, was taken aback by the rare display of emotion. He had worked for his boss for seven years, and in all that time, he could count on one hand the number of times he had ever seen him smile. In fact, it was almost as if the boss wore his seriousness like a shield, cold, calculated, and constantly at the helm of a storm of business decisions. To see him smile was a rare anomaly that left Anthonio puzzled and intrigued.

‎

‎“What could the boss be thinking?” Anthonio muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing in confusion. He had always prided himself on understanding his boss's moods and actions, but today, for the first time in years, he felt completely in the dark. His boss was never one for personal matters, never one to share much about his private life. But that smile, no, that subtle, almost imperceptible shift in his expression seemed to speak volumes.

‎

‎Curiosity gnawed at Anthonio, urging him to follow. The boss was already heading toward the elevator, and Anthonio quickly made his decision. He broke into a run, eager to catch up and perhaps glean some insight into what had caused this unusual change in behavior. His steps echoed through the empty hallway as he sprinted toward the elevator, the faint sound of the elevator doors opening and closing ahead of him. He pushed himself harder, determined to reach his boss, but by the time he arrived at the elevator shaft, the doors had already closed. The light above the elevator flickered briefly, signaling that it was on its way up.

‎

‎Anthonio stopped just short of the elevator, breathing heavily. He leaned against the wall for a moment, frustration creeping into his chest. He had missed him, just by a few seconds.

‎

‎With a deep sigh, he straightened up and looked at the elevator's empty doors, still lost in thought about the boss’s strange smile.

‎As the elevator doors chimed open on the 25th floor, the soft hum of the machinery fading behind him, Edward stepped out into the quiet hallway. His sharp eyes scanned the area, settling on the lone figure at the far end. She was the only one there, standing beside the hallway’s large glass window, as if waiting for something, or someone. He wasn’t surprised she's the only one that came for the interview. After all, he was well known for his brutal reputation and exacting demands. People tended to avoid him when they could, and even those who didn't, usually respected the distance he commanded.

‎

‎His heavy footsteps echoed as he made his way down the corridor, confident and unhurried.

‎

‎Suddenly, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor reached his ears. Claire, who had been seated in the hallway with a book in hand, quickly stood up in surprise. Her eyes widened, a mixture of curiosity flickering across her features. She hadn’t expected to see him so soon, especially in this quiet, isolated corner of the office.

‎

‎“Hugly wolf—what are you doing here?” she asked, her tone laced with both surprise and the slightest hint of mockery. The nickname was a private one she'd formed in her mind after this morning encounter. His arrogant and his cold demeanor had painted him in her thoughts as a dangerous, albeit strange, creature, one who was to be avoided at all costs.

‎

‎Edward raised an eyebrow, an amused grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He stopped just a few feet away from her, his presence imposing. "You're calling your boss hugly wolf?" he asked, his voice smooth, almost playful. "You know you can be punished for that, don’t you?"

‎

‎Claire crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. She wasn't easily intimidated, especially not by someone like him, despite his intimidating stature and reputation. “You’re not funny, you know that, right?” she said, giving him a pointed look, one that screamed, You’ve really overestimated yourself. But beneath the annoyance in her voice, there was a spark of curiosity. Something about this man always seemed to pull her in, despite her best efforts to keep her distance.

‎

‎Edward didn’t flinch. His eyes scanned her, cool and calculating, before he took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. He stood tall, his presence overwhelming in the confined space of the hallway.

‎

‎"If I’m not the CEO, why would I be here?" he said, his voice laced with the confidence of someone who knew their worth, and expected the world to acknowledge it. He looked at her as if she were the one who had missed something glaringly obvious. To him, there was no question about his place in this world. It was his domain, and everyone in it was merely existing at his discretion.

‎

‎Claire didn’t back down. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, still scanning him with a mixture of intrigue and skepticism. She had heard the rumors, of course. Everyone had. But rumors were just that stories that lacked substance. It was the man standing before her, his cocky demeanor and piercing gaze, that made her wonder if there was more to him than the legends suggested.