014

LUCIEN

I didn’t think Shayle would actually leave. When she dropped the iPad and that goddamn red dress and walked out like that, I thought she’d come crawling back in a few minutes, head down, voice small, maybe muttering an apology.

But she didn’t. I didn't care though. I bet she just went somewhere close to cool herself.

Even the blondie was surprised, staring at the door Shayle had just slammed behind her.

Her lips were still wet, her blouse half open, and her expression was caught somewhere between confusion and embarrassment.

When she finally found her voice, she glanced at me and whispered, “Wasn’t that the girl whose boyfriend humiliated her last Friday?”

I didn’t bother replying. I zipped up my pants, tucking my shirt back in, my mind still running through what the hell had just happened.

The blondie frowned. “What are you doing, Lucien? We’re not done yet.”

I finally turned my head toward her.

“What’s your name again?”

She blinked, taken aback, then stammered, “A-Anita.”

I leaned back against the desk, watching her face.

“Right. You were the one bragging you’d give me the best blowjob I’ve ever had.” I scoffed. “Didn’t even enjoy it.”

Her face went red. Her mouth opened like she wanted to curse, but I cut her off before she could form a word.

“You can leave now.”

She didn’t move. Instead, she crossed her arms and sneered, “I don't care what you say about me. What about your secretary? You’re really going to let her get away with what she did? She disrespected you in front of me. You’re not going to fire her?”

I raised a brow. “Fire her? Why would I do that?”

Her expression faltered.

“Because she walked out on you! I can take her position. I’ll be your secretary. You don’t even have to increase my pay. I’ll do anything.”

I studied her, letting the silence stretch just enough to make her shift uncomfortably. Then I tilted my head.

“Anything?”

A shy smile crept across her face. Her cheeks flushed as she brushed her fingers over my chest. “Yes, Lucien. I could warm up your bed, you know. You want that too, right?”

I gave a low laugh that held no amusement. “That’s what I thought.”

I took her wrist and moved her hand away.

“You’re all the same. You all want one thing from me; sex. And when you don’t get it, you start acting like you’re owed something.”

Her lips parted to speak, but I wasn’t done.

“Why the fuck do women try so hard to look different from the rest when deep down, you’re all exactly the same? Even that one,” I muttered, thinking of Shayle. “She acts like she’s not interested. Tries to insult me. I bet she’s just playing hard to get.”

Anita blinked, confused. “Who?”

I ignored her question.

“Whatever. Did I not tell you to leave?”

Her face darkened with anger.

“You’re such an asshole. If you weren’t interested in me, you could’ve just said so.”

I looked at her, unimpressed. “You were the one who jumped at me, remember?”

Her nostrils flared. “Fuck you, Lucien. Just so you know, your dick’s small and you're probably a one-minute man.”

I smirked, proud and calm. “You’re just mad you didn’t get to experience it, kitten.”

Her cheeks flushed at the pet name but she cursed under her breath and stormed out, slamming the door behind her so hard.

I exhaled and ran a hand through my hair. The office was finally quiet again, but my chest still felt heavy with something I couldn't name.

That woman had some nerve. Shayle Vale.

I grabbed my phone and called the front desk. “Send Shayle Vale over now,” I ordered.

There was a pause on the other end before the receptionist spoke carefully. “Sir, she already left the company.”

I froze for a second. “She what?”

“She left, sir. Around twenty minutes ago.”

I clenched my jaw. So she really did walk out.

The voice on the other end continued, “Should I find you another secretary?”

I stared at the glass wall ahead of me, thinking. Firing her would be exactly what she wants. That’s too easy.

“No,” I said, cutting the call.

She thinks she can walk away that easily? Not happening.

My phone rang again. Without checking, I picked it up. “What?”

The moment I heard the voice on the line, I regretted answering.

“Lucien,” the woman spoke softly, “it’s been a while. How have you been? You haven’t called your mother once.”

I exhaled sharply. “What do you want, Mother?”

“I just wanted to tell you that your father and I will be back next week.”

“And?”

“And maybe it’s time you make peace with your brother,” she said. “At least for my sake.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “If that’s why you called, I’m hanging up.”

“Lucien,” she interrupted, her tone firm but still warm, “your brother has been reaching out to us for months. He calls me every week and checks on us unlike you. Sometimes I forget I have two sons.”

“Then keep it that way,” I muttered.

“Your father wants both of you to come and take over the company already,” she continued.

“I already told you,” I snapped, “I’m not interested. Give it to Kieran for fuck sake!”

She sighed. “That’s what your father wants too. But you’re the first son. It’s only right that…”

“I’m not doing this again, Mother.” My voice rose a little. “Goodbye.”

Before she could speak, I ended the call and tossed the phone onto the desk. My temples throbbed.

Every damn conversation with her ended the same way.

I poured myself a glass of whiskey from the minibar near the wall and took a sip.

It burned down my throat but did nothing to cool the sudden anger in me. My thoughts drifted back to Shayle again.

She was infuriating. Always arguing, always speaking back. Any other woman would’ve melted under my stare, but she looked me dead in the eyes and said she didn't find attractive?

And when she dropped that line about that blondie covering for her, I could see that spark in her eyes; anger, disgust, defiance.

She really thought she could piss me off and just walk out?

The door clicked open again.

Maddie, my senior assistant, walked in holding a pile of documents.

“These are the resumes for the new recruits,” she explained, setting them down on the desk.

I nodded and started flipping through them lazily, just to distract myself.

The first few were nothing special. Then I froze when my eyes landed on a name printed in bold across one of the pages: Alina Vale.

My brows furrowed. “Vale?” I murmured.

Maddie noticed my expression. “Oh, yeah. That’s Shayle’s younger sister.”

I looked up at her. “You’re sure?”

“Absolutely. I checked the forms myself.” Maddie leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing gossip.

“And, get this, she’s apparently the same girl who’s dating Carlos. You know, Shayle’s ex. Crazy coincidence, huh? Imagine them all working here together, it’ll be chaos.”

So after getting humiliated, her ex goes ahead to date her younger sister? A small laugh escaped my lips.

Her taste in men was just as terrible as her fake personality.

“Hire her.”

Maddie blinked. “Wait, what? Are you serious?”

I didn’t look at her. I just smirked. “Completely.”

She hesitated. “But, sir, don’t you think that’s going to cause… complications?”

“That’s the point,” I muttered, half to myself. “I look forward to seeing how my dear secretary will handle it.”