Chapter 2
1255words
Looking up, I traced his perfectly knotted tie with my fingertip. "Quite the heroic performance out there," I drawled.
Something ignited in his eyes—a controlled fire.
"Is that right?" He leaned down until our noses nearly touched. "So tell me, Director Maggie, am I playing my part well enough?"
My smile deepened, and I answered without words.
I leaned in and pressed my lips to his chin.
In that moment, his carefully maintained restraint crumbled.
His grip on my waist tightened as he pulled me against him, taking control and stealing my breath.
His kiss was possessive yet gentle, irresistible as that cedar scent overwhelmed my senses.
Breathless, I could only cling to his shoulders as he claimed what was his.
His palm traced my spine, sending electric currents through my body.
Finally, he eased his grip, resting his forehead against mine.
The air between us crackled as he studied my flushed face and swollen lips, desire still smoldering in his gaze.
With practiced control, he smoothed my tousled hair and adjusted my collar.
"Fix yourself up," he murmured, voice controlled but eyes tender.
Still catching my breath, I shot him a playful look. "Yes, Mr. Evans."
He adjusted his suit and tie, slipping back into the role of the untouchable Mr. Evans—though the heat in his eyes remained for me alone.
"You should change before your meeting," I said. "And I need to get back to work."
Knock, knock, knock
An ill-timed knock interrupted us.
We sprang apart, instantly putting professional distance between us.
His expression darkened, warm lips pressing into a hard line.
"Enter."
The door cracked open, and Lily's head appeared.
She clutched documents to her chest, a professional smile plastered on her face that froze when she spotted me.
In a flash, she rearranged her features into the perfect damsel-in-distress, eyes already glistening.
"M-Mr. Evans," her voice quavered perfectly, like a frightened doe. "I brought these urgent documents… I didn't realize Director Maggie was here. Am I interrupting something?"
She lowered her head and bit her lip, eyes welling with tears she bravely held back.
She hovered in the doorway, neither in nor out—the perfect picture of innocence accidentally stumbling upon something private.
I crossed my arms and leaned against the desk, enjoying her little performance.
When Luke didn't react, she shifted her attack to me, voice dripping with confusion and hurt.
"Maggie, isn't there a company policy against entering Mr. Evans's office without permission?"
She framed it as concern for protocol, but every word implied I was abusing my position for special privileges.
Unfortunately for her, her game was painfully transparent.
Luke didn't even bother looking up.
"Since when is it your business who enters my office?"
His voice was emotionless yet chilling to the bone.
"And what made you think you could enter without being announced?"
As he spoke, he moved subtly closer to me.
A clear statement of allegiance.
I maintained perfect composure, my slight smile never wavering.
My calm made her carefully rehearsed drama look amateur.
"I-I'm so sorry, Mr. Evans! I didn't mean to—I'll go right away!"
Lily's face flushed then paled, her perfect makeup threatening to crack.
She practically threw the documents onto the desk before fleeing.
The door slammed shut with a bang, and blessed silence returned.
I arched an eyebrow at the man beside me, now back to his composed self.
"Mr. Evans," I drawled, "your admirers seem to multiply by the hour."
He turned to me, and that carefully banked fire threatened to reignite in his eyes.
"Jealous?"
"Hardly." I stepped closer, smoothing imaginary wrinkles from his suit, my fingers barely skimming his chest.
"Though next time there's a show like that, you might want to charge admission."
[Duplicate line - remove]
Luke's tense jaw relaxed as I met his gaze.
In two strides, he was before me, his thumb gently brushing the corner of my mouth where evidence of our kiss remained.
"Don't let people like her get to you," he murmured, voice deep and soothing. "You're the only one who matters."
Amused, I hooked a finger in his perfectly straightened tie and tugged him down toward me.
I rose on my toes and pressed another quick kiss to his chin.
"Better get to your meeting, or your executives will think I've completely worn you out."
His Adam's apple bobbed, his grip on my waist tightening as if he wanted to say more, but he only sighed softly.
"Wait for me after work."
He released me and turned, instantly transforming back into the formidable Mr. Evans.
I gave a graceful wave and clicked my way out of his office.
Back at my desk, before I could even settle in, my phone lit up.
A new message.
From: L.
Just one word—
"Good girl."
Reading those words, I couldn't suppress my smile.
As the workday wound down, I stretched and decided to visit Luke's office for the cake he'd mentioned bringing specially for me that morning.
Just as I reached his door, it yanked open from inside.
Lily burst out with red-rimmed eyes, nearly colliding with me.
She froze like she'd seen a ghost, lips trembling, then ducked her head and fled without a word.
Puzzled, I stepped inside to find the air thick with tension.
Luke stood by the coffee table, his expression thunderous.
On the table sat an elegant cake box—completely empty—with a cream-smeared fork abandoned beside it.
I connected the dots immediately.
"Well, well. Your little admirer has graduated from bad acting to petty theft?" I crossed my arms, amused.
At my voice, his anger melted. He strode over, arms reaching for me.
I sidestepped him playfully.
"You're radiating fury. Don't scorch me with it."
He gave me a helpless look, took my hand, and led me to the sofa.
"I came back from my meeting to find the cake gone," he gestured at the empty box. "The receptionist said Lily had been here during lunch."
"So she just helped herself to my cake?"
"She claimed she thought it was for her," Luke's mouth twisted with disdain. "I suggested she not flatter herself."
I could picture the scene perfectly.
Luke could eviscerate someone without a single curse word—each syllable a surgical strike.
Lily's amateur tactics were no match for even one of his cutting remarks.
"So that's why she ran out in tears?" I asked.
"Mm-hmm."
[Redundant - remove]
"I told her to get lost and that if she touched anything of mine again, she'd vanish from this company."
I couldn't help but laugh.
He pinched my cheek in mock annoyance. "What's so funny? Your cake is gone."
"I lost a cake," I leaned in to kiss him softly, "but gained one less problem. Fair trade."
As we talked, I caught the scent of coffee lingering in the air.
Following the aroma, I spotted an overturned mug in his trash can, dark liquid seeping into crumpled papers.
"What happened there?"
Luke's face twisted with revulsion.
"Before her exit, she made one last attempt—brought coffee and asked if I wanted to try her 'special brew.'"
"And you…" I nodded toward the trash, already knowing.
He made a sound of confirmation, his tone glacial.
Honestly, I had to admire Lily's persistence.
The girl had commitment, I'll give her that.
I slid my arm around his neck and whispered in his ear:
"Forget the cake. You'll just have to offer yourself as compensation instead."
