Coco's POV
We were all stunned by the scene that just unfolded before us. Mr. Lowell, the imposing and revered figure of our city, grabbed the girl by her wrist and beckoned for us to follow him. Despite his reputation for being aloof and unforgiving, none of us could have predicted this reaction after his confrontation with his father. I gathered the necessary documents as we made our way to the conference room, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that Mr. Lowell was even more troubled now after his father's visit. It was a bad time for such a development, especially since we were heading to an important conference. Having worked for Mr. Lowell since his return, I had seen firsthand how hard he worked and how demanding he was on himself and his employees.
Mr. Lowell's relentless pursuit of perfection mirrored his father's own character. They shared a stern demeanor and an unyielding temperament, both capable of striking fear in those around them with just a glance. As someone who had previously worked for Mr. Lowell's father for three years before his retirement, I was in a unique position to compare the two men. And yet, there was something fundamentally different about Mr. Lowell Jr. Maybe it was their age difference or their life experiences, but there was a glimmer of warmth and hope in my new boss' eyes that I had never seen in his father.
His actions also spoke volumes about his character - despite his occasional outbursts due to his temper, he always ended up making the right decisions for our company and pack. That's why I remained optimistic about Mr. Lowell Jr.'s ability to lead as our CEO and alpha.
And yet, here he stood - this innocent-looking girl had just ruined his expensive suit, and instead of unleashing his power or throwing a tantrum like one would expect from a powerful alpha male, he calmly led us toward his office. This piqued my curiosity and uncertainty - there had to be more to Mr. Lowell's behavior than meets the eye. I had worked closely with him for the past three months and had come to realize that there was a depth to his character that he kept hidden from the outside world. His coldness and distance were often mistaken as a lack of empathy, but I suspected there was something more complex beneath the surface.
As we followed him to his office, my mind raced with questions about his true motives. The rumors of his many affairs during his time abroad came to mind, but given how easily he brushed off the advances of countless women, it seemed unlikely that he needed companionship. Perhaps his interest in this girl was genuine, but the thought of her falling for his charms and being rejected weighed heavily on my heart. There was definitely more going on here than meets the eye, and I couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay behind Mr. Lowell Jr.'s composed facade.
As we entered Mr. Lowell's office, I noticed a faint scent of cigarettes and a pile of documents on his desk. Mr. Lowell seems stressed as he quickly requests, "Coco, please get the young lady something to wear and get the mess in the Hallway cleaned up... please." His use of the word "please" is surprising, as Mr. Lowell is not known for showing consideration or getting involved in others' affairs.
I left the office to find fresh clothes and a towel for Bambi, feeling curious about what would happen there while I was away. When I returned, Mr. Lowell was removing his shirt without any hesitation. In our pack, nudity was normal and I had seen his toned body before, but this close proximity felt different and I wondered how shy Bambi would react. I went to the bathroom to hand her my change of clothes. She expressed gratitude and guilt while taking the clothes and towel from me, her eyes flickering with shyness.
"Don't worry about it," I said nonchalantly, trying to ease the tension. "I'm just doing my job." But my mind is racing with questions - why is Mr. Lowell so relaxed? Does he have romantic intentions towards Bambi?
Lina's POV
As I frantically wiped the coffee off my blouse in Mr. Lowell's private bathroom, I couldn't help but notice the luxurious material of the expensive-looking garment. I quickly changed into it, not bothering to perfect the fit as I wanted to free up the bathroom for Mr. Lowell. Upon stepping out, I was greeted by his bare upper body and couldn't help but blush at the sight of his well-defined abs. My thoughts were interrupted as he strode towards me with cold blue eyes that seemed almost gray. My heart skipped a beat as he passed by me so closely, causing an electrifying sensation within me. He retrieved a stunning dark blue suit from a dresser and retreated back into the bathroom to change. As Mr. Lowell prepared, I took some time to compose myself and fix my appearance before following him to the conference room where we were already late. Despite months of preparation and confidence in my abilities, my nerves were still on edge due to being late and my conflicting feelings for my boss. Finally, Mr. Lowell emerged from the bathroom, and as we walked to the conference room together, I couldn't help but admire him secretly. However, my thoughts were interrupted as he thanked me for meeting him today, mentioning that if we hadn't crossed paths, I wouldn't have been in this situation. His initial annoyed gaze seemed to fade away as he asked for my name in a more serious tone.
Fortunately, things didn't go as expected, especially after he looked at me with such an annoyed look right after the incident. Never could I have imagined that I would now be inside Mr. Lowell's private bathroom, frantically wiping the coffee off my clothes and changing in a rush. I tried not to let my thoughts linger, knowing I was even more pressed for time now. The kind and beautiful assistant reminded me to hurry, adding to the urgency.
Usually, I didn't pay much attention to clothing, but I couldn't help but notice the luxurious material of the blouse I hastily put on. It looked expensive and felt extremely smooth against my skin. It was a bit too large for my size so it had a looser fit, showing a bit too much of my cleavage. I didn't bother perfecting the fit, just ensuring I was decently covered. I wanted to free the bathroom for Mr. Lowell so he could prepare as well. However, as I stepped out, I was unexpectedly greeted by Mr. Lowell's bare upper body. He was using a cloth to wipe the coffee off his well-defined abs. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and though I knew I shouldn't be gawking at his chiseled physique, I found my eyes drawn to him. His body was nice but nothing compared to his piercing blue eyes, sleek black hair and handsome face.
"I'm..." I began my sentence, but Mr. Lowell interrupted, striding toward me. His cold blue eyes, almost gray, locked onto mine. Suddenly, I was startled, my heart skipping a beat. In that instant, the conference and all my duties faded from my mind. He approached gradually, passing by me so close that I couldn't help but flinch at the electrifying sensation his proximity ignited within me. He reached for the handle of a built-in cabinet that appeared to be a dresser, retrieving a hanger holding a stunning dark blue suit. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. While my heart threatened to leap out of my chest from excitement, Mr. Lowell seemed unfazed. I quickly banished the thought from my mind. Meanwhile, he retreated into the bathroom to change. How could a man like him ever be interested in someone like me anyway? I had nothing to offer, no name, no family, nothing of interest. I was a nameless apprentice still studying and struggling to make a living.
I used the time while Mr. Lowell prepared to make myself look more presentable. I breathed in deeply, adjusting my clothes and checking my bag for cleanliness and my belongings, including the flash drive with the presentation files. Everything seemed fine except for my clothes, which I neatly stowed away in my bag. I decided to focus on preparing for the presentation to calm my nerves. I went through my notes, silently repeating my sentences again and again like a prayer. Even though I had been working on it for months and was confident in my abilities, it helped ease my agitation.
Finally, he emerged from the bathroom, and I managed to compose myself again — or so I thought. As he walked out, leaving the awkward incident behind us, I thought I would finally have a chance to admire the man before me. His now blue suit perfectly complemented his blue eyes. However, I was abruptly interrupted by Mr. Lowell's voice as he passed by me, heading towards the door. "Now that we're ready, we can finally head to the conference room," he stated. I expressed my gratitude, quickly following behind him.
"Well, if we hadn't crossed paths today, you probably wouldn't have found yourself in this situation to begin with," he replied, and I detected a hint of a smile on his face as he spoke. It was the first time I had seen positive emotions from him since we met. I felt relieved, realizing he wasn't completely annoyed or angry with me. His initial annoyed gaze seemed to fade away. "Regarding how to thank me and Coco, I'm sure you—by the way, what was your name again?" he asked, adopting a slightly more serious tone.
"My name is Lina... Lina Wilson," I quickly responded. "So, Ms. Wilson, I believe you can come up with a way to express your gratitude," he continued.