Claire tried to keep up with Lucas as he strode into the building, but it seemed he was intentionally leaving her behind. His long strides quickly created a distance, and by the time she reached the elevator, he had already disappeared from sight.
*What a guy,* she thought with a huff, feeling a bit abandoned. Left alone in the bustling lobby, she glanced around uncertainly, noticing that none of the employees even paused to acknowledge her.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Grace?" A warm, clear voice sounded above her. She looked up, surprised, and met the gaze of a friendly, smiling face.
The man standing before her wasn't particularly striking in appearance, but the way his mouth curved in a gentle smile lent him an undeniable charm. It was as if his calm, approachable aura made up for his otherwise unremarkable features.
"Uh… yes, I am. And you are…?" she asked, giving him a questioning look.
"I'm Roy Lin, Mr. Zeller's assistant," he said with a polite smile. "Mr. Zeller asked me to show you around the company." Roy couldn't help but notice her unique aura. Though dressed simply, she exuded a quiet grace that couldn't be hidden. He thought to himself that, with a bit of polish, she'd be a truly stunning presence.
*Mr. Zeller?* She held back a scoff. So Lucas hadn't wanted them seen together, and he'd rushed ahead to create some distance. *Typical.* At least he'd sent someone to guide her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had a clue where to go.
"Thank you very much, Assistant Lin," she replied with a smile.
Her smile was like a refreshing iced tea on a summer day. Roy found himself oddly transfixed, unable to look away.
"Ahem, Assistant Lin, I think I see sparks in your eyes," teased a voice from behind. Troy, the head of the Creative Department, clapped a hand on Roy's shoulder, grinning mischievously.
Claire's face flushed, and she lowered her gaze.
Roy shot an irritated look at Troy, who knew very well about Claire and Lucas's "situation." The unspoken rule was clear: friends don't cross boundaries. *He'd better not be interested in her,* Roy thought with an internal sigh.
"Troy, quit joking around. Let me introduce you," he said, straightening up. "This is Miss Claire Grace, our newest employee." Then, pointing to Troy, he continued, "And this is Troy Blake, head of the Creative Department."
"Oh, a new hire! Lovely to meet you!" Troy flashed her a playful grin, his hand moving to reach toward her in a mock-friendly gesture.
"Hey, Troy, it looks like your hand's cramping up," Roy said smoothly, stepping between him and Claire before he could make contact, all the while maintaining a polite smile.
"Fine, fine. I'll back off, you buzzkill," Troy muttered, feigning annoyance. Then, casting a wink at Claire, he said, "Miss Grace, I'll see you around. We'll be spending a lot of time together, I'm sure."
"Thank you, Mr. Blake," Claire responded politely. *These people seem pretty easy to get along with,* she thought.
"Off you go, off you go!" Roy shooed Troy away with a dismissive wave. Then he turned back to Claire with a warm smile. "Now, shall we take a look around the production floor, Claire?" His tone had suddenly become familiar, as if they were already friends.
Claire was a little taken aback. *Claire?* Just moments ago, he'd been calling her "Miss Grace." Now he was addressing her like an old friend?
Roy noticed her confused expression and cleared his throat. "Um, I just thought it would be friendlier to use your first name," he explained, hoping Lucas wouldn't hear about it. *If Lucas found out,* he mused wryly, *he'd probably kill me with a single glare.*