"What are you doing, CEO Zeller?" Claire exclaimed, looking up at him in shock. She caught a glimpse of his mischievous smirk, and for a moment, her heart thudded wildly.
*Seriously? Why does he always use this little trick to throw me off balance?* It was strange—every time he flashed that smile, her mind went blank.
"Miss Grace, is there something on my face?" His teasing voice pulled her back to reality.
She forced an awkward smile, only to realize she was still sitting on his lap. What's more, his arm was wrapped around her waist, and his other hand—was it actually resting on her chest?
Dazed, Claire's mind wavered in and out of shutdown mode, debating if she should get up and push him away. But if she did, would it hurt his male pride? After all, he was… an ED patient.
But honestly, what was he even thinking? Did ED patients have a tendency toward some kind of psychological imbalance? Maybe he wanted to take advantage of her to compensate for his condition. *Wait—why was this starting to sound like something out of a psychological thriller?*
"What's going on in that head of yours?" Lucas asked, his piercing gaze fixed on her face, catching the rapid changes in her expression.
"Nothing. So, what did you need me for?" She quickly redirected. If he found out she was still thinking of him as an ED patient, he'd probably drown her in sarcasm! This man's verbal comebacks were lethal.
"From now on, you don't need to train at the entry level. Starting today, you'll be my personal secretary." He justified the decision by reminding himself that, since she was his mother's chosen match, he should at least ensure no one in the company would dare to push her around.
"What? No way!" To his surprise, Claire flatly refused.
"What did you say?" His gaze darkened, a trace of irritation in his voice.
She actually dared to say no?!
"I said no! The only reason I agreed to join your company was because your mother was so insistent, and I didn't want to upset her. Since I just graduated, I lack experience, so starting from the ground up is the best way for me to build knowledge and skills." She had no interest in relying on anyone else.
"You'll gain experience as my personal secretary too. You'll learn just as much, if not more, because you'd be exposed to a wider range of work than entry-level staff."
"But I don't want my colleagues to think I got in through connections. The only way to avoid that is to start from the bottom. I believe I can prove myself." She met his gaze with determination.
"So, you're set on starting from the ground up?" Was her concern about not appearing "connected" really that serious? It was *his* company—no one would dare say anything behind her back if he told them not to. So basically, she just didn't want to be around him, right? *What was she afraid of? That he'd eat her alive?*
"Claire Grace, you're not seriously thinking that I like you, and that's why you're afraid I'll make some sort of move, are you?"
She shook her head, surprised. "Why would you think that? You've made it more than clear in the car that you don't like me. I couldn't forget it even if I tried."
"So, you're still insisting on starting from the entry level?" *Just to avoid being around me?*
"What does that have to do with anything?" she asked, baffled. Hadn't he been the one trying to keep their relationship strictly professional?
"Are you sure this is really what you want?" He leaned in close, his warm lips brushing across her soft cheek.
She nodded, feeling a jolt as her heart skipped a beat, and blood rushed to her face, making her feel lightheaded.
"Fine. If that's what you want, then don't expect a ride to and from work anymore. Now, Miss Grace, you may leave." His gaze turned cold as ice.
With a detached push, he eased her off his lap.
Claire stared at him in shock.
They say women are fickle, but she'd just discovered that this man could change his mood faster than the weather.