To be honest, I also wanted to have a child, but I still hadn't found the right moment to bring it up with Lukas. He seemed so busy with the upcoming launch of the new drug, and I didn't want to add any pressure. For now, I decided to pause the matter; after all, we weren't in a hurry.
On the day of the launch, Lukas left early in the morning to oversee the preparations for the event. I had initially planned to stay home, thinking it would be better to let him focus on his work. But as the hours passed and I found myself with nothing to do, I reconsidered.
'Why not join in the fun?' I thought, feeling a spark of excitement at the idea of supporting him. As soon as I sensed that Lukas had left the house, I stood up and began preparing myself.
I chose a simple outfit, not wanting to be seen or noticed by anybody. After a quick glance in the mirror to check my hair and makeup, I went out
'This is a big day for him,' I reminded myself, a smile creeping onto my face. I wanted to be there for Lukas, to celebrate his hard work and achievements.
When I arrived at the venue, the atmosphere was already buzzing with excitement. The press had begun their coverage, and reporters were conducting interviews with various attendees. I decided to make my way around to the backstage area, planning to wait there until the end of the press conference.
The venue was packed with countless people, including security personnel who were keeping a watchful eye on the crowd. As I walked through the throng, a few employees recognized me and I quickly gestured for them to keep quiet. I knew how nosy the reporters could be; if they spotted me, they would surely rip me to shreds with their endless questions.
I glanced toward the stage and spotted Lukas sitting calmly, engrossed in a stack of papers. He looked focused and composed, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of activity surrounding him. I wanted to say hello but I didn't want to distract him from his preparations.
Instead, I quietly slipped into the lounge area. I settled into a chair, taking a deep breath as I waited for the press conference to conclude. However, the minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity, and I eventually succumbed to sleep.
When I woke up, I found a young man standing nearby, looking fresh-faced and eager. He couldn't have been much older than twenty-two, probably just graduated from college. He approached me with a respectful demeanor, as if he had been instructed by his superiors.
"Here's a glass of water," he said, handing it to me with a polite smile.
"Thank you," I replied, taking a sip to clear the remnants of sleep from my mind. "Do you know when the presentation will end?"
"Two hours have passed, so they would probably have a thirty-minute break soon," he informed me, his enthusiasm evident in his voice.
Since I was feeling a bit bored, I decided to continue chatting with him. "I don't think I've seen you here before."
The guy smiled brightly. "I've only been here for a month. It's my first time working for a big company, and this is also the first large press conference I've attended. I'm a little excited…" He continued to babble on, his words spilling out in a rush.
I couldn't help but smile at his infectious energy. His cheerful attitude and the sparkle in his eyes made it impossible not to listen and laugh at his anecdotes. He spoke about the thrill of being part of such a significant event, and I found myself reminiscing about my own early days at the company.
'Was I like this a few years ago?' I wondered, reflecting on my own excitement and nervousness when I first started. It felt like a lifetime ago, and yet here I was, still navigating the same world, albeit with a different perspective.
I was so engrossed in our conversation that I didn't notice someone entering the lounge.
Lukas stepped into the lounge, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Stella. He paused for a moment, taken aback by the sight of her chatting so happily with a stranger. It was rare for him to see her so chatty, especially with someone outside her family and close friends. A pang of insecurity shot through him, and he felt his mood shift dramatically.
As soon as the young man noticed Lukas, he stood up, a look of respect crossing his face. "Hello, sir," he said, his voice slightly nervous. "I should get back to my duties." He turned to Stella, a warm smile on his face. "It was great chatting with you, Miss."
I smiled back at him. "Me too," I replied, watching as he made his way toward the door.
Once he was gone, I stepped forward and handed the glass of water in my hand to Lukas. "You look tired," I said, concern lacing my voice.
He took the glass and drank deeply, the cool water refreshing him. "What were the two of you talking about just now?" he asked, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Oh, we were just talking about work," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "He seems really excited to be here."
Lukas nodded, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. I gestured for him to sit down. "You only have a ten-minute break, so rest up, and I'll wake you up just in time," I said, hoping to ease his stress.
"Thanks," he replied, closing his eyes and leaning back in the chair.
I watched him for a moment, admiring the way his features relaxed as he drifted off. Gently, I let his head rest on my lap, running my fingers through his hair while I scrolled through my phone.
Moments later, the alarm on my phone went off, breaking the tranquility. I nudged him gently, but he didn't stir. In a playful attempt to rouse him, I leaned down and kissed him deeply. To my delight, I felt him respond, his lips moving against mine as he finally began to wake.
"Wake up already, it's almost time for your press conference," I said, pulling back slightly to look at him.
"Just one more minute," he murmured, his eyes still closed, a sleepy smile playing on his lips.
I laughed softly, covering his mouth with my hand to prevent him from stealing another kiss. "Nope, time to get up!" I gently pushed him upright.
But as I turned to look at him, he quickly covered my face with his hands. "Don't look at me. I won't be able to leave if you look at me again," he said, his voice muffled and playful.
I chuckled, shaking my head at his antics. "Okay, okay. Just get ready!" I pushed him lightly toward the door, unable to suppress my smile.
One more hour left before the presentation would end.
Thirty minutes later, I heard voices just outside the door, their tones growing louder and more distinct. Something about those voices sounded familiar, sending a chill down my spine.
"Let's see how he can solve it this time. I've already arranged for some reporters to wait outside at the Silver Oak Hotel. Later, those people will break in and collect evidence of him," one voice said, dripping with malice.
"Is the person you arranged tight-lipped, or will she betray us?" another voice replied, laced with concern.
I quickly stood up, my heart racing, and slightly opened the door. Those voices… I was sure they belonged to the ones who had drugged Lukas in the first place!
"You mean Jane? No problem, she's an expert in this, although it was damn expensive to let her join this company, and the money she's asking is pretty high," the first voice continued.
"It's okay as long as things go smoothly. Wait, what about the Omega who was with Lukas?"
"I don't care about her as long as she won't disrupt our plan. By the way, will the drug work this time?"
"Of course, although the effect will be twice as strong as last time," the second voice assured.
"Did he really take the drug? That boy was very cautious this time. He hasn't touched the food at the venue all day," the first voice questioned, a hint of frustration creeping in.
"Don't worry about that. Jane already ordered a newbie to deliver water to that Omega, so even if we get caught, we'll just blame it on the newbie for having ulterior motives," the second voice replied, a sinister edge to their words.
"Oh, nice idea. If that Omega gave her water to that boy, then our plan will surely work," the first voice said, a sense of satisfaction evident.
"I already sent Jane directly to the hotel room. We know that no matter how strong his self-control is, I know that he can't resist the temptation, they will mark each other whether he likes it or not. That's the only way to remove the effect of the drug," the second voice concluded, laughter spilling from their lips.