8 a.m., President's Office.
Linda carried over a stack of employee badges: "Assistant Su, your spot—"
She pointed toward the president's office... inside.
A minimalist white height-adjustable desk sat flush against the floor-to-ceiling windows, forming an L-shape with Lu Tingchen's desk—less than a meter apart.
Su Wan: "???"
"Mr. Lu said it's for easy access whenever needed." Linda shot her a look that screamed "good luck with that."
Sure enough—
No sooner had she sat down than the man slid over a stack of documents: "Translation. French. Half an hour."
Su Wan buried her head in work, occasionally stealing glances.
Sunlight fell on his shoulder, revealing the sharp collarbone peeking from his shirt collar. The line was cold and sharp, yet dangerously sexy.
On her third glance, the man suddenly turned his head, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Your gaze is distracting."
"...Sorry."
"If you want to look, do it openly." He loosened his tie and undid two buttons. "Save yourself the distraction."
Su Wan nearly made her keyboard smoke.
By noon, senior executives began arriving for reports. Each cast a glance at her first, then at CEO Lu, their expressions微妙.
Su Wan felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She messaged her best friend: [I'm sitting right under the boss's nose. I feel like I need permission to breathe.]
Her bestie replied instantly: [When you're close to the water, sleep first!]
Her hand trembled, and the phone clattered to the floor.
The screen faced upward, the message fully exposed.
Lu Tingchen caught sight of it, his eyebrow arching slightly. He casually picked up the phone, his fingertip gliding over the "sleep first" message, and chuckled softly.
"Not a bad idea. Approved. Get in line."
Su Wan: ???
She wanted to vanish on the spot.
Friday night, the group's anniversary gala.
Lu Tingchen tossed a black velvet box to Su Wan: "Put this on. You're accompanying me."
Inside was a smoky gray gown with a back cutout plunging to her waist, made of barely enough fabric to cover her.
Su Wan steeled herself and slipped into the fitting room.
The zipper got stuck halfway up.
The more she struggled, the harder it became. Suddenly, the curtain was pulled aside—
The man slipped inside sideways. In the cramped space, the warm yellow light from the dressing mirror fell upon his sharp features.
"Don't move."
His fingertips caught the zipper and slid it down deliberately, leaving a trail of trembling skin in its wake.
The mirror reflected both of them—
her snow-white back, his long fingers, black and white intertwined like a forbidden illustration.
Su Wan bit her lip. "Is... is it done?"
"Mm." He leaned closer, his lips nearly brushing her ear. "Remember, don't leave my side tonight."
"Why?"
"Because—" his voice was low and husky, "I don't want any other man to see you."
The zipper slid shut with a soft click, like the latch of some secret lock.
Su Wan glanced at her reflection, her ears burning bright red.