Lukas hesitated for a moment when she hugged him, but then he gently lifted her into his arms and carried her all the way to his office. The employees outside stared in shock, whispers spreading quickly among them. Lukas' gaze was calm and commanding; silently, he looked at his staff, and one by one, they averted their eyes, quickly returning to their tasks, pretending not to notice.
"Make sure no one comes in," he instructed his assistant, Gian Mendez, who was adjusting his eyeglasses as he looked up.
"Copy that," Gian replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice as he nodded.
Lukas gently set Stella down on the sofa inside his office, and she sank into the cushion, blushing softly. He sat beside her, his expression soft but guarded. She looked away shyly, her cheeks burning.
'Why is she blushing?' Lukas wondered silently. Sitting close like this had already become normal for them.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
I felt my cheeks heat up even more as I recalled the time we had shared on this very sofa. The memories flooded back, and I couldn't help but blush at the thought.
"What's the matter?" Lukas asked, noticing my sudden change in demeanor. His brow furrowed in concern, and I could see the protective instinct in his eyes.
My mind drifted to the conversation between the two men earlier, and I hesitated, unsure whether to tell him or keep it to myself. Finally, I asked, "Do you know who drugged you back then?"
He squinted slightly, his gaze sharpening. "Why? Did you meet them just now?"
I looked at him in surprise. "So you already know?"
"Yeah... For a while now…" he admitted, his tone serious.
Silence hung between us as I processed his words. If he had known all along, why hadn't he done anything about it? My heart raced with a mix of frustration and concern.
He quickly checked me over, his expression shifting to one of urgency. "Why? Did they do anything to you?"
I shook my head, trying to reassure him. "No. It's just that I overheard them talking, and it reminded me of the faces of the ones who drugged you."
"Do you want to know the reason why they did that?" he asked, his voice low and intense.
"Can you tell me?" I responded softly, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"It's nothing serious, though," he said, his tone casual. "I only offended them when I was working with them, and they lost a lot." He paused, his gaze piercing into mine. "But I can tell there's more. What else did you hear?"
I quickly shook my head. "Nothing," I lied, trying to hide the truth.
"Are you sure?" he pressed, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Hmmm," I hummed noncommittally, subtly avoiding his gaze and chewing my lower lip, a nervous habit I couldn't shake.
He stared at me for a while, the silence stretching between us. "Do you want me to force you to tell the truth?" he asked, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
I looked at him, sighing deeply. Finally, I gathered my courage and revealed everything I had overheard.
I looked at him, feeling the weight of his gaze. I sighed, knowing I couldn't keep it from him any longer. "Okay, fine. I overheard them talking about how they thought I was a threat to you. They mentioned something about a medicine, and they also said that the daughter of Mr. Legazpi has taken a liking to you..." I hesitated, a strange pang of jealousy bubbling up. I didn't understand why, but hearing them try to push Lukas and that girl together made my chest tighten.
"Don't worry about that woman, I don't even know her," he said softly, trying to reassure me.
"But she likes you..." I murmured, my voice sounding almost whiny without meaning to.
Suddenly, he chuckled, breaking the tension. "Are you jealous right now?"
My eyes widened in surprise. "W-What? N-No?!"
He took my hand, planting a soft kiss on my palm. "Please say you're jealous," he said, his fingers gently brushing my cheek. "I'll be very happy if you are."
I gulped, feeling my heart race as I closed my eyes, battling the emotions swirling within me. "I am... jealous..." I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper, revealing my true feelings.
He smiled warmly, planting a tender kiss on my forehead. "Please don't run away from me anymore," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
I opened my eyes to find him looking at me with affectionate eyes, a mixture of relief and happiness washing over his features. My heart raced as I stared at him, feeling the intensity of the moment.
As he started to lean in closer, I instinctively held out my hand against his chest to stop him. "L-Lukas... T-This is the office..." I stammered, my cheeks flushing with heat.
He only smiled lightly, undeterred, and pressed his lips against mine. The kiss was gentle and soothing, sending a wave of warmth through me. At first, I was taken aback, but as I melted into the kiss, I found myself responding, craving more.
However, as the kiss deepened, I tried my best to push him away, knowing we needed to focus on the pressing issues at hand. "...Do you not care at all? Those two alphas..." I managed to say, catching my breath between kisses.
"Of course," he replied, pulling me closer, his voice low and reassuring.
"Then why... are they still here?" I asked, my brow furrowing in concern.
"Because of business," he said, cupping my face with his hands, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "I won't use the same despicable methods as them, but I will win their trust back in an open and honest way."
His words filled me with admiration and hope. I smiled at what he said, feeling a sense of pride in his integrity. In a moment of spontaneity, I planted a quick kiss on his lips, feeling the warmth of his presence linger even as I stood up.
Unable to resist, I leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. Then, quickly, I stood up and moved toward the door, eager to escape before I found myself unable to leave. "I have to go. Bye now!" I called out hurriedly.
"Stella—!" he started to say, but I didn't look back. I quickly closed the door behind me and hurried out of the company, my heart pounding with a mixture of emotions.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
That night, Stella found herself in the kitchen, preparing porridge once again. The familiar scent filled the air, a comforting reminder of the routine they had established. As usual, Lukas arrived home at midnight, but this time, the aroma of the porridge greeted him as he stepped through the door. A smile spread across his face as he savored the warmth of the meal, and he quickly devoured it, appreciating the care Stella put into each bowl. After finishing, he made his way to her room, gently pushing the door open. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
Stella, who had been feigning sleep, blushed and smiled at his actions, feeling a flutter in her chest. Life remained familiar, yet subtle changes began to weave into their days—moments of closeness, quiet understanding, and growing affection.
Life continued in its familiar rhythm, yet subtle changes were beginning to take shape. Stella resumed her nightly routine of making dinner for Lukas, including midnight snacks that she would prepare with love. She would often wait for him in the living room on weekends, but more often than not, she would fall asleep on the sofa, only to wake up later in her bed, tucked in and cozy.
Noticing her dedication, Lukas began to adjust his schedule. He made it a point to come home earlier on weekends, wanting to spend more time with her. The moments they shared gradually increased, and their bond deepened with each passing day.
Every morning, Lukas took it upon himself to cook breakfast, starting with simple porridge and pancakes. As the days went by, his culinary skills evolved, and soon he was preparing sunny-side-up eggs, crispy bacon, and even waffles. Stella, in turn, took charge of dinner, experimenting with new recipes and flavors, eager to impress him.
Sundays became their special day, a time when they worked side by side. Lukas would read and sign papers, his focus unwavering, while Stella busied herself with presentations for her work. They shared the space comfortably, the quiet companionship filling the room with a sense of peace and productivity.
One night, as they settled in to watch a movie together on the sofa, the soft glow of the screen illuminated the room. Stella, feeling the weight of the day, gradually succumbed to her fatigue and rested her head on Lukas shoulder. The warmth of his presence enveloped her, and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Lukas looked down at her affectionately, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he admired her serene expression. He carefully adjusted her position, gently laying her down with her head resting on his lap, ensuring she was comfortable. He loved these quiet moments, cherishing the intimacy they shared, and he didn't let go of her hand until the end of the movie.
When the credits rolled, he instinctively knew he should carry her to her room as he always did. Yet, tonight, something was different. A quiet, unexpected feeling stirred within him—an urge he couldn't quite explain. Without thinking, he bent down slowly and pressed his lips softly to hers, a gentle kiss filled with unspoken emotions.