Page 21 of Grumpy Orc CEO

But I have to. At least for now.

Opening my eyes, I take a deep breath and straighten up. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that persistence pays off—not by force, but by patience and understanding.

I pick up a pen and start scribbling notes on a project proposal. The rhythmic motion helps clear my mind a bit, giving me something tangible to focus on. Still, there’s a part of me that clings to the hope that someday the circumstances might change.

But for now, all I can do is work. It’s what I’m good at, after all.

CHAPTER 12

Lucy

Isit at my desk, trying to focus on the spreadsheet in front of me, but my mind keeps drifting back to Jarvin. His presence lingers in the office like a constant hum.

Every time he walks by his commanding stride sends a jolt through me. It's almost maddening the way my body responds. I tell myself it’s only irritation, but deep down, I know it’s something more.

His offer for dinner lingers in the back of my mind. But what if he finds out I'm not the person he thinks I am? He met me with confidence fueled by wine and the understanding that he was just a stranger, someone I shared a fleeting moment of connection with.

I need this job badly, I remind myself, almost having told Jarvin as much. He makes it easy to open up and be vulnerable with, but that crosses every one of the boundaries I’m desperately trying to cling to.

Yet, as our eyes meet across the room, there's an electric tension that’s impossible to ignore. He looks at me with those intense eyes, and for a moment, everything else fades away.

I quickly look back down at my screen, feigning intense concentration on the numbers that have started to blur together.

Forcing myself to refocus, I start typing again. But it’s no use. Each click of the keys feels like an echo in an empty room. I know why this is so hard—it’s not just irritation or professional tension; it's attraction. And that terrifies me because letting him in means opening up parts of myself, I’ve kept locked away for too long.

I’m deep into editing a report when Jarvin’s shadow falls across my desk. I look up, and there he is, looming over me with that authoritative presence that’s impossible to ignore. My heart skips a beat, but I force myself to maintain a neutral expression.

“Lucy, I need you to look over these projections for the new project,” he says, his tone commanding, sending a shiver through my body.

I nod, keeping my face composed. “Of course, Mr. Thraknar. I’ll get on it right away.”

He hands me a folder, his fingers brushing mine for a brief moment. The contact makes my heart race, but I quickly pull my hand back and open the folder, pretending to be engrossed in its contents.

He doesn’t move immediately, and I can feel his eyes on me. It’s as if he’s trying to read beyond my composed exterior. I resist the urge to look up and meet his gaze, knowing that if I do, he might see past the professional facade I'm forcing myself to wear.

“Make sure you prioritize this,” he adds, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Understood,” I say, finally looking up at him with what I hope is an expression of calm professionalism.

He nods and turns to leave, but not before giving me one last lingering glance. As soon as he walks away, I let out a deep breath. My fingers tremble slightly as I turn the pages of the folder. His proximity has left me rattled in a way that’s hard to shake off.

I can’t stop thinking about him—his commanding presence, the way his voice sends literal shivers down my spine. I clench my jaw and force myself to stay on task.

For now, all I can do is bury myself in work and hope it’s enough to keep these feelings at bay.

Later, during a team meeting, I sit at the far end of the table, my notepad open in front of me, pen poised for notes. Jarvin stands at the head of the room, leading the discussion with a natural ease and authority that commands attention.

“What’s a CEO’s favorite type of humor? Profit and loss puns – they’re always on the money!” The room erupts in laughter.

His voice is smooth, confident, each word carefully chosen to drive his point home. The team hangs on his every word, captivated by his charisma and laughing along with him.

I feel a pang of something sharp and uncomfortable—something I quickly label as annoyance. “He’s too confident,” I think to myself, gripping my pen tighter. “Too used to being in control.” His wealth and commanding demeanor should be enough reasons to keep my distance. But even as I think it, I know there's more to it than that.

Jarvin’s gaze sweeps the room, making sure everyone is engaged. When his eyes land on me, my heart skips a beat. He directs a question my way, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes it hard to breathe.

“Lucy, what are your thoughts on the proposed budget adjustments?” he asks, his voice firm yet inviting.

I can feel my face heating up as every eye in the room turns toward me. My mind races to formulate an answer, but all I can focus on is the way his eyes seem to see right through me.

---