Page 27 of Grumpy Orc CEO

When I get home, I head straight to my home office and drop into my chair, running a hand through my hair. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Should I give her space? Should I push harder? The thought of losing her—of never exploring what we could be—is unbearable.

Damn it all.

The feel of her hands wrapped tightly in the front of my jacket. The taste of her kiss. It's all-consuming, reconciling the way she melted into me with the way her walls came slamming down just when things were getting heavy.

I stand and pace the room. This can’t be it; this can’t be how our story ends before it even begins.

Lucy isn't just another challenge; she's someone who’s become unexpectedly important to me. Someone worth fighting for. If only she could just see what I see.

The next morning, I arrive at the office before anyone else, my mind focused on one thing: talking to Lucy. The kiss from last night still lingers on my lips, and I need to address it. As I step out of the elevator, I see her already at her desk, engrossed in her work.

"Lucy," I call out, walking toward her with determined strides.

She looks up, her eyes widening for a split second before she masks her emotions with a professional facade. "Good morning, Mr. Thraknar," she says, her tone clipped but cordial. I know now that she's just putting on a facade, a ploy to push me away and avoid the truth of her feelings.

"Can we talk?" I ask, my voice leaving no room for refusal.

She hesitates but eventually nods. We move to a private conference room, the tension between us palpable. As soon as the door closes behind us, I turn to face her.

"Lucy," I begin, trying to keep my voice steady. "About last night?—"

"Jarvin, this can't happen," she interrupts, raising a hand to stop me. "We need to keep things professional."

"I can't pretend that kiss didn't happen," I say, my eyes locked onto hers. "I can't ignore how I feel, how I've felt since the day we met."

She takes a deep breath, clearly struggling with her own emotions. "We have to," she insists. "We're colleagues now. This... this complicates things."

"Complicates?" I repeat, stepping closer to her. "Or maybe it makes things clearer?"

Her eyes flicker with something as she shakes her head. "No, Jarvin. We can't let personal feelings interfere with our work."

"I'm not just talking about personal feelings," I argue, frustration creeping into my voice. "There's something real here, Lucy. I felt it at the airport, and I felt it last night. You can tell me you didn't, but I know you felt it too."

She crosses her arms defensively. "That doesn't change the fact that we have to work together every day."

I reach out and gently touch her arm, hoping to break through her barriers. "Lucy, I'm not asking you to throw caution to the wind. I'm asking you to acknowledge that there's something worth exploring here."

Her gaze softens for a moment before hardening again. "Jarvin," she pleads, her voice cracking as those green eyes hold mine. "We need to maintain our professional relationship. It's what's best for both of us."

I feel a surge of frustration at Lucy's words. My instincts scream at me to challenge her resistance. I loathe being denied something I want so badly. My jaw tightens as I take a deep breath, fighting to maintain my composure.

"Lucy," I say, my voice low and controlled, "you're not seeing the full picture here."

Her eyes flash with anger. "It's not just about us, Jarvin. It's about our careers, our reputations. Why can't you see that?"

I take a step closer, feeling the intensity of the moment crackle between us. "You think I don't understand that? I'm well aware of what's at stake."

She crosses her arms defensively, her posture stiffening. "Then you should know why this can't happen."

"Why?" I challenge my tone hardening. "Because you're scared? Because you're afraid of what people might say?"

Her eyes narrow, and she takes a step back, putting more distance between us. "It's more than that," she insists. "I've worked hard to get where I am. I can't risk it all for... for this."

"And you think I'm willing to risk less?" I counter, my frustration boiling over. "Do you think this is easy for me?"

Lucy looks away, her shoulders slumping slightly. "No," she admits softly. "But it's different for you. You're the CEO; I'm just your secretary."

I feel a pang of anger mixed with sadness at her words. "You're not 'just' anything, Lucy. You're talented, driven, and you've got more potential than you realize."

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