Page 29 of Grumpy Orc CEO

My mind keeps replaying that moment, the touch of his hand against mine and the memory of our kiss burning bright in my thoughts. As everyone starts gathering their things to leave, I force myself to focus on packing up my notes and documents.

I stand up quickly, eager to escape before I lose my composure entirely. As I walk out of the room, I can feel his gaze following me, an unspoken tension hanging thick in the air between us.

Later, I head to the break room, desperately needing a caffeine fix to get through the afternoon slump. The aroma of fresh coffee fills the air as I pour myself a cup. Just as I take a sip, I hear the door swing open and look up to see Jarvin stride in.

Our eyes meet, and suddenly, everything else blurs into the background. It's like we're the only two people in the room. His gaze is intense, warm, and filled with something unspoken that makes my breath catch. My heart pounds in my chest, a reminder of the kiss we shared and all the emotions that came with it.

For a moment, I can't tear my eyes away from him. His presence is overwhelming, and it takes all my effort to break the connection. I look down at my coffee cup, pretending to be deeply engrossed in stirring it, but my hands are shaking slightly. The silence stretches out between us, heavy with tension.

The moment passes, but its impact lingers long after Jarvin has left the break room. My thoughts swirl with confusion and longing as I try to refocus on my work. It's like he's under my skin, constantly there in the back of my mind, no matter how hard I try to push him out.

Throughout the week, I find myself smiling more often, despite my best efforts to stay professional. Jarvin has this uncanny ability to catch my eye just when I'm feeling overwhelmed or stressed. He gives me these quick, knowing smiles that send a flutter through my heart every time.

During meetings or while passing each other in the hallway, those fleeting moments of connection keep bringing me back to the kiss and everything it stirred within me. It's infuriating how easily he can make me smile with just a look or a playful comment. But it's also thrilling.

I try to maintain my distance, but it's becoming increasingly difficult. Every interaction with him feels charged with unspoken emotion and hidden meanings that only we seem to understand. It’s like we’re dancing around something inevitable, something neither of us can ignore. And with each passing day, I find it harder to convince myself that keeping my distance is truly what I want.

As I walk to one of the day’s many meetings, I see him coming down the hall. My heart skips a beat, and I mentally prepare myself for another encounter. Just as we pass each other, he gives me a playful wink, and I can't contain the smile that stretches across my face.

I chastise myself internally. "Lucy, get it together," I mutter under my breath as I turn the corner. But deep down, a part of me relishes these moments. The kiss we shared in the elevator is a constant presence at the back of my mind, making it impossible to forget him.

I’m not sure when things began to shift within me, but I start noticing Jarvin more and more. In meetings, I find my eyes drifting toward him, watching the way he runs his hand through his hair when he's deep in thought or how his eyes light up when he's excited about a project.

One afternoon, as I'm organizing files at my desk, I catch myself looking at him through the glass wall of his office. He’s on the phone, animatedly discussing something with a client. His confidence and the way he commands respect from everyone around him is captivating. The memory of our kiss plays on a loop in my mind, fueling both my attraction and frustration.

He looks up suddenly, catching me off guard. Our eyes meet, and for a moment, it's like we're back in that elevator again. The intensity of his gaze sends a shiver down my spine.

“Everything okay?” he asks casually when he steps out of his office during a break.

I quickly look down at the papers on my desk, trying to mask my flustered state. “Yeah, just... reviewing these reports,” I reply, my voice steady despite the fluttering in my chest.

He starts to walk away but pauses. “You know,” he says over his shoulder with that infuriatingly charming smile of his, “if you ever want to talk about something other than work... I'm here.”

I watch him go, feeling conflicted. His offer hangs in the air between us, adding another layer of complexity to our already tangled dynamic. The growing connection between us is undeniable, intensified by that unforgettable kiss. And despite everything telling me to stay focused on my work, I don't think I can ignore it any longer.

As I gather my things to leave the office, the day's work is finally behind me, I see Jarvin near the exit, talking with a colleague. The sight of him, so effortlessly commanding and confident, sends a familiar flutter through my stomach. It’s getting harder to ignore the way he makes me feel. His presence is like a magnetic pull that I can't resist.

He glances my way and gives me a warm smile, one that makes my heart skip a beat. I try to keep my composure as I walk past him, my heels clicking on the polished floor. But as our eyes meet, the undeniable connection surges between us.

For a split second, the world seems to narrow down to just the two of us. The memory of the elevator flashes through my mind, and I feel a rush of longing that takes me by surprise. My breath catches in my throat, and I struggle to maintain an indifferent expression.

"Evening, Lucy," Jarvin says smoothly, his voice low and warm. His colleague has moved on, leaving us alone for this brief moment.

"Evening," I reply, trying to keep my tone casual. But I can't help the way my heart races or the heat that creeps up my cheeks.

The air between us feels charged with unspoken words and emotions. I can see it in his eyes—he's feeling it too. The kiss we shared lingers like an unspoken promise, one that neither of us can seem to forget.

I give him a polite nod and continue walking toward the exit, each step feeling heavier than the last. As much as I want to stay and explore whatever this is between us, I know it's complicated. My mind tells me to keep moving forward, but my heart aches with the desire to turn back.

Just before I push open the door, I glance back at him one last time. He's still watching me, his expression unreadable but intense. I quickly look away, my mind a whirlwind of doubts and desires.

That kiss—why does it haunt me so much? I walk briskly toward the exit, the cool evening air hitting me like a wake-up call. My heart feels heavy, torn between my professional responsibilities and the undeniable chemistry with Jarvin.

I need to keep my walls up. I've been through too much to let them down easily. Yet, with each passing day, it's harder to ignore the way he makes me feel. His smiles, his little gestures—they chip away at my defenses. And that kiss... it was life-altering in a way I never expected.

My hands tremble slightly as I unlock the car door and slide into the driver's seat. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Get it together, Lucy," I whisper again, repeating my new mantra as my hands grip the steering wheel tightly. But even as I say it, I know it's not that simple. My feelings for Jarvin are growing stronger, and pretending otherwise is becoming increasingly difficult.

Driving home, my thoughts keep drifting back to him. The way he looked at me today, his eyes filled with something unspoken—it leaves me questioning everything.

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