Page 9 of Grumpy Orc CEO

I take a deep breath and open another job listing, ready to dive back in. This is just another part of building my new life—one carefully crafted cover letter at a time.

Despite my best efforts to concentrate, my mind keeps drifting back to Jarvin. The memory of our kiss at the airport bar lingers like a tantalizing scent, impossible to ignore. His piercing amber eyes, the unexpected softness of his touch—it’s all playing on a loop in my head. I catch myself staring blankly at the screen, completely lost in thought.

I snap back to reality, shaking my head. Focus, Lucy. You’re here to rebuild your life, not get caught up in some fleeting romance.

I take a deep breath and return to the job listings, forcing myself to read each one carefully. It works for a while. I manage to submit a few more applications before the distraction creeps back in. The more I try to push it away, the more persistent it becomes. He gave me his card, but I haven’t let myself look at it. I slipped it into my purse and that’s where it's stayed.

I'm here to start over, and as fun as the encounter was, I meant it when I said we should call it what it was. It felt good to let my guard down for a bit and get lost in the allure of a stranger, but that’s all it was. A fun chance encounter…with a stranger I admittedly can’t get my mind off of.

By the time evening falls, I’ve made some progress but not as much as I’d hoped. My eyes feel strained from staring at the screen for so long. I decide it’s time for a break.

Sitting on my new couch, I let out a sigh and look around my apartment. The place is starting to come together—my things are finding their spots, and it feels less empty than when I first moved in. There’s a sense of comfort here that wasn’t there before.

But even in this cozy space, Jarvin’s presence seems to haunt me. I can’t deny the chemistry we had, the way his confidence drew me in. But as tempting as it is to daydream about what could be, I know better.

…No I don’t. I find myself thinking of what could happen if I called him. Would we go out to dinner, only to hate each other and never make it to dessert? What if he was too good to be true and really the kind of guy who looks better with wine dripping down his face as I walk away?

Okay, I’m being dramatic, but still.

Pursuing anything with him would complicate things. I’m just starting fresh; getting involved with someone now could derail all the hard work I’ve put into this new beginning. I can’t afford any distractions.

With a deep breath, I resolve to leave that chance encounter where it belongs—in the past. It was a beautiful moment, a fleeting connection that brought a smile to my face. Something to remember fondly when I need a reminder that sparks can still fly, even when life feels uncertain and chaotic.

I push myself up from the couch and head back to my laptop. There’s still work to be done, applications to submit, and emails to check. My new life isn’t going to build itself, and dwelling on what might have been with Jarvin won’t help me move forward.

CHAPTER 6

Jarvin

Stepping back into my office, I'm greeted by the familiar hum of productivity. The clatter of keyboards and murmur of voices form a sound I usually find soothing. Today, though, it's just noise. I toss my briefcase onto my desk and sink into my chair, the leather creaking under my weight.

I start sorting through the stack of documents waiting for me. Financial reports, project proposals, contracts—all demanding my attention. Yet, no matter how hard I try to focus, my mind drifts back to her. Lucy. Her laughter, light and musical, echoes in my head. Her smile—warm and genuine—flashes before my eyes every time I blink.

"Jarvin, you okay?" Greg’s voice snaps me back to reality, he’s leaning in the door to my office, a look of concern etched on his face.

"Yeah, just tired," I reply, picking up a pen and pretending to review a report. He nods and walks away, satisfied with my answer. But I'm not fooling myself.

During a strategy meeting later that morning, the team discusses quarterly targets and market trends. My eyes are on the presentation slides, but my thoughts are miles away. I replay our conversation in the airport bar. The way she leaned in closer as we talked about everything and nothing at all. Her eyes sparkling with curiosity and mischief.

"Jarvin?" Karen's voice pulls me back to the meeting.

"Sorry, what was that?"

"We were discussing the new investment opportunities in the tech sector," she says, eyebrows raised.

"Right," I say, trying to catch up. "Let's focus on startups with sustainable models."

As Karen continues her presentation, I struggle to stay engaged. My colleagues' voices blend into a distant hum as images of Lucy flit through my mind. Her playful suggestion about our encounter being just a chance meeting feels like a challenge now—a puzzle I can't stop trying to solve.

I shake my head slightly, attempting to clear the fog of distraction. It’s no use; her presence is too vivid in my memory.

The meeting drags on, each minute feeling like an eternity. My eyes keep drifting toward the clock on the wall. Finally, when it ends, I stand with a smile.

“Whew, sorry guys. That was a long one wasn’t it? Pretty sure I saw you nodding off there Greg,” I say, giving Greg a nudge.

Greg chuckles, having been caught, and I laugh with him.

Still laughing, I crack a joke. “Next time, tell whoever is in charge to bring coffee…oh wait. That’s me.” Shit.

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