Chapter 94

Strange. Why did everything seem so different this morning? Last night, Lucas Zeller—the same CEO who had ignored Claire Grace completely, his face dark as a thunderstorm—was now all smiles, greeting her with a dazzling grin and even preparing breakfast for her. His sudden transformation was so bewildering that Claire found herself stealing glances at him. And every time she did, she caught him already looking at her, his lips curving into that mesmerizing, heart-stopping smile.

Her heart thudded erratically. It was as if a rabbit were doing flips in her chest, her cheeks and ears heating uncontrollably.

"Claire, what's on your mind? Didn't sleep well last night? Want to rest in my arms for a while?" Lucas's voice was low and magnetic, each word sliding effortlessly into her ears. His voice seemed to come from directly above her head. Wait—above? Hadn't she just been standing by the door?

"Lucas, why am I sitting on your lap?" she asked, stunned. Was she sleepwalking during the day now?

Lucas smirked, his thumb brushing lightly along her jawline, pausing at the corner of her lips. "You walked over here yourself. Didn't you notice?" His tone teased her with a hint of indulgence.

Claire's eyes widened in disbelief. She vaguely remembered being sent to print documents, only to stand frozen at the office door, staring blankly at Lucas's face. Was he just that good-looking today?

"Lucas, you've changed so much since yesterday," she blurted out, a puzzled expression softening her features.

"Changed? How? I haven't had plastic surgery," he said, feigning ignorance, though the glimmer in his eyes hinted that he knew exactly what she meant.

"You were avoiding me." Claire pouted and pushed herself off his lap, folding her arms.

"Was I?" Lucas's hand shot out, pulling her back and wrapping her in his embrace. His lips brushed her ear, his voice softer now. "Were you upset that I didn't talk to you yesterday?"

"What? No! But you had this storm cloud of a face, and you didn't say a word to me all evening. It made me so sad." Her lips quivered as she spoke, the memory fresh and painful. "And then you just went upstairs to bed without me. Do you know how awful that felt?" She bit her lip. "I thought maybe… maybe you were tired of me."

Lucas sighed quietly, his hand smoothing down her silky hair. He kissed the crown of her head tenderly. "Of course, I knew."

Her eyes snapped up to meet his. "You knew?" Her voice carried disbelief.

Lucas chuckled at her shock but kept his tone light. "Of course. I heard everything."

"No way," she muttered, her cheeks puffing slightly in embarrassment. "What are you, an X-ray machine? How could you have known what I was thinking? Besides, you weren't even facing me. You turned your back and slept."

He raised a brow, his expression as if putting together pieces of a puzzle. "Oh, I see now—you're mad because I didn't hold you last night. Didn't give you your goodnight kiss?"

The words hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her lips brushed against his chin by accident, freezing her in place. Claire's wide eyes mirrored her disbelief as her heart pounded so violently it might burst through her chest. She couldn't move, couldn't think.

Lucas's deep voice reached her again, soft as silk. "You're upset because I didn't hold you close, didn't give you the intimacy you needed?" He tilted his head, his lips brushing her ear, his breath warm against her flushed skin.

In a panicked fluster, Claire bolted upright, nearly tripping over herself. "N-no! That's not it at all!" she stammered, her voice an octave too high. "And anyway, this is the office! You can't say stuff like that here!"

Lucas laughed, the sound rich and teasing. "Oh, Claire. Your mind's in the gutter. Did I say anything inappropriate?" His grin turned mischievous, his dark eyes sparkling as he leaned in again, his presence overwhelming. Before she could react, he stole a swift kiss on her flushed cheek. "Don't worry. Whatever I owe you from last night, I'll make up for tonight—with interest."

Her jaw dropped, but Lucas had already strode to the door. He turned back briefly, his lips quirking into a smirk. "I have a product launch meeting. Stay here and rest."

And with that, he disappeared into the hallway, leaving Claire standing in the middle of the room, a hand pressed to her cheek where he had kissed her. Her mind reeled.

What on earth was going on with Lucas today? He was warm, gentle, smiling—a far cry from the overbearing, sharp-tempered man she was used to. But she liked it. She liked this side of him far more than she was willing to admit.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. 

"Who could that be?" she murmured, puzzled. Maybe Lucas had forgotten something? But then again, Lucas never knocked on his own office door.

When she opened it, a tall, striking woman stood before her. The visitor's golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, her chic outfit exuding sophistication. She looked Claire up and down with the cold precision of a scanner, her gaze quickly flickering with disdain before returning to a neutral expression.

"Hello, may I help you?" Claire asked politely.

"I'm here to see Lucas Zeller," the woman said curtly, her voice clipped with impatience. Without waiting for an invitation, she brushed past Claire and stepped into the office, leaving Claire standing in stunned silence.