A kiss

As the days turned into weeks, the office buzzed with whispers and speculation. Ace's prolonged stay at the company was unprecedented, and everyone was curious about the reason behind it.

Some thought it might be due to a new project or a critical business deal, but others sensed that there was more to it. They noticed the way Ace seemed to always find excuses to be near Lucian, the way he would often "accidentally" bump into her in the hallway or join her for lunch.

Lucian, however, seemed oblivious to the attention. She continued to work diligently, her focus solely on her tasks. But those who knew her well could sense a subtle change in her demeanor. She seemed more relaxed around Ace, more at ease in his presence.

The office gossipmongers were having a field day, speculating about a possible romance between Ace and Lucian. Some even placed bets on how long it would take for them to officially become a couple.

But amidst all the speculation, one thing was clear: Ace's presence at the company had brought a new level of excitement and energy to the office. And Lucian, whether she realized it or not, was at the center of it all.

The office was quiet, with only a few employees milling about. Ken, Ace's assistant, knocked softly on Lucian's cubicle wall.

"Hi Lucian, Mr. Ace would like to see you in his office," ken said smiling

Lucian looked up from her computer, slightly curious she smiled back at ken . "Okay, thank you, Ken."

She saved her work and made her way to Ace's office, wondering what he wanted to discuss. When she arrived, Ace was standing by the window, looking out at the city view.

"Lucian, thank you for coming," he said, turning to face her.

Lucian smiled politely. "Of course, what's this about?"

Ace's eyes locked onto hers, and he took a step closer. "I think we need to discuss something," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Before Lucian could respond, Ace reached out and gently took her hand. He pulled her closer, his eyes never leaving hers.

Lucian was taken aback by the sudden kiss. She hadn't seen it coming, and her mind was racing with confusion. She tried to pull away, but Ace's grip on her hand was firm.

As the kiss deepened, Lucian's initial shock gave way to a flutter in her chest. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt towards Ace, but she was also hesitant to give in to her feelings.

Just as Ace was starting to pull her closer, Lucian managed to break free from his grasp. She took a step back, her eyes wide with surprise.

"I...I need to go," she stammered, turning to make a hasty exit.

Ace's voice called out after her, "Lucian, wait!"

But she didn't look back. She rushed out of the office, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't stop until she was outside the building, gasping for air.

As she stood there, trying to process what had just happened, Lucian's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text from Sarah.

"Hey, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

Lucian took a deep breath and tried to calm down before responding to Sarah's text. She didn't want to alarm her friend, but she needed to talk to someone about what had just happened.

"Hey, I'm okay. Just had a weird meeting with Ace," Lucian replied, trying to downplay the situation.

Sarah's response was immediate. "Weird? What happened? Spill the tea!"

Lucian hesitated for a moment, wondering how much to reveal. But something about Sarah's enthusiastic tone put her at ease.

"He kissed me," Lucian typed, her heart racing at the memory.

There was a pause before Sarah responded. "WHAT?!?!?"