Are you busy?

Without waiting for him to say more, Scarlet quickly alighted from the car, intending to storm off. But the moment her feet touched the ground, her breath hitched as she took s good look at the environment "Where am I supposed to go from here?" She mused.

She stiffened, her mind racing for a solution. But before she could take another step, Lucian was beside her, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. He bent slightly close to her ear, his voice laced with mockery.

"Wife, are you heading back that way?" His gaze flickered toward the main employee entrance. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

Scarlet clenched and unclenched her fists, her heart hammering wildly against her chest. She is do angry that if Lucian isn't her boss, she might have slapped him hard. But her monthly pay, she doesn't want it taken away.

She inhaled sharply, forcing her features into a mask of calm. "I think you're right. So… you lead the way," she said, her tone composed.

On the surface, she seemed unfazed, but inside, a storm of anxiety raged. The last thing she wanted was to be seen arriving with Lucian. If anyone found out she was his wife, the office gossip would spread like wildfire.

Lucian, clearly not getting the reaction he had hoped for, let out a soft chuckle. With a swift turn on his heels, he strode toward the exclusive elevator reserved for him.

Scarlet exhaled a silent breath of relief and hurried after him, her steps quick but careful. Just as the elevator doors was sliding shut with them behind, she caught a glimpse of two security personnel lingering near the parking lot entrance.

That was a close call.

She turned her head sharply toward Lucian and found him smirking at her, his amusement barely concealed. He had known these security guards were there but Scarlet in her anxiety didn't take note of that.

Suppressing the urge to glare at him, Scarlet shifted to the farthest edge of the elevator, putting as much distance as possible between them.

The only sound that accompanied them was the soft hum of the elevator as it ascended.

Then, with a quiet ding, the elevator came to a stop. The doors slid open smoothly, revealing a gathered group of company executives waiting for the president's arrival.

Scarlet barely had time to register the scene before she stepped forward—and collided straight into one of them.

A sharp gasp left her lips as she stumbled backward, her balance tipping dangerously. Just as she braced herself for an embarrassing fall, a firm, steady grip caught her. His arm wrapped securely around her waist, his hold keeping her upright.

Scarlet was shocked, her heart beating wildly, her nostrils filled with masculine cologne with the fragrance of peppermint made it refreshingly mint. She raised her eyes to look at him but only managed to capture his side profile.

"Assistant Winters," he drawled lazily, amusement thick in his tone, "missing your step this early in the morning?"

Scarlet's face burned as several executives turned to stare at them. Her fingers curled into the fabric of Lucian's suit in reflex before she quickly let go. She needed to salvage the situation before it got worse.

Straightening up, she cleared her throat and took a step away from him. "Thank you, President Sterling," she said, her voice clipped and professional. "I must have been distracted."

The executives exchanged glances, their curiosity evident, but none dared question their boss.

Lucian merely smirked, adjusting his cufflinks as if the moment had been nothing but a trivial amusement. "Indeed," he murmured before stepping out of the elevator with effortless grace.

Scarlet swallowed hard, silently wishing the floor would swallow her whole as she followed him into the office.

The executives couldn't help but exchange subtle glances. The president was never one to show mercy—his reputation for being ruthless in the corporate world was well-known. Yet, here he was, reaching out to steady his assistant and with such smile? They really don't want to think about it.

His tone had dripped with sarcasm, but the fact remained—he had helped her. That was far more telling than words. Was there something they didn't know?

Without wasting time, they hurried after him to the board room for an executive meeting. In order to make sure he took Scarlet to eat he is already fourty minutes late for the meeting.

Scarlet, on the other hand, felt like she was burning from the inside out. Her face heated up every time her mind replayed the moment—his strong grip, his mocking voice, and the way every executive had looked at them with veiled curiosity.

Ugh! God! She exhaled sharply as she settled into her seat, trying to push the memory aside.

Needing a distraction, she pulled out her phone and logged into her social media account. Her fingers hovered over a familiar name—the one person she always chatted with when she needed to vent or escape reality.

After a moment's hesitation, she tapped the chat and typed out her usual opening message:

"Are you busy?"

Meanwhile, in the conference room, Lucian sat at the head of the long, polished table, listening to the department heads present their reports.

His expression was calm and indifferent, his fingers idly tapping against the table as he reviewed documents in front of him. But then—

His phone screen lit up.

A soft vibration buzzed against the table, barely noticeable amidst the discussion. Lucian's gaze flickered downward, and he saw the message notification from his social media. His lips curled into the faintest smirk.

Without breaking his composed demeanor, he picked up the phone and unlocked it. As expected, it was her. Scarlet. And, as always, her first message was the same:

"Are you busy?"

Lucian's fingers hovered over the keyboard. For a brief second, amusement flashed in his eyes. He can imagine her worried face while sitting at her desk outside his office.

"What do you think?" He quickly typed back.

Her response came immediately as though she was already expecting a reply from him.

Lucian glanced at his phone screen, reading her immediate response: "I am sorry, let's talk later."

Shaking his head, he let out a quiet sigh. Scarlet had always been overly cautious, hesitating before every step, every word. He couldn't help but wonder—what exactly had happened to her in the past to make her this way?

Snapping out of his thoughts, he looked at the executives. "This meeting is adjourned for Thursday," he stated firmly before rising from his seat and striding out of the conference room. His secretary hurried to keep up with his long strides.

Several executives were surprised at such an impromptu adjournment and more surprised at his hurried footsteps. It had never been his style. Even if there's a guest waiting, he will finish his meeting but then they couldn't ask him question.

As he passed by Scarlet's office, his steps slowed. She sat at her desk, her phone in hand, staring at the screen with a distant expression. Her mind was clearly elsewhere, lost in thoughts that didn't seem pleasant.

Lucian's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke. "Assistant Winters, get me a cup of milk with little sugar and some snacks."

Scarlet jolted slightly at his voice, her fingers tightening around her phone before she hurriedly placed it down. The screen was still illuminated, revealing the chat interface.

Lucian shook his head lightly and walked into his office without another word.