Chapter 4
Lucia
The cannelloni looked and smelled beautiful—but it would put me to sleep, and I needed to stay vigilant around Dubois. The man needed a break from work… or something.
I sighed, my shoulders drooping as I drifted toward the salad bar.
My mood lifted instantly when I spotted feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and baby spinach still available.
Ooh, chickpeas and sprouted pulses, too.
“Oh God, I found you,” Evelyn panted despite taking the elevator to the canteen. “Ooh, chickpeas. Hold on, let me get a tray.”
Evelyn was my senior manager. She oversaw all the PAs and secretaries across both executive floors. Down to earth and approachable—as long as you did your job—she always had your back. She was the reason most of the staff hadn’t run off crying into the abyss of unemployment.
I paid for my food and waited for her to join me.
“Over here,” she said, guiding me to a quiet spot in the corner.
We sat down, and I lifted my cutlery.
“What’s happened now?” I asked, already knowing this was about Laurent Dubois.
“You’re being transferred to Malik’s floor—but don’t worry, you’ll have the same role and pay as you did upstairs.”
“No way,” I said, gaping at her.
“Non-exec, but a director. Monica Lozano.”
“With the same pay?” I asked, unable to believe my luck.
“Yup.”
Less work. Same money. No weird vibes.
This was a win.
My mind lingered on the cold, handsome CEO.
Yeah—not worth it.
“Do you know when I start with Monica?”
“Monday afternoon. You just need to do a handover with your replacement.”
“And you’re on the same floor,” I said, grinning before I chuckled. “I’m moving down in the world.”
“You sure are. We’re the fun crowd.”
It wouldn’t be hard, given where I was coming from.
“Do you know why I’m being transferred?” I asked casually, stabbing a juicy tomato before scooping up some crumbly feta with my fork.
“I thought you’d never ask. Rumour has it he requested his next PA be much older,” she said, giving me a sly look. “Anything you want to tell me?”
“Holy shi—no. Absolutely not. He couldn’t stand me,” I said, genuinely confused. “Well… I thought he did…”
Evelyn’s razor-sharp gaze locked on mine, analysing every twitch of my face.
I shook my head. “You’ve got bad intel. The man never said or did anything inappropriate, and I definitely never flirted with him. I need a job,” I said, leaning in with a whisper. “Not a dick.”
“Damn it. I wanted to know about his dick,” she said, looking properly downtrodden as she lowered her fork.
This was why I loved Evelyn. She had zero filter when she wasn’t in manager mode.
?? ?? ??
When I returned to my desk, I redirected the calls back to my phone and sat down to dissect the emails already vying for my attention.
One glared at me.
Laurent Dubois
Subject: Come see me when you’re back from lunch.
Of course.
I smoothed my blouse, lifted my chin, and grabbed my tablet. No hesitation. He could throw what he liked at me—I could take it.
I knocked once, then pushed the door open without waiting.
He wore his navy suit today. Not just any suit—custom tailored.
The kind that whispered money and power with every precise stitch.
The man filled it out better than any model, all broad shoulders and long limbs.
His dark eyes snapped up, and he raked a hand through his thick hair.
Even that was annoyingly perfect—just enough dishevelled to make him look human.
The beard was neat, but didn’t soften the sharpness of his jaw.
It just made him look… darker.
Dangerous.
His eyes skimmed over me as I approached, lingering at the hem of my skirt. Heat crept up my neck, but I didn’t let it show.
Then, just like always, he dragged his gaze back to the screen. Back to ignoring me. Only now… it made sense. Evelyn’s words hit harder now than they had over salad and chickpeas.
This wasn’t indifference.
It was avoidance.
“I wanted to let you know,” he said, voice flat, “that you’re going to work for Monica downstairs on Monday.”
“Yes, sir.” I kept my tone neutral.
His eyes flicked to me, just for a second, but I saw the way he straightened in his seat. A flicker of something I couldn’t name.
“You may leave.”
I turned and walked out.
But this time…
My heart was pounding because I could feel his eyes on my back.
The phone was ringing, and it snapped me out of my daze. I rushed back and lifted the receiver. As I sat down, I noticed his door open.
“Dubois Enterprises, Laurent Dubois’s office, how may I help you?” I parroted the words I’d said a hundred times.
All while Laurent Dubois stared at me through the crack of his open door.