7. Lucy
CHAPTER 7
Lucy
I walk into the sleek office building trying to control my excitement and nerves. The Thraknar Financial Group's headquarters looms above me, a testament to modern architecture with its glass facade and sharp lines. This is my chance to start over, and I'm determined to make the most of it.
The lobby is bustling with activity, people moving with purpose. I approach the front desk, trying to exude confidence.
“Good morning, I’m Lucy Bennett. I’m starting today as a secretary.”
The receptionist smiles warmly. “Welcome, Lucy. Let me just check you in.” She taps away at her keyboard and then hands me a visitor badge. “Take the elevator to the 12th floor. HR will meet you there.”
“Thank you.” I pin the badge to my blouse and head towards the elevators, my heart pounding in my chest.
The elevator ride feels endless, even though it’s only a few floors up. When the doors finally open, I step into a brightly lit corridor lined with offices. A woman with short blonde hair and a sharp suit approaches me. “Lucy Bennett?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Molly from HR. Follow me, please.” She leads me down the hallway to a small office. “We’ll just go over some paperwork and then I’ll show you to your desk.”
I nod, trying to take in everything at once. The office has an air of efficiency and professionalism that both intimidates and inspires me.
After signing various forms and listening to Molly’s explanations about company policies, we walk towards my new workspace.
“This will be your desk,” Molly says, pointing to a corner near a large window. “You’ll be supporting Mr. Thraknar, our CEO.”
"Thank you," I say with a smile as I take my seat and start familiarizing myself with the computer system.
I settle into my desk, adjusting the chair and glancing at the window view. It’s a beautiful day outside, but I can’t shake the nervous energy buzzing through me. Just as I start organizing my supplies, Molly returns.
“Mr. Thraknar would like to meet you,” she says.
I nod, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. “Lead the way.”
We walk down the corridor, each step echoing in the pristine hallway. My mind races with thoughts of what the CEO might be like. Probably some stern, middle-aged man with a no-nonsense attitude.
Molly stops in front of a grand double door and knocks lightly before pushing it open. “Mr. Thraknar, this is Lucy Bennett, your new secretary.”
My breath catches in my throat as I step inside and see him—not a middle aged man, but Jarvin from the airport, sitting behind a massive mahogany desk. His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, time seems to freeze.
“Lucy,” he says, his voice unmistakably warm and deep. The same voice that had teased me about flight delays not too long ago.
“Mr. Thraknar,” I manage to reply, masking my shock with a professional smile.
I step forward to shake his hand but knock over his nameplate in my haste. It clatters onto the desk before falling to the floor. My cheeks burn with embarrassment as I scramble to pick it up.
“Sorry about that,” I mumble, placing the nameplate back on his desk.
Jarvin chuckles softly, leaning back in his chair. “No harm done.” His eyes twinkle with amusement, and for a second, the tension eases.
I straighten up, determined to regain my composure. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
He nods, still smiling. “I’m sure you’ll do great here.”
Molly steps forward to guide me out of the office, but Jarvin stops her with a raised hand. “Actually, Molly, I’d like to speak with Lucy for a moment alone.”
Molly looks slightly surprised but nods and exits the room quietly.
As soon as we’re alone, Jarvin’s demeanor shifts slightly. He stands up from behind his desk and walks around it to face me directly.
He stands close, his body almost pressing against mine as I step back against his desk. My heart is beating quickly as the memory of his lips on mine resurfaces.
“I guess I can assume that kiss royally sucked,” he says with a chuckle.
My eyes widen and a flush rises to my face. I could just die on the spot. Right there at the base of his mahogany desk. A spectacle for all to see on my first day.
“I’m kidding. It’s good to see you again,” he says confidently.
His amber eyes lock onto mine, intense and unwavering. It’s like he sees right through me, straight to the core of my being.
I nod, swallowing hard to steady myself. "Agreed,” is all I manage to get out. The room suddenly feels smaller, the air thicker with unspoken words and emotions. He steps away and it’s as if the air explodes from my lungs. His presence is intense, leaving my heart racing in my chest.
“We’re glad to have you, Lucy,” Jarvin says with a charming smile as he sits back at his desk, ever the confident CEO. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thraknar,” I stammer as I turn, praying to whoever is listening that I don’t trip over my feet as I walk back to my desk.
I can’t believe this is happening. Out of all the companies, I had to end up at Thraknar Financial Group, working directly for the one person I never thought I’d see again.
My face burns as I think about our introduction—knocking over his nameplate like some clumsy amateur. Great professional impression, Lucy. Really killing it today.
What must he think of me, flirting with strangers at the airport so freely? My cheeks are hot at the thought that he'll see me, the real me. Though judging by that introduction, I get the impression that’s exactly what he wants.
The rest of the morning drags on as I try to familiarize myself and focus on my tasks. Answering emails, organizing his schedule, and handling calls—everything feels like a distraction from the giant green elephant in the room.
Every time someone mentions Mr. Thraknar, or I catch a glimpse of him walking by, my pulse quickens, as attraction swirls inside me.
During lunch, I sit alone in the break room, picking at my salad. Colleagues chatter around me, but all I can think about is the insurmountable gap between us. He’s the CEO, for crying out loud—a powerful orc who commands respect and exudes confidence. And here I am, fumbling through my first day as his secretary.
I sigh, pushing my food around my plate. This whole situation feels surreal and unfair. Why did he have to be so... so him? If he were anyone else, maybe this would be easier.
Back at my desk, I dive into more work, trying to bury my humiliation under piles of paperwork. But it’s no use. My thoughts keep drifting back to those piercing amber eyes, the way he leaned back in his chair with that charming smile that made my stomach flip.
Around mid-afternoon, I spot him through the glass walls of a conference room. He’s deep in discussion with some executives, his presence commanding attention effortlessly. The sight sends a jolt through me—a reminder of how out of place I feel here.
As I walk back to my desk, I can’t shake the self consciousness that has crept into my mind. At the airport we were equals, stranded travelers killing time. But here, the power imbalance couldn’t be more obvious.
I try to shake the thoughts of him out of my head as I sit at my computer. But the words seem to blur as my gaze stares out of focus, replaying the moment I made a fool out of myself this morning.
A colleague taps me on the shoulder, snapping me out of my reverie. “Hey Lucy, can you get these files to Mr. Thraknar? He should be back in his office now.”
“Of course.” I nod, taking the stack of documents and heading towards his office. As I approach the door, I take a deep breath to steady myself before knocking lightly and stepping inside.
Jarvin looks up from his desk as I enter, his expression softening slightly when he sees me. “Lucy.”
“Mr. Thraknar,” I reply, placing the files on his desk with more force than necessary. The thud echoes in the quiet room as the top papers flutter across his desk. I scramble to grab them, bumping his arm as I do. I catch a flicker of amusement in his piercing amber eyes as heat rises in my cheeks.
He raises an eyebrow. “Got a case of first day butter fingers?” he jokes as he takes the documents from me, his large green hands almost dwarfing the stack.
“No!” I yelp, feeling flustered and humiliated. “Is there anything else you need?” My tone is sharper than intended, betraying the nervous energy buzzing inside me.
“No,” he replies evenly, studying me with those unreadable eyes. “That’ll be all, Lucy.” The way he says my name, so confident and sure, makes it hard to breathe.
I nod stiffly, turning on my heel and leaving his office without another word. As the door clicks shut behind me, relief and embarrassment courses through me, my heart pounding from the brief but charged interaction.
Seeing Jarvin in that position of power only reinforces the need to keep my walls up. My past experiences have left me feeling guarded, and I’m determined not to let my emotions get the best of me.
There’s no space for me in his life. No fucking way.
Jarvin’s status provides a convenient excuse to keep my distance, to bury myself in work and suppress the lingering feelings from our airport encounter.
I throw myself into every task with laser focus, from organizing meetings to drafting emails. The busywork becomes a buffer, shielding me from the tumult of emotions swirling inside. When I see him through the glass walls of his office, I make sure to avoid eye contact, keeping our interactions strictly professional.
“Lucy, can you handle this report?” a colleague asks, handing me another stack of papers.
“Absolutely,” I reply, already turning back to my computer. The more tasks I take on, the less time I have to think about him.
Throughout the day, I become adept at dodging Jarvin. When he walks down the hallway, I make myself scarce in the copy room. During a meeting, I sit as far away as possible without appearing rude. Every encounter is brief and formal; every word exchanged is strictly business.
“Mr. Thraknar wants these files by the end of day,” Margaret informs me as she drops another pile onto my desk.
“On it,” I say without looking up. The constant influx of work is bound to be a blessing and a curse. It’ll keep my mind occupied, though it will be impossible to avoid him completely.
Despite it all, I can’t help but feel a pull towards him. His presence is like gravity, drawing me in despite my attempts to stay grounded.
As I gather documents for another meeting, I catch a glimpse of Jarvin through the conference room door. He’s talking animatedly with a group of executives, his confidence and charisma on full display. My heart skips a beat before I remind myself why keeping him at arm’s length is necessary.
I remind myself that professionalism is key here. Allowing personal feelings to interfere would only complicate things further. So, I take a deep breath and dive back into my work, hoping that eventually, these confusing emotions will fade away.
But deep down, a small part of me wonders if they ever will. I thought with time, I'd forget all about the handsome orc from the airport, and by some twist of fate I ended up working directly for him. And that kiss was anything but terrible, it was the complete opposite.