10. Jarvin
CHAPTER 10
Jarvin
A t my desk, a pile of reports sits stacked in front of me. I’m supposed to be reviewing quarterly figures, but my eyes keep drifting toward Lucy’s desk.
I shift in my seat, pretending to be engrossed in the report before me as my mind wanders yet again, back to our encounter at the airport.
Her laughter, the way she looked at me—it all comes rushing back. But now, seeing her here in this professional setting, I’m torn.
I respect her boundaries; I know she wants to keep things professional. But damn, it’s frustrating. Every small detail about her pulls me in deeper. The way she bites her lip when she’s concentrating, the slight furrow of her brow when she’s puzzled by something on her screen—it all makes me want to know more about her.
I feel a pull, a need to break through her walls and see the real Lucy beneath. It’s like she has this invisible barrier, and every time I think I’m getting close, it snaps back up.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment before looking back at Lucy. She’s scribbling notes now, her pen moving swiftly across the paper. There’s a fire in her that I find incredibly attractive—she’s passionate about what she does, and it shows.
I have to respect that. Yet every fiber of my being wants to bridge that gap between us.
My phone buzzes on the desk, snapping me out of my reverie. It’s another reminder of the countless responsibilities waiting for me. With a sigh, I pick it up and force myself to focus on the task at hand. But even as I dive back into work, Lucy remains a constant presence in my thoughts, a distraction I can’t seem to shake off.
And part of me doesn’t want to.
Lunchtime rolls around, and I seize the opportunity. Grabbing two sandwiches from the cafeteria, I head straight for Lucy’s desk. She’s buried in her work, as usual. I don't want to come off as an asshole. I still want her to like me and don’t want to create serious issues between us. I’m just so intrigued by her.
"You've barely taken a break. I thought you might be hungry," I say, holding out one of the sandwiches with a smile.
Lucy looks up, her eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, she seems taken aback, but then she regains her composure and accepts the sandwich with a polite nod.
"Thanks," she murmurs, her voice soft yet steady.
I can't help but chuckle. "You look like you've never seen a sandwich before."
She blinks at me, then a small smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "I was just… surprised. But thank you."
I lean against her desk, watching her unwrap the sandwich. "I just wanted to do something nice, to say thank you for working so hard.”
Her smile widens slightly, and she glances up at me. "I guess I’m just not used to lunchtime surprises."
"Don't read too much into it," I say with a smile and head back to my office.
"Jarvin—I mean, uh, Mr. Thraknar, wait," Lucy calls out. I turn to look at her meeting a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.
"Do you need anything, Lucy?"
"Would you like to sit down? With me?" she says, stammering over her words, but for a moment I catch a glimpse of the woman I met at the airport.
"Are you sure?" I ask. I know the lunch surprise is still pushing the boundary a bit, and as much as I want her, I don’t want her to feel forced, I want her to come to realize what we could have on her own time.
"I'm sure," she says with a small smile.
That’s all I need. We sit on an empty bench outside of my office. The tension eases slightly as she unwraps the sandwich. She eyes me cautiously but takes a bite.
“You know,” I say between bites, “most people take breaks during lunch. Helps with productivity.”
Lucy glances up at me, chewing thoughtfully before responding. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Her eyes soften just a bit, and her tone, though still professional, carries a hint of amusement.
“In fact, I think there’s a study about it. Something about mental clarity and all that.”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “Is that your excuse for slacking off?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, just looking out for you.”
Her smile widens, and for a moment, the office seems a little warmer.
I glance around the office, taking in the familiar surroundings before turning my attention back to her. “So, how are you finding everything here? Still settling in okay?”
She nods, pausing to swallow her bite before replying. “Yes, everything’s good so far. Just trying to get into the rhythm.”
I notice she’s still a bit guarded, but at least she’s opening up.
“Well, if you ever need anything—or just want to chat—you know where to find me,” I say with a grin, trying to ease some of the tension.
Lucy meets my gaze for a long moment, her green eyes searching mine before she nods again. “Thanks… Jarvin.”
There’s a warmth in her voice that wasn’t there before, a hint of trust that makes the office feel a little less like a battlefield and more like a place where something real could grow.
Hearing my name from her lips feels like a victory in itself. We finish our sandwiches in comfortable silence, and I can’t help but feel that maybe—just maybe—I’m starting to break through that exterior of hers.
I lean against Lucy’s desk, the remnants of our lunch still in my hand. “So, what do you think about the new project? The one we discussed in the meeting this morning.”
She looks up from her notes, her green eyes meeting mine briefly before darting back to her work. “It seems promising. I think the team is excited about it.”
I nod, pleased with her response. “Yeah, I got that vibe too. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I think it’ll pay off.”
She nods, scribbling something on a piece of paper. I take a deep breath, deciding to steer the conversation in a different direction.
“So, any plans for the weekend?” I ask casually, trying to keep my tone light and nonchalant.
Lucy hesitates for a moment before answering. “Not really. Just some errands and maybe catching up on some reading.”
I feel a thrill at her openness. “What do you like to read?”
She glances at me again, and this time there’s a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “Mostly fiction. I just started a new mystery novel.”
“Sounds interesting,” I say, genuinely intrigued. “I’ve always admired people who can get lost in a good book. What’s this one about?”
She hesitates again but then seems to relax slightly. “It’s about a detective solving a series of murders in a small town. The writing is really engaging.”
My smile is genuine. “That sounds fascinating. I’ve always been more of a nonfiction guy myself—business strategies, biographies, that sort of thing.”
Lucy nods thoughtfully. “I guess that makes sense, given your position.”
“Yeah.” I chuckle softly. “But sometimes I think I should branch out more. Maybe try some fiction for a change.”
She looks at me with a faint smile, and I feel my chest tighten. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing her soften around me.
“What about you?” she asks unexpectedly.
I blink, caught off guard by her question. “Me?”
“Yes,” she says with a small smile playing on her lips. “What do you do when you’re not running this place?”
I laugh, feeling the tension ease slightly between us. “Honestly? Not much time for hobbies these days.” I lean in slightly, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “But when I do get some free time, I like to cook.”
Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Really? That’s unexpected.”
I grin at her reaction. “Yeah, most people don’t see that coming from an orc CEO… granted it was a rather chaotic learning experience, but an orc’s gotta eat. And I like to eat good.”
Lucy laughs softly, and it’s the sweetest sound I’ve heard all day.
“Do you have a specialty?” she asks.
“Anything spicy,” I reply with a wink.
As we continue talking about our interests outside of work, I can’t help but feel exhilarated by this connection we’re forming. But even as we chat easily, sharing bits and pieces of our lives, I constantly check myself—careful not to overstep the boundaries she’s set.
It's a delicate balance—one that I’m determined to navigate. I want to delve deeper into who she is, uncover the layers that make her Lucy, but I don’t want to push too hard, too fast. The last thing I want is to scare her off.
When lunch is over, I stand up and stretch, feeling the satisfying pull of my muscles. “Alright then, back to the grind.”
Lucy gives me another polite nod as I walk away, her eyes shimmering with curiosity. I can’t help but glance back over my shoulder one last time. She’s still watching me, her expression a tantalizing puzzle—one of intrigue and something deeper that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s like she’s trying to figure me out, and I find myself hoping she’ll take her time.
I return to my office with a sense of satisfaction humming through me. It's not much, but it's a start.