Chapter 6 #2
"Ms. Foster," he said quietly, his deep voice smooth yet carrying enough authority to make her heartbeat stumble, "if you're going to come in late every single morning, perhaps you should stay home instead of coming to work."
Feeling the warmth radiating from his body and the overwhelming closeness between them, Elise looked up at Xavier in confusion.
His tall frame stood directly in front of her, leaving nowhere for her to go.
His hand remained braced against the desk beside her hip, effectively trapping her between the solid mahogany and his broad frame, while the other still held her hip.
She blinked.
"I wasn't late," she reminded him softly, her brows drawing together as she searched his face. "I reached the office on time."
Instead of easing his mood, her answer only made the muscles along his jaw tighten.
‘I don't care whether you reached the office on time. I wanted you to come with me. In my car. Is that really so damn difficult to understand?’
The thought pounded through his mind, making the irritation simmering beneath his composed exterior even harder to suppress.
Xavier Chen had spent years mastering every emotion that threatened to show itself. Anger, frustration, jealousy... they all remained buried beneath the same composed expression that intimidated board members and rival CEOs alike.
His thumb brushed once against her hip before becoming still again.
"Ms. Foster."
His voice was low and even, carrying the quiet authority that never failed to command an entire boardroom.
"Who approved your change in transportation this morning?"
Elise stared at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"No one."
"Then why did you arrive separately?"
"I..." She hesitated only because she was trying to understand the question. "My dad called while I was leaving. We hadn't spoken in several days."
Her voice remained gentle.
"I ended the call as quickly as I could, but when I came outside..." She looked at him apologetically. "...you'd already left."
Xavier's gaze never left her face.
"I waited."
Those two words were enough to make Elise's eyes widen.
"You... waited?"
"I looked back twice."
His tone remained as calm as ever.
"When you didn't appear, I left."
"I didn't know," Elise said quickly, guilt immediately filling her expression.
She looked at him earnestly, her brows knitting together.
"I'm sorry."
Xavier remained silent.
Her apology should have satisfied him.
It didn't.
Instead, the ache in his chest only deepened.
He released a slow breath before speaking again.
"Do you know what happens when you arrive separately?"
Elise quietly shook her head.
"My security team adjusts its route."
His eyes held hers.
"My secretary has to coordinate two arrivals instead of one."
He spoke as though presenting facts during a board meeting.
"The executive schedule changes. The lobby security changes. The convoy changes."
Each sentence was delivered in the same calm, measured tone.
Then he leaned forward just enough for the distance between them to disappear once again.
"You are an executive director of Chen Group."
His deep voice dropped lower.
"I don't tolerate unnecessary inefficiency."
Elise listened quietly until he finished before looking up at him again.
"I understand." She nodded lightly. "I didn't realize it affected everyone."
There wasn't the slightest attempt to argue. Only sincere understanding.
"I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
After a brief pause, she asked softly, "But... aside from this..."
Her eyes searched his face with quiet concern.
"Have I disappointed you in any other way?"
Xavier's breathing faltered almost imperceptibly.
"Is there something regarding work that I've handled poorly? If there is..."
She offered him a small, apologetic smile.
"...please tell me. I'll correct it."
The simple sincerity in her voice struck him harder than any confrontation ever could.
She wasn't making excuses. She wasn't shifting the blame. She wasn't even upset that he'd cornered her in his office. She genuinely believed he was criticizing her work.
‘Damn it…’ His gaze remained locked on her face. ‘Why does she always look at me like that? Like she's trying so hard to understand me. Like she honestly believes she's done something wrong.’
His throat tightened.
He drew in a slow breath before letting it out through his nose, but the pressure in his chest refused to ease. If anything, it only grew stronger, making it feel almost impossible to breathe.
His gaze slowly wandered over her face.
Her worried eyes.
The slight crease between her brows.
The soft flush beginning to bloom across her cheeks.
Finally, his eyes settled on her lips.
Without thinking, the hand resting against the desk lifted.
His fingertips brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek before his palm gently cradled the side of her face, his thumb resting just beneath her cheekbone.
The movement was unexpectedly careful.
Almost tender.
His other hand loosened around her wrist and slid to her waist instead, his fingers settling securely against her side as he drew her a fraction closer. The movement brought them so near that the fabric of her blouse brushed lightly against his suit jacket.
Elise's breath caught.
She instinctively lifted her chin to look at him, her lashes fluttering once before growing still. Color slowly spread across her delicate face, and although embarrassment flickered in her eyes, she didn't move away.
Xavier didn't miss a single reaction.
He watched the way her breathing faltered, the way her fingers tightened around the edge of the desk, and the way those wide, innocent eyes searched his face.
A slow, knowing smile curved his lips.
His hand lifted, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheek before his fingers curled around her jaw, holding her exactly where he wanted her.
"You never learn, do you, Elise?" he murmured.
His voice was quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
"You make the same mistake..." His thumb slowly traced the line of her jaw. "...every single time."
His dark eyes held hers captive, refusing to let her look away.
"And every single time..." he continued, his voice dropping into that deep, rough tone she knew far too well, "...you convince yourself I'll let it slide."
A low, humorless chuckle escaped him.
"When have I ever done that?"
He lowered his head until his lips hovered beside her ear, his warm breath fanning against her skin.
"You've made the same mistake again," he whispered. "So you already know what's coming."
His grip beneath her chin tightened ever so slightly, tilting her face back toward him.
His gaze burned into hers.
"I've started to think..." he said, his voice rough with quiet amusement, "...that you like being punished."
***
Elise stood quietly for a moment, smoothing the front of her blouse with both hands before brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Her cheeks were still tinged pink, the warmth refusing to leave no matter how many calming breaths she took.
She lightly pressed the back of her fingers against her face, silently hoping the redness would fade before she stepped outside.
It didn't.
Letting out a small, almost helpless sigh, she bent to pick up the folder that had slipped onto the carpet before straightening again. She stole a quick glance toward Xavier.
He had already put himself back together with the same effortless composure he carried into every board meeting.
His suit jacket was buttoned neatly over his broad shoulders, his tie perfectly straight, and not a single strand of his long black hair had fallen out of place.
Sitting comfortably on the leather sofa with one ankle resting over his opposite knee, he casually flipped through a financial report as though he had been doing nothing except working all morning.
The only thing betraying him was his gaze.
Without lifting his head, his eyes slowly traveled from the papers in his hand to her, lingering on her long, bare legs for a quiet moment before returning to the document.
Elise unconsciously lowered her eyes, suddenly becoming aware of how flustered she still felt. She cleared her throat softly before tightening her grip on her handbag.
"If... there's nothing else," she said gently, "I'll return to my office now."
Xavier finally closed the file with an unhurried motion and placed it on the coffee table in front of him.
"There is."
Elise paused halfway to the door and looked back.
He leaned back against the sofa, one arm resting lazily along the backrest while his other hand adjusted the cuff of his sleeve with slow, precise movements.
"Bring your work in here."
She blinked.
"My work?"
"I want today's files, your laptop, and whatever else you need."
His gaze lifted to meet hers.
"You'll work in my office."
Elise instinctively hugged her phone a little closer.
"I can work from my own office," she replied softly. "If you need me, I'm only a few steps away."
Xavier rose from the sofa.
The movement was slow and unhurried, yet somehow carried enough intensity to make the spacious office suddenly feel much smaller.
Slipping one hand into his trouser pocket, he walked toward his desk before stopping behind it.
He rested both palms lightly against the polished wood and looked at her over the rim of his glasses.
"I wasn't asking for your opinion."
Elise lowered her gaze for a brief second before giving a small nod.
"...Alright."
Satisfied, Xavier picked up another file and opened it.
"You have five minutes."
Knowing there was little point arguing further, Elise quietly left the office, gently closing the heavy wooden door behind her.
The executive floor was already bustling with activity.
Employees hurried between departments carrying stacks of documents, while managers stood outside conference rooms discussing reports in hushed voices.
The steady tapping of keyboards and ringing telephones blended into the familiar rhythm of another busy workday.