As I stepped out of Chak's office, trying to keep my expression neutral, Amara appeared by my side almost instantly.
"What were you doing in there for so long?" she asked, eyes full of curiosity.
I forced a light chuckle. "He was mad. Said the coffee was too cold. And… he heard our conversation."
Amara rolled her eyes. "Typical."
I didn't say anything else. I just gave her a faint smile and headed back to my desk, pretending like it was just another regular day even though nothing felt regular anymore.
I buried myself in spreadsheets and product requests, but my mind kept drifting. When it was a few minutes before five, I looked up and saw Chak stepping out of his office. He didn't even glance around he walked straight to the exit.
My heart jumped, but I kept my face composed.
I stood up quietly and made my way to the underground parking lot. He was already waiting for me in his sleek black BMW.
The drive home was silent.
He didn't play any music. I didn't ask any questions. Only the low hum of the engine and the soft click of the turn signals filled the space between us.
And yet, the silence didn't feel cold. It felt suspended. Like something unsaid was quietly taking shape.
While waiting at a traffic light, I glanced out the window and saw a couple walking hand in hand, laughing completely lost in each other.
Someday, I thought, me and Chak will look like that.
And I smiled, quietly to myself.
When we pulled into the garage, he turned off the engine and looked at me briefly.
"There are some documents in the trunk. Bring them inside."
I nodded and stepped out. When I opened the trunk and reached for the folder, something else caught my eye.
A black umbrella with colorful circles.
It didn't look like something he would own. It looked… feminine. Playful. Not him.
For a moment, I just stared at it, unsure why it made my chest tighten.
Then I grabbed the folder and shut the trunk, pretending I hadn't seen anything.
Inside the house, I kicked off my shoes, dropped the folders off on Chak's office table, and headed straight to the kitchen.
"What do you want to eat?" I called out, trying to sound casual.
There was a pause. Then his voice came from the hallway. "Something light."
I made one of his favorites mild, savory, comforting. When it was done, I set the table.
"Dinner's ready."
He walked over, glanced at the plates, and said flatly, "I'm not hungry."
I blinked. "What?"
"I'm not eating."
I crossed my arms. "You need to eat."
He gave me a look. "I said I'm not hungry."
I tilted my head. "If you don't eat what I cooked, you'll get punished."
That made him pause. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at his lips.
"You're using my own games on me now?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Exactly."
With a small sigh, he sat down. "Fine. Just a little."
We ate in silence until Chak asked, "Did you talk with your colleagues about me during lunch?"
I hesitated. "No. We didn't talk about you."
"Are you sure?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, staring at me coldly.
I sighed. "Fine. Yes. We talked about you."
"And what did you say?" His tone was calm, but his gaze wasn't.
I blushed. "I said... you were cold, arrogant… and very into yourself."
"Do you really think that?" he asked.
I looked down, then met his eyes. "No. Not really. I've started to know you, Chak. When they asked me, I wanted to say the truth. That you're completely different at home. Your warmth... it's not for everyone. It's hidden, rare. But it's there. And I've felt it."
I stood, walked over to him, and gently kissed his forehead. But as I turned to walk away, he reached out and grabbed my hand.
He pulled me into his lap, slowly and deliberately. We stared at each other, eyes locked, breaths quiet.
Then he said softly, "You found my warmth. And I don't want to lose you. You're important to me."
I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling the world slow down for just a second. Then I stood up.
"Let's finish dinner before it gets cold."
After we finished, I cleared the table. As I wiped down the counter, his voice came again, steady and firm.
"Come to my office when you're done."
A few minutes later, I stepped inside. He was already at his desk, eyes scanning some files.
Without looking up, he said, "Your punishment."
I blinked. "I thought we were joking."
He looked at me. "I wasn't."
"You'll be checking all the ingredient lists and pricing for LF Lab products. I want updated cost breakdowns and supplier comparisons. You have four hours."
"Four hours?" I groaned.
I rolled my eyes but nodded and sat down. I opened my laptop, pulled up the documents, and started working.
Every now and then, I glanced up at him.
And then… I just kept looking.
He looked sharp, focused, elegant. His fingers rested lightly against the papers, his jaw tight in concentration. This was the same man who had just told me I was important to him. The same man who still felt like a mystery.
Suddenly, he lifted his head.
"If you keep staring at me like that," he said, "you'll never finish on time."
My face flushed. "I wasn't staring."
"You were."
I looked down quickly, lips curving slightly.
Despite everything the rules, the coldness, the uncertainty I was here.
And he was letting me stay.
But just as I returned to my work, I felt movement.
Chak stood up, walked around the desk, and stopped behind me.
Before I could turn, I felt his hand brush against my shoulder. He leaned down, close enough that I could feel his breath on my neck.
Then, without a word, he placed a slow, soft kiss on the curve where my neck met my shoulder.
I froze.
"You've already distracted me enough for tonight," he murmured.
He straightened and was about to turn away when he said, his voice low and calm:
"If you don't finish on time... there will be another punishment."