CH 6

HER POV ~

I had been in uncomfortable situations before.

But this? This was a whole new level.

Sitting across from Lucian’s parents, with him barely acknowledging my existence, felt like being thrown into a battlefield with no armor. His mother, however, was the complete opposite. Warm, charming, and far too observant.

She was watching me. Studying me.

And I had a feeling she liked what she saw.

“So, Eleanor,” she said, elegantly sipping her wine. “How has work been so far?”

I could practically feel Lucian’s irritation from across the table. He didn’t want me here, and he certainly didn’t want his mother acting like this was some casual family lunch.

I smiled sweetly, resting my fork down. “Oh, it’s been… interesting.”

Lucian’s mother raised a perfectly shaped brow. “Is that so?”

I stole a glance at Lucian, whose jaw tightened ever so slightly. The man hadn’t even looked at me since we arrived, but I knew he was listening.

I leaned forward slightly, my voice dripping with mock innocence. “Your son is very… disciplined. Such a perfectionist, really.”

His mother’s lips twitched, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Oh, I know. He’s always been that way.”

Lucian let out a sharp breath. “If you’re done talking about me like I’m not here, can we eat?”

I bit back a laugh. Ah, there it was. That temper.

His mother, however, seemed completely unfazed. “Oh, come now, Lucian. We’re just getting to know each other.”

Lucian shot me a glare, but I simply shrugged.

“If I’m going to be working with him, shouldn’t I know what I’m dealing with?” I asked, tilting my head. “Besides, I think we’re getting along just fine.”

Lucian scoffed under his breath, stabbing his fork into his food like it had personally offended him.

His mother laughed softly. “I think I like you, Eleanor.”

I smiled. “I think I like you too, Mrs. Blackwood.”

Lucian muttered something I couldn’t quite hear, but I was certain it wasn’t anything polite.

Oh, I was going to have fun with this.

HIS POV ~

I should have seen this coming.

The moment my mother smiled at Eleanor like she was her long-lost daughter, I knew she was up to something.

“Lucian, you work too much,” she said, setting her wine glass down with an air of casual authority. “Why don’t you take Eleanor out for a while? Show her around the city.”

I stilled, my grip on my fork tightening. “Mother, I have work.”

She waved a hand dismissively, as if my entire company was some minor inconvenience. “Work can wait. You’ll be stuck in that office for the rest of the week anyway. Take a break.”

I exhaled slowly, already feeling the headache forming. “Mom—”

“No arguments.” Her voice was soft but firm, the kind that left no room for negotiation. “Go.”

I clenched my jaw, my gaze flickering to Eleanor, who was sitting across from me, watching the entire thing unfold with a barely concealed smirk. She hadn’t said a single word, but I could see the amusement dancing in her eyes.

Traitor.

“Fine,” I muttered, shoving back my chair. “Let’s go.”

Eleanor rose from her seat, her expression far too smug for my liking. “Oh, how kind of you, boss,” she mused, a teasing lilt in her voice.

I shot her a glare. “Don’t push it.”

She simply smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she followed me out.

As we stepped outside, the driver was already waiting, holding the door open for us. I slipped into the backseat, and Eleanor slid in beside me, still radiating amusement.

“So,” she started, tilting her head. “Where are we going, oh mighty boss?”

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I pulled out my phone, considering my options. If my mother was going to force me into this ridiculous outing, I might as well get something out of it.

“Somewhere quiet,” I muttered.

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh? No fancy dinner? No sightseeing? Just ‘somewhere quiet’?”

I gave her a pointed look. “You’re not on vacation, Eleanor.”

She placed a hand on her chest in mock offense. “Wow. And here I thought we were bonding.”

I ignored her sarcasm, turning to the driver. “Just drive. I’ll tell you where to go.”

The car pulled away from the mansion, and Eleanor leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. She was too relaxed for someone who had just been dragged into this.

She was enjoying this.

I, on the other hand, already regretted everything.

HER POV ~

It wasn’t long before I noticed we were heading toward the outskirts, away from the usual bustling chaos.

After about twenty minutes, the driver pulled up to a secluded area at the top of a hill.

I blinked, taking in the view. The entire city stretched out before us, bathed in golden lights that flickered like stars against the dark horizon. It was breathtaking—almost surreal.

I turned to Lucian, surprised. “You come here often?”

He gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. “Sometimes.”

That was… unexpected.

I had assumed Lucian’s life revolved around work, that he thrived in glass-walled offices and boardrooms, drowning himself in spreadsheets and profit margins. But this? This was something else.

A place to think. A place to breathe.

I studied his face, trying to decipher the thoughts hidden behind his guarded expression. There was something different about him right now—his usual sharpness was still there, but it wasn’t as cutting. It was almost as if, in this moment, he wasn’t the ruthless CEO everyone feared.

I smiled slightly. “Didn’t take you for the sentimental type, boss.”

His gaze snapped to me, instantly cold again. “I’m not.”

I let out a laugh. “Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

He exhaled sharply, turning away, but I caught the subtle twitch of his lips before he did.

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