Lute tossed the files at Jai, papers flying everywhere. "What trash is this?" he snapped, his voice echoing through the room. Jai's heart skipped a beat as she bent down to pick up the scattered papers. Her hands trembled slightly as she gathered them, trying to make sense of Lute's sudden outburst.
As she stood up, Lute's piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. His gaze was intense, making Jai feel like he could see right through her. "Is this the content for the summer marketing campaign?" he asked, his tone skeptical. Jai's lips parted, but she couldn't form words. She wasn't done with the research, and she was supposed to submit it to Rachel, not Lute.
"I...I'm..." she stuttered, feeling Lute's intense stare. The tension between them was palpable, and Jai struggled to find her voice. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "I wasn't finished with the research," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lute's expression didn't change, but his eyes seemed to bore into her soul. "You weren't finished?" he repeated, his tone dripping with disapproval. Jai felt a surge of defensiveness, but she bit back her response. She knew better than to argue with Lute when he was in this mood. Instead, she stood her ground, her eyes locked onto his, waiting for him to say something else.
"I was supposed to submit to Rachel tomorrow," Jai said, trying to explain. Lute adjusted his cufflinks, his eyes narrowing. "Why not today?" Jai's voice rose in protest. "Today is my off-day!" Lute scoffed, folding his arms across his chest. "Oh, is it?" he said, a smug smile spreading across his face.
Jai nodded frantically, but Lute's expression only darkened. "No more off-days for you," he announced, his words sending a chill down Jai's spine. "Everyone at Luther-Croft gets an off-day," Jai argued, hurt and frustration creeping into her voice.
Lute's tone turned dismissive. "Well, I don't care." He handed her the file, his authoritative tone brooking no argument. "Take this file and make proper research and run correct analysis." Jai tried to protest, but Lute cut her off. "One more thing... you submit to me, not Rachel."
Jai's face fell as Lute's words sank in. She felt a sense of dread wash over her, wondering what she had done to deserve this sudden change. Lute's gaze flicked to his tablet, his voice cold and detached. "Leave, you're blocking my breathing space." Jai scurried away from the office, Lute's words echoing in her mind.
As Jai hastily left the office, Lute's gaze followed her out the door, his eyes fixed on the spot where she'd stood moments before. He let out a soft sigh, feeling an unexpected pang of intrigue. Somehow, this woman had managed to get under his skin, and he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
Lute's thoughts drifted back to the files he'd requested on Jai from his personal assistant days ago. She was older than him, a fact that hadn't bothered him initially. What did intrigue him, however, was her impressive work history – perhaps a bit overstated, but nonetheless impressive. There were whispers of past issues, though – allegations of harassment and abuse filed against her ex, a man who had clearly left his mark on her.
The memory of that ex surfaced, the man he'd seen at the Chinese restaurant a few weeks ago. Lute's eyes narrowed, recalling the way Jai's ex had treated her with a mixture of disdain and possessiveness. The man wasn't even particularly remarkable, and certainly not as handsome as Lute considered himself to be. Yet, Jai had been deeply invested in the relationship, her eyes sparkling with a love and adoration that Lute found puzzling.
Lute couldn't help but wonder why someone as capable and strong-willed as Jai had tolerated such treatment. He found himself pondering the nature of her past relationship, and the scars it might have left behind. As he sat there, lost in thought, Lute's expression softened ever so slightly, his gaze drifting off into the distance as he contemplated Jai's past struggles.
A knock on the door interrupted Lute's thoughts, and his eyes snapped to his PA, Mrs. Thorpe. She stood outside the glass door, a poised blonde woman in her mid-fifties, dressed in a sleek black office gown and leather brown stilettos. Lute stood up, grabbing his jacket as he did so. He was already running late for a meeting with the board, and Mrs. Thorpe's timing suggested she was there to remind him.
The workroom was dimly lit, the fluorescent lights overhead casting an eerie glow on the rows of empty desks. Jai sat hunched over her computer, her eyes fixed intently on the screen as she scrolled through lines of code. Jamie, her best friend and colleague, slumped in his chair across from her, his eyelids drooping in a valiant effort to stave off sleep.
"Hey, I'm done. I'll be with you soon," Jamie said, his voice low and gravelly from speaking on his phone. Jai's gaze didn't waver from the screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard with practiced ease. "Was that Alex?" she asked, her tone neutral.
Jamie nodded, already gathering his belongings from the desk. "Yeah, I'm sorry, babe, I've gotta run," he said, his eyes flicking to Jai before focusing on his phone. Jai's expression softened into a gentle smile, her lips curving upward in a subtle arc. "Go meet your husband. I can take care of myself," she said, her voice laced with affectionate amusement.
Jamie planted a gentle kiss on Jai's forehead before hurrying out of the room. Jai organized the papers into the file, her movements methodical as she neared the end of her task. Exhaustion crept in, her body protesting the long hours she'd put in. She stretched her arms overhead, arching her back in a languid yawn.
As she settled back into her chair, Jai's mind replayed the day's events – Lute canceling her day off, his authoritative tone sending a shiver down her spine. She mimicked Jamie's voice in her head, "What do you expect, Jai? The CEO of Luther-Croft is a kid." A soft chuckle escaped her lips, and she added silently, "A handsome, troublesome kid."
Just then, Lute's low, smooth voice cut through the quiet room, "Is that supposed to be a self-consolation or what?" Jai's heart skipped a beat as she froze, her eyes darting up to meet his. Lute's eyes sparkled with amusement, his gaze piercing as he inched closer. This time, Jai took in every detail – his partially unbuttoned shirt revealing a hint of his chest, the sleeves folded up to his elbows, giving him a rugged edge. A strand of hair had escaped his perfectly styled locks, framing his chiseled features. "She's playing dumb again," Lute murmured, his voice low and husky.
Lute's proximity left Jai breathless, her gaze lingering on his chiseled features. "Stop drooling," he said, his voice low and teasing, snapping Jai back to reality.
"Drooling, you say?" Jai repeated, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes rolling in mock exasperation. She met Lute's gaze, her expression neutral. "Trust me, I'm not into boys," she added, the words tumbling out before she could catch them.
The moment they left her lips, Jai wanted to retract them. Hurt flickered across Lute's face, his eyes flashing with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. He turned abruptly to the files on the table, his movements economical. "Are they ready?" he asked, his tone clipped.
"Not yet, but they'll be done in eight minutes," Jai replied, her shoulders shifting in an uncomfortable shrug. Lute's scowl deepened as he paced around the room. "And they say Luther-Croft isn't thriving when people as incompetent as you are doing the most to ensure it doesn't," he muttered, his words dripping with disdain.
"I'm sorry," Jai apologized, her voice soft. Lute stopped pacing and fixed her with a piercing stare, his eyes holding hers for a moment before he looked away. He sighed softly, rubbing his temple as if trying to ward off a headache. It was becoming increasingly clear that this woman had a peculiar effect on him – one he would eventually unravel.
"I don't need your stupid apologies, get to work, Miss Chen," he said curtly, walking off without a backward glance. Jai let out a frustrated groan, cupping her face in her hands. Things were rapidly deteriorating between her and the boss, and she didn't like the direction this was headed.
~ ~ ~
Jai finished her congee, the warm, comforting porridge soothing her frazzled nerves. She let out a contented belch, slumping back onto her bed. The week had been grueling, with Lute breathing down her neck over every minor mistake. Jamie's words echoed in her mind – Lute was the new villain, and everything he'd put her through seemed to prove it.
Her phone beeped from the lamp stand, and she picked it up, a soft smile spreading across her face as she saw the caller's name. "Hey," she said, wrapping herself in the warmth of her duvet.
"Jai, are you free this weekend?" the voice on the other end asked. Jai hesitated, her mind racing with possibilities. Maybe it had something to do with work – and Lute. "Maybe, not sure," she replied, her tone cautious and soft.
"Alex and I are going to this elitist party, and we want you to tag along," Jamie said, his voice trailing off as he waited for her response. "If you want," he added, giving her an easy out.
"Yeah, I want to. Maybe it'll get my mind off... you know who," Jai said, giggling softly. She was relieved it wasn't work-related, and the prospect of a night out with friends was just what she needed.
"Lute?" Jamie asked, his tone inquiring. Jai's response was laced with sarcasm and a hint of genuine hurt. "No, Yuan. I've missed him so much," she said, feigning a longing tone. Though her words were tongue-in-cheek, the underlying frustration with Lute was real.
Jamie groaned on the other end of the line, the distaste for Lute evident in his tone. "Girl, we're not talking about that dude right now. We have a party to attend," he said, steering the conversation back on track.
"Yaaass, I'll wait till tomorrow," Jai said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Can't believe Alex pulled this off," she added, giggling like an overly enthusiastic kid. As the COO of a tech company, Alex had connections that made it easy for him to score invites to exclusive events – a perk that Jamie and Jai benefited from. Lucky Jamie, indeed.