The company was simply enormous, as expected of a prestigious family like the Lucianos. Ethan's eyes darted around in awe, taking in the tall glass walls, the polished marble floors, and the endless rows of employees in pristine uniforms.
So that's what it means to be rich… he thought, whistling quietly under his breath.
The moment the elevator doors slid open, silence swept through the floor. The air tightened as every pair of eyes turned toward the man in the sleek wheelchair. Their CEO had arrived.
The employees straightened instantly, some nearly tripping over themselves to bow or greet him. Their movements were stiff, their faces pale, as though even breathing too loudly in Damien Luciano's presence would be a crime.
"G-Good morning, CEO!"
"Welcome back, Boss!"
Their voices overlapped nervously, too eager and too careful all at once. A few assistants nearly dropped their files, scrambling to look busy.
But soon, their gazes betrayed them, flicking curiously to the one pushing the CEO's wheelchair.
"Wait… who is that?"
"Is that man… pregnant?"
"No way. Can a man even become pregnant?!"
Ethan's lips twitched, but instead of shrinking back, he simply raised his chin and kept walking. If they wanted to gawk, then let them. So what if he was pregnant?!
"Could he be the boss's rumored crazy wife?" one voice whispered.
"I heard the Luciano family forced him into a marriage with some lunatic no one had ever met!"
"But wasn't the boss supposed to be dating the young master of the Rui family? Everyone knew about that romance!"
"If Boss really had a spouse, there should have been a grand wedding. How could something that big go unnoticed?"
Crazy wife? Forced marriage? Huh, if he had a choice, he wouldn't be here. It was all those damn goddesses' faults! He could imagine them laughing goofily from above.
From Damien's angle, Ethan's silence looked like quiet endurance, his calm expression a mask for discomfort.
Damien's jaw tightened. His gaze lifted, sharp as a blade, sweeping across the room.
The whispers cut off instantly. A wave of terror passed through the employees as they ducked their heads and scurried back to their desks, typing furiously to look busy.
Ethan raised an eyebrow at the sudden silence. Wow, he didn't even need to open his mouth. These people really are terrified of him.
He carried on as though nothing had happened, but Damien, watching him from the corner of his eye, misunderstood completely. He thought Ethan was forcing himself to appear unaffected.
His lips curled slightly, but the faint smile disappeared as quickly as it came.
Ethan pushed Damien's wheelchair into the office, and immediately, the heavy atmosphere settled over him. Just like Damien's bedroom, the place was cold, dark, and filled with lifeless shades of grey. The sharp furniture looked expensive, but it only added to the chill. Guess gloomy colors are really his thing.
He parked Damien neatly by the desk before stretching and flopping onto the sofa nearby. For some reason, his body felt strangely heavy, like a wave of sleepiness was trying to drown him. Why did he feel so tired all of a sudden?
Click. Click.
The sudden sound of heels against the polished floor snapped him wide awake.
The door opened, and in walked a voluptuous woman with curves so perfect they looked like they had been drawn by an artist. Her tight skirt hugged her hips, her blouse sat dangerously low, and her long legs seemed to shine under the dim light. Ethan's eyes widened instantly, following her every sway.
"Damn… don't tell me this is one of those seductive secretaries from harem novels?!" His gaze clung to her like glue.
The woman leaned forward over Damien's desk, her blouse gaping as she presented the papers, intentionally showing off her cleavage. Ethan nearly bit his tongue. Meanwhile, Damien remained utterly unfazed, his cold eyes fixed only on the documents.
Ethan let out a soft sigh. "Of course… doesn't matter how gorgeous she is, the guy's bent. And me? I'm just stuck drooling in the corner. Life is so unfair. Why is it always the male lead who gets this treatment?!"
But then, the air dropped a degree colder.
Damien's hands stilled on the papers. Slowly, his head lifted, and his sharp gaze locked onto Ethan. His dark eyes lingered, observing the way Ethan stared at the secretary so intently, not even blinking. Something flickered in Damien's eyes—something cold and suspicious.
Was Ethan… jealous? Or was it something else entirely?
[Ding!]
Damien Luciano
Favorability value: –80
Ethan jerked on the sofa, nearly toppling off. What's a favorability value? And why is it negative?!
[Xixi?!]
…
Silence.
Oh right… He had muted the damn rabbit…
But when he glanced up again, Damien's eyes were still on him—cold, piercing, and filled with quiet suspicion. For a moment, Ethan felt as though every thought in his head was being dissected by that icy stare.
Why was he looking at him like that? Ethan hadn't done anything wrong… right?! Don't tell him it was just because he stared at the secretary? Was this guy actually possessive over his own secretaries?!
Ethan tapped his finger against the sofa armrest, pretending to be bored, though his eyes occasionally wandered to her swaying form. "No wonder every man wants power and his own company, CEO benefits come with curves."
Damien listened without interruption, his face calm and expressionless, though his eyes would occasionally flicker in Ethan's direction, cold and sharp, as if waiting to catch him in something.
The woman finished her report and left, but not before shooting Ethan a glare full of contempt, her eyes flashing with challenge as if saying stay in your place, you don't belong here.
The door closed. Silence fell.
What the heck was that all about?! Ethan was stunned, replaying the look the secretary had given him. Could it be… she saw him as a rival?!
A rival… for Damien?
Ethan nearly laughed at the absurdity, but no sound came out. "Why do I feel like I'm stuck in one of those cliché CEO dog-blood dramas?"