"Looks like you still remember, huh?" His lips curved into a cold, faintly pitying smile, and the strength in his hands left Cecilia frowning repeatedly. "Then you'd better behave. Don't do anything to anger me again, or I can't promise I won't pull my investment back."
The Blaze before her seemed like a completely different person. He had never spoken to her in such a threatening tone. His usual principles and boundaries could all be discarded when it came to her—he had never been like this before.
"Let me explain…" Cecilia sighed, finally giving in.
She had to take responsibility for today's chaos. If her explanation could earn Blaze's understanding and clear the misunderstanding, she was willing to do it. For MAPLE CO, she had no other choice.
Blaze was about to release his hold when, hearing her words, he pressed down again. He lifted her hands high, forcing her to arch her body. The air between them instantly thickened with tension. "What, do you want me to stay and see this through to the end?"
Cecilia gasped, her small face drained of color as she struggled desperately. The terror and helplessness in her eyes were all captured by Blaze, and a sudden, inexplicable ache pricked his chest. He tugged at the corners of his mouth in a wry, self-mocking smile. "You're really afraid of me, huh?"
"What did you say?"
Cecilia blinked, not catching his words, and before she could react, he released her. With a sudden sway, he turned and walked away without looking back.
Another reckless incident, another scene of Blaze stepping back first. Was their relationship always going to be like this—threatening and yielding in turn?
As expected, the next day the cold war resumed. Blaze treated her like air, miserly even with his gaze, not allowing it to linger on her for a single second.
Snow had fallen heavily the night before, leaving the roads slippery. Cecilia nearly slipped as she left the house. Blaze's driver was on vacation, so he drove himself every day. Thinking it through, Cecilia sent him a message, reminding him to be careful.
It had always been like this—no matter how much they fought or how long the cold war lasted, they would still check in with messages, reminding each other to stay warm, drive safely in the rain or snow. Once this habit had formed, it was impossible to break.
When the notification sounded, Blaze froze. His body reacted before his mind. Moments later, he had typed two simple words and sent them.
He tossed his phone aside in irritation, released the handbrake, and slammed the accelerator.
Those two simple words immediately cleared Cecilia's lingering unease. Although the cold war continued, she felt a newfound sense of reassurance. That morning, she intentionally chose a bright red sports car from the garage to drive to the office.
The car belonged to Blaze, and Cecilia vaguely remembered pestering him for it three years ago.
She arrived at the office at nine, after the morning rush had eased, driving smoothly to the parking lot. There, she saw a familiar figure.
"Leano?" Cecilia rolled down the window and leaned out. The cold morning wind swept through the parking lot. Leano stood in front of a car, shivering in a thin white shirt, looking pitiful and small. "Why are you standing in front of my car?"
The black Ford in front of him was her car.
"Ah-choo!" Leano sneezed the moment he opened his mouth. Cecilia furrowed her brows, parked the car properly, and then approached him.
"Good morning, Miss Spark."
"Morning. But… what are you doing here?" Cecilia scanned him up and down, a little embarrassed. "The interview results haven't been announced yet, have they? Are you coming in to work today?"
"No. It snowed last night, and I was worried about the snow damaging the paint, so I came early to help clean your car."
Seeing him with blue lips, his eyes glistening and looking at her so pitifully, like an abandoned little animal, Cecilia felt a headache coming. She handed him the keys and opened the door for him to get inside and warm up. "It's minus five degrees today. Wearing this, you're crazy."
Leano curled up in the car, taking a moment to collect himself. Embarrassed, he ran a hand through his hair. "I—I didn't think too much… I just noticed your car was parked under the canopy, and I worried…"
"If you're trying to flatter me just to get this job, there's no need. This isn't something I can decide alone."
Leano's words froze mid-sentence. His handsome face showed disbelief. After a long pause, he lowered his gaze, pouting slightly. "No… I saw you leave early yesterday in a bad mood. I thought you were upset, so I came this morning…"
"Forget it. Just warm up a bit, then head home. I need to get to work."
Cecilia treated Leano's presence as nothing more than a minor interruption. But in the shadows, a pair of eyes had been watching them the entire time. That person snapped dozens of photos from odd angles, preparing to make full use of them from now on.
As soon as Cecilia arrived at the company, she could sense a heavy tension in the air. The two reception girls exchanged subtle glances and gestures, clearly trying to warn her about something, though no words dared to escape their lips.
Just as she stepped into the office area, a sharp, piercing voice rang out from ahead. "What on earth are you doing?!"
Cecilia furrowed her brows. That voice… it sounded familiar. Samantha?
Pushing open the office door, a blue folder suddenly flew straight toward her face. Luckily, Cecilia's reflexes were quick, and she dodged it just in time. Turning, she saw the woman sitting arrogantly at her desk—it was indeed Samantha.
"What's going on?" Cecilia asked.
"Mrs. Samantha said there's something important locked in the company's safe, and now she wants to retrieve it. But without your permission, no one dares to open it," Samantha muttered, clearly trying to make trouble.
The company safe contained the official seal and other critical documents. Only Cecilia and Peter Spark had the authority to open it. Samantha knew the rules but came here anyway, deliberately causing a scene.
"Samantha, have you caused enough trouble?" Cecilia said, dismissing a few assistants so that only the two of them remained in the office. "Is your apartment too small? This is the company safe, not a jewelry box for your personal treasures!"
Ever since Peter Spark had been hospitalized, Samantha had been planning for the future. She did hold MAPLE CO shares, but the documents were in the company safe—what Peter had promised her. That gave her no right to act recklessly here.
"Open the safe for me," Samantha said, shooting Cecilia a sharp glance while trying to steady her rapidly beating heart. Her voice trembled slightly. "There's something important inside. I'll take it and leave."
"I have no intention of opening it. Please leave, or I'll call security," Cecilia replied firmly.
"You—!"
Without hesitation, Cecilia picked up the internal line and dialed the security office, leaving Samantha no room for argument. MAPLE CO was her territory—she would not allow this woman to bully her staff and cause chaos.
"All right, Cecilia. Just you wait! I'll get back at you!" Samantha fumed, grinding her silver teeth in anger. Realizing the security guards would arrive any second, she had no choice but to pick up her handbag and head for the door.
"See her out," Cecilia said, lifting her chin.
The assistant stationed by the door finally exhaled in relief, escorting Samantha—the formidable troublemaker—out of the company.