After cleaning my grandma's room, I told Dominic to stay there for the night. Mira was in the bathroom while Dominic and I were in my grandma's room. Dominic sat comfortably on the bed while I stood by the doorway.
"Would it really be okay with you if I stayed in your grandma's room?" Dominic kept asking the same question, and I kept assuring him that it was time for me to move on from my grandma's death.
"I know she wouldn't be mad at you because she knows you're a good person," I teased with a laugh.
"It's an honor that I'll be the one using your grandma's room," he said as he looked around.
"It may not be as cozy or luxurious as your room, but at least you won't have to sleep on the couch tonight. I couldn't bear to see you struggle to sleep," I said.
"I may be rich, but I know how to survive," he replied with a smile.
I continued looking at him because I had a few questions I wanted to ask about Lucca's ex. Since Mira was still in the bathroom, and I assumed she would be there for a while, I decided to take the opportunity.
"Dominic, can I ask you something?" I asked hesitantly.
"Of course. What is it?" Dominic looked at me attentively.
"You know Lucca's ex, right?" I asked.
His smile faded, and he looked at me curiously.
"You know Lucca's ex?" he asked.
"I met her yesterday and again today at Lucca's office."
"Oh. So Hillary is already in the Philippines."
"Why did they break up? And why does Lucca treat her like trash? Did he love her, and when she betrayed him, did he end up hating her?" I asked, throwing one question after another.
"Why do you think Lucca loved his ex?" Dominic asked, trying not to laugh. Was the situation really that amusing?
"Because for the past two days, I've seen them together, and they always ended up arguing. I could tell Lucca hated her so much that I thought she must have betrayed him."
"Lucca never loved anyone but himself," Dominic said with a grin. "Hillary only became his girlfriend because of a bet. We challenged Lucca that if he lost, he'd have to date Hillary. What we didn't expect was that Hillary would take the relationship seriously, and that only annoyed Lucca."
I was stunned by what Dominic had just told me. Hillary had only become Lucca's girlfriend because of a bet? And Lucca grew annoyed because she became too clingy and persistent?
"Did Hillary know about the bet?" I asked. As a woman, it hurt just imagining that I had only been someone's prize. If I were in Hillary's shoes, I wouldn't have forced myself on someone who didn't want me.
"Yeah. She was actually the one who suggested the bet. She told me to tell Lucca that if he lost, he had to make her his girlfriend."
"But why would Hillary do that?"
"She was in love with Lucca. She was willing to do anything just to become his girlfriend."
"What happened after that? Why did they break up?"
Dominic looked at me in surprise.
"I didn't know you were so interested in Lucca's past relationships," he said with a laugh.
"I'm not. I'm just curious," I replied, ignoring his teasing.
"Lucca caught Hillary kissing Damon at a bar."
"What?" I gasped in shock.
So technically, Hillary cheated on Lucca, even though Lucca had never taken their relationship seriously.
"Lucca grabbed that opportunity to break up with her."
"Why would his ex do that if she was in love with Lucca?"
"Maybe she wanted to make Lucca jealous, but things didn't turn out the way she expected."
"And the worst part was, she did it with your enemy," I said.
"Yup. Hillary made the wrong move, so she left the Philippines to move on. I don't know what got into her now that she's back."
"She wants to get back together with Lucca," I told him, recalling the conversation they had at the office. "I actually think she's beautiful and sophisticated," I added.
"But you're more beautiful than her, at least to me," Dominic said with a smile.
"Beauty is subjective," I replied.
"True. So, did you get the answers you were looking for? Did Hillary do something to you?"
"No," I answered.
Do I need to tell Dominic that Lucca and I were pretending to be in a relationship? What if he keeps teasing us about it?
"Seraphina..."
"Hmm?"
"Since you just started working with Lucca, has he been rude to you again?" he asked.
Suddenly, the memory of our kiss in the rain flashed through my mind. Warmth spread across my cheeks, and I was sure Dominic noticed.
"You're blushing. Did something happen?" Dominic asked curiously.
"I just remembered the Japanese restaurant Lucca owns. The food was amazing, and the place was beautiful. Just thinking about it makes me blush," I said as calmly as I could, though I could barely hear my own words over the loud pounding of my heart.
"Oh. One of Lucca's favorite places. You went there earlier?"
"Yes. We had lunch there."
"So you don't just work in the office."
"He actually asked me to look for books to add to his library collection."
"Hmm."
"What? Is something wrong?"
Dominic smiled at me.
"Nothing. I guess you should get some sleep now since you'll be working with Lucca again tomorrow. Good night, Seraphina."
"Good night, Dominic."
I left him in my grandma's room and headed to my bedroom. Just as I walked in, Mira came out of the bathroom.
"I thought you were already asleep," Mira said as she dried her hair with a towel.
"I just wanted to make sure Dominic was comfortable in my grandma's room."
She nodded.
I lay down on my bed.
"Good night, Mira."
"Good night, Seraphina."
After that, we turned off the lights.
But you know what?
I couldn't sleep the moment I lay down. Lucca kept occupying my thoughts, especially our kiss. It played over and over in my mind like a never-ending loop. If I had been home alone, I would've screamed into my pillow because of how ridiculous I was acting.
I looked like a teenager who had spent the entire day thinking about her crush.
Crush?
Did I have a crush on Lucca?
No. I was just bothered because he kissed me.
Shouldn't I ask him why he kissed me? Was it because I was his fake girlfriend? Or... was it because he liked me?
Impossible!
Hillary didn't even meet his standards. There's no way I would either.
Ugh! Please let me sleep. How am I supposed to function tomorrow if I don't get enough sleep tonight?
I wanted to check the time, but I didn't want Mira to know I was still awake. I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes, forcing myself to fall asleep.
The next morning...
"Seraphina, wake up. It's already seven-thirty," Mira said as she gently shook me awake.
"Hmm..."
I buried my face in the pillow. I was still sleepy. I had only fallen asleep at dawn.
"Lucca is already here."
The moment I heard Lucca's name, I immediately sat up.
Mira burst into laughter.
"You look like a mess," she teased.
"Why did Lucca come here so early?"
She simply shrugged.
"Why don't you ask your boss yourself?"
I frowned.
I didn't want him to see me looking like this. But it would also be rude to keep my boss waiting.
I quickly fixed my messy hair with my fingers before stepping out of the room.
Lucca and Dominic were comfortably seated in the living room, enjoying their coffee.
"Oh, you're finally awake, Seraphina. Your boss has been waiting for you," Dominic teased with a grin.
My eyes instinctively landed on Lucca.
He was wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal-gray suit that hugged his broad shoulders and athletic frame. A crisp white dress shirt peeked beneath the jacket, paired with a sleek black tie that made him look even more refined. His polished black leather shoes gleamed under the morning light, while his neatly styled hair completed his effortlessly sophisticated appearance. He looked every bit like the successful CEO everyone admired.
Handsome.
Why do I keep calling him handsome?
I quickly shook my head.
"Um... I'll take a bath first. I'm sorry for waking up late," I apologized.
Lucca didn't say a word. He simply kept looking at me.
His gaze alone was enough to make my heart skip a beat.
Without waiting for his response, I hurried to the bathroom.
Why was my heart racing again?
Should I visit Dr. Keith and ask him about it? What if I actually have a heart problem and end up getting admitted to the hospital?
Fifteen minutes later, I stepped out of the bathroom and returned to my room to get dressed.
Mira had already placed a neatly folded outfit on my bed.
"Wear this," she said.
It was an elegant knee-length navy blue sheath dress with a fitted waist that beautifully highlighted my figure without looking too revealing. The short sleeves and modest V-neck gave it a professional look, while the soft fabric flowed naturally as I moved. Beside it was a pair of nude pointed-toe heels with a low block heel—simple, classy, and comfortable enough for work.
"Whose dress is this?" I asked.
"It's mine," Mira replied. "I'm giving it to you since I don't work in a corporate office anymore."
Since I was already running late, I didn't have time to argue.
I quickly put on the dress while Mira gently combed my hair. After applying sunscreen, a light layer of powder, and a soft pink lipstick, I finally stepped out of the room.
Lucca and Dominic were still sitting in the living room.
The moment I walked out, both of them looked at me.
"You look pretty, Sera. As always," Dominic said with a warm smile.
I smiled faintly before secretly glancing at Lucca.
I couldn't tell what he was thinking. His face remained completely expressionless.
"Shall we go now, Lucca?" I asked.
"Wait. You haven't eaten breakfast yet. I made you something," Mira said before hurrying to the kitchen.
She came back holding a peanut butter sandwich and handed it to me.
"Lucca, don't let Seraphina starve herself. You know she needs to gain some weight," Mira said as she looked at him.
"Since when did I starve her?" Lucca replied.
His voice...
Why did it sound so unbelievably sexy?
I mentally smacked myself.
Calm down, Sera.
Lucca stood up and looked at me.
"Let's go."
Without another word, he walked toward the door.
I looked back at Dominic and Mira. They were both smiling at me as if they were silently cheering me on.
I let out a nervous laugh.
I wasn't nervous because I was afraid Lucca would get mad at me.
I was nervous because I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss.
I let out a heavy sigh before walking out of the gate.
Lucca got into the driver's seat first, and I quietly followed. After closing the car door, I fastened my seatbelt, unaware that he was watching me.
When I turned to look at him, I caught his gaze.
I frowned.
"What?"
"Eat your breakfast while we're on our way to the office," he said before starting the engine.
"Is it okay to eat in your car?" I asked hesitantly.
"Didn't I just tell you to eat?" he replied, his voice as rude and sarcastic as ever.
"You're being rude again... unlike yesterday," I blurted out before I could stop myself.
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized what I had just said.
I stole a glance at him, but I couldn't read the expression on his face.
Lucca's POV
I couldn't sleep all night because that kiss kept replaying in my mind. I didn't regret what I did, nor did I wish I could take it back. I had already done it, and there was no changing the past.
I went to Seraphina's house earlier than her usual work time. As I entered the house, Dominic opened the gate and the front door for me.
"You're early, dude," he said as he stretched his arms.
"Where's Seraphina?" I asked.
"Still sleeping with Mira," he answered before I sat down on the sofa.
"Don't make Seraphina work too hard, dude," Dominic said.
I looked at him.
Was the kiss too much for Seraphina?
"I didn't," I replied, crossing my arms.
Just then, Mira came out of the room and looked surprised to see me.
"Lucca, you're already here," she said. "Seraphina is still sleeping, but wait. I'll go wake her up."
She immediately went back to the room.
A few minutes later, Seraphina stepped out with her hair still messy from sleep. She looked surprised the moment she saw me.
I swallowed hard, trying not to let my emotions show.
Even though she had just woken up, the sight of her made my heart race. I had to admit she was beautiful even without a trace of makeup. Her simplicity made her even more beautiful.
Seraphina apologized and said she was going to take a bath. She didn't even wait for my response before hurrying back to her room. Meanwhile, Mira went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
"I think Seraphina likes me," Dominic suddenly said before laughing.
I raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"She let me sleep in her grandma's room. She said it's time for her to move on. You know, that's really sweet. She let me use her grandma's room because she didn't want me sleeping on the couch. She was worried I wouldn't be comfortable. She really knows how to make my heart flutter."
I frowned.
Just because she let him use her grandma's room, he already assumed Seraphina liked him?
"Tsk."
That was all I could say out of frustration.
"By the way, you didn't tell me Hillary was already here in the Philippines. If Seraphina hadn't mentioned it..."
"She mentioned Hillary to you?" I interrupted.
"Yeah. She even asked what happened between the two of you. I didn't know Seraphina was so curious about other people's business," Dominic said with a laugh.
I fell into deep thought.
Why would Seraphina ask Dominic about my past?
"She was curious why you acted so cold toward Hillary. She thought Hillary had broken your heart."
"And what did you tell her?"
"Of course, I told her Hillary cheated on you and that your relationship was just the result of a bet. I think she believed me. So, what do you think Hillary's real intention is? Do you think she's still in love with you, or does it have something to do with Damon?" Dominic asked.
"I don't know, and I don't care enough to find out."
"Fair enough. But you know Hillary. She won't just sit back without trying to win you over again. Good luck, dude."
He laughed.
A few moments later, Seraphina came out of her room, fully dressed. It wasn't the kind of outfit she usually wore, but it suited her perfectly.
After Mira reminded me not to let Seraphina skip her meals, I headed to my car. A few seconds later, Seraphina climbed into the passenger seat.
"Eat your breakfast while we're on our way to the office," I said.
"Is it okay to eat in your car?" she asked.
"Didn't I tell you to eat?" I replied.
"You're being rude again... unlike yesterday."
She quietly emphasized the word yesterday, as if reminding me of what had happened between us.
I faked a cough before starting the engine.
I loosened my necktie because it suddenly felt too tight around my neck.
Seraphina quietly ate the sandwich Mira had prepared while looking out the window. Every now and then, I glanced at her.
A few crumbs clung to the corner of her lips.
For a moment, I wanted to brush them away with my thumb.
I quickly shook the thought away.
Why would I even want to do something like that?
What if she thought I was some kind of pervert trying to take advantage of her?
"Lucca, what task are you giving me today? Are we staying in your office?" Seraphina asked between bites.
"We'll be staying in the office. Once we get there, I'll explain your work."
Not long after, we arrived at the company.
We both got out of the car, and I handed my keys to the valet before we entered the building together.
As usual, the employees greeted me.
I simply nodded in response.
When we reached the elevator, several employees hesitated to get in with us.
"You can come in. There's still plenty of room," I said.
The employees exchanged glances before smiling.
"Thank you, sir," one of them said.
I nodded once more.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Seraphina smiling at me.
I already knew what she was thinking.
After the other employees got off on their respective floors, she finally spoke.
"You only nodded at them and invited them to ride the elevator with you, yet they already looked so happy."
"It's nothing."
"It may be nothing to you, but it means a lot to them. Next time, try greeting them with words too. They'll be even happier."
"Isn't that a bit much?" I asked.
"Talking to people isn't too much. It's a simple act of kindness."
Just then, the elevator doors opened.
My executive assistant greeted me and opened the office door for us.
Thankfully, Hillary wasn't there to bother us. If she had been, I probably wouldn't have been able to focus on work.
"Ms. Kho has already been banned from entering the company, sir. I've already instructed the security guards," my executive assistant reported.
"Good," I replied.
Just as I was about to sit down, Seraphina gently touched my arm to stop me.
"You banned Hillary from entering the company?" she asked, quickly pulling her hand away after realizing she had touched me.
"Yeah," I answered.
"Why did you do that?"
"She's a pest. You saw that yourself, didn't you?"
She went quiet.
I sat down in my swivel chair and started going through the files on my desk.
"Help me organize these files, Seraphina. That'll be your task for today," I said.
She nodded and immediately picked up the stack of files from my desk.
"What do you want me to do with these?" she asked.
"Sort them from the most important to the least important. You can use the desk over there."
I pointed to the table I had prepared for her.
In truth, I had it arranged so Seraphina would have her own workspace inside my office.
"Okay. Thank you."
She walked over to the desk and immediately got to work.
A faint smile crept onto my lips before I turned my attention back to my own work.
Later, I'd be meeting with the board members, so I still needed to review the agenda.
The office remained quiet for hours.
Seraphina was completely focused on her work. She didn't complain, even though the pile of files was enormous.
After a while, she stood up and walked toward my desk.
"I've finished sorting them," she said. "These are the important ones, and these are the least important."
She carefully placed the files back on my desk.
"Would you like some coffee? I can make you one."
"Yes," I answered without hesitation.
She nodded before heading to the small kitchen.
My office was practically a second home. It had a kitchen, a living room, and even a bedroom for the nights when I was too exhausted to drive home.
A few minutes later, she returned carrying a cup of coffee.
"Here."
She gently placed the cup on my desk.
"Thank you."
Seraphina looked surprised after hearing those words.
That was when I realized it was probably the first time I'd ever thanked her.
"Stop looking at me like that," I said. "Shouldn't I thank you for making me coffee?"
She awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
I didn't want her to tease me the way Dominic always did.
"Lucca..."
"What?"
She hesitated for a moment before meeting my eyes.
"Why did you kiss me yesterday?"