Chapter 184: Vivienne Can Be Scary
Returning to San Fierro felt like coming home.
Ever since starting university, Luca had unknowingly spent seven years in the city. At this point, San Fierro was more than just a place he had lived.
It was his second hometown.
Naomi was taking Raven back to her place, and Luca figured the latter might feel uncomfortable if he tagged along. So he watched the two women get into the car before hailing a taxi and leaving the airport alone.
Around noon, he stopped by the flower and bird market, bought a bouquet of roses, then headed straight for Octaveo Pharmaceutical.
"Director Hale, you’ve arrived."
"Hello, Director Hale!"
The moment he stepped into the lobby, several employees greeted him.
Although Luca didn’t spend much time at Octaveo Pharmaceutical, he’d left quite an impression on the staff.
From openly pursuing their beautiful chairwoman to publicly putting Sabestian Caldwell in his place at the company’s entrance, one incident after another had earned him a spot on everyone’s private list of people who absolutely should not be provoked.
In some ways, the apprehension they felt toward him was even stronger than what they felt toward Vivienne.
Vivienne was cold and demanding. She was meticulous at work and had little tolerance for mistakes.
But she rarely allowed personal feelings to interfere with business. As long as someone did their job properly, she wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for them.
Luca, on the other hand, was harder to predict.
If you didn’t provoke him, you could chat with him regardless of your position. He was approachable and often gave people the impression that he was completely harmless.
But after seeing the way he handled the Sabestian...
They had learned one thing.
Once you provoked him, you’d better be prepared for whatever came next.
Executive or not, position or not, status or not, none of it mattered when Luca decided someone needed to be taught a lesson.
He’d throw hands first and ask questions later.
Because of that, everyone in the company had quietly reached the same conclusion.
You could talk to Director Hale about anything.
There was only one thing you should never do.
Don’t show off in front of him.
After exchanging a few greetings, Luca walked over to the reception desk.
He accepted the tea the receptionist had prepared, took a sip, and casually rested an elbow against the counter.
"Is your chairman here?"
"Yes, Director Hale. Would you like me to let her know you’re here?"
The receptionist smiled warmly.
Director Hale had brought flowers.
He was obviously planning to surprise the chairman.
"No need."
Luca put down the paper cup and smiled.
"I’ll go up myself."
With the bouquet in hand, he headed toward Vivienne’s private elevator.
...
"Director Hale? Is that you?"
Outside the CEO’s office, Vivienne’s secretary looked visibly surprised when she saw him.
Neither she nor Vivienne had known that Luca had returned to San Fierro.
Then she noticed the roses in his hand.
Her eyes immediately lit up.
’So he was planning to surprise the chairman.’
"Shh..."
Luca placed a finger against his lips.
"Is Vivienne busy?"
The secretary immediately nodded.
"She’s scolding people right now. Please, Director Hale, go in and save Miss Brooks and the others."
She was almost begging him.
At a time like this, Luca was probably the only person capable of calming Vivienne down.
No one else dared to try.
Luca found the situation rather amusing.
He’d actually never seen Vivienne scold anyone before.
"Alright."
He smiled.
"I’ll take a look."
Sure enough, the moment he pushed the door open slightly, Vivienne’s voice reached him.
"If the Nas family can’t supply the raw materials, why don’t you contact the Reze family? Is the Nas family the only family in the world growing medicinal herbs?"
Her tone was cold and sharp.
"Why are you bringing something this trivial to me? Do you think I have enough time to personally solve every little problem?"
She immediately turned her attention to someone else.
"And you, Miss Brooks. Find out why the Second Hospital didn’t renew their contract with us."
Vivienne’s eyes narrowed.
"That’s a major order. Just because Kanda Hospital gave us another contract doesn’t mean you can let your guard down."
Her voice dropped another degree.
"If you lose another client without a clear explanation, hand in your resignation."
...
The woman currently sitting behind the desk was completely different from the alluring and affectionate Vivienne Luca knew.
No wonder so many employees were afraid of her.
The title of Ice Queen was clearly well deserved.
"Who’s out there?!"
Vivienne suddenly turned toward the door.
"Don’t you know how to close it properly?"
Miss Brooks and the others immediately followed her gaze.
They had been too terrified to even breathe loudly, yet Vivienne had still noticed the slightest movement at the door.
Now that he’d been discovered, Luca had no reason to hide anymore.
He pushed the door open and walked inside.
The moment he appeared, everyone’s expressions changed.
Vivienne’s eyes lit up.
She hadn’t expected Luca to suddenly appear before her.
As for Miss Brooks and the others...
Their eyes practically sparkled.
Their savior had finally arrived.
"Director Hale!"
"Hello, Director Hale!"
Luca smiled and nodded, looking completely at ease.
"You can all go."
He glanced at Vivienne.
"The chairman and I have something important to discuss."
Miss Brooks and the others nearly burst into tears.
As expected!
Director Hale was truly a considerate and wonderful boss!
Still, Vivienne was the one in charge.
Without her approval, none of them dared to leave.
One by one, they turned toward her with hopeful eyes.
Vivienne looked at the group.
Then at their desperate expressions.
Then back at Luca.
Her lips twitched.
They looked like prisoners desperately waiting for someone to open the gates.
"Fine."
She waved her hand.
"Go. But think carefully about what I said today."
"Yes, Chairman!"
"We’ll definitely remember!"
The group immediately breathed a collective sigh of relief.
They lowered their heads, offered hurried farewells, and practically escaped from the office.
Before leaving, Miss Brooks secretly gave Luca a thumbs-up.
She even thoughtfully closed the door behind her.
Soon, only Luca and Vivienne remained.
Luca walked around behind her.
Then, with a flourish, he brought the bouquet of roses from behind his back and placed it in front of her.
"This is for you. Do you like it?"
Vivienne’s expression softened immediately.
"Yes."
She accepted the flowers with both hands, her lips curving into a sweet smile.
"Thank you."
[The Host spent $20 on Vivienne and triggered a critical reward!]
[Congratulations! The Host has received a Pagani Zonda R!]
Another sports car?
Luca raised an eyebrow.
’Not bad.’
"What’s wrong?"
Vivienne noticed his brief distraction.
Luca looked at her.
Where had the terrifying Ice Queen from a few minutes ago gone?
This was the same woman who had just made several executives question whether they should update their résumés.
Now she was holding a bouquet of roses and smiling sweetly at him.
’Love really does make people change.’
Luca shook his head.
"It’s nothing."
He bent down and pulled her into his arms.
Vivienne’s fair arms naturally wrapped around him as he lowered his head and buried his face lightly against her hair, breathing in the faint fragrance of roses.
Vivienne leaned comfortably against him and gently stroked the fingers resting against her stomach.
"When did you get back?"
"Just now."
"And Naomi?"
"She met one of her seniors on the plane. The two of them went back to her house together."
"Mmm."
Vivienne nodded.
"Are you hungry?"
She turned around to look at him.
"Let’s go downstairs and eat."
"Okay."
After carefully placing the roses aside, Vivienne took Luca’s hand and led him out of the office.
...
It was lunchtime, and the company cafeteria was already crowded.
The moment Vivienne and Luca entered together, countless pairs of eyes turned toward them.
Their identities naturally attracted attention.
Their appearance attracted even more.
Standing together, they looked perfectly matched.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman.
As they passed one of the tables, Luca spotted Miss Brooks and the other executives.
The same people who had looked like their lives were ending just a few minutes earlier were now happily eating together.
They joked, laughed, and chatted loudly, as though they’d completely forgotten the lecture they’d just received.
Then someone caught sight of something red.
He turned.
His face immediately changed.
"Ahem..."
He hurriedly stood up.
"Chairman. Director Hale. You’re... eating in the cafeteria too?"
The others froze.
Their forks stopped halfway to their mouths.
Vivienne glanced at them before letting out a quiet laugh.
"Keep eating."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you all staring at us?"
Then, without waiting for a response, Luca hooked a finger around Vivienne’s and led her toward the food counter.
Only after she was out of earshot did everyone breathe again.
"Phew!"
One of the younger women placed a hand against her chest.
"You scared me. I thought the chairman was about to give us another lecture."
Miss Brooks shook her head with a smile.
"No. The chairman doesn’t discuss work during meals or breaks."
The younger woman blinked.
"Then why did everyone stop eating?"
Miss Brooks glanced in the direction Vivienne had gone.
After a moment, she gave a helpless smile.
"Because the chairman has an incredibly strong presence."
She lowered her voice.
"I’m genuinely a little intimidated by her."