Chapter 163: Dinner With Her Boss
For the rest of the afternoon, Cecelia could barely focus.
She still completed every assignment Luca gave her with the same efficiency as always, but once the work was done, she found herself sitting quietly at her desk, staring blankly at the monitor without really seeing it.
Her thoughts wandered in circles.
Fear.
Anticipation.
Confusion.
And beneath it all...
A tiny spark of excitement she couldn’t suppress no matter how hard she tried.
At almost thirty years of age, she had long since outgrown the age of daydreaming like a teenage girl.
If anything, the passing years had only made her more graceful. Time hadn’t diminished her beauty. It had refined it.
Yet today...
A young man who was handsome, incredibly wealthy, and admired by countless women had looked her in the eye and calmly said he liked her.
How was she supposed to stay calm after hearing something like that?
Of course, she also knew Luca already had women by his side.
She’d seen them herself.
Vivienne, especially, had left a deep impression on her. Even as another woman, Cecelia couldn’t deny how breathtaking she was.
Elegant.
Gentle.
Beautiful enough to make anyone pause.
She sighed softly.
’If only he didn’t already have someone...’
The thought had barely surfaced before she dismissed it herself.
Even if Luca had been single...
Would someone like him ever marry a woman like her?
She looked down at her own hands.
What did she really have to offer?
She had a pleasant appearance.
A figure many women envied.
Years of experience.
A capable mind.
But she was also a widow.
No matter how society changed, there were still people who quietly looked down on women with that label.
Someone like Luca...
The woman who eventually stood beside him would probably come from an outstanding family.
She’d be beautiful.
Highly educated.
Well connected.
Someone whose background matched his own growing status.
Compared to women like that...
Cecelia couldn’t help feeling a little inferior.
Those conflicting emotions continued pulling her in opposite directions until she didn’t even realize someone had stopped outside her office.
"Secretary Cecelia."
A cheerful male voice broke her thoughts.
"I heard a new restaurant just opened near The Grand Paragon."
"Would you let me take you there for dinner tonight?"
She looked up.
The moment she recognized the visitor, the smile on her face became perfectly professional.
It was the kind of smile she’d mastered after years in corporate life.
Polite.
Courteous.
And completely fake.
"I’m sorry, Director Bronze."
"I already have plans tonight."
"Thank you for asking."
Anthony Bronze, Hale-Viv Conglomerate’s Marketing Director, smiled as though he hadn’t heard the rejection.
He wasn’t even forty years old yet.
He earned well over three hundred thousand dollars annually and had only recently returned from overseeing operations at the company’s European branch.
By every conventional standard, he was considered an extremely successful man in New Orleans.
Ever since returning a few months ago, he’d pursued Cecelia with relentless persistence.
To everyone else, he seemed like an ideal bachelor.
Only she knew better.
Years ago, shortly after becoming widowed, she’d briefly considered the possibility of starting over.
Anthony had been one of the names she’d quietly thought about.
He had a respectable career.
He carried himself well.
He was financially secure.
Unfortunately...
The more she learned about him, the less interested she became.
She wasn’t eighteen anymore.
She didn’t expect fairy tales.
She understood perfectly well that successful men often attracted attention from younger women.
That wasn’t what bothered her.
What she couldn’t accept was a man who regularly spent nights hopping between luxury hotels with different hostesses.
She wasn’t interested in becoming another number on that list.
Besides...
Who knew what diseases he might eventually bring home?
Anthony stepped farther into the office.
"You’ve turned me down several times already."
"Don’t you understand how serious I am?"
He spread his hands dramatically.
"Besides, you’re going home alone anyway."
"What could possibly be waiting for you there?"
Before Cecelia could respond, another calm voice interrupted from behind him.
"Secretary Cecelia already has plans tonight."
"If you have any questions, Director Bronze..."
"You can bring them to me."
Anthony frowned in annoyance.
He turned around, ready to complain.
"Who asked for your..."
His words died instantly.
The color drained from his face.
"P-President Hale..."
Cold sweat formed on his forehead almost immediately.
Luca merely gave him a brief glance.
"Hm."
That was all.
Then he walked past Anthony as though he barely existed and looked toward Cecelia instead.
A small smile appeared on his face.
The moment their eyes met, her heartbeat skipped.
She never expected him to step in like this.
Warmth quietly spread through her chest.
Without realizing it, the corners of her lips curved upward.
Only after a few seconds did she remember Anthony was still standing there.
Embarrassed, she hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to concentrate on the documents in front of her.
Unfortunately...
Her bright red cheeks and rigid posture gave her away completely.
From this moment onward, she realized something.
She would probably never be able to face Luca as calmly as before.
She thought she’d hidden her feelings well.
She hadn’t.
Luca noticed.
Anthony noticed too.
Standing there with a forced smile, he suddenly understood everything.
Even if the two of them hadn’t officially become a couple...
They were already standing right at the edge.
His own chances had disappeared.
Completely.
His face turned pale.
If anyone else had been his rival, Anthony would’ve kept fighting.
But this was Luca Hale.
There was no comparison.
It felt like bringing a knife to a battlefield where the other side already had tanks and fighter jets.
There wasn’t even a fight to begin with.
He swallowed hard.
"President Hale..."
"If there’s nothing else..."
Before he could leave, Luca suddenly asked,
"What’s your full name?"
Anthony froze.
"Anthony Bronze."
"I’m the Marketing Director."
Luca nodded thoughtfully.
"I’ve heard our African branch is looking for someone capable enough to oversee a major project."
He smiled.
"I think you’d be perfect."
Anthony’s knees nearly buckled.
If not for the doorknob beside him, he probably would’ve collapsed.
"P-President Hale..."
"I..."
"What?"
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"You don’t want the opportunity?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Anthony instantly understood.
There were only two choices left.
Resign.
Or go.
Resigning meant giving up one of the highest-paying jobs he’d ever had.
Africa, at least, still came with a salary.
"...I’m willing."
He forced out a smile uglier than crying.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity."
"Good."
"Go prepare."
"We’ll arrange the visas in the next few days."
Anthony nodded stiffly before leaving.
The moment he stepped outside the office, the fake smile vanished.
His shoulders slumped as he slowly walked away.
Watching him disappear down the hallway, Luca smiled faintly.
’At least he knows when to quit.’
He turned back toward Cecelia.
She was still sitting behind her desk.
Although her eyes remained fixed on the papers in front of her, her ears were practically listening for every movement behind her.
Now...
Only the two of them remained inside the office.
Well...
Almost.
There were still a handful of employees finishing overtime outside in the hallway.
Besides...
This was company headquarters.
Surely Luca wouldn’t...
Click.
The office door quietly locked.
Cecelia froze.
"..."
She heard footsteps.
Slow.
Steady.
Each one seemed louder than the last.
With every step he took toward her, her heart beat faster.
By the time he stopped beside her desk, his shadow stretched across the documents beneath the overhead lights.
She felt as though her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
Luca rested one hand lightly on the desk.
"Secretary Cecelia."
Without looking up, she already knew what he was going to ask.
Still...
Hearing it out loud made her cheeks burn again.
"So..."
"Have you made your decision?"
She bit her lower lip.
’He’s so direct...’
’Couldn’t he ease into the conversation just a little?’
She coughed awkwardly.
"Cough..."
"Cough..."
"Could... could you give me a little more time?"
"It’s all happening so fast."
Luca nodded thoughtfully.
"I see."
"So..."
"You’ve decided to have dinner with Director Bronze instead?"
"Should I call him back?"
The moment she heard that, her head shot up.
"No!"
"I didn’t!"
"And don’t twist my words!"
Seeing her panic, Luca couldn’t help laughing.
"You’re pretty quick to prove your loyalty."
His teasing only made her blush harder.
Then he asked casually,
"How about you have dinner with me instead?"
Her first instinct was to refuse.
She opened her mouth...
Then stopped.
’Wait...’
’I’m his personal secretary now.’
’Going to dinner with my boss...’
’That’s normal, isn’t it?’
’Right?’
’It has to be... right?’
After silently convincing herself, she lowered her head again.
Her cheeks glowed pink as she gave the smallest nod.
"...Okay."
"I’d be happy to."