Page 10 of Grumpy Orc CEO

“And donuts!” Karen chimes in.

We walked away from the meeting laughing and in good spirits. But as I dive into the next task, the melodic sound of Lucy's laughter continues to loop in my thoughts.

I find myself staring at my phone, the screen dark and unresponsive. The urge to reach out to Lucy gnaws at me. Why didn't I insist on getting her number? That fleeting moment of connection, that kiss—brief but intense—replays in my mind like a movie on loop.

But how the hell do I find her? I fucked up by not getting her number, there has to be another way to get to her. I refuse to accept that meeting her was just a one time thing.

I run a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me. The reports, the meetings, the endless cycle of work—all of it seems so trivial compared to that fleeting moment with Lucy.

Maybe it's time I took a risk for something other than business.

Gotta risk it to get the biscuit, or whatever the saying is.

I glance at my computer screen, where an important email sits unread, mocking me with its urgency. The words blur together, losing their meaning as my thoughts inevitably drift back to Lucy, teasing my mind with what-ifs.

Does she feel the same pull? Is she thinking about me too, or am I just a distant memory to her?

The rational part of me scoffs at these thoughts. I'm a CEO; I make calculated decisions based on facts and logic. But when it comes to Lucy, all that has seemed to go out the window.

My mind, usually a fortress of strategy and reason, seems to be crumbling into chaos as I think of her. Damn it, why can't I get her out of my head?

My phone vibrates with a new email notification, dragging me back to reality. Work beckons, demanding my attention. Yet even as I dive back into spreadsheets and reports, a part of me just can't let go of that brief encounter.

The memory of our kiss lingers on my lips—a bittersweet reminder of what might have been. Her taste, the warmth of her breath, it all feels so vivid, so tantalizingly real.

What the hell is happening to me?

As I drive home, the city lights blur past me, but my mind is elsewhere. The hum of the engine and the rhythm of the traffic fade into the background as I replay every moment with Lucy.

The instant our eyes met; I felt a spark—something I haven't experienced in years. Her presence, from the moment she started to speak, held me captive. She called it a chance encounter, but it was more than that. It was the way she laughed, genuine and unguarded. It made me feel alive.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, the memory playing like a film reel in my head. The way her lips curved into a grin when I cracked that joke about frequenting airport bars.

“Come here often,” I say out loud, laughing to myself. That little line set the tone for the whole encounter.

She made me laugh too—something rare for an orc like me who’s always buried under spreadsheets and contracts.

And then there was the kiss. Fuck, that kiss. Brief but electrifying. Her lips were soft against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my entire body. That moment consumed me making everything else fade away—the stress, the expectations, even my unresolved past.

It’s crazy to think that in such a short span of time, someone could leave such an impression. But she did.

Each mile brings me closer to home but further away from her. The realization gnaws at me—the uncertainty of ever seeing her again is almost unbearable. Our meeting feels like a dream now, one I’m reluctant to wake from.

I can’t let go of our conversation, it plays on repeat in my head, trying to capture every detail. The sound of her voice, her laughter, the way she tucked a stray strand of her dark hair behind her ear when she got excited about something. I smile at the memory and then frown at the reality.

The thought that this could just be a fleeting encounter frustrates me. It’s like catching lightning in a bottle—rare and impossible to replicate.

I sigh as I approach my neighborhood. The luxury of my complex seems cold compared to the warmth I felt sitting next to Lucy in that crowded bar.

Pulling into my spot, I park and sit there for a moment longer than necessary.

I exhale deeply and step out of the car, locking it behind me. As I walk towards the elevators that lead up to my floor, Lucy's laughter still echoes in my mind. She’s more than just a memory now; she’s an imprint on my soul.

Later, I sit by the window, the city lights twinkling below me like scattered diamonds. The view from my place is spectacular, but tonight, it feels hollow. I just can't get her off my mind.

A smile creeps onto my face despite myself. It's been a long time since anyone had this effect on me. Most days, I'm buried in contracts and meetings, playing the part of the all-powerful CEO, barking orders and making deals.

But with her, for those fleeting moments, I felt... alive. She was a breath of fresh air in my otherwise suffocating world.