Page 12 of Grumpy Orc CEO
He nods, still smiling. “I’m sure you’ll do great here.”
Molly steps forward to guide me out of the office, but Jarvin stops her with a raised hand. “Actually, Molly, I’d like to speak with Lucy for a moment alone.”
Molly looks slightly surprised but nods and exits the room quietly.
As soon as we’re alone, Jarvin’s demeanor shifts slightly. He stands up from behind his desk and walks around it to face me directly.
He stands close, his body almost pressing against mine as I step back against his desk. My heart is beating quickly as the memory of his lips on mine resurfaces.
“I guess I can assume that kiss royally sucked,” he says with a chuckle.
My eyes widen and a flush rises to my face. I could just die on the spot. Right there at the base of his mahogany desk. A spectacle for all to see on my first day.
“I’m kidding. It’s good to see you again,” he says confidently.
His amber eyes lock onto mine, intense and unwavering. It’s like he sees right through me, straight to the core of my being.
I nod, swallowing hard to steady myself. "Agreed,” is all I manage to get out. The room suddenly feels smaller, the air thicker with unspoken words and emotions. He steps away and it’s as if the air explodes from my lungs. His presence is intense, leaving my heart racing in my chest.
“We’re glad to have you, Lucy,” Jarvin says with a charming smile as he sits back at his desk, ever the confident CEO. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thraknar,” I stammer as I turn, praying to whoever is listening that I don’t trip over my feet as I walk back to my desk.
I can’t believe this is happening. Out of all the companies, I had to end up at Thraknar Financial Group, working directly for the one person I never thought I’d see again.
My face burns as I think about our introduction—knocking over his nameplate like some clumsy amateur. Great professional impression, Lucy. Really killing it today.
What must he think of me, flirting with strangers at the airport so freely? My cheeks are hot at the thought that he'll see me, the real me. Though judging by that introduction, I get the impression that’s exactly what he wants.
The rest of the morning drags on as I try to familiarize myself and focus on my tasks. Answering emails, organizing his schedule, and handling calls—everything feels like a distraction from the giant green elephant in the room.
Every time someone mentions Mr. Thraknar, or I catch a glimpse of him walking by, my pulse quickens, as attraction swirls inside me.
During lunch, I sit alone in the break room, picking at my salad. Colleagues chatter around me, but all I can think about is the insurmountable gap between us. He’s the CEO, for crying out loud—a powerful orc who commands respect and exudes confidence. And here I am, fumbling through my first day as his secretary.
I sigh, pushing my food around my plate. This whole situation feels surreal and unfair. Why did he have to be so... so him? If he were anyone else, maybe this would be easier.
Back at my desk, I dive into more work, trying to bury my humiliation under piles of paperwork. But it’s no use. My thoughts keep drifting back to those piercing amber eyes, the way he leaned back in his chair with that charming smile that made my stomach flip.
Around mid-afternoon, I spot him through the glass walls of a conference room. He’s deep in discussion with some executives, his presence commanding attention effortlessly. The sight sends a jolt through me—a reminder of how out of place I feel here.
As I walk back to my desk, I can’t shake the self consciousness that has crept into my mind. At the airport we were equals, stranded travelers killing time. But here, the power imbalance couldn’t be more obvious.
I try to shake the thoughts of him out of my head as I sit at my computer. But the words seem to blur as my gaze stares out of focus, replaying the moment I made a fool out of myself this morning.
A colleague taps me on the shoulder, snapping me out of my reverie. “Hey Lucy, can you get these files to Mr. Thraknar? He should be back in his office now.”
“Of course.” I nod, taking the stack of documents and heading towards his office. As I approach the door, I take a deep breath to steady myself before knocking lightly and stepping inside.
Jarvin looks up from his desk as I enter, his expression softening slightly when he sees me. “Lucy.”
“Mr. Thraknar,” I reply, placing the files on his desk with more force than necessary. The thud echoes in the quiet room as the top papers flutter across his desk. I scramble to grab them, bumping his arm as I do. I catch a flicker of amusement in his piercing amber eyes as heat rises in my cheeks.
He raises an eyebrow. “Got a case of first day butter fingers?” he jokes as he takes the documents from me, his large green hands almost dwarfing the stack.
“No!” I yelp, feeling flustered and humiliated. “Is there anything else you need?” My tone is sharper than intended, betraying the nervous energy buzzing inside me.
“No,” he replies evenly, studying me with those unreadable eyes. “That’ll be all, Lucy.” The way he says my name, so confident and sure, makes it hard to breathe.