Page 13 of Grumpy Orc CEO

I nod stiffly, turning on my heel and leaving his office without another word. As the door clicks shut behind me, relief and embarrassment courses through me, my heart pounding from the brief but charged interaction.

Seeing Jarvin in that position of power only reinforces the need to keep my walls up. My past experiences have left me feeling guarded, and I’m determined not to let my emotions get the best of me.

There’s no space for me in his life. No fucking way.

Jarvin’s status provides a convenient excuse to keep my distance, to bury myself in work and suppress the lingering feelings from our airport encounter.

I throw myself into every task with laser focus, from organizing meetings to drafting emails. The busywork becomes a buffer, shielding me from the tumult of emotions swirling inside. When I see him through the glass walls of his office, I make sure to avoid eye contact, keeping our interactions strictly professional.

“Lucy, can you handle this report?” a colleague asks, handing me another stack of papers.

“Absolutely,” I reply, already turning back to my computer. The more tasks I take on, the less time I have to think about him.

Throughout the day, I become adept at dodging Jarvin. When he walks down the hallway, I make myself scarce in the copy room. During a meeting, I sit as far away as possible without appearing rude. Every encounter is brief and formal; every word exchanged is strictly business.

“Mr. Thraknar wants these files by the end of day,” Margaret informs me as she drops another pile onto my desk.

“On it,” I say without looking up. The constant influx of work is bound to be a blessing and a curse. It’ll keep my mind occupied, though it will be impossible to avoid him completely.

Despite it all, I can’t help but feel a pull towards him. His presence is like gravity, drawing me in despite my attempts to stay grounded.

As I gather documents for another meeting, I catch a glimpse of Jarvin through the conference room door. He’s talking animatedly with a group of executives, his confidence and charisma on full display. My heart skips a beat before I remind myself why keeping him at arm’s length is necessary.

I remind myself that professionalism is key here. Allowing personal feelings to interfere would only complicate things further. So, I take a deep breath and dive back into my work, hoping that eventually, these confusing emotions will fade away.

But deep down, a small part of me wonders if they ever will. I thought with time, I'd forget all about the handsome orc from the airport, and by some twist of fate I ended up working directly for him. And that kiss was anything but terrible, it was the complete opposite.

CHAPTER 8

Jarvin

Iwalk into the office the next morning, juggling my briefcase and a cup of coffee. The scent of fresh brew mingles with the faint aroma of polished wood and leather that permeates the place. My mind is still buzzing with strategies and numbers when I stride past the reception area.

Suddenly, my eyes catch sight of her.

Lucy sits at her desk, typing away. She looks up, and our eyes meet. The world seems to slow down for a moment. Neither of us speaks. The air thickens with unspoken words and unresolved tension.

Her vibrant eyes quickly look down, breaking the contact. She pretends to be engrossed in her work, her fingers flying over the keyboard as if her life depends on it.

"Lucy," I finally say, my voice breaking the silence. The sound of her name feels like a lifeline, grounding me in this surreal moment.

She glances up again, just briefly, her face flushed. "Mr. Thraknar," she responds in a tone that's all business, but I can see a flicker of something more in her eyes. It's a spark, a hint of the connection we both can't deny.

I want to say more, but my office beckons with its mountain of tasks. The responsibilities never end. "Carry on," I say, more commanding than I intend to, thrown off from our brief exchange.

Inside, I close the door behind me and let out a breath. The intensity of that kiss that still lingers on my lips. What I’d give to go back to that moment…

I set down my briefcase and coffee on my desk, staring blankly at the stack of papers waiting for my attention. My mind refuses to focus on anything but Lucy's face, her eyes avoiding mine in that awkward exchange.

Damn it. This is going to be harder than I thought.

I take a deep breath and try to push those thoughts aside. There’s work to be done and I'm nothing if not professional. Yet every fiber of my being wants to walk back out there, sit down beside her, and pick up where we left off.

I stare at the stack of papers on my desk, knowing they require my attention but finding it impossible to focus. Lucy’s presence in this building, just a few steps away from me, makes the numbers and graphs blur together.

Finally, I push my chair back and stand up. This can't wait any longer.

I walk out of my office, trying to appear casual. Each step feels deliberate as I approach her desk. She’s engrossed in her work, her eyes glued to the computer screen, fingers tapping away at the keyboard. Her dark hair cascades down her back, catching the light in a way that almost distracts me.