Page 17 of Grumpy Orc CEO
Jarvin
At my desk, a pile of reports sits stacked in front of me. I’m supposed to be reviewing quarterly figures, but my eyes keep drifting toward Lucy’s desk.
I shift in my seat, pretending to be engrossed in the report before me as my mind wanders yet again, back to our encounter at the airport.
Her laughter, the way she looked at me—it all comes rushing back. But now, seeing her here in this professional setting, I’m torn.
I respect her boundaries; I know she wants to keep things professional. But damn, it’s frustrating. Every small detail about her pulls me in deeper. The way she bites her lip when she’s concentrating, the slight furrow of her brow when she’s puzzled by something on her screen—it all makes me want to know more about her.
I feel a pull, a need to break through her walls and see the real Lucy beneath. It’s like she has this invisible barrier, and every time I think I’m getting close, it snaps back up.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment before looking back at Lucy. She’s scribbling notes now, her pen moving swiftly across the paper. There’s a fire in her that I find incredibly attractive—she’s passionate about what she does, and it shows.
I have to respect that. Yet every fiber of my being wants to bridge that gap between us.
My phone buzzes on the desk, snapping me out of my reverie. It’s another reminder of the countless responsibilities waiting for me. With a sigh, I pick it up and force myself to focus on the task at hand. But even as I dive back into work, Lucy remains a constant presence in my thoughts, a distraction I can’t seem to shake off.
And part of me doesn’t want to.
Lunchtime rolls around, and I seize the opportunity. Grabbing two sandwiches from the cafeteria, I head straight for Lucy’s desk. She’s buried in her work, as usual. I don't want to come off as an asshole. I still want her to like me and don’t want to create serious issues between us. I’m just so intrigued by her.
"You've barely taken a break. I thought you might be hungry," I say, holding out one of the sandwiches with a smile.
Lucy looks up, her eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, she seems taken aback, but then she regains her composure and accepts the sandwich with a polite nod.
"Thanks," she murmurs, her voice soft yet steady.
I can't help but chuckle. "You look like you've never seen a sandwich before."
She blinks at me, then a small smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "I was just… surprised. But thank you."
I lean against her desk, watching her unwrap the sandwich. "I just wanted to do something nice, to say thank you for working so hard.”
Her smile widens slightly, and she glances up at me. "I guess I’m just not used to lunchtime surprises."
"Don't read too much into it," I say with a smile and head back to my office.
"Jarvin—I mean, uh, Mr. Thraknar, wait," Lucy calls out. I turn to look at her meeting a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.
"Do you need anything, Lucy?"
"Would you like to sit down? With me?" she says, stammering over her words, but for a moment I catch a glimpse of the woman I met at the airport.
"Are you sure?" I ask. I know the lunch surprise is still pushing the boundary a bit, and as much as I want her, I don’t want her to feel forced, I want her to come to realize what we could have on her own time.
"I'm sure," she says with a small smile.
That’s all I need. We sit on an empty bench outside of my office. The tension eases slightly as she unwraps the sandwich. She eyes me cautiously but takes a bite.
“You know,” I say between bites, “most people take breaks during lunch. Helps with productivity.”
Lucy glances up at me, chewing thoughtfully before responding. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Her eyes soften just a bit, and her tone, though still professional, carries a hint of amusement.
“In fact, I think there’s a study about it. Something about mental clarity and all that.”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “Is that your excuse for slacking off?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, just looking out for you.”