Chapter 25
When Derrick walked through the lobby holding hands with a woman in a loose dress, every employee fixed their eyes on the two people with a surprised look.
This was their ice–cold CEO–the man whose stare alone could freeze a room–and he was smiling.
Not just a polite smile. His expression was almost warm enough to melt snow.
Everyone started wondering–were they still half–asleep and dreaming, or had the world gone completely mad?
In the group chat, the one without managers, the messages blew up.
Employee A: [What the hell… Am I seeing things?]
Employee B: [Ever think maybe it’s Mr. Graham who’s off?]
Employee C: [What a weird day. Even the Ice King can smile?]
The group chat kept buzzing with messages.
Completely unaware of the gossip storm, Derrick shut the office door, blocking out all the curious stares.
“Would you like to sit on the couch or what?” he asked.
Katherine knew he was busy. She waved him off and replied, “Deal with your work. I’ll find something to do.”
It was her first time in Derrick’s office, and she was curious about everything. She wandered around, checking the shelves and decor. running her fingers lightly over anything that caught her attention.
Derrick kept glancing over her between tasks. Seeing her entertain herself so easily, he relaxed.
Soon, Katherine came to the giant floor–to–ceiling window, looking down at the crowds and the steady flow of traffic.
Even from dozens of floors up, she could still feel the pulse of the city.
Compared to the quietness of Riverbend Manor, Derrick’s office felt alive.
She thought, If only I could go downstairs and walk around.
But she knew that was impossible. Derrick would never let her out of his sight
It didn’t take long for her legs to get tired. She glanced around, realizing the only real seat was the one under Derrick himself. The couch was too far from the window. She couldn’t see the street views while sitting on the couch
“What’s wrong? Need something?” Derrick noticed her frown and stopped what he was doing to come over.
Following her gaze to the street below, his chest tightened slightly, though his face gave nothing away:
1 I want one of those beanbag chairs,” Katherine explained. “You know, low to the ground so I can sink right in.”
Derrick caught on immediately. “Like the orange one on your bedroom balcony?”
She nodded right away. “Yup”
“We have some in the lounge. I’ll love one brought up to you, Derrick said.
He pressed the desk phone and told his assistant. “Get a beanbag clit from the public lounge. Best one we have. Make sure it’s cleaned.”
He’d considered getting a new one here, but with Katherine pregnant, anything fresh from the store could have trace chemicals—not safe to uw right away.
The ones in the lounge were used before, but at least they were harmless.
Everyone in Derrick’s assistant team already knew their boss had brought a woman to his office today, so they instantly knew who it was
for.
1/3
The request went doWN THE EIGEN MISE AUCH THI
Katherine pointed to the spot she wanted, saying, “Put it right there. Thank you so much.”
Her smile was warm, and her voice was soft enough to melt the tension in the room.
The assistants found themselves smiling back, any grumbling about heavy lifting gone in an instant.
One of the new guys scratched his head, looking shy. “It’s our honor.”
e you out of work?”
Derrick’s eyes narrowed as he snapped, “Get out now. Are you
The group felt a chill run down their spines and scrambled for the door. They closed the door softly, like the wrong sound might set their changeable boss off
Katherine studied Derrick for a moment, then walked up and cupped his face, gently rubbing his cheeks, “What’s wrong? Are you upset because I talked to them?”
She still didn’t get why Derrick’s possessiveness over her ran so deep. After all, she didn’t even have any physical contact with them.
Derrick turned his head away to hide the wild edge in his eyes. I’m not upset. You’re imagining things.”
There was a faint note of frustration and hurt in his voice.
Katherine caught it and took a deep sigh.
She leaned in and planted a quick, light kiss on his lips.
Since that kiss in the hospital, they hadn’t had any close contact.
Even at night, when he held her, Derrick kept it proper–never crossing the line without her knowing
And the more he kept his distance, the more it puzzled Katherine.
- my.
She thought with confusion. If you do like me, how do you stop yourself from getting close to me? I can’t, anyway
Katherine just couldn’t stop herself from having physical contact with Derrick–sometimes holding his hand, sometimes slipping his hand under his shirt to feel his abs.
Derrick’s breathing grew heavier, but after the kiss, he stepped back and put space between them.
Katherine blinked at him stunned. She mused, ‘Did he just pull away from me? Why?‘
I’ve got work to do. Derrick said, avoiding her eyes.
He wanted to be glued to her 24/7, but he also knew she was only acting this intimate with him because of the female hormone during her pregnancy
He knew that deep down, Katherine didn’t even like him.
He had no idea just how long she could keep her fake affection and keep staying close to him.
He assumed that if she saw more cheerful people, she’d grow more aversion to someone as snaky as him.
Derrick never forgot just how important Charles was to Katherine in her mind.
act: Maybe they spent less time together. Maybe they fought, and she
Derrick could hear all the reasons Katherine might keep up the a was using him as a prop spite Charles.
Derrick gave himself a thousand excuses tu reject the idea that Katherine truly liked him.
He thought, “If she really liked me, what was all the mess before? Was she just playing me?
Katherine, on the other hand, was sulking over his coldness,
She complained inwardly, ‘I kissed him, and he just stood there like a block of wood. Not even giving a kiss back
She plopped onto the beanbag chair in a huff, but her attention soon drifted out to the crowd below.
Chapter 25
When Derrick noticed, he went to his private lounge, grabbed a blanket, and gently laid it over I She si
Sunlight streamed through the window, warm on her skin, and before long, she drifted off to sleep.
her.
slept soundly and peacefully, her features soft and relaxed. She looked like she had no troubles at all, like a little baby in the cradle
Derrick murmured, “Just stay by my side like this. Always.”
He wanted her under his watch, never out of reach.
N
