Chapter 5
This was her second time in the CEO’s office.
It was spacious. Beyond the huge desk, there was a sofa set, and tucked beside it, a small coffee corner.
“If you’re tired, go in and rest,” Gerhart said, nodding toward a door near his desk as he walked over to it.
Latrina followed his gaze. The small suite adjacent to his workspace felt surprisingly homely, nothing like the place where they spent together that night.
She thought, “Stop, why is my mind wandering again?”
‘I’ll just sit out here on the sofa,” she said, taking a step back.
“Suit yourself.” Gerhart returned to his desk, settled into his chair, and dove into a stack of files.
Latrina stayed put, perching on the edge of the sofa to wait.
Time slipped by, unmarked. Exhausted from a restless night, she eventually drifted off.
Gerhart, meanwhile, kept poring over documents, handling work with seemingly endless energy.
They’d slept together last night, and he’d been the one pushing through… Yet, he still got energetic.
When Latrina woke up, it was already I a.m.
Gerhart stood by the floor–to–ceiling window, looking down at the city’s night view.
It was obvious he kept in shape. His broad shoulders tapered to a trim waist, veins subtly bulging in his forearms where he’d casually rolled
sleeves.
Latrina stirred, wincing as she stretched her stiff neck. The black suit jacket draped over her slipped off as she sat up.
his up
“Didn’t you get some sleep?” she mumbled, figuring he’d head to the suite once he finished work.
“The elevator’s fixed,” he said softly.
“Alright.”
“I’ll drop you off,” he added, turning slowly.
“Thanks, but don’t have to. I can just grab a cab downstairs.” Latrina slung her bag over her shoulder.
you
Gerhart grabbed his coat and followed anyway.
Latrina felt a twinge of unease. He was like a stray dog that wouldn’t leave her alone. She couldn’t even shake him off.
She stepped outside, but before she could leave the parking lot, a car horn blared behind her. She stepped aside, but the black vehicle kept honking.
She turned to look.
‘Get in,” Gerhart said, his voice low and magnetic. Behind his rimless glasses, his dark gaze held a cool intensity.
Latrina clutched her bag tighter, hesitated a beat, then climbed into the car
Just then, a BMW with the license plate ending in 290 swerved sharply, speeding out of the underground parking lot.
A harsh screech of tires echoed through the garage.
Both Latrina and Gerhart turned to watch, their gazes following until the BMW vanished from sight.
Latrina snapped back to her senses, quickly tugging at her dress. It had ridden up uncomfortably as she sat, nearly creeping past the tops of her thighs.
She’d never liked this outfit. It fit awkwardly, like it wasn’t meant for her. As she shifted slightly to adjust it…
A button on her chest gave way.
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For a split second, her skin peeked through, and the faint marks he’d left the night before were exposed.
Gerhart’s
gaze
flickered over,
then darted away just as quickly. His Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously.
Latrina scrambled to cover herself, her face flushing redder.
She froze, unsure of what to do. Pulling the fabric up would expose more, tugging it down was futile…
She thought if only she’d lost a little more weight. That stubborn curve of her chest had always drawn unwanted stares, leaving her feeling embarrassed.
She’d often wished she could be ordinary and unremarkable as a flat–chested girl.
Without a word, Gerhart reached behind him, grabbed his black suit jacket from the back seat, and tossed it to her.
Latrina got the hint and put the jacket on.
On the way, he pulled over at a street corner to buy a smoothie named “Berry Bliss“.
The scent was subtle, but Latrina would recognize it anywhere. Because it had been her favorite for years.
She’d assumed he was picking it up for someone else at home, but when they stopped outside her place, he held it out to Latrina directly.
“Take it,” he said, his tone neutral.
Latrina accepted it, murmuring a thank–you.
“Berry Bliss” was a blend of raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries. Every time she hung out, she’d get stayed open until 3 a.m, and there was always a line, even at this hour.
herself one. The shop
Menu
How did he know about her favorite smoothie?
She lived at Plum Apartments, a short distance from the company. It was late and quiet. Gerhart parked downstairs, watching her walk into the elevator.
He tilted his head, glancing up. Less than a minute later, a light flickered on the 16th floor. Only then did he start the car and head back to the office.
Stepping out of the elevator, Latrina froze. A cluster of yellow tulips lay scattered on the floor, beside them a cup of cold coffee.
The scene felt eerily like a final farewell…
Ugh, damn!
She remembered a saying: “Trash belongs in the trash.”
Frowning, she picked up the coffee cup and hurled it into the nearby bin.
Glancing back at the tulips, she clenched her fist and kicked them toward the trash
can, too.
The door unlocked with a beep from her fingerprint, and she stepped into her small apartment she’d missed so much.
She shed Gerhart’s oversized jacket, slipped into slippers, and headed for the bathroom,
After a long, refreshing shower, she emerged feeling light and unburdened,
It was already 2 a.m. She finally restarted her phone.
Thankfully, it still worked.
As it booted up, a flurry of notification dings erupted. There were dozens of unread messages.
She skimmed them, marking all as read without replying… until one caught her eye.
Eduardo: “I called and texted, but you didn’t answer. I was so worried. The flowers were fresh–picked this morning. Hope you like them.”
They had been together all these years, and he was still so “romantic.” But his romance was over the top. It was the kind that really drew people
- in.
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< Chapter 5
He truly deserved the title of “master” at offering caring service to women.
Though Latrina came from a single–parent home, her mother had raised her with strong values. Under that influence, she’d always been prudent and proper. Even when they had begun talking about getting married, she insisted they could do no more than hold hands.
On the day of the Independence Day fashion show, as everyone was leaving, she’d spotted Eduardo, who rarely went shopping, lingering
around.
Menu
She’d long known about what was going on between him and Sonya behind her back, but seeing them hanging out and flirting openly still made her feel like swallowing pieces of glass.
And Gerhart and Kelvin had witnessed it all.
Her expression must have given her away, because Kelvin mentioned it to Gerhart afterward.
That was why, at the department dinner, she’d drunk too much…
Lost in thought, she secretly opened the chat box with Gerhart on WhatsApp.
Staring at the screen, she zoned out for ages. Glancing at the suit jacket beside her, then the smoothie nearby, she remembered that absurd thing he’d he’d said that day.
“How about trying to be Mrs. Crowley?”
She spaced out.
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No matter how desperate she was for a man, she couldn’t agree to someone’s proposal recklessly!
She thought, “Gerhart is a CEO. How could he possibly like someone like me, just a regular employee?
“He’s not here to do charity, so why would he single me out? There must be something wrong with his mind.”
She checked her Instagram again. It had blown up, with everyone commenting on how hard Latrina worked, still pulling overtime at the office.
Then she spotted a familiar profile picture.
Gerhart had liked her post…
She mused, “Did he come down to find me just because he saw my post?
“No, no, that’s absolutely impossible.”
She silently pulled her phone back, tossed it aside, and tried the smoothie.
She took a small sip. It was so sweet!
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