I grabbed Chak's shirt and the drawing, carefully placing them in a bag. I was already running a bit late for work. As soon as I arrived, I sat at my desk and got to work, losing track of time. I hadn't even noticed when Chak had come in—if it weren't for Mrs. Chaeron pointing it out, I wouldn't have known at all.
I took the bag and slowly made my way to Chak's office. My heart pounded in my chest. I knocked gently, and his deep voice responded, "Come in."
Stepping inside, I found him sitting behind his desk. He lifted his gaze, his sharp eyes locking onto mine.
"Sir,"I said, pulling the neatly folded shirt from the bag. "Here's your new shirt, freshly washed and ironed." I handed it to him.
Chak took it carefully, his fingers brushing against the fabric as he examined it. "Thank you," he said simply. Then, after a brief pause, he looked at me again. "And the drawing?"
His voice was softer this time, carrying a hint of curiosity.
"I have it," I replied, pulling out the sketch and offering it to him with a hint of pride.
Chak unfolded the drawing and studied it in silence. His expression changed—there was something in his eyes I had never seen before. He gazed at it as if it were a priceless treasure, carefully examining every line I had drawn. My heart pounded anxiously, as if I were waiting for a grade on an important test.
Finally, he lifted his head, and our eyes met. There was something in the way he looked at me, as if he were seeing me for the first time. The silence between us grew heavy. I wanted him to say something—anything.
Then, his lips curved into a small, almost knowing smile.
"You did a good job," he said. "The tattoo is drawn well. But… it's missing a few details."
I swallowed hard. "I see… I—"
"You'll be working overtime with me today,"he interrupted, his tone turning colder. "You'll finish your regular work first, then wait for my message. When I call you, come back to the office—through the side entrance. No one can know you're here."
A shiver ran down my spine. "Understood, sir." I hesitated before asking, "But… what exactly are we going to do?"
Chak's gaze darkened slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You'll see."
He didn't give me a chance to ask more questions. "Now, go."
Feeling overwhelmed, I left his office and returned to my desk to work on the flyer. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind kept drifting back to Chak. What did he mean? What would we be doing—alone, late at night?
For a split second, my mind wandered to… inappropriate thoughts. Niran, what the hell are you thinking?I scolded myself internally, shaking my head. Nothing is going to happen.
I exhaled in relief. At least no one can read my thoughts.
A while later, Chak exited his office, his presence dominating the room. Our eyes met for a brief moment before he walked away.
Soon after, Non approached me. "Hey, do you have time for a drink after work?"
I hesitated before shaking my head. "Maybe another time. I'm too tired today."
"Alright," he said with a shrug and walked off.
The hours passed slowly, and at last, my shift ended. I walked home, changed my clothes, and fed Leo, giving him a few affectionate scratches before sitting down. My eyes kept drifting to my phone.
I didn't have to wait long.
A message popped up. It was from Chak.
"Come to my office. Use the side entrance."
I took a deep breath, grabbed my keys, and headed back to the company.
Slipping in through the side entrance, I felt my nerves tightening with each step. The building was eerily quiet. When I reached his office, I took a deep breath, knocked, and stepped inside.
The only light in the room came from a small lamp on his desk. Chak sat in his chair, but as soon as I entered, he stood up and walked toward me.
"I'm sure you're wondering why you're here,"he said, his voice softer than before.
I nodded hesitantly. "Yes, sir."
His lips curled slightly. "I want you to draw my tattoo on canvas."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." His voice was calm, but firm. "I want you to draw my tattoo. But this time… with more details."
Before I could process what he meant, Chak began unbuttoning his shirt—slowly, deliberately, one button at a time.
The air in the office grew heavier. His presence seemed to fill the entire room.
I swallowed hard as heat crept up my face.
I was rooted in place, unable to look away. The way he unbuttoned his shirt, the way his fingers moved—there was something almost hypnotic about it.
When he reached the last button, he pulled off the shirt completely, standing before me, clad only in his pants.
I couldn't stop my gaze from drifting over his toned chest. He was built like a sculpture—every muscle, every line perfectly defined. My eyes lingered a second too long.
Chak caught me staring.
A knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You don't have to be so tense,"he murmured. "Relax."
He gestured toward his chair. "Sit."
I obeyed, still feeling like my heart might burst.
He handed me a canvas and a pencil before turning around, exposing his back to me.
His posture was relaxed, his muscles shifting slightly as he settled into position.
I exhaled shakily and gripped the pencil. My hands were trembling.
This is going to be a long night…