As the elevator doors slid open with a soft whoosh, Jai stepped into the sleek, modern workspace, her eyes scanning the deserted reception area. The usually spotless work files lay untouched on the polished furniture, their neat edges and tidy stacks a stark contrast to the eerie silence that filled the air. But what caught Jai's attention was the absence of Carmen, the receptionist, whose bright smile and warm welcome were always the first things to greet visitors.
The once-thriving office, where the hum of activity and the chatter of colleagues had always filled the air, now looked like a ghost town. The usually bustling workstations were empty, the computers dark, and the chairs pushed back, as if their occupants had simply vanished into thin air. Jai's gaze wandered around the space, her mind racing with questions. Where was everyone? Had some kind of emergency evacuation occurred while she was in the elevator? And why was Carmen's desk abandoned, her phone and computer still on, but dead silent?
Jai clutched the coffee mug she'd grabbed on her way to work, its warmth a comforting presence as she slipped into the workroom. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sea of familiar faces, every single person from Luther-Croft gathered in one place. It was as if they were all waiting for some big announcement, and Jai's mind flashed back to Jamie's mention of the new CEO. Was that the reason for this unexpected gathering?
She tiptoed to her cubicle, careful not to make a sound as she set down her things. Leaning against the wall, she held her breath, waiting to see what would happen next. That's when she heard it – a low, smooth voice that sent a shiver down her spine. "Hey, Babe."
A gentle nudge against her arm made her smile, and she turned to face the owner of that familiar voice. Her eyes met a pair of warm, sparkling ones, and her lips curved upward in a cute, playful expression.
"How are you feeling now?" Jamie asked, his eyes scrutinizing Jai's face with the intensity of a mother interrogating her kid about a stolen candy bar.
"I feel so horrible," Jai interjected sharply, her attention divided between Jamie's questioning and the new CEO's speech in the background.
Jamie nudged her elbow, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You mean you feel so Lute?"
Jai's nose scrunched up in confusion as she stared at Jamie. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her patience wearing thin.
Jamie rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Lute is the new horrible, I mean, dude is just so extra." He chuckled, clearly amused by his own joke.
Jai's confusion deepened. "What are you even saying?" she asked, her tone tinged with exasperation.
Jamie's grin faltered, and he adopted a more serious tone. "The Luther's delivered the wrong package, Jai. Lute Luther, Logan's half-brother, is the new CEO."
Jai's eyes widened in surprise, but her expression quickly softened. "He can't be all that bad," she said, her natural optimism kicking in. She had a way of seeing the good in everyone, and Lute wasn't an exception.
Jamie's expression turned skeptical. "Can you imagine? He fired Sofie today."
Jai's gasp was audible, her eyes wide with shock. "What? Why?" she asked, her mind racing with questions.
"No way!" Jai exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.
"He did," Jamie confirmed, his expression serious.
"No freaking way!" Jai's voice rose in protest.
"Yes, he diiiiid!" Jamie drew out the words, his tone dripping with drama.
Jai clutched her chest, feigning heartbreak. "But she's the sweetest human to ever exist! No more free brownies for us!" Her eyes sparkled with mock despair, but beneath the joking, she was genuinely hurt. Their cubicle mate and neighbor, Sofie, was indeed the sweetest, and the new CEO must be heartless to fire her.
Just as Jai was about to continue her lament, a deep, smooth voice interrupted her. "Excuse me."
Jai's gaze snapped up, and her eyes locked onto the piercing blue pupils of a blond-haired hunk. Her heart sank, and she thought to herself, This must be my unlucky day. The last person she expected to see, especially as their new CEO, was the infamous evil brother – the same guy she'd had a disastrous encounter with at the restaurant.
A slow smile spread across his face as he took in Jai's stunned expression. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the lunatic ex herself." His voice was laced with amusement, and Jai's face burned with embarrassment. This was not how she imagined her day.
Jamie's whispered words in her ear only confirmed Jai's initial impression: Lute was a brute. How could he so callously remind her of that disastrous day at the restaurant, a day she desperately wanted to erase from her memory?
Jai's eyes locked onto Lute's, her lips parting to respond, but the sea of curious faces surrounding her stifled her words. Her coworkers' confused expressions only added to her discomfort. She felt like she was on trial, with Lute as the prosecutor.
"Am sorry," Jai heard herself say, the words tumbling out of her mouth without her conscious intention. She was apologizing for something she hadn't even done, but the words seemed to spill out of her like a reflex.
As Lute approached her, his eyes never leaving hers, Jai repeated her apology, her voice barely above a whisper. "Am sorry." The room seemed to hold its collective breath, with even Jamie looking taken aback by Jai's strange behavior. The confusion etched on everyone's faces only deepened, and Jai couldn't help but wonder what she had just gotten herself into.
As he sneered, a condescending smirk slashed across his face, its sharp edges stabbing into Jai's fragile heart like a dagger. The fluorescent lights above flickered in sync with Jai's racing pulse, as he strained to maintain his composure.
"Hmmmm, I'm loving this job already," he said, his voice dripping with malice. He stood tall, his chest puffed out in a display of superiority. With a dismissive snap of his fingers, he erased the earlier confrontation from the agenda.
"Moving on," he drawled. "Let's discuss the marketing strategy for the upcoming quarter." He took a step forward, his presence seeming to fill the room.
~ ~ ~
Rachel's murmured complaint carried across the room as she posted the new advertising fliers on the board. "I still don't get why Mr. Cornell had to choose Lute as the CEO when Logan's is a better fit."
Jai winced, biting her tongue in the process. Her mind racing with wild thoughts, she couldn't help but question her own decision to work at Luther-Croft. She loved her job, almost as much as she loved Yuan, but Lute's presence made her wonder if it was all worth it.
Carrie chimed in, drawing the attention of the other workers. "Logan's isn't his biological son, he's a stepson," she said, her voice neutral, but her eyes sparkling with intrigue.
"I heard Lute is a year younger than Logan," Jamie said, carefully painting his nails with Rachel's nail polish. "Dude is just twenty-six." He emphasized the age, his voice dripping with amusement. "He's a kiiiiid!" The room erupted into laughter, with the adults teasing Jamie about his nail polish.
Carrie chimed in, her voice flirtatious. "A very good-looking kid, I might add." She licked her red-coated lips, making Jamie roll his eyes.
"He's hot," Carrie continued. Jamie quickly withdrew his earlier statement about Lute being handsome, Someone like Lute, with his condescending attitude, didn't deserve to be called good-looking. At least, that's what Jamie thought.
Jai spoke up, her voice still laced with annoyance. "You need to see the way he looked at me – his eyes full of mischief." She shook her head, still fuming about how Lute had called her out in front of his employees. The memory clearly still grated on her nerves.
Jamie's voice took on a threatening tone. "That guy better not step on my best friend's toes, else... he'll have to deal with my wrath." Jai chuckled at the fierce declaration.
But then, a dreamy look crossed Jai's face. "I already imagined making cute half-Asian kids with Logan," she confessed, cupping her face in her hands. Rachel and Jamie exchanged a knowing glance.
"I thought you said he was way too young for you," Rachel and Jamie chimed in unison, teasing Jai about her apparent change of heart. A gentle laugh escaped Jai's lips as she realized she'd been caught off guard.
Despite her denials, Jai's fascination with Logan remained strong. Even after her night out with Jamie, she'd found herself scrolling through Logan's photos, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of his charming smile.
Jai's mind began to wander, imagining herself stroking the manly stubble on Logan's jaw, caressing his tanned, muscular skin, and maybe even doing unimaginable things to his lips. She quickly brushed these thoughts away, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks.
"I mean... he's totally crushable," Carrie said, her face lighting up with excitement as she leaned in, fully engaged in the discussion. "But I would choose Lute over him any day." Rachel and Jamie let out a collective groan of disappointment, their faces scrunched up in distaste. They hated that Carrie had to bring Lute into their conversation again, ruining the lighthearted mood.
"One more thing, Jai, avoid Lute, he's no good," Rachel whispered, before tapping the last box of work files and journals into place. Jai nodded, her eyes darting back to the computer screen as she continued working.
But before she could focus, a presence loomed over the atmosphere, casting a shadow over the room. "Hey, Chinese," Lute said, his voice low and smooth. Jai's heart sank as she felt his eyes bore into her body, making her skin crawl.
Lute stood near the board now, his gaze still fixed on Jai. "Move these boxes into my office now," he commanded, his tone firm and authoritative.