CHAPTER 123: OFFICE ROMANCE

The man finished eating a cherry, his face brimming with satisfaction as he narrowed his eyes slightly.

With a faint smirk playing on his lips, he reached out and lifted her delicate chin, pulling her onto his lap in one swift motion.

Leaning close to her ear, his voice dropped to a low, teasing murmur, "Cherries are delicious, but I much prefer the ’meat’ from last night.

I wonder when I’ll get to taste it again..." Beauty: "..." Of course, nothing good ever came out of that mouth of his.

He was shamelessly flirting with her again.

She gritted her teeth so hard they creaked, her usually gentle eyes now blazing with fury.

This was beyond infuriating.

Just as she was about to snap, he suddenly loosened his grip around her waist and nudged her off his lap, sprawling lazily onto the sofa.

With a lazy flick of his eyelids, he drawled, "Alright, one cherry is enough.

Any more and I might get indigestion.

I need to rest now—if you’ve got nothing else, you can leave."

How dare he kick her aside after getting what he wanted!

As if she’d let him off that easily!

No way in hell!

Beauty’s lips twitched in silent outrage.

Then, with a sweet smile, she picked up the steaming cup of coffee from the table and settled beside him.

"Mr. Lucas, didn’t you just say you wanted coffee?

It’s already brewed—such a waste not to drink it, don’t you think?"

Before he could react, she forced the scorching liquid into his mouth, watching with smug satisfaction as his lips reddened from the burn.

Just then, the office door swung open.

Drake and Samantha stepped in, only to freeze at the sight before them, their expressions a mix of shock and awkwardness.

Beauty immediately set down the coffee and bolted to the other side of the room—before Lucas’s glare could turn lethal.

"Well, well," Drake quipped, raising an eyebrow.

"What kind of game are you two playing here?"

Seeing Lucas’s lips stained a bright red, he frowned and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away the smudge at the corner of his mouth, his expression clearly displeased.

"Don’t you know how to knock before entering?

How many times do I have to remind you?"

Drake leaned casually against the office door, arms crossed, a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Oh, we did knock.

Ask Samantha if you don’t believe me.

You two were just too... preoccupied to notice."

Lucas’s frown deepened, but he remained silent.

Standing about ten steps away, Beauty arched an eyebrow slightly as she set the coffee cup on the table, then turned to make a quick escape.

A cold voice cut through the air behind her.

"We have guests.

Shouldn’t you serve tea? What will it be—tea or coffee?"

Drake’s gaze flickered toward Beauty, a smirk playing on his lips.

"No need to trouble Beauty.

Tea will do just fine."

"Go wash some fruit for Miss Samantha."

"...Right."

She gritted her teeth, forcing out the word before bolting from the room.

For her, safety lay beyond that office door.

"So, what was that little performance just now?

Office romance?

Doesn’t seem like your style, Lucas" Drake settled into a seat beside Lucas, his eyes briefly lingering on the half-finished coffee before shifting to the steaming tea, his lips curling into a roguish grin.

Lucas didn’t spare him a friendly glance, crossing his legs and shooting him a frosty glare.

Picking up his teacup, he took a slow sip before replying, his tone measured.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today, President Drake?

And with company, no less." Ever since Drake had proposed to Samantha at his birthday banquet, the news had sent shockwaves through New York, dominating headlines for days and even giving the company’s stocks a boost.

So Lucas began referring to Samantha as his "better half."

Samantha pressed her lips together, her face glowing with sweetness.

"Drake, has been busy with company matters lately, and the chairman is very pleased.

We came to Marson Corporation mainly to discuss advertising collaborations.

We heard your company recently acquired another firm, so of course, Drake and I are here to talk about the advertising contract with you."

"You two are quite well-informed," Lucas remarked, his tone laced with amusement.

"The acquisition was just finalized today, and here you are already discussing advertising for the subsidiary.

This doesn’t seem like Drake’s usual style.

Having a capable partner by your side must be quite the advantage."

No sooner had Lucas finished speaking than the office door swung open, and Beauty walked in.

She carried a plate of freshly washed and sliced navel oranges, along with a bowl of grapes, which she set gently on the coffee table.

Drake casually plucked a grape and popped it into his mouth.

"Not bad," he commented, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Seems like Lucas isn’t lacking in companionship either.

Office romance, huh?

Keeping up with the times, I see."

When it came to sharp-tongued banter, Drake was every bit Lucas’s match.

His gaze lingered on Beauty’s ear, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

The memory from last night—when someone had spent an inordinate amount of time near her neck—flashed through his mind.

A faint blush still lingered there, and Beauty, suddenly self-conscious, raised a hand to cover it, her lips pressing together tightly.

For someone as possessive as Lucas, his woman was his alone to tease.

No one else was allowed to lay a finger—or even a glance—on her.

"Beauty, you can leave for now," Lucas said coolly, his frosty gaze flickering toward her.

Understanding the unspoken command, Beauty turned and exited the office without another word.

The moment the door closed behind her, she felt a chill run down her spine.

From now on, she decided, she would avoid any place where Lucas and Drake were present.

The two men exuded an innate air of aristocratic aloofness and icy dominance, their mere presence enough to suffocate her.

Of course, Lucas knew exactly why they had come today.

After so many years of brotherhood, he understood Drake all too well.

But Samantha was becoming more and more of an enigma to him.

Her sudden visit to the company today was clearly aimed at confronting Sarah.

If they knew about the new company, they must also be aware that he had entrusted the project to her.

It seemed the tension between these women was about to ignite at any moment.

"Samantha is here today to represent our company in negotiating the advertising contract.

Who should she discuss this with?"

Drake said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he took a sip of hot tea and turned his gaze toward Lucas.

"I’ve already handed full responsibility for this matter to Sarah.

She should still be in the office—you’ve arrived at just the right time."

At the mention of Sarah, Samantha’s face briefly darkened with displeasure, though she quickly masked it.

Clinging to Drake’s arm, she murmured softly, "Should I go talk to Sarah about the contract, or would you prefer to handle it?"

Once again, she had tossed him a dilemma—caught between an ex-girlfriend he couldn’t afford to offend and a current flame he dared not provoke.

His brows furrowed deeply.

After barely half a second of thought, he replied coolly, "You go talk to Sarah.

I still have other matters to discuss with Lucas.

Besides, it’s been a while since you two caught up—consider it a chance to reconnect." Lucas’s icy eyes widened slightly before narrowing again, shooting Drake a look that screamed, *You’ve got a death wish.*

Only after Samantha had left the office did Lucas slowly clap a hand on Drake’s shoulder.

With a wry smirk, he remarked, "Seems Samantha really knows how to play her cards—using Sarah to keep you in check.

And now she’s got you wrapped around her finger."