TERESA'S P.O.V.
The sll of roasted turkey and roasted vegetables filled the dining hall, but I could hardly focus on my plate. Sitting across from Lucian was always an event—he had this way of making everything feel like it was the center of the universe, even in the simple, routine act of lunch. I noticed the faintest smirk on his lips as he leaned back in his chair, those forest green eyes holding so secret that I was sure he was waiting for the perfect mont to drop.
"After lunch, we're going out," he said casually, as if he was ntioning the weather.
I blinked, nearly dropping my fork. "Where are we going?" I tried to sound casual, but I'm pretty sure my voice betrayed a little excitent. Lucian never invited anywhere. Not since I started living here a month ago; so forgive for being excited; and besides, it was Lucian Blackwood, anyone would jump at the opportunity to go anywhere with him if he as much hinted at an invitation.
"You'll see," he replied, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious glint. A part of thought he enjoyed watching squirm in his presence.
Lunch wrapped up quickly—well, mostly because I couldn't taste anything over the buzzing of nerves—and before I knew it, we stepped into a towering glass building an hour later, that had the bold words 'Blackwood Creations' plastered out front. Lucian strode ahead, completely unfazed by the sudden hush that fell over the crowd as we entered. I could feel eyes on us—well, on him, mostly. People seed both excited and terrified, like he was so mythological creature that might breathe fire if they dared to look directly at him for too long. I, on the other hand, was acutely aware of the number of people staring and tried to shrink into myself.
A few n in tailored suits approached, looking a little winded as if they'd sprinted from sowhere. He didn't bother with introductions, didn't even acknowledge the murmurs, he just gave a brief nod to the n that rushed toward him. The n exchanged looks as though they had just received an unexpected royal visit and command as they trailed along obediently. I had to nearly jog to keep up, ntally cursing their long legs.
"Mr. Blackwood, there's a board eting in progress," one of them said, his voice trembling a bit.
Lucian glanced at him, clearly unimpressed. "Perfect timing," he replied coolly, before striding down the hallway with a confidence that made even the walls seem intimidated. By the ti we reached the boardroom doors, I was breathless.
When the doors were opened, the air inside was thick with tension, like soone had vacuum-sealed it just for Lucian's arrival. Everyone looked up in various stages of shock, so clutching their files like they might need them as shields.
Lucian stepped to the head of the table, commanding silence without even saying a word. I tried to fade into the background, standing awkwardly by the door and fidgeting with the hem of my sweater. But of course, that didn't last long.
"Everyone, et Teresa Williams," he announced, as if introducing a prized possession rather than, well, . "She'll be the new CEO of this company."
There was a silence so intense I swear I could hear the collective heartbeats in the room. My own heart had stopped sowhere around the "new CEO" part. Did he just...? Did he say CEO?
I glanced up at him, wide-eyed. "Excuse ?" I managed, my voice squeaking a little. "I—I think you must be joking."
Lucian's gaze swung to , eyebrow raised, lips twitching with restrained amusent. "Teresa, I don't joke about business. Or much of anything else, really. You wanted to work didn't you? Now work."
One of the board mbers cleared his throat, looking from to Lucian with an expression that scread Is this really happening? Another leaned forward, glasses slipping down his nose as he assessed like a curious lab experint.
"Mr. Blackwood...isn't she a bit..." the man hesitated, clearly not wanting to finish the sentence.
"A bit...?" Lucian drawled, his voice edged with that faint, sarcastic amusent that always made feel like I was being toyed with.
"Um, well, inexperienced, perhaps?" the man finished nervously.
Lucian smirked. "She'll learn." He threw a brief glance my way, the look in his eyes sothing between a challenge and a promise. "I don't do things halfway."
While I was still in the throes of internal panic, he just nodded, as if to say, "Good luck," and turned to leave the room. Just like that. I wanted to scream after him, "Excuse , Lucian! You forgot sothing—!" But I couldn't, not with everyone in the boardroom staring at like I was so exotic animal.
Finally, one of the board mbers, an elderly man with silver glasses perched on his nose, cleared his throat, looking as bewildered as I felt. "So... Miss Teresa, what are your plans for the company?"
Plans? PLANS? I could barely plan dinner without burning toast, and he wanted to plan for a whole company? I forced a laugh, trying to look... competent? "Well, I thought, um, maybe... more... sculptures?"
There was a beat of silence, and I wished for a trapdoor under my feet.
One of the other n leaned forward, hiding a smirk. "You're quite the visionary, Miss Teresa."
"Yes! Visionary. Exactly," I mumbled, desperately hoping the floor might open up and swallow whole.
As I was awkwardly fielding questions, I caught Lucian through the glass walls, leaning casually against the reception desk, watching flounder with amusent and sothing that looked suspiciously like satisfaction. He lifted a hand, waggling his fingers at in a sarcastic wave before he sauntered out of view, leaving there with a dozen executives and absolutely no clue what I was supposed to do.
If I survived today, I was going to kill Lucian Blackwood. Or at least try.
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