"Why do you look so tired? Did you not sleep?" Lucius questioned, his sharp gaze fixed on Roger as he strolled into the living room, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
Roger quickly rose from the couch and offered a respectful bow. "I was keeping watch on Sylvia, as Boss instructed," he explained, his voice tinged with exhaustion. He rubbed his eyes, betraying just how little rest he’d gotten.
Lucius frowned, his brow furrowing in displeasure. "Don’t tell you slept in the car," he scolded Roger in a firm voice. "I didn’t an for you to spend the entire night outside like that. Besides, Sylvia’s not the type to sneak off in the middle of the night."
Roger looked sheepish but didn’t argue, simply lowering his head in acknowledgnt of Lucius’s words.
Before the conversation could continue, Layla appeared in the doorway, her voice breaking the tension. "Breakfast is ready," she announced with a bright smile. She glanced at Roger. "Roger, co and join us."
"Thank you, Madam, but I wouldn’t want to intrude on you two," Roger replied politely, shaking his head slightly.
Layla, however, wasn’t having it. "Just co," she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argunt. She glanced at Lucius, her eyes silently instructing him to ensure Roger followed.
With a small smirk, Lucius turned back to Roger. "You heard her. Don’t make drag you to the table."
Relenting, Roger nodded and followed as Layla disappeared into the kitchen. She quickly removed her apron, thanked the maids for their assistance, and made her way to the dining table, where Lucius and Roger were already seated.
As she took her seat opposite Lucius, an idea sparked in her mind—a mischievous gleam dancing in her eyes.
"Roger, you shouldn’t stay up until such late hours," Layla remarked, her voice casual as she leaned slightly forward. "Is your boss making you work too hard?"
As she spoke, she slipped her foot forward under the table, grazing her toes lightly against Lucius’s leg. She watched with satisfaction as his gaze snapped to hers, the surprise in his eyes quickly replaced by a dark, intrigued look.
Layla hid a smirk, tracing her toes slowly up his leg, feeling the subtle tension building in him. She watched how his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his focus wavering despite Roger’s presence.
"No, Madam," Roger replied, shaking his head almost too earnestly. "Boss isn’t like that at all."
Layla nodded, keeping her expression innocent. "Well, if he is, you can always tell ," she said with a playful smile. "I’ll make sure he’s punished for overworking you."
Lucius’s jaw tightened, his gaze burning into hers as he barely managed to keep his composure. ’Fuck! What is she doing? Teasing like this?’ he thought, struggling to suppress his reaction.
Roger, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued, "Thank you, Madam, but there’s no need. Boss is always fair with ."
Layla gave a satisfied nod, all while keeping her foot pressed against Lucius’s leg before withdrawing it.
"But how will you punish , Layla?" Lucius finally asked, his voice low, his eyes never leaving hers.
Roger, who had been silently observing the exchange, now realized exactly what was happening. He couldn’t help but smirk, amused at how Lucius was allowing their playful banter to be so obvious, but then, he was Lucius De Salvo.
"Focus on eating," Layla replied, her voice smooth and nonchalant, though there was a slight twinkle in her eyes. She delicately touched her cheeks with the back of her hand, pretending to ignore the tension simring between them.
Lucius’s smirk widened, his patience thinning as he resud eating. Once he finished, Roger, clearly uncomfortable, was the first to make his escape. "I’ve got an urgent call to make," he muttered, quickly standing and making his way toward the door. The maids entered soon after, clearing the table as they went about their work.
Layla, with a glance at Lucius, followed the maids into the kitchen. He didn’t waste a second, trailing after her.
Without any hesitation, he looked back at the maids. "You all should leave," he ordered in a voice that brooked no argunt. The maids quickly left the kitchen without a word.
Layla, her hands still busy with the fridge, glanced over her shoulder. "Why did you ask them to leave?" she questioned, her curiosity piqued.
But before she could get a proper answer, Lucius was already standing in front of her, his body close enough that she could feel the heat of his presence. His hands were braced on either side of her head, trapping her between him and the fridge.
He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. "Because I want you to punish ," he murmured, his voice low and teasing. He nuzzled his nose against hers.
"What?" Layla chuckled, playfully hitting his shoulder before trying to push him away gently. But Lucius had other ideas. In one swift move, he stopped her and lifted her, setting her down on the kitchen counter with a determined look in his eyes.
"Lucius, we’re in the kitchen! What if soone cos in?" Layla asked, her voice laced with both surprise and a hint of concern. She glanced toward the door, but Lucius wasn’t fazed.
"You already imagined us doing sothing dirty," Lucius mused, his voice low and teasing as he closed the space between them.
"No!" Layla shook her head, her lips curving into a smile despite her attempt to deny it. "I didn’t!"
Lucius’s eyebrow arched, his gaze playful yet intense as his thumb gently traced her lips, the touch soft but deliberate. "What were you doing to at the dining table?" he asked, his voice husky with curiosity.
Layla’s smile widened, and she leaned slightly back, trying to keep her composure. "What did I do?" She pretended to be innocent, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she t his gaze, clearly enjoying the playful tension building between them.
"You turned hard," Lucius said, causing her breath to hitch.
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