Chapter 10: Lucas: Smut and book boyfriends
THE MAGAZINE JUST DROPPED IN SALES!
Unfortunately, the bestsellers list gets updated every first Saturday of every month—which is tomorrow.
I ruffle my hair, pulling out February's issue and checking for any errors or articles that could be boring - but nothing seems out of the ordinary.
What the fuck am I doing wrong?
Laughs echo in the office and I turn to glare at my team. I should be happy the environnt is friendly, but after the news I just received, I'm going to be annoyed with everything today.
Especially since I know they slacked off last week.
" We need to have fun too," Clara calls out after they dissed
about overworking them, which I'll do to them if they don't finish all their tasks today.
My office is soundproof and my team knows it, hence the betrayal session going on right now. Leaving my door slightly open was a very bad idea.
"What are you even saying? Last week we kept skipping work to go on team dinners," Dion cuts the unified humming they all do after Clara's remark. "We deserve to be punished."
" That's true," Iris adds in a sarcastic voice, " you guys brought this up on yourselves. Don't bla it all on Lucas. "
Even though her defending
feels like a sip of wine after a long day, I still can't rub off Iris' actions from earlier. Her smart mouth might be sexy when we're alone and horny, but when I need to be in control of my team and she frees them, it's not.
We might need to set guidelines for this dating thing sooner than I had anticipated before it's too late.
Without hesitating any further, I head over to her chat on the company ssage board and send her a ssage to co to my office. Pulling out a notepad and pen, I watch through the glass wall as she drags herself to my office, before knocking on my door a few minutes later.
"Co in," I call out firmly.
Iris walks in, dressed in cozy white loose-fitting pants with a custom-knitted lavender sweater that matches the scent emitting from my diffuser. Her hair is tied into a ssy bun that accentuates her cuteness, and for a mont there I watch in awe as the woman I almost devoured last night walks into my office.
I crossed a line I shouldn't have last night, but I don't regret it. Kissing Iris made
feel rebellious and alive. Like I finally had a life aside from work and running away from Lynn. It made
the hormonal teenager I was before, like I was gasoline trapped in an underground tunnel and she's the spark I was waiting for all along to finally burst to life once again.
I loved it, although I need to suppress those feelings now.
Closing the door behind her back, Iris fidgets with her hands nervously - a first ever since the two of us t. "Is this because of what I said earlier?" She asks, gripping her sweater by the collar. I'm pretty sure the others watching from outside think I'm bullying her.
I place my hands on my desk, leaning towards her as I put on a serious expression." Yes and no. Yes because I need us to have boundaries that won't disturb our work. You can use
all you want, but not when it cos to work."
I give her a pointed glare, and she slowly nods. "Good. As for the no, I want us to have a set plan to convince everyone we're dating. We can't just barge in and announce that we're dating without making them believe it first."
Iris nods again, " I get it. But shouldn't you be checking the file I sent you for any errors?" She asks in a low restrained voice, making
ease my glare on her.
Slouching back in my seat, I gesture for her to sit, and she obeys. If only she were this tad every day, then I wouldn't need to be counseling her like this.
" I should. But I don't think I can focus well if we haven't settled this."
" You and your perfectionist ass," she whispers, but I hear it nonetheless. " Where are we holding the eting? Here, or in the personal boardroom you told
about?"
I could recognize that sarcastic tone even in my sleep. Iris should receive an award for being able to regain her composure so quickly.
A smirk forms on my lips," You'll see. Go get ready, we leave in five minutes."
She imdiately leaves my office, and I scoop all the stationary I might need from my desk before following her outside. Soon, both of us head over to the 13th floor, for what is going to be the most bizarre, yet most necessary eting I've ever held in my life.
Ask
why I feel hot and bothered by it.
★★★★★
"You're what?" Iris screams, gesturing everywhere like an ani character. I just told her that the board mbers want
to be the Vice president, and that's why I have access to this office. Little did I know that would freak her out this much.
"What are you doing in the editorial departnt? Holy fuck. Can I take back my words and accept the offer you made before about taking your money?"
She's unstoppable, pacing around the office like a Porsche with no brakes, until I can't take it anymore.
"Sit down for a mont Iris," I mumble, smiling smugly at how excited she is.
"Yes, sir...Lucas. Damn, I can't control myself. I'm standing in the presence of my favorite magazines fuckin Vice prez."
Way to toot my horn, Iris.
" And you're going to be fake dating him soon."
" Scratch that, how about we make it official," she laughs gleefully and I find it cute. This is the first ti she's ever let loose this much around . Even when we were intimate last night, she seed a bit more rigid than she is now.
" That's what this eting is about Baby," I mumble, surprising the both of us.
"Did you just...?"
"Yes, I did."
A pause follows before she springs into action again. "Please let's get this eting started before I get so more crazy ideas and ruin the mood."
I let out an exasperated laugh, "you're right about that. Your mind is like an AI generator."
"It's only natural for an author and editor to be like that," she replies, placing her notepad on my desk.
Now it's my turn to be baffled. " You're an author?"
Iris tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, making the slight blush on her caral skin show. "I can't say I am one yet, but I do have an entire hundred-page folder of book ideas I've thought over the years."
" Hundred?!"
" Yes."
" Damn. Can I read one of the books you've written?
There's a slight pause and awkward silence that follows my question, where Iris gnaws at her lip. Any other mont, I would have found it sexy, but there's an edge of sothing untold to the lip bite that makes
keep my composure.
" I don't have any written books yet." Her voice is barely audible and a crease shows on her forehead, but disappears the next mont as she smiles at , " But I think I'll try writing soon."
I decide to not pry on the topic any further. " Send
the book when you're done with it."
Iris laughs mockingly. " Okay, but I can't picture you reading smut."
"What's smut?" I ask, furrowing my brows.
" Book porn." She replies, shalessly grinning at , " No, I think it's even better than porn. My book boyfriends always know where to touch and how to do it."
I arch a brow, " book boyfriends?"
Iris swats a hand at , "You'll never understand the language if you're not a romance reader, so stop running your brains, and let's get planning."
Rubbing my palms on my lap, I clear my throat trying to gain my composure. It should be a cri to get turned on just by listening to Iris talk about book porn, but the way she says it could make any other man react the sa way given the history between us.
" Okay, first, we need a few rules and guidelines on how to behave around each other at work, and outside."
Iris nods and takes her pen out, and for the next hour, we discuss how we're going to be playing our parts in this deal. We could have been done with our eting in fifteen minutes, but after Iris ca up with a scenario where we might need to be intimate to make the others believe we're dating, an entire list of possibilities began flooding that smart brain of hers, and before we knew it, an hour had passed.
We ended up opting for a professional but couple vibe atmosphere, and getting slightly intimate if the need arises.
"That marks the end of this eting," I announce once we have the entire plan jotted on paper. This deal is going to be over once Lynn stops following
around, and I get to agree to Iris' reasonable requests during that period.
Cracking her neck and collecting her items, Iris pushes her chair away from my desk. " I can't believe I just had this kind of discussion with my boss," she pauses, assessing my face for whatever reason makes sense to her. " Now I feel like a pent-up slut."
The way I tense at her words could qualify
for a role in the Transforrs cast. I almost growl, but I manage to keep my cool, although I can't say the sa about my tensed jaw and closed eyes.
Why would she say sothing so...
" Never say that in my presence again, unless you want
to fuck your brains out, Iris," I say through gritted teeth.
Iris tips her chin back, " And what if I do? Are you sure you want your million-dollar office to sll like sex first thing in the morning?" She says in a nasally induced voice, opening the door and stepping outside before adding, " I chose using you over your money for a reason, Lucas."
The door closes with a bang and I hit the table, cursing at myself for being such a simp. Now I'm certain this isn't just a pact to help ward Lynn off. No. It has upgraded to sothing way more sexy - a hookup pact; and I hate how I seem to be the one without control.
Iris already has
on her leash, she just doesn't know it yet, or maybe she does and that's why she's teasing
a lot.
I sit up straight but imdiately bend, groaning when my erection rubs on my boxers.
Damnit.
Now I'm horny too.
★★★★★
"How is a party going to help the magazine sales go up?"
"It's a charity event Lucas, not a party. Get that part right," Dad corrects , caressing his nose bridge like he always does when dealing with my constant questions.
For the past hour, we have been discussing about the drop in magazine sales. I'm fuckin annoyed by it because this could be my last year to convince Dad I need ti fulfilling the promise I made to Mom. He and the board mbers have been pestering
to beco Adder's new Vice president because "the younger generation is innovative," but I've been too busy to take up the offer.
Marcus being Marcus decided to take on both roles because he "can't seem to find soone as qualified as ". Anyone can see how he's using his power to manipulate the others decision, which is good because I know there's a prestigious position waiting for
once I accomplish my goal - but it's pressuring the fuck out of .
"How is a charity event going to up the magazine sales?" I repeat the question, making sure to correct myself this ti.
"Don't play dumb boy. You've done this a hundred tis now."
"I know, but it wasn't for the magazine's sake."
Dad lets out a heavy sigh full of frustration and a little sothing I can't quite decipher. "I'll explain the details to you once we have finalized the plan, but trust , it will enhance the sales once done properly."
" Can't you just tell
now?"
A small devilish smile appears on Dad's lips as he leans in till our eyes a level. " For that to happen you'll need to hold a prestigious position in this company, which you don't have right now. Wait until the higher-ups have decided on it, then we will update you small fries."
Shit. Why is everyone being so unbelievably tough today? First, it was Iris and her saucy comntaries, now it's Dad using my love for the magazine as a manipulation tool.
" Be quick with it then. If we want to do a perfect job, we need to plan ahead of ti."
" A good job will suffice too."
"No," I affirmatively reply, " that won't suffice if we want to save the magazine."
Dad lets out a small laugh that cos out more like a snort. " Has anyone ever told you you're a fuckin perfectionist?"
Iris cos to mind when he asks the question, and I smile, consciously counting the tis I've heard her tell
that. Has it been three or four tis now?
" More tis than I can count," I blurt out.
" Marry her," Dad exclaims pulling his laptop towards him and swatting his hand at . " You may leave now, I've got an event to plan."
How does he know it's a girl?
Sotis I wonder if he has telekinesis and can read my inner thoughts because Dad usually says them out loud and clear. It's a bit creepy if you ask .
"I'll leave you to it," I say, walking out of the office and leaving him alone.
I'm still reeling in my head, wondering what I'm doing wrong when the elevator lands on our floor, and the first thing I see is Lynn entering my departnt with a box in both hands.
What does she want?
" Lucas!" Mary's voice cuts my internal monologue as she pops up from the stairs a few ters away from the elevator.
"Yes?"
She wipes her forehead, breathing heavily like soone who has been running for long hours. "I have a favor to ask from you."
I squint my eyes at her, " what is it?"
"Please drive Iris ho today. I can't take her with
where I want to go, and it's not close to ho. So can you drive her instead, pleaseee," she whines.
After our last conversation, I'm not sure if I want to be alone with Iris. She just gave
the keys to her heavenly delights, and I don't think I'll be able to resist if my urges knock again once we're alone together.
"Okay," I mumble whilst opening the French door to my departnt, but does Iris know about this?"
" Yes, I told her this afternoon and she's okay with you driving her back ho."
" And this has nothing to do with the silent treatnt you've been giving her last night?"
Mary shakes her head , "No. We already talked about that."
" Then it's settled, I'll drive her ho. Anything else?"
Mary gives
a strong hug before patting my chest and saying, " Thank
later." After giving
a knowing smirk, she sprints towards the stairs and makes her way below.
Ignoring the voice in my head asking why she's using the stairs, I enter the departnt's office. It's 5:30 PM now, and everyone has gone ho. Everyone but Iris, and Lynn.
They're standing by my office and giving each other the cold shoulder. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I take it out, to see a ssage from Iris.
IRIS: Lynn is here. Level up your acting skills, Daddy *winking emoji*
Putting my phone in my pocket, I make up my mind to teach Iris a lesson on never teasing
later in the day. Right now, I have an Oscar-winning session to showcase with her, and I can't fuck it up with my stupid urges!
★★★★★
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