Chapter 6

Upon entering his office, I found my boss already seated at his desk, his attention focused on the document before him: my suspension letter. The air between us felt heavy with unspoken words, and I could almost hear the overwhelming silence that had descended upon us.

"Sir," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "Sir," I repeated, a little louder this time, trying to break through the oppressive quiet that had enveloped his office. "Is everything alright?" I inquired, my concern evident in my tone.

Lucas raised his head from the letter, his gaze meeting mine, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. After a few heartbeats, he got himself, his conduct softening slightly. "Oh, sorry, Miss Olivia," he apologized, his voice gentle and slightly remorseful.

A brief silence hung between us, broken only by the sound of our breathing. Then, as if remembering the task at hand, Lucas's expression hardened once more. He reached for the suspension letter, holding it out towards me. "This is your suspension letter," he announced, his tone firm and unyielding. "You can leave my office immediately."

I stepped forward, my hand trembling slightly as I reached for the letter. "I'm so sorry, sir," I pleaded, my voice tinged with desperation. "I won't repeat my mistake, I promise. But please, not suspension..." My words faded away, the unspoken plea hanging in the air between us.

My heart hammered in my chest as I awaited Lucas's response, his calm expression offering no hint of his thoughts. The suspense was unbearable, and I could feel drops of sweat gathering on my forehead. The weight of the moment pressed down upon me, the ticking of the clock on the wall, the only sound in the otherwise silent office.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lucas let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. He placed the letter back on his desk and leaned forward. He folded his fingers together and looked at me with both disappointment and understanding.

"Miss Olivia," he began, his voice a blend of firmness and empathy. "I am willing to give you one more chance. However, you must understand that this is a serious company, and I don't play with its affairs, so you shouldn't too.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, a small glimmer of hope returning to my heart. "Thank you, sir," I replied earnestly, my words tinged with gratitude. "I promise I won't let you down again."

Lucas nodded slowly, a hint of warmth returning to his gaze. "I certainly hope not," he said, his tone conveying both warning and faith in my ability to learn from my mistakes. "Now, return to your desk and carry on with your work. I expect you to show me that my trust in you is not misplaced."

With a final, grateful nod, I turned to leave Lucas's office, the suspension letter still on his desk. I had been granted a second chance, and I was determined not to let Isabella and her mother jeopardize my career again.

As I made my way back to my workspace, a renewed sense of determination settled within me. I knew I had to remain vigilant and focused to protect the professional life I had worked so hard to build.

Upon reaching my desk, Jennifer hurriedly approached me, her eyes wide with anticipation. "How many weeks of suspension did our boss give you?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

A small, grateful smile pulled at the corner of my lips. "My dear, thank goodness. It was truly a miracle; my suspension has been lifted and canceled," I replied, my relief evident in my tone.

Jennifer's shock was noticeable as she gripped my hand and guided me to my chair. "How did you manage to do that?" she inquired, her words pouring out in a rush. "Did you use some sort of charm on our boss? This has never happened at W&L before! Mr. Lucas canceling a suspension? It seems impossible!"

I looked into her eyes, my gaze steady and resolute. "I was just as surprised as you are, my dear. It's nothing short of a miracle."

After a few more minutes of conversation, Jennifer returned to her office, and I redirected my focus to the work at hand. I knew I had been given a rare opportunity to prove myself, and I was more than ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

Meanwhile, in the confines of his office, Lucas found himself lost in thought. He couldn't help but question his own actions. "Why did I cancel her suspension letter? That's so unlike me," he mused. "I can't fall in love. I, Lucas, can't possibly be falling for someone from such a background."

As he attempted to resume his daily tasks, he found his mind drifting back to me. My determination and sincerity at work had left an impression on him that he couldn't seem to shake. Despite his internal struggle, he knew he had to regain focus. With a firm resolve, he uttered, "Focus, Lucas. Focus."

Determined to push his distractions aside, Lucas turned his attention back to the work at hand, his forehead furrowed in concentration.

As I settled back into my workspace, a colleague approached, informing me that our boss, Lucas, wanted to see me in his office. A wave of anxiety washed over me as questions spun in my mind.

"Why does he need to speak with me now? Has he had a change of heart regarding the suspension letter he just canceled?" I wondered, my heart racing as I made my way toward his office once more.

With each step, my uncertainty grew, but I knew I had to face whatever lay ahead. Preparing myself for the possibility of bad news, I took a deep breath and knocked on Lucas's door, awaiting his response with a mix of anxiety and determination.

Upon hearing his invitation, I entered Lucas's office, where he politely offered me a seat. Surprised by this unusual gesture, as it was the first time he had done so since I began working at his company, I hesitantly sat down.

Lucas leaned forward, his gaze intense yet serious. "Olivia, there's a new project, and I want you to take the lead on it. We'll collaborate closely to ensure its success," he explained.

Taken aback by his confidence in me, I sat in silence for a moment before responding. "Of course, sir, I'll do my best. We'll make sure it's a success," I said, trying to hide my amazement. Curiosity getting the better of me, I asked, "Will it be just the two of us handling this project? What about the others?"

Lucas, now settled on the edge of his desk, met my gaze directly. "Yes, it'll be just the two of us," he confirmed.

As our discussion continued, I couldn't help but notice that Lucas seemed to be prolonging our conversation, almost as if he was reluctant to let me leave.

Eventually, realizing that we had covered all the necessary details regarding the project, I requested permission to return to my office, citing the importance of getting started on our new endeavor.

With a slight nod, Lucas granted my request, and I left his office, my mind buzzing with thoughts about the project, Lucas's newfound trust in me, and the unusual interaction that seemed to be developing between us.

As the workday came to an end, everyone began to wrap up their tasks and prepare to head home. I tidied my desk, gathered my belongings, and a few documents before making my way to the elevator.

Just as the doors were about to close, Jennifer called out, "Wait for me, Olivia! Let's leave the office together, even though we're not heading in the same direction." I obliged, and we rode the elevator down to the ground floor.

Outside the building, Jennifer's boyfriend arrived promptly, as he always did, to drive her home. It was a familiar sight to see him waiting for her at the end of each workday. I would have joined them, but our routes were different, so I resigned myself to waiting for a cab as usual.

As I reached into my bag to retrieve my phone, intending to call Williams for a ride, the realization hit me: I still didn't have his number. "Oh no," I groaned aloud, frustration mounting. "Why do I keep forgetting to get his number? Olivia, why?"

Standing on the roadside, lost in my annoyance, I noticed a familiar car approaching: it looked like Lucas's. As it pulled up beside me, the window rolled down, revealing Lucas's concerned expression. "Miss Olivia, are you still waiting for a cab?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," I replied, slightly embarrassed.

"Please, come in," he insisted. "My driver will take you home."

I hesitated, unsure if accepting his offer would be professional, but he persisted. "Miss Olivia Baker, I insist. Now, please get in."

Deciding not to argue, I agreed and climbed into the back seat of his car, giving the driver my address. As we pulled away from the roadside, I couldn't help but wonder about the unusual situation I found myself in, feeling both grateful for Lucas's help and uneasy about him taking me home.