Page 73

Anya couldn’t help letting out a little laugh.
How could someone so powerful, so sleek and commanding—blush like a shy schoolboy?
Luca finally looked back at her, his composure returning.
“Do you want to start today?” he asked, his tone lighter now. “What position do you want? You can start as the CEO if you want. I’ll help you until you can run the show on your own.”
“No,” Anya shook her head, looking up at Luca and reaching for his arm gently. “I want to start from a lower position. I need time to adjust, to understand how the company works. I’ll learn first, then take on something higher.”
“Alright,” Luca muttered, his voice softening. “Whatever you need. Where do you want to sit? I can get a desk arranged right here in my office if you’d like. That way, if you need anything—anything at all—you can ask me directly.”
Anya chuckled softly, the corner of her lips lifting in a teasing grin. “I think it’s better if I sit outside with the regular employees. If I’m in here every day, people will start whispering. Didn’t you notice the glances people were giving us earlier?”
“Let them talk,” Luca said flatly, without a hint of hesitation. His eyes locked with hers, quiet but intense. He didn’t explain further, and he didn’t need to. His meaning was clear in the way he looked at her.
Anya bit her lip and looked away, letting her eyes wander around the office—anything to avoid meeting that gaze.
Anya left his office a little while later, only to stop just behind a corner wall when she heard voices.
“That new girl’s been in Mr. Stanson’s office for more than half an hour. What do you think they’re doing?”
“I don’t think Mr. Stanson’s interested in her like that,” another replied. “He seems too serious for that kind of thing.”
“I don’t care what she is,” a third voice chimed in coldly. “She’s just another employee. She’s not going to be anything permanent in his life.”
“Are you sure? They seemed pretty close,” someone else said.
“I’m sure,” the first voice muttered.
The first woman scoffed, then leaned closer. “By the way, I heard Mr. Charles’ daughter is joining the company today. Any idea when she’s coming? I haven’t seen any other girl around yet.”
“Could it be that the girl who just came in with Mr. Stanson is her?”
Just then, one of them stepped forward. “Let’s go find out.”
They all started walking toward the room—only to freeze as Anya stepped out, standing right in front of them. The girls jumped back in shock.
One of them clutched her chest, startled. “What the hell!”
“Oh my god,” another hissed, “were you spying on us, you eavesdropper?”
Anya let out a loud sigh of annoyance. “Don’t you have work to do or something? Or are you here just to fight with me?”
The girls chuckled bitterly, looking her up and down.
“From where does she look like Mr. Charles’ daughter?” one sneered. “There’s just no way.”
Just then, Luca stepped out of the office. The girls didn’t notice him at first as they continued ridiculing Anya.
“You’re just another employee,” one snapped. “Stop acting like you’re special. If you keep sneaking around like this, one of us is gonna deal with you.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, his gaze turning dark as he stepped up beside Anya, glaring at the group.
“What did you just say to her?” His voice was sharp as steel.
They turned and froze at the sight of him standing beside Anya, arms crossed, face dark with fury.
One girl let out a nervous laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing, Mr. Stanson. We were just talking to the new girl—”