The air caught in Vlora's chest. It seemed that welcoming Lucas was the first trial she encountered that morning.
The elevator doors opened. Vlora put on a polite demeanor and prepared herself. Lucas stepped out, and the presence of someone accompanying him wiped the smile off Vlora's face instantly.
Vlora quickly regained her composure. She took Lucas' briefcase and greeted them, “Good morning, sir.”
Lucas replied with a short nod. He walked next to Andreas, indirectly giving Vlora a moment to catch her breath before they continued.
It really was not a pleasant start to the morning for Vlora. How could fate test her patience so early?
Because it was Andreas. His attitude and actions, whether intended or not, were sure to wear down her patience. Vlora was sure of it.
Vlora opened the door and invited her in. While she went to Lucas' desk to put the briefcase away, her boss and Andreas decided to take a seat on the sofa.
“Do you mind if I ask your secretary to make us some coffee?”
Andreas inquired, putting Vlora's self-control to the test once again. She had to take a deep breath before she could answer politely.
“Would you like some coffee, sir?”
Lucas glanced at Andreas and then nodded. “Sure, Vlo.”
“I would too,” Andreas added with a smile aimed at Vlora. “As usual, Vlo, not too much sugar. You make sugar feel inferior.”
See? This was a small example of what Vlora had mentioned earlier. Andreas was shamelessly delivering his cheesy pick-up lines. Worse, he was doing it right in front of Vlora's boss.
Lucas closed his eyes dramatically, as if too embarrassed to face the world, and decided to wait until Vlora left. The sound of the door was his cue.
“Oh my, Reas. Are you serious? Did you even use a little bit of your brain when you said such a trivial flirt earlier?”
Andreas chuckled. He leaned back and found a comfortable position.
“A trivial flirt is still a flirt. There's nothing wrong with flirting, is there? Besides, isn't Vlora sweet? Isn't she?”
Lucas snorted. “I want to see how Vlora can make coffee taste sweet without using sugar.”
Andreas' laughter grew louder. Unfortunately, Lucas remembered something important at that moment. When Andreas was in a state where he could not use his brain, it was Lucas' duty to remind him.
“One thing, Reas. I'm afraid you might forget. Vlora is my confidante now. I hope you won't mess with my people.”
Andreas' shoulders lifted briefly. He knew Lucas' character. More than that, he knew what he would do.
“I'm sure Vlora is a professional secretary. You've already proven that. So, you don't need to worry. I can assure you that our relationship won't affect her performance.”
“Our relationship?” Lucas was at a loss for words.
“Besides, I'm interested in her,” Andreas continued, his eyes narrowing.
Lucas squinted. “Interested? You've got to be kidding, Reas. How can you be interested in Vlora when your wedding is right in front of you?”
“That wedding hasn't happened yet, and you know very well that it's not my plan for marriage. It's just a hierarchical family wedding.”
There was a knock on the door. Lucas glanced briefly, and Vlora entered with a tray containing two cups of coffee.
“Mama doesn't want to see Jonas get married before me,” Andreas continued. “You could consider it as a wife versus a mistress rivalry.”
Vlora approached. She placed the first cup of coffee in front of Lucas, then went to the second cup she was supposed to give to Andreas.
“I think there's a special rivalry between them. The whole world knows that they've never been on good terms. They always compete in everything, just like Jonas and me.”
Vlora's hand shook. The coffee cup almost slipped, but luckily Andreas was quick. However, the hot black liquid rippled. It spilled a little and wet Andreas' hand.
“Oh my, sir!”
Vlora was startled. She quickly pulled out two handkerchiefs and wiped Andreas' hand.
“I'm sorry, sir. I really didn't mean it.”
Andreas held Vlora's hand. He took the tissues and wiped it himself, shaking his head.
“It's okay, Vlo. Just coffee. Nothing serious.”
Vlora nodded with an apologetic look on her face. She took the tray and quickly excused herself.
The short pause that followed was not enough to stop the important conversation that had already begun. Vlora's departure gave Lucas the opportunity to continue.
“Even if you want to cancel your wedding, that doesn't mean you can flirt with Vlora. Haven't you noticed? Lately Vlora looks more and more uncomfortable when you're here. Sorry, but I'm not exaggerating. Now Vlora sees you like a ghost.”
“Are you sure that Vlora sees me like a ghost? I don't think so,” Andreas said with a smile. “She looks at me with bright eyes. She's fascinated by me.”
Lucas was sure that Andreas was beyond help now. There was nothing he could do.
Andreas enjoyed his first drink. He let out a satisfied sigh as the bitter taste of the coffee hit his taste buds.
“Besides, it looks like you're wrong about one thing, Luc,” Andreas said casually. He didn't mind reminding Lucas of that. “I have no intention of flirting with Vlora.”
Lucas scoffed with a hint of disdain. “With what you've been doing all this time? I hope you're not trying to deceive me. It's clear that you're always trying to flirt with her at every opportunity with those suggestive looks and smiles.”
Andreas burst into laughter. He raised his head and laughed heartily.
“It seems my approach is too obvious to everyone.”
“Sorry, what did you say earlier?” Lucas asked in disbelief. “Approach?”
Andreas decided to stop laughing. His expression changed. The mischievous glint in his eyes was replaced by a seriousness that Lucas could not overlook.
“For now, you can tell me not to disturb your trusted person, Luc. Unfortunately, in the near future, I will be the one telling you the same.”
“What?”
“Don't trouble my woman too much.”
Lucas's eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“Just as you thought. I don't want to flirt with Vlora; I want to make her my wife.”
“You're insane.”
Andreas grinned widely. “I'm sure you're right about that one.”
*
Vlora resumed her work after serving coffee to Lucas and Andreas. She was immersed in a sea of data and words, completely focused. So serious that she almost did not notice Andreas leaving Lucas' office and approaching her desk.Andreas pulled out a chair and sat down. He observed how serious Vlora was, taking him a couple of seconds to realize that a pair of eyes were staring at him.“Sir,” Vlora said.A ticklish feeling fluttered in Andreas' stomach as he caught the surprise in Vlora's eyes. It brought a certain sensation that was enticing to him.“It seems my hunch was right,” Andreas said, exhaling. He nodded with a teasing expression. “You only call my name when I kiss you, don't you?”Vlora froze. Her beautiful face turned red. Reluctantly, she tried to suppress the flicker in her chest that threatened to explode in the near future.“I apologize, Sir. I just thought it was inappropriate for us to discuss such matters here. As you can see, we're in the office.”Andreas fixed his
The evening had approached when Vlora unconsciously looked at the back of her hand that received a kiss from Andreas earlier that morning. She was momentarily stunned, her face hardened and heated. Then she took a tissue and wiped it off.Useless, indeed. There were no traces left by Andreas. But Vlora felt the need to do it anyway.Lucas's office door opened, and Vlora immediately stood up from her seat.“I'm going home. Tomorrow, let's meet directly at Granduta.”Vlora nodded once. “Alright, Sir.”Without saying anything else, Lucas left. He walked leisurely, taking out his phone from his pants pocket. Just before he entered the elevator, his voice echoed faintly.“Ve, I just got out.”After the elevator door closed, Vlora sat back down. She finished some work, occasionally glancing at the clock on the computer monitor. It was clear, without needing to ask, that she was waiting for Andreas, with a thought crossing her mind.Maybe this is truly the best decision.The descending eleva
It was not a fancy restaurant that Andreas had in mind. Vlora's assumptions were slightly off when Andreas actually took her to a renowned mall.Located on Oregon 99, Prime Avenue Mall was their destination. It was a solid and classy building known for its variety of original imported brands.“Did you know that dinner is usually at seven?” Andreas asked casually as he unbuckled his seat belt. “Right now, it's only half past six.”Vlora unbuckled her belt as well. “So?”“So, I've booked two tickets. First, we'll watch the movie and then we'll eat,” Andreas continued, giving her a teasing look. “What do you think? A good idea, isn't it?”Watching wasn't a good idea. They would be sitting side by side in dim light for quite some time. During that time, Andreas might test Vlora's patience to the limit.Oh, Lord. It would be very exhausting.Unfortunately, there was nothing Vlora could do about it. The tickets were already booked and they had arrived.So, Vlora did not say anything. Instea
"So, everything's taken care of, right?"Dinner was just finished. Andreas had just closed his fork and knife next to his plate. However, it seemed that Vlora's statement did not refer to the end of the meal.Andreas lifted his face when Vlora cleared her throat with a few sips of water. Then he took a tissue to wipe away the faint moisture that remained on her red lips."Our date is over, and I can already tell that we shouldn't get married," Vlora continued without hesitation. She looked at Andreas with a calm gaze. "I decline your proposal of marriage. We're not compatible."Andreas took a deep breath and finished his drink. Then he looked at Vlora."It's not time to draw conclusions yet, Vlora, my dear."The term of endearment made Vlora fall silent. Maybe she was feeling insecure or preparing herself for the possible consequences. It could be both.After putting his empty plate aside, Andreas settled into a more comfortable position. A mischievous smile appeared on his face, alon
For a category of men like Andreas—for Vlora, he was a man who tended to be rough and mischievous—the choice of Westlife as their companion on the ride home was quite surprising for Vlora. It contradicted Andreas' outward appearance.Andreas glanced over, his often-teasing gaze sharp enough to catch even the slightest difference in Vlora's expression.“Why?” Andreas opened the conversation. “Don't you like the song? If not, you can change it. What song would you like to hear? Taylor Swift?”Vlora shook her head. “I like Taylor Swift's songs, but it doesn't mean I dislike Westlife. I was just surprised by the fact that you're playing Westlife.”Andreas burst into laughter. He genuinely laughed heartily at Vlora's honesty.“So, you thought I'd play what, Metallica?”Vlora did not answer. Of course, she had not guessed Metallica. But at least not Westlife.“Actually, I wanted to play Metallica, but I was afraid our dinner would come back up through our mouths.”Forty minutes passed. Andr
Vlora had just come out of the bathroom. She had shampooed and cleaned herself with warm water. The tiredness and aches that had plagued her in various places vanished.A satin nightgown wrapped around Vlora's body a moment later. She sat at the dressing table and dried her hair. Her gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror.Vlora fell into contemplation. She pondered every word that Andreas had said. And then something crossed her mind. It sounded like Andreas' voice, but perhaps it was her own inner voice.Opportunities never come twice.Vlora let out a long breath. The hairdryer landed on the dressing table, and she switched to combing her hair. She tidied her wavy locks for a moment before preparing to sleep.In another part of the apartment, a man hummed cheerfully as he entered. He casually took off his jacket and threw it in any direction. His destination, of course, was the bar.Crystal glasses emerged. Several ice cubes filled them, followed by alcohol.Andreas sipped his d
“I'll just stop by for a moment, and for some time to come, maybe I won't be able to see you.”Lucas squinted his eyes upon hearing Andreas' words. He placed the coffee cup back on the coaster with an incredulous question.“Oh, really?”Andreas nodded confidently. “My parents will be coming back soon. There are a few things I need to take care of. A little welcome and, well... to introduce them to Vlora. And maybe there are other things too.”Regarding that first matter, Lucas still could not understand why Vlora accepted Andreas' proposal. When his friend informed him about it a few days ago, he almost choked on his coffee.At first, Lucas thought Andreas was joking. Unfortunately, the mischievous gleam of triumph in Andreas' eyes could not be denied. His expression showed immense pride. Andreas' proposal was indeed accepted.Lucas let out a long sigh. “I still can't believe that Vlora would accept your proposal after everything you've done to her. Don't get offended, but you're not
Considering that both of his parents would return on Friday morning, it was not surprising to find Andreas packing up from Lucas' apartment unit. He was going back to the Sanders family home after taking the time to put his belongings in his own apartment unit.Andreas never intended to stay there for long. He would only stay for a few days to assess the situation and see how things were progressing.A head butler named Paul Anthony welcomed Andreas' arrival. He took over the suitcase Andreas was carrying before handing it to a female servant.“Welcome, Young Master.”Andreas responded with a brief nod to the polite greeting. He stepped inside and allowed Paul to continue following him.“How are you, Paul? Still experiencing migraines often?”Paul smiled faintly. “Not as often as before, Young Master.”“Ah! That's good news. It seems like my parents’ trip to Paris was indeed a good thing. Not just for me, but for you as well. It's evident that your migraines have reduced because they'