Seraphina's POV
Lucca stood as soon as he told me that we would be going to his mansion. That's when I came back to my senses and tried to compose myself.
"We're not done working yet. We shouldn't go to your mansion," I said, trying to calm my trembling voice.
He looked at me. "I am the boss," he said.
"Just because you're the boss doesn't mean I have to follow everything you say. I need to work," I replied firmly.
"Didn't I make myself clear? You're my personal assistant," he said.
"Then why are we going to your mansion in the middle of the day?" I asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'll be working there," he answered with a frown.
I wanted to open my mouth in surprise after hearing his answer. I had thought we were going to the mansion because he wanted to do something to me. The way he had looked at me while telling me we were going there made it seem as though he wanted to kiss me again.
Or was that just my imagination?
I shook my head. Maybe I was overthinking Lucca's actions. Perhaps it wasn't a big deal to him, but it was to me. Still, why did he have to work there? He could've gone to his office or anywhere else instead of his mansion.
Just the thought of the two of us staying there alone made my body shiver. Yet, somehow, the idea also filled me with excitement.
Was I becoming flirtatious?
It was Lucca's fault, anyway. If he hadn't let me experience those things, I wouldn't have gone crazy thinking about him, and that kiss, over and over again.
"Do you want to work in my office with my ex?" Lucca asked, answering the question that had been bothering me. "My secretary texted me. She's there waiting for me."
"Can't we just work here or somewhere else?" I asked.
"I have an office in my mansion. I can work there anytime. Now let's go and stop wasting time. I need to finish everything today," he said before walking away.
I followed him until we reached his car. I shook my head, remembering what had happened earlier. Maybe I really had overthought everything. Maybe Lucca never intended to kiss me again.
A part of me felt disappointed.
Another part felt relieved because it meant he wouldn't try to touch me while we were there.
Still... the way he had said, Let's go to my mansion, had made my heart race for no reason.
It turned out he genuinely had paperwork to finish. Since his ex was at the company, he had simply decided to work from home instead.
Neither of us spoke during the drive. Lucca kept his eyes on the road, driving faster than usual until we finally arrived at the mansion.
We stepped out of the car and entered the house.
"Would you like something to drink?" I asked when Lucca started walking upstairs.
He stopped and looked down at me.
"Coffee will do," he replied before continuing upstairs.
I headed to the kitchen.
It was enormous and elegant. The marble countertops gleamed under the warm lights, while sleek black cabinets lined the walls. Every appliance looked brand-new and expensive, making my own kitchen seem tiny in comparison.
I suddenly realized I had forgotten to ask Lucca where he kept his coffee.
Since he had already gone upstairs, I quietly searched the drawers and cabinets one by one. Luckily, I found a drawer neatly organized with different coffee beans, ground coffee, sugar, creamers, and mugs. There was even a high-end espresso machine sitting beside an electric grinder.
Thankfully, I had watched countless cooking vlogs online, so I had a basic idea of how to use one.
I filled the machine's water reservoir, carefully measured the freshly ground coffee into the portafilter, and gently pressed it down before locking it into place. After setting a mug beneath the spout, I pressed the brew button. A few moments later, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen.
Since I wasn't sure how Lucca preferred his coffee, I left it black and placed sugar cubes and fresh cream in small dishes beside the cup so he could adjust it himself.
While the coffee finished brewing, I arranged a few butter cookies, crackers, and sliced fruit onto a small plate. Even though we had just eaten lunch, a few snacks might help him stay focused while he worked.
Once everything was ready, I carefully arranged the coffee and snacks on a silver tray before heading upstairs.
Halfway up the stairs, I realized I had forgotten to ask where his office was.
The mansion was enormous, and I still hadn't memorized every hallway or room.
Since it was my mistake, I carefully walked around the second floor, opening one door after another while trying not to make too much noise. Most of the rooms were bedrooms, a library, and a guest lounge.
Finally, I reached the last unopened door at the far end of the hallway.
Taking a deep breath, I gently pushed it open.
There he was.
Lucca's office was nothing like I had imagined.
The room was spacious yet surprisingly minimalist. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, allowing golden afternoon sunlight to pour inside. Dark walnut bookshelves covered one wall, filled with business books, legal documents, and neatly arranged awards. A large world map hung beside several framed certificates.
At the center of the room stood a massive mahogany desk with a sleek laptop, neatly stacked files, and a silver fountain pen resting on a leather desk pad. Behind it was a tall black leather chair that suited Lucca's commanding presence perfectly.
The faint scent of coffee and cedarwood lingered in the air, giving the room a calm yet authoritative atmosphere.
Lucca was already seated behind the desk, reviewing several documents with complete concentration. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, exposing the veins on his hands as he flipped through the papers one by one.
For a moment, I simply stood there, quietly admiring how effortlessly handsome he looked when he was completely absorbed in his work.
He was sitting in his swivel chair, wearing a pair of eyeglasses.
I gulped.
Just the sight of him was enough to make me lose my senses. Why was he so attractive? Why was I only noticing it now instead of before?
I snapped out of my thoughts when he spoke.
"Aren't you going to give that to me?" Lucca asked, glancing at the tray in my hands.
"Ah... I'm sorry," I said before quickly walking over to his desk and placing the coffee and snacks in front of him.
"I didn't ask for snacks. I'm not hungry yet," he said.
"I just thought they might help you stay focused while you work. If you don't want them, you can give them back to me," I replied, reaching for the plate.
Before I could take it, he grabbed it first and pulled it closer to himself.
"You already gave them to me. There's no taking them back," he said before casually popping a cookie into his mouth.
I frowned at his sudden change of mind.
"What else can I do for you?" I asked, standing quietly as I waited for another order.
"Just stay wherever you want. I need to finish this myself," he replied without looking up, his attention fixed on the documents in front of him.
I didn't know why, but ever since I started working for him, I had noticed that Lucca rarely gave me any real tasks. Whenever he did, they were simple enough to finish within a couple of hours.
Did he really need a personal assistant?
Or did he hire me because he didn't want me to stay in Mira's hometown?
I looked at him as the thought crossed my mind. I was already sitting on the sofa across from his desk. Since he was busy, I had plenty of time to watch him work.
But why would Lucca waste so much money just to keep me in this city?
Or was I just assuming things again?
If not, then what was the reason? The workload he gave me didn't match the salary he was paying me.
"I need a glass of water," Lucca suddenly said.
Without saying a word, I went downstairs to the kitchen. After filling a glass with cold water, I brought it back upstairs and handed it to him.
He took a small sip before placing it back on the desk.
I returned to the sofa and quietly watched him work.
I wasn't sure whether Lucca had noticed me staring at him.
Or maybe he had... and simply chose to ignore it.
Then I remembered what Mira had told me earlier. She wanted me to spend the night at her condo.
I still hadn't told Lucca about it.
Damian didn't know where Mira's condo was, right?
"Do you have something to tell me?" Lucca suddenly asked without looking at me. His eyes remained on the papers as he continued writing.
"No," I answered.
"Spit it out. I don't have time to force you to talk," he said.
I frowned.
If he was so busy, why did he even bother asking? I wasn't interrupting him. I was just sitting quietly.
Still, since he had given me the chance, I decided to say it.
"Mira invited me to stay at her condo tonight."
"Okay."
"It'll just be the two of us. No guys," I quickly added.
Lucca finally looked up and met my eyes.
His expression made me feel as though he were questioning my motives.
"You can't think I'm using Mira as an excuse just to sneak out. She already told me Damian won't be staying there."
"Will it only be for one night?" he asked.
"Maybe. I'm not sure. All I know is that she wants it to be just the two of us. A girls' night."
He simply nodded before returning to his paperwork.
I had expected him to get angry or refuse to let me go.
Instead, he accepted it without another question.
Maybe he really believed Damian didn't know where Mira's condo was.
A smile slowly appeared on my face.
At least there wouldn't be any boys around. I could finally relax without constantly being conscious of them.
I texted Mira to tell her I'd have dinner at her condo and would head there after work.
She replied almost immediately, saying she was already preparing everything for our girls' night.
I couldn't help but laugh.
Mira really had plenty of free time since she wasn't working.
Come to think of it...
I seemed to have plenty of free time too.
Lucca hardly gave me anything important to do.
Did he not trust my abilities?
Or was there another reason?
"Lucca..." I called softly.
"Hmm?" he hummed, still focused on the paperwork in front of him.
"You know I can handle paperwork too. I worked at Dominic's company before."
That finally caught his attention.
He lifted his gaze to mine.
Damn.
Why was I melting just because he looked at me?
Those glasses suited him far too well.
Couldn't my heart calm down for once?
"I know," he answered simply.
"Then why do you keep giving me tasks that even a kid could do? I mean... don't you think it's a waste to pay me such a high salary when I'm barely doing anything?" I asked.
He slowly raised an eyebrow and set his pen down.
"Who told you that what you're do is the bare minimum?" he asked.
"I just feel that way. It's just... I keep comparing this job to my previous one, and I'm not used to it. I expected you to give me a mountain of paperwork that would leave me barely able to breathe," I said.
"So you want me to give you work that leaves you unable to breathe?" he asked, clearly amused. "Or do you want another kiss?"
My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open.
Why did he have to bring up the kiss again?
"I wasn't talking about the kiss," I answered, trying to steady myself. At any moment, I felt as though I would melt.
"Isn't that the kind of task that leaves you breathless?" Lucca asked shamelessly.
"Lucca..." I called, irritation creeping into my voice.
Instead of listening, he stood and slowly walked toward me.
I immediately rose from the sofa. I couldn't bear having him so close. My heart felt as though it would burst from everything I was feeling.
But he didn't stop.
He continued walking toward me while I instinctively stepped backward, trying to keep my distance.
"Lucca, stop following me. Get back to work," I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to hide it.
"I never thought I'd meet someone like you," he said, still closing the distance between us. "Someone who's so annoying... yet so intriguing."
I gasped when my back hit the wall.
A dead end.
Lucca didn't stop until only inches separated us.
"Lucca... stop this," I whispered, struggling to calm myself. I was afraid that if this continued, I would give in to him completely. We were alone, after all.
"Do you really want me to stop?" he asked in a husky voice.
The question alone sent warmth rushing through my body.
My breathing grew uneven as my heart pounded wildly in my chest.
Everything I was feeling was unfamiliar.
Thrilling.
Dangerously exciting.
I had to admit it, I liked it.
But if I gave in, was I truly ready for whatever came next?
I wasn't getting any younger, yet I had always considered myself a traditional woman.
Still...
With Lucca standing so close, every sensible thought seemed to disappear.
I wanted to feel his lips against mine again.
I wanted to be wrapped in his embrace.
I wanted to know what it felt like to be cared for by him.
When we first met, I couldn't stand him.
Now...
People really do change.
The man I once hated was standing in front of me, looking at me as though I were the only person in the room.
And the frightening part was...
I wanted him just as much.
Our eyes remained locked on each other as we shared the same air.
The moment felt intoxicating.
Lucca stepped even closer until there wasn't an inch of space left between us.
The warmth of his body seeped through mine.
I still couldn't answer his simple question.
Yes or no.
Tell him to stop... or let him continue.
But no words came out.
It was as though my voice had completely abandoned me.
"What did you do to me?" he whispered near my ear.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Why did every little thing he did affect me so deeply?
Why did his words carry so much meaning?
"Lucca..." I breathed.
I wanted to tell him that we should stop, that neither of us was thinking clearly.
Yet the words refused to leave my lips.
Had I already accepted whatever fate awaited us?
He looked into my eyes with an intensity that stole my breath.
Our lips were only a heartbeat apart.
I swallowed hard, unable to look away.
I wanted to push him back.
Yet being this close to him felt strangely comforting.
Why was my heart betraying me?
Why couldn't I listen to reason like I always had?
Why was Lucca making me feel this way?
Every question in my mind vanished the moment he closed the remaining distance between us.
His lips brushed against mine.
We had kissed only yesterday, yet somehow this still felt like my first kiss.
His lips were unbelievably soft.
Dangerously addictive.
A simple touch was enough to pull me into his world.
The kiss lingered, gentle and unhurried, and I found myself forgetting everything else around us.
I had only ever read about moments like this in novels or watched them unfold in romantic dramas.
I had never imagined I would experience one myself, especially with the man I had once sworn I would never like.
The kiss deepened naturally, and before I knew it, I was responding without hesitation.
Though inexperienced, I found myself matching his rhythm, letting instinct guide me instead of thought.
A quiet sound escaped him, and I felt my own breath catch in response.
Neither of us was thinking clearly anymore.
If this moment led us somewhere neither of us had planned, I knew I couldn't pretend I was forced into it.
After all...
I never told him to stop.
And I never walked away.
Lucca's tongue slowly brushed against mine.
This was new to me. He hadn't kissed me like this during our first or second kiss. This one felt bolder, more adventurous.
Suddenly, I felt his hands begin to move. They gently traced my neck before sliding down to my arms, my hands, and finally resting on my waist.
A soft gasp escaped my lips, but he silenced it by capturing my lips in another lingering kiss.
We eventually pulled apart, both breathless.
I thought he would stop there.
Instead, he leaned in again, kissing me more deeply than before. It was as though he had been deprived of affection for years.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Had he kissed his ex like this?
I'd heard they had once shared a relationship.
Had he looked at her the same way he was looking at me now?
The thought lingered only for a moment before it disappeared beneath another kiss.
When he finally left my lips, they felt warm and swollen.
His lips wandered to my cheeks before trailing toward my ear.
The gentle brush of his lips against my skin sent another wave of warmth through me. I could barely think straight anymore.
All I knew was that I wanted to stay exactly where I was.
His hands remained around my waist while his lips found the side of my neck.
A quiet moan escaped me.
Everything felt surreal, as though I were caught in a dream I never wanted to wake from.
"Lucca..." I breathed.
I thought hearing his name would make him stop.
Instead, he seemed even more determined to continue.
He lingered at my neck for what felt like forever, leaving me completely flustered.
I couldn't stop whispering his name.
Then, just as the moment threatened to sweep us both away—
A ringtone shattered the silence.
We froze.
It was as though someone had poured a bucket of ice water over both of us.
Lucca slowly stepped back, putting a little distance between us.
His expression looked... irritated.
Was he annoyed because the call had interrupted us?
Or was I simply imagining things again?
"The phone, Lucca," I reminded him when he looked ready to ignore the call and return to me.
"Damn it," he muttered before walking back to his desk.
I remained where I was, still trying to steady my breathing and process everything that had just happened.
"Damn you. This better be important," Lucca answered sharply. "Make sure it's worth interrupting me."
His voice was filled with frustration.
Had whatever we were doing become more important than his work?
For some reason, that thought made my cheeks grow warm.
After listening for a few moments, his expression gradually became serious.
"Okay. I'll be there. Send me the address."
He ended the call and turned toward me.
"Let's go. I'll drop you off at Mira's place," he said.
"Is my work done?" I asked.
A grin spread across his face.
"Do you want me to continue?" he teased.
"N-No!" I exclaimed, my face instantly turning red. "I meant the actual work. Not... what just happened."
His grin only widened.
It was a smile I had never seen before.
Relaxed.
Playful.
Genuine.
"As much as I'd like to stay," he said with a sigh, "I can't. My master has been admitted to the hospital."
My expression immediately changed.
"What happened?" I asked with concern.
"He's getting old," Lucca answered quietly. "His health hasn't been the best lately."
I nodded.
"You don't have to drop me off at Mira's place. I can commute."
"No."
"I can just call a taxi."
He shook his head.
"No. I'll take you there first. Besides, do you even know how to commute from here?"
I hesitated.
"...Not really."
"Exactly," he said. "Come on. Don't argue."
He left the office first.
I followed him downstairs until we reached the garage.
He opened the passenger door for me, and I climbed into the car.
A few seconds later, he got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
The silence between us lasted only a moment.
Then, without taking his eyes off the road, he spoke.
"Seraphina..."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Let's go on a date."