Suspicion hardened Danny's expression as he asked, "What exactly did you mess up this time?"
Because Lorenzo had unexpectedly requested Melinda's presence, shock rippled through the entire office, and even Danny, her immediate supervisor, looked unsettled.
With wide eyes, Melinda answered, "I truly do not know what you are talking about."
Cold moisture gathered in her palms until her fingers felt clammy.
Anxiety pressed against her chest and refused to loosen.
No matter how carefully she tried to stay out of trouble, misfortune seemed determined to chase her down.
Pointing a warning look in her direction, Danny said, "Whatever you have done is your responsibility. Do not involve me in it. Do you understand?"
Loyalty to Belen had always guided his actions.
During the two years Melinda worked under Danny, he consistently created obstacles for her because Belen had instructed him to do so.
On the very first day of his leadership, however, Lorenzo had bypassed everyone and called for her specifically.
In Danny's mind, the only reasonable explanation was that Melinda must have somehow offended Lorenzo.
Should she end up facing punishment, the outcome would only benefit him, because Belen would surely praise him for handling her harshly.
From the beginning, Belen had assigned him one clear mission, which was to look for opportunities to make Melinda stumble.
The difficulty lay in the fact that Melinda had conducted herself with remarkable caution over the past two years and had not committed a single error.
Day after day, he searched for a way to catch her slipping, yet she had remained faultless, and now she had somehow drawn Lorenzo's attention on her own.
Secret satisfaction stirred within him, since the greater the trouble surrounding Melinda, the more pleased Belen would likely become.
Even so, his priority was to protect himself, so he had to ensure that any fallout would not involve him.
"I understand," Melinda replied in a subdued voice while keeping her gaze lowered.
As she pivoted to walk away, Danny seized her arm before leaning close to deliver a warning. "Listen carefully. If you say even a single unnecessary word to Mr. Harvey, you will regret it later."
Rather than show fear, Melinda shot him a faintly mocking look.
In reality, kindness had never been part of his treatment of her during the time she worked under him.
Under Belen's instructions, Danny had made her days at work miserable through endless criticism and subtle harassment.
At this moment, however, unease flickered across his face because he clearly feared that she might report his behavior to Lorenzo, which explained why he had issued that warning before sending her upstairs.
Despite his anxiety, his concern was unnecessary.
What truly occupied her mind today was the need to clarify certain matters with Lorenzo, and she had no intention of wasting time discussing someone as trivial as Danny.
Suppressing a scoff, Melinda pulled her arm out of his grasp and headed directly for the elevator.
Without hesitation, she pressed the button that would take her to the highest level, which belonged solely to the CEO.
Throughout the two years Melinda had worked here, she had never gone beyond the twelfth floor, and the executive floor had always felt like a forbidden territory.
Upon arrival, a poised secretary escorted her to the entrance of the CEO's office and tapped gently on the door.
"Come in!" a low and composed male voice called out from behind the closed door.
Steadying herself, Melinda released a quiet breath, and the faint puff of air stirred the wisps of hair resting on her forehead before they settled gently back into place.
Gathering her courage, she adjusted her posture and walked into the room.
Inside, the CEO's office displayed a strict black and white design, and the clean, rigid lines seemed to mirror the aloof temperament of its owner.
Behind the expansive desk sat a tall figure. With his gaze lowered, he appeared absorbed in the document spread before him.
Although his features remained partially obscured from her angle, the commanding presence surrounding him stirred a sense of recognition within her.
Despite her entrance, he offered no acknowledgment, as he neither lifted his eyes nor paused his reading.
For reasons Melinda could not control, her thoughts drifted back to the previous day in the consultation room when he had stood over her during the examination.
Embarrassment jolted her back to the present, and she felt unsettled that her mind had wandered there at all.
In the next instant, a piercing sensation made her aware that someone was watching her closely.
Lifting her head in surprise, she discovered that Lorenzo had already set his papers aside and was observing her from across the office, his unreadable eyes fixed on her for longer than she realized.
The moment their gazes locked, the air between them seemed to tighten.
All at once, the force of his presence pressed down on her, leaving her almost breathless.
Without warning, her pulse began to pound against her ribs.
A subtle curve touched Lorenzo's lips as he asked, "You did not expect to see me here, did you?"
Although a hint of amusement appeared, his eyes remained cold and unreadable.
Tension flickered at her temple as a faint vein pulsed beneath her skin.
Struggling to steady herself, she replied, "Forgive me, Mr. Harvey. Your presence caught me off guard, and that is why I stared."
With one brow lifted, he regarded her intently and said, "Is that your way of admitting that you are drawn to me?"
"That would be impossible. I am only an ordinary employee, and I would never presume to harbor inappropriate thoughts about you. I was merely impressed, nothing more," Melinda answered quickly, flustered by the implication.
Authority radiated from Lorenzo in a way that felt almost tangible.
Under the weight of his unwavering gaze, she had the uneasy sensation of being examined, as though he were measuring her silently.
After allowing the silence to stretch, he finally asked in a low voice, "Have you recovered?"
Once again, shock washed over Melinda.
The instant her gaze collided with his penetrating eyes, her pulse faltered.
By raising that question, he had quietly confirmed that he was indeed the doctor who had examined her before.
"I believe I have," she answered gently after a brief hesitation as warmth rushed to her cheeks.
Embarrassment forced her to lower her eyes, and she avoided meeting his gaze again.
In a calm yet pointed tone, Lorenzo added, "Your symptoms will not disappear so easily. If you require assistance, you may come to me at any time."
A chill traveled down her spine as Melinda struggled to interpret the meaning behind his words.
A fleeting and reckless thought crossed her mind that he might be suggesting something far more intimate, as though he would not refuse her if she reached for him.
Considering how strongly she had reacted to him from the very first glance, it was hardly shocking that her imagination would wander in that direction.
Given the way her body had reacted the moment she first saw Lorenzo, such an assumption did not feel entirely unfounded.
Now that they stood alone within the enclosed office, the tension she felt toward him intensified.
To her dismay, she sensed the familiar wave of desire rising within her once more.
"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Harvey. I should return to my duties now," she responded in a rush while discreetly pressing her thighs together to steady herself.
The last thing she wanted was to lose control in front of him.
At that moment, all she could think about was escaping to the restroom to compose herself in private.
Without pausing for his response, she turned and made for the door.
Before she could take another step, Lorenzo's low and authoritative voice stopped her. "Did I give you permission to leave?"
Frozen mid-stride, Melinda slowly pivoted back toward him and asked nervously, "Is there something else you require, Mr. Harvey?"
Throughout the exchange, Lorenzo's penetrating gaze never wavered.
Then, without warning, he pushed back his chair and approached her at an unhurried pace.
Towering and broad-shouldered, he moved with quiet confidence, and the tailored black suit emphasized the clean lines of his long legs.
Against her better judgment, she could not deny that he was strikingly attractive.
For a brief and reckless instant, her thoughts drifted toward an intimate fantasy of what it might be like to share a bed with him.
Without warning, her throat tightened and turned painfully dry.
As her thoughts spiraled further, the heat pooling inside her only grew stronger.
An ache she could not deny surged through her, and she found herself craving him with alarming intensity.
Lorenzo leaned closer, his low voice brushing against her ear as he asked, "What exactly is running through your mind?"
"I want to do—" Melinda muttered, the confession almost slipping free before she stopped herself just in time.
Flustered, she hurried to correct her words. "I meant that I want to work alongside you. I truly hope to learn from you properly."
Raising her head, she realized with a jolt that he had already closed the distance between them.
Only a breath separated their bodies now.
The subtle yet distinctly masculine scent that surrounded him wrapped around her senses.
For a brief second, her thoughts blurred and drifted.
Drawing in that intoxicating fragrance only fanned the flames of her already restless desire.
Desire blurred her thoughts until everything inside her felt chaotic and unsteady.
A reckless admission nearly slipped past her lips before she managed to restrain herself.
From above, Lorenzo regarded her quietly, and the expression in his eyes revealed nothing.
With her gaze fixed on the floor, Melinda stood stiffly, discomfort tightening her chest.
Shame washed over her as she replayed the bold thoughts she had just entertained.
Certain that he must be angered by her behavior, she braced herself for the worst.
In fact, she even prepared for the possibility that he would dismiss her on the spot.
Contrary to her fears, he spoke in an even tone. "I am currently in need of an assistant. Beginning tomorrow, you will take on the role of my temporary assistant."
