CHAPTER 3 — FIRST WARNING
The office buzzed with a quiet, cautious energy the next morning. Aria sat at her desk, pretending to focus on organizing files, but her mind kept replaying last night's encounters. The memory of Lucien leaning so close, his voice low and commanding… it made her pulse quicken, even now.
"Miss Sarmiento?"
Aria looked up, startled. HR Manager Ms. Dela Cruz stood over her, clipboard in hand, eyes sharp.
"Good morning, sir," Aria stammered instinctively.
Ms. Dela Cruz shook her head. "Aria, I'm not here to chat. Sit down." She gestured to the visitor chair across from her desk. Hesitating, Aria obeyed.
Ms. Dela Cruz's expression softened just slightly but her tone remained firm.
"I've been informed you are assigned to work closely with Mr. Velasco," she began. "He's… demanding, to say the least. But more importantly, I need you to understand the boundaries here. Executive secretaries are not permitted to engage in any form of romantic involvement with executives. Ever."
Aria's stomach knotted. "I understand, ma'am," she said, voice barely above a whisper.
"Good." Ms. Dela Cruz tapped her pen against the clipboard. "This isn't just a suggestion. Any violation… will result in immediate termination. And I mean anything flirtations, inappropriate conversations, or even prolonged personal contact. You're responsible for keeping this professional. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Aria said again, repeating the words like a mantra to remind herself to stay safe.
Ms. Dela Cruz's gaze lingered on her, as if sensing Aria's internal struggle. "I know he's… intimidating. But do not let intimidation turn into temptation. Keep your distance, Miss Sarmiento. You are valuable to this company and I don't want to see that wasted because of a careless mistake."
Aria nodded, biting her lip. "I'll be careful, ma'am."
After HR left, Aria exhaled, rubbing her temples. She thought she was prepared for Lucien. She wasn't. Not even close.
By mid-morning, she was summoned to Lucien's office.
"Miss Sarmiento," he said without looking up. His eyes flicked toward her only briefly before returning to his paperwork. "Did HR warn you about the rules?"
She froze. "Yes, sir," she said carefully.
His lips quirked ever so slightly more a twitch than a smile. "Good. I don't like to repeat myself."
Aria nodded again, though her chest was tight. Something in the way he said it the way he controlled the room, controlled her sent a thrill through her she didn't want to admit.
He finally glanced up fully, gray eyes meeting hers, cold yet sharp, but there was an edge she didn't expect. "I expect focus and discretion. You will do your job, and nothing else. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," she said, her voice firmer this time.
Lucien's gaze softened just slightly, though only someone paying careful attention would notice. "Good. Now, start with these reports," he said, tossing a folder onto her desk. "And don't disappoint me."
Aria returned to her work, trying to ignore the lingering tension, but the warning from HR echoed in her mind and yet, strangely, it made the pull toward him even stronger.
He's dangerous. I should stay away.
Her heartbeat betrayed her. But I can't stop thinking about him.
And that, she realized with a jolt, was exactly what made this forbidden.