At 10 AM, as I walked into the meeting room, Axel happened to look up at me.
A big question mark formed in my mind.
Axel was the head of the marketing department, and he usually had nothing to do with our editorial department. His presence here was indeed peculiar.
However, Axel's good looks were so striking that the female editors around me couldn't help but stare at him openly.
The chief editor came in and started assigning interview tasks for the week, and I hurriedly began to take notes.
"Okay." The chief editor clapped her hands and stepped aside.
"Our editorial department will fully cooperate with the marketing department."
Axel stood up, and his dark eyes swept in my direction, their intense gaze making me unable to raise my head, for fear of being caught by him and tormented.
"Thank you, Chief Zhu." Axel smiled, and the women around him immediately let out sighs of infatuation.
"Riya." He said my name with a hint of amusement.
I raised my head and met his gaze, noticing how dark and bright his eyes were.
"There's a dinner tonight, I want you to come with me." He continued.
With a loud bang, my head felt like it had been struck by lightning, and I felt even dizzier.
This guy must be intentionally retaliating against me because of Derek.
……
During the dinner, I sat uneasily beside Axel, while the sounds of people encouraging each other to drink had already begun.
I was trying to figure out what Axel was thinking.
He must be using the excuse of entertaining clients to find an opportunity to get me drunk, thus avenging Derek.
To my surprise, when people were offering toasts and someone wanted to toast me, Axel actually stepped in to shield me.
Even when other men with the scent of alcohol approached me, Axel actually protected me, stopping them in their tracks.
By the end of the dinner, Axel had directly signed the advertising fees for the next quarter, completing the target early, and even I reaped unexpected benefits, with my bonus for next month doubling.
My confusion deepened. If this was a new method of torment, Axel was certainly more secretive and subtle.
……
After the dinner, as I was about to leave, I was stopped by other colleagues from the sales department, who asked me to take good care of Axel. After all, Axel was the hero of the day.
With no choice, I called a designated driver. I had intended to take Axel home directly, but he insisted on sending me back first, and even pulled me to sit in the back seat with him, leaning against me with a slight intoxication.
He was slightly drunk, but I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol and was completely sober.
With countless questions in my mind, I finally couldn't resist asking when the car stopped in front of my building.
"Axel, if you want to stand up for Derek, you can just come straight at me. No need to do this."
After saying that, I pushed open the car door, but just as I stepped out with one foot, Axel pulled me back.
"This is for you." He shoved a paper bag into my hands.
I looked down and saw a bottle of bruise-relieving ointment inside. I looked up, puzzled.
"Don't wear high heels anymore. You're not short."
After saying that, he let go and closed his eyes again.
I gripped the bag tightly and got out of the car, confused.
……
The next day, to avoid the rush-hour elevators, I arrived at the company early.
On my desk, there was a brand-new shoe box, the brand worth a month's salary for me. I opened the box and found a pair of flat shoes, exactly my size.
I didn't need to think to know who had sent the shoes.
Carrying the shoes, I stormed into Axel's office, and he happened to be there.
"What's up?" He looked up, perfectly calm.
I threw the shoe box onto his desk. "Mr. Buck, no need for this." I was really angry. "Even if you're messing with me, you should have some limits."
What was this half-hearted treatment about?
Axel's tactics were even more formidable than Derek's.
I turned to leave, but Axel moved faster. He grabbed my arm, pressed my shoulder, and trapped me in his embrace.
"Riya, I'm not that bored."
I turned my head, and his lips brushed past my cheek, soft.
My heart raced, and I didn't dare look at Axel. I pushed him away and fled in panic.
