The elevator didn’t just move; it soared. As the digital floor counter climbed toward 88, Xia felt the air thinning. Lin Feng stood beside her, a silent shadow. In her arms, she held the charcoal coat and the silver-crested umbrella like a shield.
A soft ding announced their arrival. The doors slid open to reveal a lobby of terrifying, glass-walled elegance. This wasn't the plush, carpeted hallway of the hotel, but the heart of a global empire. To the left, a private hallway led to the CEO’s personal rest suite. Xia’s breath hitched. Even the air here smelled the same: expensive, cold, and heavy with the scent of sandalwood.
"The CEO’s office is this way," Lin Feng said. He led her toward glass doors at the end of the hall. Through the glass, Xia saw a space that felt like a throne room. Lu Zhenting stood by the window, his back to her, looking out over the city he owned.
"You’re late," he said. His voice was a low vibration that seemed to travel through the floorboards. It was the same velvet growl from the hotel room, the same voice that had whispered to her in the dark.
Xia stepped forward, her knees trembling. She placed the coat and umbrella on the leather sofa. "I... I apologize, Mr. Lu. The HR process took longer than expected." She lowered her head, letting her hair shadow her face.
Zhenting finally turned. His eyes swept over her damp hair and the bundle of jasmine. He walked toward her, each footstep heavy and deliberate, until he was standing inches away. He reached out, his long fingers hovering just inches from her chin. Xia stiffened, her breath hitching in a way she couldn't control.