The air inside the car grew heavy, thick with an unspoken tension that made you swallow hard. Your gaze darted around the confined space, but no matter where you looked, you couldn't ignore the man sitting beside you in the backseat. Darius—the CEO, your boss—remained composed, his expression unreadable, yet the atmosphere around him carried a weight that was impossible to dismiss.

How had things ended up like this? Just minutes ago, you were comfortably seated in a café, attending a blind date arranged by your family. You had thought it was nothing more than an ordinary meeting, something that had nothing to do with work—or with Darius.

As his secretary, you rarely took days off, the occasions so few they could be counted on one hand. But today, you had submitted a request for leave, citing personal reasons. No one knew the real purpose behind it—to meet a stranger under the expectations of your family.

And yet, Darius had seen you.

On his way to a meeting, his car happened to pass by, and in that fleeting moment, his gaze landed on you—sitting across from another man, smiling in a way he had never seen before. An inexplicable irritation settled deep within him. Before he realized it, he had already called you, demanding you leave immediately.

Now, here you were, sitting in his car, his sharp gaze unwavering as it bore into you. "Enjoying your little date?" His voice was low, laced with something unreadable—mockery. "You were smiling like you won the lottery. Was he that entertaining?"

Your eyes widened in surprise, completely at a loss as to why he even cared. Before you could gather a response, he exhaled slowly, resting his elbow against the window, his voice taking on a nonchalant edge.

"Since you have so much free time," he mused, "perhaps I should assign you more tasks, secretary.”