7. Two Devils

~Sienna~

Waking up was slow and hazy, but the chill of Lucas’s sharp voice jolted me back to reality.

“Had enough fun?” His words were like ice, and each one sliced through the drowsiness as I felt the heat rise to my face. “Or were you planning on using my chest as your personal pillow indefinitely?”

I scrambled off him, flustered and disoriented. How did I fall asleep like that? More importantly, why did he seem so furious about it? I tried to ignore the way his piercing gaze followed my every move, making me feel like I was a kid caught in a mischievous act.

“Sorry, I—I didn’t realize…” My voice trailed off as his expression hardened further, making any excuse feel small and meaningless.

Before I could gather any ounce of dignity, Derrick walked in, looking worried but professional. “How are you feeling, sir? I brought some medication, and we have that meeting with Pierce Corporation at nine.”

At the mention of Pierce Corporation, my heart nearly stopped. I checked my watch—8:05. Panic washed over me. Today was the day. My team was presenting our design concepts to Pierce Corporation, and Aiden, our department head, had made it clear that everyone had better be there early. He’d also made it clear that punctuality wasn’t just encouraged; it was required, or you’d face the consequences. And here I was, barely upright, with the dress I’d worn yesterday rumpled and just a few remnants of yesterday’s makeup hanging on.

“I… I have to go,” I stammered, watching Lucas walk toward his bathroom with the same arrogant composure he wore like armor. “I’m already late,” I added, mostly to myself, but his scoff echoed down the hall.

“And why are you still sitting here like a moron?” His cold tone floated back from the doorway, where he turned to level a disdainful look in my direction.

Heat burned in my cheeks. “Aren’t you driving me home or…something?”

He chuckled darkly, his eyebrows rising in amusement. “Seriously? You flatter yourself, Miss Wilde. Close the door on your way out.”

As he disappeared into the bathroom, I let out a breath of frustration. The man was impossible. Gathering myself, I rushed down the stairs and out of the villa, now painfully aware of every wrinkle in my dress, every smudge of last night’s makeup, and every precious second ticking away. It was already 8:10, too late to go home, shower, and change. I waved down a taxi. “Weston,” I said.

“Thirty bucks,” the driver replied.

“Fine,” I muttered. While the driver glided off, I rummaged through my bag for anything remotely useful. It’s always a habit of mine to carry around everything in my big black office bag, and I guess it would be saving me today.

The dress was still acceptable, thank goodness; sequined and fitted, maybe a little too glamorous for a Tuesday morning at Weston Corp, but it’d have to do. I quickly wiped off my caked makeup with a tissue, dabbed on some medicated facial cleanser, freshened up with some mouth spray, and sprayed my perfume. All the while, the taxi driver’s curious glances in the rearview mirror grew more incredulous by the second. Not that I blamed him.

Finally, Weston’s skyscraper loomed into view. I checked my watch—8:35—and felt my stomach clench with nerves. I paid the driver and bolted into the lobby, keeping my head down, praying I wouldn’t cross paths with Aiden before I made it to the conference room. But as luck would have it, I ran straight into the team.

There they were: my department, in all their polished, prepared glory on their way to the conference room, led by none other than Director Aiden himself.

Aiden was all sharp edges, both in appearance and attitude. He stood tall, his lean frame dressed immaculately in a dark suit, his striking green eyes, framed by thick lashes, narrowed in obvious displeasure as he spotted me. His cheekbones were high and angled, his mouth set in a thin line. Today, his scowl looked especially ruthless, and I felt it cut through me before he even spoke.

“You’re thirty-five minutes late, Sienna,” he bit out, his voice as cold and unyielding as Lucas’s.

My heart was pounding, every nerve on edge as he looked me up and down, his eyes stopping on the sequined dress with something between amusement and disgust.

“And where do you think you’re going, dressed like that?” His voice carried through the lobby, drawing every pair of eyes in the vicinity. “Does this place look like a nightclub to you? What the hell is wrong with you, Sienna?”

Heat crept up my neck, my cheeks flushing as I fumbled for words. “I… I’m sorry, Director. I… there was a… situation last night.”

But my brain was foggy, and instead of explaining myself, the next words out of my mouth came out in a panicked tumble. “I got engaged last night!” I blurted, cringing as the words left my lips.

The entire lobby went silent, the stunned shock of my team almost palpable as every gaze zeroed in on the glinting diamond ring on my finger.

I could practically feel Violet’s stare as she mouthed, What the hell? at me. The eyes of the team flickered between my face and the ring, their expressions a mix of surprise, curiosity, and maybe even skepticism.

Then, just as everyone was still processing the bombshell I had thrown at them, a familiar voice cut through the silence like a knife.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Miss Wilde.”

I turned to see Lucas brush past me with Derrick, a sly smirk on his face, his tone dripping with mockery. He didn't even bat an eye as he disappeared into the elevator.