Chapter 166: Possessiveness and control

Dan ran a hand over his face, conflicted. “Lucas, you’re asking me to hide something big.”

“I’m asking you to trust me,” Lucas replied, his voice dropping again, earnest, almost pleading. “You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

That hit differently as Jason nodded his head to Dan to accept.

Dan looked at the screen, where the frozen image of James still lingered in his mind.

A long second passed before he nodded his head. “Alright,” Dan said quietly. “I promise.”

Nathan looked at him, surprised. He couldn't believe Lucas possessed such power over Alex’s head man.

Dave didn’t look pleased that Alex didn't bother to investigate such a disaster. But he said nothing since Jason supported Lucas.

On the other end, Lucas exhaled, the tension easing just slightly. “Thank you. Dan. We will talk later but I need you guys to carry on tracing James’s whereabouts. I have the feeling that his game just  started and please keep watch over Alex.”

“Okay, Lucas, and be careful too.”

“They don't want me, they want me away from Alex. If I'm their target, they had me last night but still let me go. So I'm not their target.”

Everyone in the room nodded.

“It sounds right, take care.”

The call ended.

Dan slowly lowered the phone, the weight of that promise settling in.

The room wasn’t silent anymore as they started discussing how to trace James from when he entered the party venue.

Dave advised that they get the police involved, letting them not involve Alex unless it was strictly necessary.

Jason agreed with him and told Dan that he would inform the police himself.

Meanwhile, at Benson’s eatery, Alex’s office was too quiet. He sat on his desk with his arms folded. His eyes fixed on the screen watching the kitchen footage like something he couldn’t control, and yet hated it.

His total focus was on Lucas. His

Every movement, and expression, Alex caught all of it. He watched the way Lucas spoke, calm but distant. The way he tried to focus on his work. Every order placed at his section was carried out well. The way he talked to people calmly and every talk didn't waste time.

Then there came Zenith again.

Alex’s gaze darkened instantly.

Zenith reached his section and leaned casually against a counter,  saying something that made Lucas pause. Then, there it was, a brief but real smile.

Alex’s jaw clenched.

He turned away sharply, dragging a hand through his hair as he began pacing. Back and forth.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath. But he couldn’t stop feeling angry.

Every few seconds, his eyes flicked back to the screen.

Zenith was still there. Still talking. Still finding ways to linger.

And Lucas, he was responding. Then another smile flashed on his face and that was it.

Alex stopped pacing and went completely still. Then, without a word, he turned, strode to his desk, and slammed the intercom button.

“Connect me to HR, now.”

The line clicked almost immediately as HR responded. “Yes, sir?”

Alex didn’t hesitate, he ordered. “Change Lucas’s position.”

A pause and surprise response, “Sir?”

“From the chef,” Alex said coldly, his eyes still locked on Lucas through the screen, “to my second secretary.”

Silence fell between them.

Then, carefully, the HR started, “Sir… are you sure there isn’t a mistake?”

Alex’s expression hardened. “Do I sound mistaken?”

“No, sir, I just…”

“Then do it,” he cut in sharply. “Immediately.”

Another pause, shorter this time.

“And prepare his table in my office,” Alex added, his tone leaving no room for argument. “He resumes in two hours.”

“Yes, sir,” HR replied quickly and the line went dead.

Alex released the intercom slowly, his gaze drifting around the office, then back to the screen.

Zenith was still there.

Lucas laughed softly at something he said.

Alex’s eyes darkened again, something possessive and dangerous flickering beneath the surface.

“Let’s see you smile like that in here,” he murmured under his breath.

Then he turned away, already anticipating the moment Lucas would walk through his door.

Where he could keep him exactly where he wanted.

The transformation happened too fast. In under an hour, a new desk stood inside Alex’s office. It was sleek, polished, and positioned just close and almost opposite his own to feel intentional and possessive.

Alex walked over to it, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning every detail. Then he chuckled softly, low and dangerous.

“Let’s see how that snake makes you smile now,” he muttered with a smirk.

Not long after, a security guard stepped into the kitchen, envelope in hand.

“Lucas, sir…”

Lucas turned from the counter, wiping his hands. “Yeah?”

“You’ve been reassigned.” The guard handed over the letter.

Lucas frowned slightly, taking it. “Reassigned?”

At first, he thought he was being transferred to another branch. He opened it, read once, then again.

And just like that, his expression snapped.

“Secretary?” he scoffed, anger flaring instantly. “Is Alex out of his fucking mind?!”

The guard shifted uncomfortably. “I…I don’t know, sir. I was asked to guide you to your new office.”

Lucas let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “I don’t need any fucking office. I’m a chef, for goodness’ sake.”

“Please, sir…” the guard said quickly, almost desperate now. “I don’t want to lose my job. Kindly come with me.”

That made Lucas pause. His anger didn’t disappear, but it shifted.  “Damn it…” he muttered, running a hand over his face. Then his eyes dropped to the man’s name tag. “Benedict, right?”

The guard nodded nervously. “Yes, sir.”

Lucas exhaled sharply. “Go back to your duty post. I’ll find it myself.”

“Thank you, sir…”

Lucas didn’t wait. He was already moving to Alex’s office.

The walk from the kitchen to Alex’s office felt longer than usual, each step feeding the fire building inside him.

By the time he reached the door, his anger was boiling over.

He didn’t knock. He swung the door open in anger.

“Alex, what the heck is the meaning of this shit you’re pulling, hmm?”

Alex looked up from his desk, completely unfazed since he had been expecting some reaction.

Lucas stepped inside, eyes blazing. “You think you can just wake up and change my job like I’m some pawn? I’m not your secretary, I’m a chef!”

Alex leaned back slightly in his chair, studying him with an unreadable expression.

“Are you done?” he asked coolly.

Lucas let out a sharp breath, fists clenched at his sides. “No. I’m not done.”

Alex’s gaze flickered briefly to the new desk. Then back to Lucas.

“You are now,” he said evenly, “my second secretary.”

Lucas stared at him in disbelief. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“Maybe,” Alex replied calmly. “Or maybe I just prefer having certain people where I can see them.”

That landed hard.

Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t about work, is it?”

A faint smile tugged at Alex’s lips, but there was no warmth in it.

“Sit,” he said, nodding toward the desk.

Lucas didn’t move. “I’m not sitting anywhere.”

The air between them tightened.