Chapter 169: Love and hate

Looking at Lucas, Alex could feel the anger radiating off him like heat, but he didn’t even flinch.

Seated behind his desk, he simply lifted his face, his gaze was calm and unreadable.

“Do I look like I have time for games?” he replied coolly.

His eyes flicked briefly toward the newly arranged desk. “That’s your seat,” he added. “Go there, sit down. Go through what you’re expected to do and get busy with the work on your desk.”

A pause before he said, almost as an afterthought. “When I need you for games, I’ll let you know.”

And just like that, he turned away, walking toward the window as if Lucas no longer existed.

Lucas stood there for a second, stunned.

“Unbelievable…” he muttered under his breath. But curiosity crept in beneath the anger. He wondered, what exactly Alex had set up for him.

With a quiet scoff, Lucas walked over and dropped into the chair. He pulled the first document toward him and flipped it open. His brows furrowed. Then slowly lifted.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The entire page was instructions. Not work or tasks of any kind. It was all about compliance.

Follow Mr. Alex’s directives at all times.

Prioritize immediate response to verbal instructions.

Maintain presence unless dismissed. Then on and on.

Lucas let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “So this is what you call a job?”

He leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other. “Well, no instruction or directive yet. So relax and wait.” He muttered to himself.

“Pretend not to be bothered about his nonsense.” He encouraged himself more.

Then Alex’s phone buzzed.

“Yes,” he answered.

Then a pause before his voice came on. “Are you saying I didn’t know what I saw? Are you calling me some dumb ass?”

Lucas’s eyes flicked up immediately.

Alex’s tone dropped, irritation bleeding through now.

“I’m tired of hearing about last night. It’s pissing me off.”

The call ended abruptly.

The silence that followed was sharp.

Alex turned.

Lucas was already looking at him with anger. Their eyes locked.

Neither of them looked away.

The tension snapped tight between them.

Until suddenly, Lucas winked. It was casual and provocative, just like a deliberate spark thrown into dry air.

“Well, boss,” he said, leaning back in the chair as he owned it, “I don’t see anything to do.”

A beat of silence before he smirked faintly. “Or do you intend to keep your new secretary idle all day? Should I go to the kitchen and prepare something for you that will calm your nerves?”

Alex’s eyes darkened instantly.

Because that was not obedience.

That was a challenge.

Alex didn’t take his eyes off Lucas. “You want to go to the kitchen, right?” he asked, his tone calm, but edged.

Lucas leaned back slightly, unfazed. “Yes, boss. I could go and prepare some chilled fruit juice for you… You know, to calm your nerves.”

A low chortle escaped Alex.

“This is unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head slowly. “You want to go back to the kitchen so you can continue your long chats with Zenith, right?”

Lucas’s expression shifted, irritation flashing. “I don’t get it. Are you still monitoring me?”

Alex’s gaze hardened instantly.

“I’m watching your every move,” he said, his voice dropping into something heavier. “So watch your step.”

Lucas stared at him, confusion mixing with anger. What is wrong with him? Then he let out a dry laugh.

“Come on,” he said, spreading his hands slightly. “I betrayed you, right? And you’re still watching me on camera? Is that really necessary?”

“I owe you no explanation,” Alex snapped, his control slipping. “Whatever I do in my office is none of your business.”

Lucas nodded slowly. “Yeah… you’re right.”  His tone changed and became colder.

“What we share is dead,” he added. “But don’t you think keeping your ‘enemy’ this close is a bad decision?”

He tilted his head slightly.

“You should let me go, for your own peace of mind.”

Alex’s response came instantly.

“You’re going nowhere.”

Lucas’s lips curved faintly. “What if I frame you? Or blackmail you? Or…”

“Enough!” Alex barked, the word cutting through the air. “Shut your mouth and sit quietly.”

Lucas raised both hands dramatically, covering his mouth. “Oh…” he muffled, eyes wide in mock fear. “Boss is mad. I’m so scared.”

The mockery was blatant. Alex’s glare could have burned through steel. He turned away sharply, walking back to his desk but he didn’t sit. He just stood there, gripping the edge.

“You should be ashamed,” he said, voice tight, “talking so boldly about your betrayal.”

Lucas’s expression hardened instantly. “Why should I?” he shot back, his anger rising again. “Making out with my best friend once isn’t the end of the world.”

He paused, then added, deliberately, “Maybe I should try Zenith next. Or Margaret. You know…”

He didn’t finish, because Alex was already in front of him.

“Don’t you dare make that mistake again,” Alex said, his voice low and dangerous.

Lucas pushed to his feet, meeting him head-on. “It’s my life, and I can…”

The words never finished.

Alex grabbed him and crashed his lips onto his. It was rough, sudden.

and uncontrolled.

For a split second, shock froze everything.

Then Lucas shoved him hard.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” he snapped, wiping his mouth angrily. “That’s harassment! You have no right to do that!”

Alex didn’t step back. If anything, he looked more certain.

“Oh, I have every right,” he said coldly. “And more.”

“No, you don’t!” Lucas fired back. “I’m not married to you, so you have…”

Alex let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, I see,” he cut in, eyes locking onto Lucas’s. “That’s what you want, right?”

His tone turned mocking. “You want me to marry you?”

A beat of silence, then, the words came colder, “In your dreams.”

Silence fell, but it wasn’t empty.

It was charged. Both of them are breathing hard. Both of them were furious. And neither was willing to back down.

The sharp buzz of the intercom cut through the tension like a blade. Both of them jolted.

For a split second, neither moved, caught between anger and something far more complicated.

Then Alex turned away first.

Without a word, he walked back to his seat, his expression snapping back into that cold, controlled mask as he sat down.

Lucas stood there, still breathing a little hard, then reached for the intercom. “Hello?”

“Mr. Lucas,” Margaret’s voice came through, calm and professional. “Please inform Mr. Alex that his meeting with Sonia Company will be in ten minutes.”

Lucas blinked, slightly thrown off by how normal that sounded after everything that had just happened.

“Okay, Margaret,” he replied.

The line clicked off.

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at nothing. Then he inhaled slowly, forcing himself to steady.

You want to frustrate me, Alex? he thought bitterly. Not happening.

His jaw tightened. “I won’t give you that chance,” he muttered under his breath.

Composure, that’s what he needed. Lucas straightened, smoothing his shirt unconsciously before turning and walking toward Alex’s desk.