Chapter 125 I Never Thought I Would Hear Again

Chapter 125 I Never Thought I Would Hear Again
Danika's POV

I stood by the small refreshment station in the corner of the office, listening to the soothing sound of the coffee machine dripping. My hands were wrapped around a ceramic mug as I waited for the coffee to finish brewing.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the rich, comforting scent of the roasted coffee beans. I was just about to reach for the sugar bowl when a pair of strong, familiar arms suddenly wrapped securely around my waist from behind.

A broad, warm chest pressed flush against my back, and I instantly smelled the familiar, intoxicating scent of expensive cologne. A soft smile automatically spread across my face before I could even stop it.

"Be careful, Lysander," I warned softly, though there was no real heat in my voice. I leaned back into his solid embrace just a little bit, letting my shoulders relax. "I'm making something hot here. If you startle me, I'm going to spill boiling coffee all over you."

Lysander didn't loosen his grip at all. Instead, he buried his face into the crook of my neck, his lips brushing against my skin as he let out a low, rumbling chuckle that vibrated right through my spine. "I'm willing to risk it all, sweetheart. Did you make some of that coffee for me, or are you planning on drinking all that coffee by yourself?"

"Yes, I made some for you," I said, a genuine giggle escaping my lips. "I know exactly how many sugar cubes you like, so don't worry."

I carefully set the hot mug down on the marble countertop, making sure it was safely away from the edge, and then I slowly turned around within the circle of his arms to face him. The moment I looked up into his dark, handsome eyes, I didn't even have time to utter another word.

Lysander leaned down and kissed me instantly.
The kiss was deep, warm, and full of a possessive intensity that completely took my breath away. His large palms moved up from my waist, one resting against the small of my back to pull me closer, while the other gently cupped the side of my face, his thumb stroking my cheekbone. My heart did a familiar, dizzying flutter, and my hands automatically found their way to the lapels of his suit, gripping the fabric as the rest of the world completely melted away.

When he finally pulled back, his lips lingering just inches from mine, I forced myself to snap back to reality. I lifted one hand and gave his arm a sharp, playful slap.

"Lysander! Stop it," I hissed, my cheeks flushing a bright, burning pink as I glanced nervously toward the heavy wooden doors of the office. "We are literally in the middle of the office. Anyone could walk in here with documents or executive reports for you to check. Valeria could walk right through that door!"

Lysander rolled his eyes lazily, a completely unbothered, arrogant smirk spreading across his lips. He didn't let go of my waist; in fact, he pulled me just a little bit closer against his chest. "Let them walk in, sweetheart. In case you forgot, we are a legally married couple. This is my building, and you are the director. We can do whatever we like in this office, and absolutely no one will dare say a single word about it."

"That doesn't mean we should be unprofessional," I countered, though my voice lacked any real authority because I was still smiling.

"I think a little bit of unprofessionalism is exactly what we need after the week we've had," Lysander teased, his eyes flashing with amusement. He leaned his head down again, his lips brushing against the tip of my nose. "Come on, just one more kiss before I actually have to sit down and pretend to read these financial spreadsheets."

I opened my mouth to reply, ready to tell him no, but before a single word could leave my throat, my phone started to ring.

Lysander let out a small, frustrated sigh, his forehead resting against mine for a brief second before he slowly let his arms drop from my waist.

"Saved by the bell," he muttered, though he was still smiling.

I offered him an apologetic look as I walked towards my phone, smoothing down the front of my tailored skirt dress. I walked over to the desk and picked up the phone. I looked down at the glowing screen, expecting to see a call from Valeria or someone important.

Instead, the screen just displayed a string of random digits. It was an unknown number.

I frowned, my eyebrows knitting together. Given how many reporters had been trying to get a statement from me since yesterday's trial, I wasn't in the mood to deal with a random journalist who had somehow managed to leak my private line. I decided not to pick up at first. I pressed the volume button to silence the ringing and set the phone back down on the desk, turning my attention back to the coffee mugs.

But the moment the call timed out, the phone immediately began to vibrate again. The same unknown number was flashing across the screen. Whoever it was, they were being incredibly persistent.

"Are you going to answer that?" Lysander asked, his tone turning a bit more serious as he walked over to join me by the desk, his eyes fixed on the buzzing device. "If it's another aggressive reporter, give it to me. I'll make sure their media credentials are permanently revoked by the end of the afternoon."

"No, it's fine.” I said, letting out a soft sigh.
I reached out and finally picked up the phone, sliding my thumb across the screen to accept the call. I lifted the device to my ear, preparing my best, polite corporate voice. "Hello? This is Danika speaking…"

"Are you crazy?!" a sharp and deafening voice screamed directly through the speaker, cutting me off before I could even finish my sentence. The voice was incredibly loud, full of a vicious, commanding anger that made my entire body instantly freeze. "Why have you been ignoring our calls, you ungrateful little brat?! Do you think because you are hiding in some fancy building that you can just block your own family?!"

The words hit me and the temperature in the room felt like it dropped in a single second. The blood rushed out of my face, leaving me pale. I recognized that voice instantly.

It was a voice that had haunted my entire childhood. It was the voice that used to make me lock myself in dark closets, trembling with fear while praying that I could somehow become invisible. It was the voice that had told me I was worthless, weak, and a complete disappointment every single day of my life until I finally managed to escape. It was a voice I thought I would never have to hear again.

Author's Note: I'm sorry I haven't been updating frequently. I've been having exams as it's my final year at the university. Clock itttt! Anyways, I'll be updating for a while cause I still have my project defense soon. We're nearing the ending of the book soon guysss!