After his brief comparison, Lucian glanced all over her again, his lips slowly curling up with satisfaction and appreciation.
Emily, noticing his hawk-like gaze on her, felt her breath hitch.
Everyone else had said she was looking good, including her bestie Melissa who couldn’t hide her excitement, but Lucian’s gaze made her think otherwise.
She couldn’t help but doubt the authenticity of their words.
Maybe they had actually lied to her to make sure she didn’t get offended.
A thought that made her want to go back to the mirror and confirm the verdict again.
She would have asked him, but she couldn’t possibly ask her boss how she looked, since she was not seeking his admiration, and their relationship was basically professional.
More so was the fact they had just met.
Emily’s pulse continuously quickened at each of his gazes, from her feet to her body, her face, and hair.
“You look good,” he commented effortlessly, with the seriousness of one signing a billion-dollar contract.
Emily’s heart somersaulted several times at the compliment.
It was as though his compliment had given the final testament, like a chief judge in a beauty contest.
A proof she wouldn’t disappoint him by appearance.
Maybe that was the first step to winning the night.
Emily sighed visibly with relief, letting out the breath she never knew she was holding, and her tensed shoulders relaxed—an action that didn’t escape Lucian’s eyes.
His eyes glistened with mischief as he extended his hand toward her.
“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice smooth and controlled.
Emily hesitated for a split second before giving a small nod.
But when she saw his outstretched hand, she instinctively took a step back, shaking her head.
“I can manage,” she said softly, her tone firm yet polite.
Lucian arched a brow, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.
“Afraid to touch me?”
Emily’s fingers curled slightly at her sides.
“Not really, but there is need for decorum,” she stated, as if that alone explained her reluctance.
She may not have chosen this marriage, but she still believed in maintaining a certain level of respect.
Lucian’s smirk deepened, something unreadable flashing across his expression.
“Decorum?” he murmured under his breath, barely loud enough for her to hear.
Without another word, he turned and walked ahead toward the sleek black waiting for them.
Emily slowly lifted the hem of her dress slightly and followed suit, her footsteps measured, her heart beating a little faster than she liked.
Melissa, who had been watching the interaction like a live drama, quickly scurried behind them, unclear about what exactly had happened between them.
She wished to see her girlfriend off, to tell her to seize every opportunity to make the Sterling prince hers, but then the imposing aura of Lucian left her grumbling beneath without a place to vent.
As a gentleman, Lucian opened the car door for her, waiting patiently.
She hesitated briefly and then stepped inside, settling herself in the seat.
Once she was in, Lucian sat beside her. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
The door, with a smooth automatic motion, slid shut.
Emily’s heart skipped a beat at the click of the door.
Her posture stiff, her hands resting on her lap as she stared ahead.
She could feel his gaze on her, intense and unwavering.
Her heart galloped fiercely in her chest; she couldn’t place the actual emotion she felt—fear, curiosity, hope, or detachment.
“Why were you talking about decorum back in your home?” he asked, feigning ignorance.
“I am married,” Emily replied unceremoniously.
She turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze.
There was no need to keep her response vague when he was her boss and she would still work with him for a long time.
Lucian chuckled, low and deep.
“How interesting.”
Lucian Sterling felt his memory refreshed.
He didn’t expect her to be this dedicated to the marriage she hadn’t known her fate in, and most essentially the identity of the person.
On a second thought, Lucian found his shoulders sagging with relief.
This proved her excellent sense of responsibility in every situation.
The car pulled away from the suburban, and as they drove through the city lights, her gaze lingered on the city with thoughts of how her adoptive parents had been since she left.
Lucian’s smirk deepened as he leaned back against the seat, one arm draped casually over the side.
“When did you get married?” he asked, his tone light but laced with curiosity.
Emily stiffened slightly at the question.
Her fingers twitched on her lap, but she kept her expression neutral.
She had thought he wouldn’t ask further or demand an explanation.
Who knew he would?
“I don’t see how that’s relevant to our trip this evening,” she responded calmly, turning her gaze toward the window with a slight shrug.
Lucian chuckled lightly, the sound low and knowing.
“Oh, but it is,” he muttered as he leaned his head back on the headrest, closing his eyes briefly.
“I remember when I was reviewing your employment file, the company presented your details to me as a single lady.” He smirked.
He tilted his head, watching her closely.
“So either you got married very recently… or someone’s hiding something.”
Emily’s heart pounded in her chest.
She did not expect him to calmly analyze the situation.
Her lips trembled as she wanted to say something, but she swallowed the words that came to her lips as she forced herself to remain composed.
She had no idea how to answer without exposing the tangled mess she had found herself in.
She inhaled deeply before speaking.
Sterling.”
Lucian’s smirk didn’t falter.
In fact, it seemed to grow, his interest in teasing her magnifying as he noticed her attempt to conceal the truth.
“Perhaps,” he said, his voice smooth.
“But when my personal assistant suddenly claims to be married… when she wasn’t just days ago… I can’t help but be intrigued, and I would want to know…”
Emily clenched her jaw, refusing to meet his gaze.
The air inside the car grew heavier with tension, but she remained silent, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
Lucian, however, seemed thoroughly entertained.
“Miss Winters, as my personal assistant, there is a possibility that we might sometimes travel out of the country.
Will your husband permit you?” Lucian asked, with raised brow and amusement.
Emily’s fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of her dress as she turned her gaze toward Lucian.
His words sounded casual, but the challenge in them didn’t drown on her.
Emily sighed deeply.
“As long as it’s work-related, I don’t see why that would be a problem,” she said evenly.
Emily didn’t believe she had answered this question with a high degree of confidence when she was not yet sure how her unknown husband would see the matter.
Lucian hummed, his sharp eyes studying her reaction.
“I see.
That’s quite the understanding husband you have,” he smirked, tapping his fingers lightly against his knee.
“Most men wouldn’t be so accommodating.”
Emily forced a small smile.
“My job is important to me, Mr.
Sterling.
I know how to balance my responsibilities.”
Lucian leaned slightly toward her, his presence overpowering in the enclosed space.
Emily leaned back continuously until her back pressed hard on the closed door, yet Lucian never backed away.
“And what about your husband?
Is he as understanding as you claim?” He smirked, his breath fanning her ear.
Emily swallowed, her pulse quickening.
She couldn’t possibly tell him the truth—not when she was still trying to make sense of it herself.
Instead, she met his gaze head-on.
“That’s my concern, not yours, sir.”
Lucian smirked at her response, his amusement evident.
“Fair enough, Miss Winters.”
He sat upright.
“I hope your relationship doesn’t affect your efficiency in the most critical time.” He smirked.