CHAPTER 131: LIFE LINE

Winter arrived in the blink of an eye.

New York was a city that seemed to skip spring and autumn entirely—only summer and winter existed here.

After enduring the endless heat, the season abruptly shifted, and now a biting wind swept through the streets, casting the entire city in a dull, gray haze.

Beauty had grown more accustomed to her role as an assistant.

These days, she wasn’t just fetching tea or water for Lucas; he often took her along to client meetings, where she quietly absorbed knowledge like a sponge.

Just as Drake had said, the things she learned by Lucas’s side were lessons she’d never get anywhere else.

"Beauty, are the meeting materials ready?"

Lena had no qualms about ordering her around.

Whether it was Lucas’s doing or not, she was constantly swamped with tasks, big and small, leaving her dizzy with exhaustion by the end of each day.

"Yes, everything’s prepared."

Beauty quickly stood up and handed over the neatly organized documents before taking a sip of her now-lukewarm tea.

Then, without pause, she dove back into her endless to-do list.

The end of the year was always the busiest time at Marson Corporation.

Every department was drowning in overtime, and even Lucas stayed in the office until ten every night.

As his assistant, she certainly couldn’t leave early either.

"Beauty, get me a coffee."

Lucas strode in, dust still clinging to his coat from his rushed return—all for tonight’s shareholders’ meeting.

Rubbing his temples, he spoke to her in that calm, detached tone.

One look at his weary expression told her he’d be working late in his study again tonight.

She immediately brewed a fresh cup and set it on his desk, concerned she softening her voice.

"You should eat something.

The takeout I ordered will be here soon—you must be starving after rushing back from the branch office."

"No need.

I already ate with Nathalie."

Nathalie again.

That name seemed to haunt her every single day.

Lucas had been unusually close to her recently, yet gradually began to distance himself—she couldn’t tell whether that was good or bad.

A large hand waved in front of her face.

"What’s on your mind?

Are the meeting materials and equipment ready?"

"I’ve already handed them to Miss Lena."

Beauty turned and walked straight back to her office without so much as a glance, ignoring Lucas’s calls from behind.

"That little girl must really be jealous," Lucas murmured, shaking his head with a sly smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

He crossed his legs on the sofa, sipping his coffee expressionlessly, though amusement glimmered in his eyes.

As a result, Beauty didn’t give Lucas so much as a friendly look during the meeting.

She followed his instructions mechanically, offering no extra words—nothing like her usual eager, bustling self.

She hadn’t particularly liked this job at first, but after spending so much time by his side, she finally realized one thing: even if she couldn’t find work in design later, the experience of being Lucas’s personal assistant alone would guarantee her a good position anywhere in the country.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already 9:30 p.m.

Standing beside Lucas, she could barely keep her eyes open.

Lately, not only was Lucas working late every night, but even she, his lowly assistant, often had to burn the midnight oil at home preparing reports.

Every morning, she struggled to drag herself out of bed.

Yawning and stretching her arms wide, she suddenly heard a voice behind her.

"Don’t run off alone later.

I’ll drive you home." Beauty stiffened.

The hallway was empty now—just the two of them.

Her eyes flickered. "Doesn’t Mr. Lucas have to accompany Miss Nathalie tonight?"

The thick scent of jealousy in her words made Lucas smirk

. He strode over in a few long steps and pulled her into his arms.

The recent workload had left him with little energy for anything else, but seeing her jealousy flare up today suddenly piqued his interest.

"What are you doing?

This is the office—what kind of impression would it give if employees saw us all over each other?

They’d think I was the one seducing you!"

Beauty glared at him, her eyes wide with indignation, and roughly shrugged off the large hand he had draped over her shoulder.

Her lips twisted into a displeased pout.

"Are you saying you *haven’t* seduced me before?"

Lucas shot back coolly, his dark, unreadable eyes sweeping over her with icy detachment.

She had just been about to push open the office door when his words stopped her in her tracks.

Whirling around, she tilted her chin up defiantly.

"When have I *ever* seduced you?

If anything, it’s always been you who—"

Before she could finish, the office door clicked open with the touch of someone’s fingerprint.

A sharp *bang* followed as it slammed shut behind them, and in the next instant, she found herself backed into a corner by the imposing figure of the man.

Beauty flustered, her soft lips pressed together so tightly they nearly drew blood.

"What do you think you’re doing?

This is the office!

What if someone walks in?"

"No one’s coming in this late.

Lena’s already gone home.

Right now, it’s just you and me."

His large hands pinned her shoulders against the wall, his piercing gaze raking over her with such intensity that her legs nearly gave out.

She swallowed hard, her pulse racing.

His striking face loomed closer, the warm amber office lights casting sharp shadows along his chiseled features, his long lashes casting delicate lines across his gaze.

His hands slid slowly from her shoulders down to the curve of her waist, sending tremors through her body.

Heat rushed to her face, her blood roaring in her ears.

"I heard you’ve been getting awfully close to that Samuel lately."

"Are you following me?" Beauty lifted her chin and glared at him fiercely.

She knew all too well about Lucas’s overwhelming possessiveness.

If he found out she’d been getting close to another man, he’d make sure that person wouldn’t last another day in New York.

Take Dyson, for example—she hadn’t seen him in years.

This time, she absolutely wouldn’t let Lucas lay a finger on Samuel.

Lucas arched a sharp brow, his piercing gaze cutting like a blade.

"Following you?

Do you really think I need to stalk you to know what’s going on in your life?"

He had a point.

If he wanted information on someone, would he ever need to tail them himself?

Who knew how many spies he’d planted around her?

Otherwise, how could he sit in his office and still know exactly who she’d been near?

What a dangerous man.

"There’s nothing between me and Samo," Beauty met his icy stare head-on, enunciating each word with cold precision.

"Of course I know that.

Otherwise, do you think I’d let him stay in New York?"

Lucas countered.

Her temples throbbed with anger.

She’d never once questioned his closeness with other women, yet here he was, policing her.

The audacity!

"Once I get my diploma, we won’t have anything to do with each other anymore.

You go your way, I’ll go mine—no more crossing paths.

I’m tired.

I want to go home."

With that, she shoved past his arm and strode out of the office, leaving the stone-faced man standing rigidly behind her.

Escape?

Not in this lifetime.