CHAPTER 170: OUT OF HAND

With her back turned to Lucas, she pulled the quilt up to her neck.

After a while, she seemed to hear the steady breathing of someone beside her, and her delicate brows furrowed involuntarily.

*Damn it!

He actually fell asleep just like that!

Frustration gnawed at her, and in a fit of pique, she yanked the entire quilt over to her side, leaving the man completely exposed.

Only then did she feel a petty sense of satisfaction.

Suddenly, a cold voice sounded by her ear: "If you give me a cold, who’s going to help you with your problems?"

Beauty bolted upright in bed and immediately pounced on him, her hands tightening around his neck.

"You’ve got some nerve, Lucas!" she fumed.

"How did you know I had something to ask you?"

In one swift motion, the man flipped her beneath him, a wicked smirk playing on his lips as he brushed aside the stray strands of her bangs.

His thin lips curved slightly.

"The way you’re acting tells me you want something from me.

Let me guess what it is."

Lucas arched a brow, his large hand resting possessively on her waist as he smirked coldly.

"Seems like you can’t stand staying idle here anymore."

*Ugh!

Was he a mind reader or something?

He always knew exactly what she was thinking.

Forcing a sycophantic smile, she cooed, "Uncle Lucas, you really *are* the worm in my gut—you know everything I’m thinking!"

He tapped her forehead lightly.

"If I couldn’t figure out something this obvious, would I still be your Uncle Lucas?"

*Oh, so now he’s basking in the praise?*

Well, she might as well strike while the iron was hot.

Putting on her most obedient expression, she tugged playfully at his ear and pouted.

"Then, Uncle Lucas... can I go back to work at the company?"

"Let me think about it," he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

"Make me happy tonight, and your job will be waiting for you tomorrow."

Beauty: "..."

Sure enough, he was a capitalist through and through—never letting anyone gain even the slightest advantage.

Suddenly, she felt as though she had fallen into someone’s trap, and worse, she had walked into it willingly.

How could she have been so foolish?

Or perhaps that old fox was just too cunning.

And so, once again, she found herself utterly exhausted by the man, her body nearly falling apart, all for the sake of that pitiful bit of work.

What a brutal transaction it had been. ... Marson Corporation.

Finally standing in this place that everyone dreamed of entering, she was overwhelmed with emotions.

The thought that she had secured this job through such a shameful exchange made her burn with humiliation.

"Beauty, you’re back!

I heard you were injured and resting at home.

How are you feeling now?"

Lena spotted her and immediately gave her a thorough once-over, making her squirm under the scrutiny.

She forced a smile.

"I’m fine now.

Thanks for your concern, Ms. Lena"

Stepping back into the CEO’s office felt entirely different this time—because her status had changed.

Being in the same room with Lucas now felt awkward, as if she were covered in invisible thorns, restless and uneasy.

The office door swung open.

Lucas strode in, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black ankle-length trousers, a project file in hand.

His gaze flicked over her briefly before he moved past.

With a casual tone, he said, "Beauty, come here for a moment."

The woman organizing files immediately perked up upon hearing her boss summon her and scurried over eagerly.

With a playful grin, she chirped, "Boss, you called for me?"

Lucas nodded slightly, gesturing for her to sit across from him before leisurely taking a sip of tea.

In a measured voice, he began, "The branch office is short one intern designer.

Do you have anyone to recommend?"

Her heart leaped with excitement.

Instinctively, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and flashed a bright smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Well... I just got my diploma. What if I volunteer myself?"

"No," he replied coolly.

"I plan to keep you by my side for more training.

You should know being the CEO’s wife isn’t an easy role.

So, do you have anyone else in mind?"

Her shoulders slumped in disappointment.

After a brief pause, she suddenly perked up again.

"Actually, I do! Hannah’s been looking for an intern designer position.

She graduated in design, just like me.

What do you think?" She gazed at him expectantly.

Hannah was her closest friend—helping her would be perfect.

Lucas hesitated for two seconds before nodding.

"Fine.

Considering she helped me last time, tell her she has an interview with Nathalie tomorrow.

Let her mention that I referred her."

Her heart skipped a beat.

What did he mean by that?

Why emphasize that *he* was the one referring her?

Did he also suspect Nathalie would reject anyone *she* recommended?

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at him.

"What if I have Hannah say she was recommended by your assistant?

How does that sound?"

"Say whatever you think works best.

I’ve given you the opportunity—whether you can seize it is up to you."

Lucas’s expression remained unreadable, as if the matter had nothing to do with her. ... The moment her shift ended that evening, she rushed to meet Hannah at a nearby restaurant, eager to share the good news.

Just as she had imagined, the girl was instantly moved to tears.

If not for the crowded restaurant, Hannah would have hugged her tightly and planted a grateful kiss on her cheek.

Taking a bite of buns, she said with heartfelt appreciation, "You’re the best, Beauty!

Even if it’s not the Marson Group headquarters, this is already amazing for me.

Big companies like this are nearly impossible to break into—most hires come through internal referrals.

Interns like us who apply directly usually get cut in the first round without a chance."

The endless rejections had nearly crushed her spirit.

She had resigned herself to scraping by at some small ad agency, never expecting such a golden opportunity to fall into her lap.

It still felt surreal.

Beauty sipped her soup and met her gaze seriously.

"When you go for the interview, don’t mention my name at all.

If you do, you won’t even make it past the first round."

"Why not? Aren’t you the big boss’s woman? Shouldn’t your name carry weight?"

Hannah frowned in confusion, licking her lips after another bite of steak.

Beauty hesitated, unsure how to explain her complicated relationship with Nathalie.

"Just tell the design director that you were recommended by Lucas himself—say a business partner of his referred you.

They’ll probably call to verify, but by then, it’ll be out of our hands."

Though still puzzled, Hannah nodded solemnly, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Besides, dropping the CEO’s name would likely work better than Beauty’s anyway.

After dinner, the two wandered through a nearby mall before heading home.

By the time Beauty returned to the villa, Lucas was still at the office, buried in work.

It struck her how late the CEO worked every night—while she, a mere junior employee, clocked out so early.

A twinge of guilt pricked at her conscience.