Chapter 3

I jumped up from the couch and sidled up to the lab bench, feigning curiosity. "Lucas, what are you working on?" I asked in my sweetest, most cloying voice.

Lucas didn't even look up, his eyes glued to the microscope. "Don't bother me."

"Come on. Let me see," I whined, reaching out as if to touch a spinning device in front of him. "This thing is so cool. It's glowing."

"Don't move," Lucas snapped, grabbing my wrist. His hand was hot, and his grip was surprisingly strong.

"It's dangerous," he said, frowning, his voice tinged with irritation.

That was the look. I wanted him to get annoyed with me more. I pouted, my eyes turning red with fake tears. "You're so mean. I was curious."

Then I picked up the cup of coffee Lucas had left by his hand, acting like I was about to drink it, but my hand "accidentally" slipped.

The whole cup went straight onto his stack of papers filled with complicated formulas. The brown liquid quickly soaked through, turning all those scribbles into a blurry mess.

The air froze. I could hear my heart pounding like a drum. Nice one. He was gotta lose his temper now. He spent days pulling all-nighters for those numbers.

I ducked my head, shoulders shaking like I was scared, but I kept sneaking glances at Lucas to see how he'd react.

Was he gonna throw me out, or strangle me? Either way, I would take it.

But the storm I was expecting never came. Lucas stared at the ruined papers in silence for a good thirty seconds.

Then he looked up at me. His gaze was complicated, not angry, not disgusted, but more like he was looking at a clueless kid.

He reached out, not to hit me, but to gently take the hand that had "accidentally" spilled the coffee.

"Did you get burned?" he asked, his voice actually sounding a little worried.

I froze and asked the System, "What's going on? What does he mean?"

The System said nothing.

Seeing that I was standing there, Lucas pulled me over to the sink, turned on the faucet, and ran my hand under cold water. He was so gentle, like my hand was a rare gem.

"Good, it's not red," he said after checking, and seemed to relax a little.

I was completely baffled. "But w-what about those papers?" I stammered.

"Oh, that?" he said, glancing back at the mess as if he were commenting on the weather. "It's fine. All the important data is backed up on my computer."

I felt like she was about to cough up blood. Damn it. He totally played me.

Lucas dried my hand, plopped my back down on the couch, and handed me a bottle of milk. "Be good and drink this. Don't go running around again," he said, like he was coaxing a mischievous pet.

I clutched the bottle of milk, feeling hopeless. I said to the System, "The mission..."

The System's cold voice sounded. "Mission failed. Lucas Wynn's favorability has increased by 5%. His corruption level increased by 5%."

I gave up all hope. I flopped down on the couch like a limp noodle, totally done with life.

Lucas ignored me and went back to his workstation, slipped on his headphones, and started listening to some report, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

The sunset poured in through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing him in golden light.

I had to admit that Lucas looked ridiculously attractive when he was deep in work. His high-bridged nose, focused eyes, and those lips pressed into a thin line were god's blessing.

Snapped out of it, Chloe. What were you even thinking? He was my mission target, the reason I was stuck here. I scolded myself, shaking my head hard to get rid of those messy thoughts.

Just then, someone knocked on the lab door. Lucas took off his headphones, pressed a button on his desk, and the door opened.

A girl stepped inside, dressed in a flowing white dress, her long hair cascading down to her waist. She radiated a gentle elegance.

It was the original heroine, Stella Harper.