I stepped out of the office with my bag as I typed a response, "You're the best, darling! I'm so lucky!

"Give me 30 minutes. We'll go on with that game."

I followed up with a kiss emoji and another text. "I want to cuddle with you online right now. Hehe!"

As I waited for a reply, I saw a tall figure in my periphery and hurriedly put the phone away.

I was unsure if it was because I felt guilty for badmouthing him, but I blurted, "Mr. Barlow, you're leaving work?"

Zack glanced at me coldly and replied, "Mind your own business."

I tamped my irritation down wordlessly for the sake of my six-figure salary.

My phone kept vibrating. Z had likely responded, but I dared not look at his messages. Zack was taller than me, and I was worried he'd see my messages cursing him. Then I'll be doomed.

Once inside the elevator, I tried to make myself seem smaller. I stared at the falling numbers, wishing I could arrive sooner.

I caught a glimpse of Zack's reflection on the elevator doors. A strange smile had appeared on his perpetually icy face while he looked at his phone.

What?! Zack Barlow knew how to smile? Who on earth was that person on the phone?

I was so stunned that I forgot to look away.

Zack caught me staring, and his expression turned icy once more. "Do you find my looks so surprising, Ms. Atlas?" he asked mildly.

I did not respond.

After getting home, I took a quick shower and lay down, launching my game.

As soon as Z came online, I pulled him into a chatroom. "There you are, darling! I've missed you. Come hug me!

"Oh, you're playing as Lilly? Go put on the new skin I bought."

If there was one downside to online dating, it was that Z was a bit of a novice when it came to games.

Yet, it was alright. I could play as Rex, and that was enough. I was in charge of chaos and killing, while his job was to wait and celebrate for our victory.

Back then, it was my decent gaming skills that won Z over.

I heard a low chuckle through the receiver. "Are you feeling better?"

I grinned and replied, "Much better. As long as I don't have to breathe the same air as that prick, I feel fantastic."

There was a brief silence before I heard Z's voice, tinged with mirth. "Would wearing a mask make you feel better at work tomorrow?"

"Honey, don't be so cheesy," I retorted.

Since I left work late, I only played a few rounds before it was time to sleep.

We had switched from the in-game voice chat to a regular phone call. "Darling, I've not seen your abs yet today."

Z then sent me three pictures taken from different angles. I zoomed in on each one to admire it.

I was likely silent for too long because Z asked, "Do you like them, honey?"

I kicked my feet in the air wildly before squealing, "They look amazing!"

I was never going to get tired of them, even if I saw them every day.

"Do you want to see them in person?" Z suddenly asked.

This made me pause mid-swipe.

Z and I had been together for almost a year, yet this was the first time he brought up meeting in person.

To be frank, I was a bit hesitant. I was worried he wasn't what I imagined him to be, and that I wasn't what he envisioned, either.

Given how rushed things were at first, I never imagined us lasting this long.

From our daily interactions, we seemed to get along well. He was very stable emotionally. No matter what I dumped on him, he took it in stride and never behaved condescendingly.

When that thought crossed my mind, I had the urge to say yes.

Sensing my hesitation, Z did not press the issue.

"It's okay. If you're not ready, we can wait a little longer," he said. "We can take it slow, darling."

I felt a wave of warmth wash over me, followed by a surge of courage.

Bracing myself, I replied, "Let's meet up, sweetie. How about we catch a movie this Saturday?"

Today was Tuesday. I still had three days to be properly prepared.

There was a pause, followed by a soft chuckle. "We're just meeting up, babe. No need to brace yourself like it's certain death."

I was speechless. This was Z's second flaw—he'd occasionally channel Zack's ruthlessness, always catching me off guard with his dark humor.

"What else do you want to do apart from the movie? What kind of food do you prefer?" asked Z.

Perhaps sensing my nervousness, Z chatted with me about a lot of things, mostly involving the details for our meeting.

In the end, we hadn't decided on a restaurant, but we narrowed down what we wanted to eat.

For some reason, I suddenly felt less nervous. I even found myself looking forward to this.

The next day, I went to work, humming a tune.

I couldn't resist texting Z while I was out. "We're meeting up in two days! I'm excited! I wish it were Saturday already!

"It's a great day, too! I don't need to see my boss' stupid face, and we get to cuddle!"

After exiting the subway, I still had to cross the road to get to the office.

I'd just reached the crossing when I spotted Zack waiting for the red light in his red Ferrari convertible.

I was just about to feign ignorance when he happened to look over.

I had no choice. I forced out a smile, prepared to greet him. Before I could speak, he looked away and sped off the second the light turned green.

This prick. Did he think he was a hotshot just because he had a Ferrari? Well, it WAS quite impressive. Why couldn't I be rich, too? Could the world not handle one more?

At the office, I went to the pantry to make myself coffee.

Just then, my colleague, Jenny Wilkins, walked in looking like she'd just seen a ghost.

"Holy crap, I have breaking news! I just sent Mr. Barlow his coffee, and I saw him smiling at his phone!" she exclaimed. "He was actually smiling! Is he even human?"

I loved a good spectacle. "He wouldn't be human if he couldn't smile, you mean."

I held my coffee, thinking of the scene in the elevator last night. "But I did see him smile at his phone yesterday, too," I added.

Jenny's eyes widened as she covered her mouth. "He must be in love!" she whispered. "When I left, I think I heard him say 'baby.' Goodness! I wonder who this person is, to have snagged him!"

I couldn't help but shake my head as I thought of the way Zack was impassively telling people off. I wondered who'd fall in love with a mouth like that. She must've been really unlucky.

However, this was none of my business. There were so many unfortunate people in the world, and I couldn't possibly care about them all.

The most important thing now was to give Zack the revised proposal while he was still in good spirits. Otherwise, I was going to be in big trouble.

…

Jenny was right—Zack was definitely dating.

After reviewing the proposal, not only did he not criticize me, but he even offered me a warm compliment. "Thanks for your hard work, Ms. Atlas."

He was completely different from the man who sped off, leaving me inhaling exhaust fumes.

When had I ever heard him speak so kindly? Was this the power of love?

Even his withered heart could become whole.

I was so shocked that I forgot to respond.

Zack then gave me a sidelong glance and a smirk. "Why aren't you leaving? Must I escort you out?"

Hearing that, I hurriedly left.

When I returned to my desk, Z had already responded. It was a picture of his abs and a voice message. "You'll see them in person next, baby."

I listened to it twice more, but something felt off.

Why did Z's voice sound similar to Zack's? I must've been so shocked earlier that my brain was fried.

Thanks to Zack's good mood, everyone had a decent time for three days straight.

Speculation was rife about who his companion was. To have transformed that ruthless capitalist into this was something worthy of worship.

Everyone was busy gossiping while I was swept away by nerves and excitement about my upcoming date.

Tomorrow was Saturday!

I was happily twiddling my thumbs, waiting to get out of work, when a coworker approached me.

"Hayley, Mr. Barlow asked to see you in his office."

As soon as I reached Zack's office, I heard the sound of him scolding someone, the thick doors unable to block out his cold voice.

"I want to see the results of your judgment, not potential drafts in your head. Well, your report shows that your department has made zero progress over the past month."

He paused, and then continued, "The data on page three—did you pick that via lottery? The only thing you did right was the page numbering. It looks like your brain decided to work remotely and not show up like the rest of you."

I was speechless. It seemed that the effect of his companion had lost its allure.

The doors opened, and the people filed out, their expressions grim.

I took several deep breaths, steeled myself with a sense of heroic resolve, and opened the door.

Zack sat in his expensive chair, his dark suit accentuating his sharp features. He exuded an air of elegance.

I couldn't help but sigh. He had such a nice face, but why did he have a mouth like that?

Zack pushed over a stack of documents. "This project is urgent. Work on it over the weekend," he said neutrally.

I stared, wide-eyed.

He didn't call me in to scold me, but to make me work like a dog. I desperately wanted to throw the folder at him.

"Since it's urgent, the Finance Department will triple your salary," Zack added.

Holy crap! Why didn't he tell me that sooner?

Even though Zack had a barbed tongue and high demands, he really knew how to pay up where money was concerned.

Who could refuse the triple pay?

I took over the folder and smiled. "Of course, Mr. Barlow."

However, this last-minute gig meant that my date had to be canceled.

Before I could think of how to tell Z, he called me first. "It'll be chilly tomorrow. Wear a sweater. We'll see each other in 14 hours."

Hearing how caring he was made me feel guiltier. I slumped on the couch, my head hanging low.

"I don't think I can make it tomorrow, darling. I have to work overtime. I'm sorry."

He was silent for a while, making me wonder if he was upset.

It was only natural for him to be upset. He'd been looking forward to it for days, only to be stood up at the last minute. I'd have been upset, too.

I was about to apologize when another notification popped up. He'd sent me 10 thousand dollars.

I was slightly confused. "Why did you send me money?"

He laughed and said affectionately, "Well, working overtime is tough. Take good care of yourself, darling."