CEO's Stand In Lover

In the Elevator

“President, I did call you! You were just standing there daydreaming—what could I do about it?” Lucy teased, a mischievous glimmer in her dark eyes. “Do you expect me to scream in your ear? If I were to shout, then don’t blame it on me if your ears are deaf!”

With a playful twist of her eyes, she added in a mock-serious tone, “If you don’t feel like smiling, then don’t force it!”

Kevin looked at her coolly, and then with an elegant stride, he stepped into the elevator. His forced smile, however, looked utterly pathetic. Lucy froze for a moment.

As the elevator steadily ascended, she felt her body temperature rising—perhaps the warmth from Kevin was slowly transferring to her. It was only a slight warmth, yet she found herself almost desperate to cling to it.

They arrived at the CEO’s office on the top floor of Kevin Group—a spacious, well-lit room accentuated by hidden lighting. A large green plant in the corner added a touch of fresh vibrancy, while the gleaming marble floor and the magnificent desk set against a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the starlit night and the cityscape below.

Seated in a grand, leather high-back chair, Kevin’s deep gaze was fixed on the darkened sky outside. In the backlight, his delicate features exuded both melancholy and tranquility. Looking at the desolate scene outside, Kevin felt a pang of loneliness and isolation.

“Bella, do you have any idea what my life has been like since you left? Without you, my world has come to a complete standstill—everything has lost its meaning!” he murmured.

For an instant, the memory of Lucy’s gentle smile flashed through his mind, and unnoticed, a tender warmth softened his lips. He thought She was sometimes cold, sometimes playful, and sometimes as pure as an angel. What kind of woman are you, Lucy?

Suddenly, the door swung open. A stunning woman with bright, clear eyes approached him. “The president’s already off duty—if you don’t leave, I’m heading out too!” she declared.

Lucy watched Kevin’s broad shoulders and his jet-black, glossy hair as his back slowly receded. At that moment, she felt a twinge of sorrow—he seemed so solitary. Perhaps he wasn’t truly frightening; maybe he, like her, was accustomed to living in his world, not wanting to be disturbed.

“If you don’t leave, then I’m leaving!” Lucy announced, turning to go.

Just as she was about to take a step, a low, husky voice stopped her:

“Could you stay with me for a while?”

Lucy froze. Her clear eyes widened in disbelief as she asked softly, “President, what are you saying?”

Kevin turned, his violet eyes glistening with a hint of hidden pain. “If you don’t want to… then go ahead. You may leave,” he offered, though his gaze never wavered from hers.

They stood there, locked in each other’s eyes, as everything else around them seemed to fall silent—as if time itself had halted. In that suspended moment, all they could see was each other.

Kevin’s expression shifted subtly. The cold hardness on his face melted into something different, and his pale violet eyes began to glow with a gentle warmth. Suddenly, he stepped forward and grasped Lucy’s hand. His violet gaze bore into hers as if pleading,

“Please, stay with me for a little while—just twenty minutes.”

Lucy’s expression turned to one of surprise; her dark eyes widened. Noticing her unease, Kevin softened his plea. “I know it might be too much to ask… how about just ten minutes?”

Lucy said nothing, simply staring at his exquisitely deep face. On his flawless features, she sensed an indescribable sorrow slowly overflowing. What is it that troubles you? What has made you so sad?

She seemed ready to leave, yet her feet felt as though they were weighed down with lead—unwilling to move. “If you want to leave, then just go. Don’t force yourself,” she whispered.

Kevin, gazing into her tumultuous eyes, found himself at a loss for words. Gradually, he reached out and touched the face he had dreamt about countless times. As the warmth spread through his fingertips, his broad hand trembled slightly.

What a comforting touch! He thought. That’s exactly the kind of warmth I remember.

His fingers traced the delicate curve of her flower-like lips, and as Lucy unconsciously licked her lips, Kevin flinched. It was natural—any man would be affected by such intimacy. Yet, he couldn’t understand why his normally calm self now yearned for her company, even if only for a meager ten minutes.

Suddenly, as if overcome by impulse, Kevin’s large hand clutched the back of Lucy’s head and his lips descended in a burning kiss upon her petal-soft mouth. The kiss was intense and overwhelming, sparking a surge of fear within Lucy.

Was his intent merely to have her keep him company? Why had it escalated like this? The kiss deepened, growing more fervent. At times, it seemed almost greedy as he savored the sweetness of her mouth—a sweetness as intoxicating as poppy flowers, leaving him helplessly captivated.

Kevin looked into Lucy’s flawless, luminous eyes—so beautiful and radiant, mirroring the starlight from outside and reflecting his image. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if the woman before him was his Bella or Lucy.

“Bella…” he whispered.

Lucy’s eyes suddenly shot wide open, stunned. She stared blankly at Kevin, whose clear gaze now brimmed with incredulous light.

Once again, he had mistaken her for the woman he called Bella. How tragic—when had Lucy become so diminished as to be merely a substitute?

Summoning every bit of strength, Lucy shoved Kevin away. “President, I’m not the Bella you speak of! Please, don’t confuse me with her! And let tonight be forgotten—I never want this to happen again!”