Claiming His Heart (English Version)

Chapter 40

Lucy fidgeted in her spot outside Drake’s office, the leather chair creaking slightly under her restless movements. Her fingers drummed against her knees, and she shifted from foot to foot, unable to sit still. Over an hour had passed since that shameless woman had strutted into his office, and Lucy’s patience was fraying by the minute. Every tick of the clock seemed to echo in her head, each second amplifying her irritation. Why had Felicity not come out yet? Why was Drake entertaining her like that? The thought made Lucy’s blood boil. She was itching to storm in, to shove Felicity away, to remind Drake—no, to show him that she was the one who truly belonged in his world.

Every now and then, Daryl approached her, his easy grin doing little to calm her rising frustration.

“Maybe some miracle happened in there, Lucy my friend,” he teased, trying to provoke her.

Lucy’s glare could have cut steel. “One more joke like that, and you’ll regret it, Daryl. I thought you were on my side? Now what are you doing? Want me to poke your lungs?” she snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at him.

Daryl merely laughed, holding up a peace sign as if to declare victory. “Relax, I’m joking. That’s just how your heart reacts when an interesting proposal is on the table. And the bonus is when you’re interested in the proposer too,” he said, clearly enjoying himself.

Annoyed beyond measure, Lucy grabbed a pen from the nearby table and threw it at him. It sailed through the air, narrowly missing him as he dodged with a playful laugh.

“You really are impossible, Daryl,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

The office door, which she had been obsessively watching, finally swung open. Drake and Felicity emerged, laughing together, their voices carrying into the hallway. Lucy’s stomach twisted, a strange mix of jealousy and fury coiling inside her.

“I really love your proposal, Drake. You really know how to make investors fall in love. Here’s to our future success,” Felicity said brightly, her tone light, teasing, and intimate all at once.

“Of course. And I’m glad you finally said yes. We’ve wanted to collaborate with a company like yours for a long time, Felicity. Thank you,” Drake replied calmly, his composure unshaken.

Lucy’s eyes narrowed as she studied the scene. Every smile, every tilt of Drake’s head, every faint chuckle. It was enough to ignite her inner storm.

“So, how about it? I won’t take up more of your time. Maybe we could go out sometime… a date, perhaps? What do you think?” Felicity added, brushing against Drake casually, her perfume wafting faintly into the hallway. Lucy felt her pulse spike, her chest tightening with a mixture of outrage and disbelief.

Drake glanced toward Lucy, and she raised a single eyebrow, silently challenging him.

“Say yes, and the sun won’t rise on you,” she muttered under her breath, a thread of warning hidden in her words.

Felicity, oblivious or choosing to ignore it, smiled sweetly at Drake as if Lucy weren’t even there.

“Sure, it’s my pleasure, Felicity. I enjoy your company, so why not?” Drake said with a grin that made Lucy’s ears burn as if a flame had been ignited inside her. Daryl, sensing her tension, nudged her gently.

“Calm down, or you’ll explode,” he whispered, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I swear I will if you don’t let me go,” Lucy hissed, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

“If you show jealousy, he’ll think he’s won. Do you want to look pathetic in front of him?” Daryl asked, leaning close.

Lucy froze. “What do you mean?”

He grinned, dragging her slightly aside. “Relax. Instead of letting your emotions blow up, play along. I know she’s doing it on purpose. The perfect revenge? Act. Keep your cool. Make it theatrical, make it believable. Now, breathe, calm yourself, and get ready for our perfect show.”

Lucy’s chest heaved as she nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Daryl, never missing a beat, leaned closer and whispered, “Come on, babe. Join me at my condo later. I have a surprise for you, and I know you’ll love it.”

Her eyes widened at the thought, a shiver of anticipation running down her spine. She wanted to punch him, but she knew she had to stay composed. Drake and Felicity were still in her peripheral vision.

“Fine, but make sure I enjoy it,” she teased, a sly smile tugging at her lips. Daryl’s grin widened in response, victorious in his small victory.

“Oh, lovebirds. Didn’t notice you there. You have a boyfriend, huh? Good taste, dear. But your boy’s got a low standard—” Felicity’s teasing tone cut through, drawing Drake’s attention sharply.

“When did this happen?” Drake interrupted, his voice sharp and controlled, his gaze snapping between them.

Felicity’s smile softened as she took Daryl’s hand. “Just now, Boss. Your meeting took so long, so to avoid boredom, I said yes to Daryl.”

Drake furrowed his brow, glancing at Daryl, who winked mischievously, clearly enjoying every second of the chaos.

“Finally, she said yes. I must be the happiest guy in the world,” Daryl whispered, grinning smugly.

“Congrats, then,” Drake replied, his expression unreadable, yet there was a flicker, subtle but unmistakable of something behind his eyes. Lucy couldn’t help the smirk forming on her lips, enjoying the slight c***k in his composed exterior.

“Come on, Felicity. I’ll take you downstairs,” Drake said, offering his arm. Felicity linked hers with his, beaming as they walked away. “Sure, come on. I don’t want to watch this scene anymore. You can take me wherever you want, Drake.”

Daryl burst into laughter as they disappeared from view.

“Hahaha, did you see his reaction? Better than someone who just lost everything!” he exclaimed.

Lucy smacked his arm and lunged at him, fuming. “You’re impossible, Daryl! Why did you think that up? What about us? What will he think?”

“Relax, Lucy. It worked perfectly. Did you see his reaction? He’s jealous. It’s written all over him,” Daryl said, grinning.

Lucy pouted, frustrated that victory didn’t taste sweet. That meddlesome Felicity had clung to Drake like a shadow, yet Daryl’s plan had forced a c***k, a glimpse of emotion. She shook her head. “Why did I even agree to your plan? Next time, I won’t fall for it. I lost big!”

“Wow, you really think you lost? Didn’t Boss just acknowledge your taste? You’re lucky with this handsome guy,” Daryl teased, leaning closer.

“I swear, you’d better make it up to me later. And fix what I did. Otherwise, I might lose all hope in my boss. I’ll kill you!” she threatened, her hands on her hips.

Daryl saluted dramatically, still holding back laughter. “Yes, ma’am! Don’t worry, Lucy. Now that he thinks I’m your boyfriend, let’s see what he does. I know how his every move is predictable. And I can tell you, our act will be award-winning.”

Lucy rolled her eyes but allowed herself a tiny grin. The tension in her chest remained, but a spark of exhilaration lit her from within. The question remained: would Drake bite the bait? Would he finally reveal what he was feeling, if only subtly? Only time—and their carefully plotted mischief—would tell.