Chapter 4 punish
1773 Words
He’s angry, isn’t he?
She didn’t answer his questions properly, and she even lied to him.
But Chen Sirong didn’t know what to do. She could only reply to C again: “I’m sorry.”
C: I don’t need your apologies. When you make a mistake, you need to accept punishment. If you refuse, we won’t need to contact each other anymore. If you accept, say you agree to the punishment.
Chen Sirong’s scalp tingled, and her entire body burned with shame.
Without thinking, she sent back, “I agree to accept the punishment.”
She felt an overwhelming sense of oppression and an overwhelming sense of strength.
Even though this was their first conversation, some things didn’t need to be announced with fanfare.
He had that kind of charm.
The kind of charm that made her willing to obey him through the screen, the kind of charm that made Sara risk sending her own photos despite not listening to her master’s instructions.Sara wanted to keep him, and so did Chen Sirong.
C: Buy your boss a cup of coffee.
This… what kind of punishment was this?Chen Sirong furrowed her brows, but quickly realized that, for her, this was a tangible punishment.
She glanced at Caesar, feeling her legs grow weaker.
She wasn’t Caesar’s secretary and had no obligation to buy him coffee. She wasn’t close to Caesar, or anyone else on the team for that matter.
It had been a short time since Caesar arrived. The previous manager’s departure wasn’t a smooth transition. The team had underperformed in recent years, and sponsors had many grievances. But the previous manager had worked hard and was respected by everyone. He had been with Ferrari for eight years, not a short time.
Now, sponsors had forced Caesar into the role.
He wasn’t young, Chen Sirong heard he was in his early thirties, but compared to the previous manager and other team leaders, Caesar’s arrival felt like a slap in the face to the older members of the team.Plus, he had Chinese heritage. The team was like a small society, and rumors always spread quickly.
“He mother was his father’s second wife. They divorced quickly after having Caesar.”
“Why?”
“Because his mother cheated.”
People let the rumors spread, which was also a way of showing contempt for the subject of the rumors.
“He’s no better than the rest.”
Caesar wasn’t the type to lower himself to try to win over his colleagues. He focused entirely on building the team, which only added to everyone’s resentment.
Did he have any close colleagues who would buy him a coffee?
Chen Sirong was certain: At least not now.
She could imagine the expression on Caesar’s face when that coffee was handed to him.
He was a polite man, at least on the surface.
Those deep blue eyes would look at you, and he’d say “thank you,” then add, “But your report is terrible.”
The familiar, not-yet-forgotten fear of being dominated by Caesar swept over Chen Sirong again, making her scalp tingle.And when she finally snapped back to reality and realized she hadn’t replied to the message, C had already ended the conversation.
C: “No need for proof. What time are you free tomorrow evening?”
C: “I have other things to do. Let’s stick with eight o’clock.”
Chen Sirong quickly replied, “Okay.”
But there was no further response.
She held her phone, her body sinking into the couch.
Caesar was on a call, and James was nowhere to be seen.
It was 8:30 PM, with half an hour until the plane departed.
A bar nearby had various self-service meals and drinks.
Chen Sirong felt an emptiness and itch in her chest. She thought, why not go all in.
With that, she stood up from her seat. But Chen Sirong didn’t choose the self-service coffee; she remembered there was a chain coffee shop at the entrance of the lounge.
She didn’t want to give Caesar free coffee.
Pushing open the coffee shop door, there weren’t many people inside.
Chen Sirong didn’t bring her coat, only her phone.
She approached the counter and said, “Please give me an Espresso.”
Barista: “Name?”
Chen Sirong: “Grace.”
After paying, Chen Sirong stepped aside to wait.
In the quiet coffee shop, people occasionally came and went. A bell by the door rang softly.
Chen Sirong leaned against a short cabinet, thinking about how to deliver the coffee.
Caesar walked in at that moment.
The lighting in the coffee shop wasn’t bright, perhaps to create a relaxed, warm atmosphere.
But he immediately noticed the woman leaning against the short cabinet.
The tight, lightweight sweater accentuated her figure, and the fitted pencil skirt smoothly showcased her hips and legs. Her pale, straight calves looked like soft, bright moonlight.
Her head was lowered, and her lower lip was bitten by her white teeth.
Nothing more was visible.
Her wavy long hair, like living seaweed, softly framed her face——like his mother.
Caesar quickly averted his gaze and walked briskly to the counter.
“An Espresso, please.”
“Name?”
“Caesar.”
Chen Sirong’s eyes darted toward him.
In the dimly lit coffee shop, Caesar also looked her way. He nodded slightly to Chen Sirong but didn’t approach.
Chen Sirong’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a hand.
He had come to buy his own coffee.
Fortunately, she hadn’t left her name as “Caesar,” but “Grace.”
“Caesar,” Chen Sirong’s mind suddenly echoed his voice.She realized he preferred using his last name.
In everyday life, people usually use their first names. But he liked using his last name.
A surname often represents family, and using a surname signifies pride in one’s lineage.
Chen Sirong’s thoughts were easily drawn to his surname until her own name was called by Caesar.
“Grace, your coffee is ready.”
The barista looked toward Chen Sirong, who suddenly felt flustered.
“Yes, sorry,” she replied and apologized, quickly walking to the counter.
She acted as if she knew Caesar was watching her, so she dared not look up at him.But she hadn’t done anything wrong; she hadn’t yet handed out the coffee.
However, the guilty feeling of “secret plotting” still pulled her gaze downward, and she quickly picked up the coffee, said “thank you,” and prepared to leave.
She walked too quickly and too nervously.Nervously, she didn’t hear the barista call Caesar’s name. In that moment, the coffee cup collided heavily with Caesar’s chest.
A common “little accident.”
The staff quickly brought tissues.Most of the coffee spilled onto Caesar’s chest, staining his white shirt and vest.
Chen Sirong took the tissues and began to wipe him quickly.Caesar, however, took a small step back.
Chen Sirong’s nose instantly grew sour.“I’m sorry, Caesar, I—” But before she could finish, Caesar had already taken a fresh stack of tissues from the counter.He knelt slightly, his gaze level with hers.
In the dimly lit coffee shop, his deep blue eyes were like foggy London skies. His voice remained calm and steady as he said, “No need to apologize. It’s not your fault.”
His fingers carried the scent of his calm, cold cologne. He folded the tissues and gently pressed them against her jaw and cheeks.
She was too flustered to notice the coffee on her face.
Her body froze in that moment.
Caesar’s actions were not suggestive; he carefully wiped the coffee stains from her face.
Finally, he reached her slightly open lips, caused by her inability to breathe.
She had soft, watery lips, not thin, but full and inviting.Caesar’s thumb gently pressed against her lip, and Chen Sirong’s body broke out in goosebumps.
She resisted the urge to s*ck his thumb and stepped back.
“Thank you,” she said.
Chen Sirong turned to leave, but Caesar called her back.
“Have you considered quitting?” he asked.
He stood tall, and Chen Sirong had to look up at him.
The intimate atmosphere shattered with his words.
“I can’t find a better job than this,” Chen Sirong said.
“But clearly, you can’t breathe normally when I’m around.”
“It’s not like that. I can,” Chen Sirong blurted out, unable to back down when it came to her job.
“But your performance just now didn’t reflect that.”
Caesar’s voice had been calm from the start, but Chen Sirong felt as if she’d fallen into an icy freezer.
She loved this job, and she needed it.
Getting an internship at Ferrari was the result of her ranking first in her major. She couldn’t just give it up.
“This coffee was meant for you,” Chen Sirong gave up the fight.
Caesar looked at her, silent for a second.
“Why?”
Chen Sirong took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.
“Because you said my report was good, so I wanted to thank you.”
Caesar looked at her silently.Chen Sirong forced herself to breathe.
“Breath, Grace.”
“Breath, Grace.”
“Breath, Grace.”
She repeated it in her mind.
“So,” Caesar said gravely, “you were nervous because I also came to buy coffee?”
Chen Sirong’s nose tingled again, her tone defeated.“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Chen Sirong apologized, “I just wanted to say that working with you really isn’t a problem for me.” She spoke quickly, adding, “What about your shirt?”
“There are spare clothes on the plane.”
“Then… let’s go. It’s almost nine.”
Caesar said, “Wait.”
He then went back to the counter.
Chen Sirong watched as Caesar returned with two coffees.
“This one is for you, as I misunderstood you, so I’ll pay for it. The one I bought earlier is my treat.”
Caesar handed her a coffee.Chen Sirong’s heart and hands were “burned” by the cup.
The two walked toward the coffee shop door, not too far apart.
Caesar opened the door, and Chen Sirong stepped out first.
He was tall, and as she passed him, she felt as if he easily enveloped her. She held her breath, wanting to move quickly, but suddenly heard him say:—“My bad, Grace.”
His voice was low, as if spoken in her ear.
Chen Sirong looked up, meeting his deep blue eyes.
- Writer
