The Substitute Bride

Chapter 13: A Flicker of Jealousy

Alexander Blackwood led Lydia Harper into his office.

“That room,” he said, pointing to a corner, “is my lounge. Go rest. I have work to finish.”

Lydia nodded, stepping inside. She froze for a moment.

The room was luxurious. Minimalist, yet every detail screamed expensive: a plush bed, a sleek sofa, a leather recliner, and a large flat-screen TV. Modern artwork adorned the walls, each piece a subtle statement of wealth and taste.

A man in a sharp suit entered with a tray.

“Hello, Miss. I’m Nathan Cole, President Blackwood’s secretary. Here’s your coffee.”

“Thank you,” Lydia said, blinking. A male secretary? That was unexpected.

Nathan leaned in slightly, curiosity evident in his voice. “You’re a student? Which school?”

“Mo Bei University,” she replied.

“Major?”

“Broadcasting and hosting.”

He smiled, appraising her with the faintest admiration. “You’ve got the look for acting. But your voice suits your major perfectly.”

Lydia smiled politely. He hesitated, then whispered, “Are you and President Blackwood… together?”

She opened her mouth to respond—

“Nathan!”

A cold, icy voice cut through the air.

“Are you dead in there? I told you to bring coffee, not to chat.”

Both froze. Alexander stood at the door, eyes dark, expression sharp and unyielding.

Nathan bolted. “Talk later!” He was gone in seconds.

Lydia lowered her head, quiet, obedient.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like how easily she talked to others, didn’t like her smile—especially when it was aimed at someone else. She was gentle. Beautiful. Even without him, people would notice her. The thought irritated him more than it should have.

A moment later, he left, and Lydia finally exhaled. She pulled out her homework and began writing. Time slipped by. Once she finished, she picked up her phone and started playing a strategy game.

“What are you playing?” Alexander’s voice came from the doorway.

“A strategy game,” she said, seriously. “It takes intelligence and courage.”

“Something like chess?” he asked, a faint smirk on his lips.

“Sort of,” she replied. “It’s a card-based strategy game. Fast-paced, keeps your mind sharp.”

He raised an eyebrow, expression blank for a moment, clearly unimpressed.

“Stop playing. Let’s eat,” he said finally.

“Okay.” Lydia glanced at the clock. “Wow… it’s already 11:30?”

They took the private elevator down. The Evercrest Group lobby was bustling with employees heading out for lunch. The moment they noticed Alexander, they straightened instinctively.

“Good afternoon, President Blackwood,” they said in unison.

Lydia followed quietly, her steps measured. She felt the weight of his presence behind her, commanding yet subtly protective. She had long since learned to walk in his world with care—never challenging, never presumptuous—but always aware of the currents swirling around them.

Alexander glanced down at her as they stepped into the lobby, his expression unreadable. A flicker of something—jealousy, perhaps—crossed his eyes as he watched her interactions, brief but telling. She didn’t notice, too absorbed in keeping her composure, yet the small shift in his demeanor made her pulse quicken.

Even here, amidst the polished glass and the hum of professionalism, the tension between them hung silently, an invisible thread linking their worlds. He might command the room, the company, even her attention, but she wasn’t entirely lost in his orbit.

And for the first time that day, Lydia felt the peculiar thrill of recognition—of being seen, even if only partially, in the man who dominated both the room and her thoughts.