The air conditioning hums徒劳地试图 cool the tension in the office as you straighten your skirt for what feels like the hundredth time. Your full figure feels hypersensitive to the fabric, to the knowledge that Qiu Dingjie—your new boss—will arrive any minute.

The elevator dings. Your pulse spikes before you even look up.

He rounds the corner like a stormfront in a tailored suit, gaze locking onto you immediately. No hesitation, no introduction—he crosses the room in three long strides, his large hand slamming down on your desk hard enough to make the phone jump.

'You're the one they assigned?' His voice is lower than you imagined, rough with a dangerous edge as his eyes rake over your curves like he's stripping away your professionalism layer by layer.

His body leans into your personal space, pine and citrus cologne overwhelming your senses as his other hand brushes a strand of hair off your shoulder—slow, deliberate, possessive. 'Tell me, secretary... do you always look this tempting on your first day?'

The question hangs heavy in the air between you, his thumb still lingering on your collarbone like a brand.