Taming the Arrogant CEO

Lucas Zeller's dark, captivating eyes grew cold the moment they landed on Roy Lin standing behind Claire Grace.

"Mr. Zeller, you were looking for me?" Roy asked hesitantly. He could feel the icy tension from Lucas's glare, but his need for money pushed him to approach despite the palpable chill in the air.

"Yes." Lucas replied, his tone clipped. He gestured toward a thick stack of documents on the desk. "These are the materials for the 'Liquid Diamond' launch event. I'm putting your creative team in charge of it."

"What?" Roy exclaimed, stunned. Thinking he must have misheard, he asked again, "Wait, are you saying our team is designing the perfume for the 'Liquid Diamond' event?" Was he imagining things?

"That's correct." Lucas's expression didn't change, even as Roy's jaw nearly hit the floor in shock. Internally, though, Lucas was gleeful.

In truth, the task was just to familiarize Roy with the event schedule for 'Liquid Diamond,' not to have him design a new perfume. The reason for assigning such a time-consuming task? Roy had the audacity to chase after *his* Claire. Hmph! This would teach him a small lesson, keeping him so busy he wouldn't even have time to scratch his head, let alone pursue Claire.

"But, Mr. Zeller, I'm not a perfume designer. I don't know the first thing about fragrances." Roy groaned inwardly. What kind of cruel joke was this? Why give him such an impossible task?

Staring at the overwhelming stack of documents, Roy felt his head spinning and his knees weakening.

"Are you doubting my judgment?" Lucas raised a sharp eyebrow. "As an excellent cosmetics designer, you should not only master your own field but also be familiar with the other product lines in the company. Strive for excellence, expand your horizons. I believe you can handle it." Lucas leaned back in his chair, a sly glint flashing briefly in his eyes.

"Of course. I'll do my best not to disappoint you." What could Roy say? Lucas was the boss, the one who paid his bills. Plus, Lucas had said that a good designer should aim for versatility. Roy had no choice but to take on the challenge.

Resigned, Roy picked up the stack of documents. He glanced toward Claire, who was standing by the window with her head lowered, lost in thought. Shaking his head, he left the office without saying a word.

"Are you trying to practice standing still like a statue?" Lucas teased, his playful tone catching Claire off guard as she stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, pouting.

Startled, Claire lifted her head. "Where's Roy?"

"Well, it's work hours, so naturally, he's working." Lucas chuckled to himself, finding Roy's troubled expression amusing. It made the day feel especially bright and the sky impossibly blue.

"Mr. Zeller, you seem to be in a good mood," Claire observed, noting the upward curve of his lips.

"Come here." He gestured for her to sit beside him, patting the third of the chair that was left unoccupied.

What? Was he asking her to sit next to him? But they were at work! And— "Mr. Zeller, why did I suddenly get promoted to your executive assistant?" Claire blurted, remembering that she still hadn't asked for a proper explanation.

"Because Roy is getting married, and Sarah just resigned. I need an assistant. It's that simple." Lucas had anticipated her question, and he'd already prepared a flawless answer.

"But I don't know anything about being an assistant." Claire bit her lower lip, worried. Not to mention the strange looks her coworkers were already giving her.

"You don't need to. I know everything, and that's enough. You just need to handle the basics—like printing documents, organizing the office, preparing coffee, and—"

"No, no, no!" Claire waved her hands, cutting him off. "Aren't those tasks for the office interns?"

"You got a problem with that?" Lucas's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing through his half-lidded gaze.

"N-No," Claire stammered. But— "Mr. Zeller, can you not call me 'Snail Girl' at work?"

"I like it," Lucas replied bluntly, shutting down her request with three simple words.

That's it? Ugh! Had he taken the wrong medicine today or something? Was this really the same man who had been so approachable and even shy just the day before? How could he change his demeanor so fast? Was he some kind of two-faced person?

"What are you standing there for? I'm thirsty," Lucas's lazy voice snapped her out of her wandering thoughts.

Sighing, Claire rubbed her forehead in frustration before heading toward the break room. Behind her, Lucas leaned back, a satisfied smile spreading across his handsome face, knowing his plan had worked perfectly.