A Playful Moment Before the Storm
After Felberta Ashbourne left, silence gradually settled over the office.
The soft click of the closing door echoed for a moment before fading into the quiet hum of the air conditioner. Warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long golden streaks across the polished floor. Beyond the glass, the city carried on as usual—cars flowed through busy streets, distant voices blended into the urban rhythm—but inside the spacious CEO’s office, the atmosphere had noticeably relaxed.
Bianca De Dominicis remained seated behind her elegant desk.
Her crimson eyes lingered on the closed door for several long seconds, as though her thoughts had followed Felberta out of the room. Finally, she leaned back in her chair and let out a slow breath.
A faint, helpless smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
She shook her head to herself before clicking her tongue in quiet disbelief.
"Tsk... tsk..."
Julian D’Aurelius, who had been standing nearby, looked up at her. The amused expression on her face immediately caught his attention.
A small smile spread across his own lips.
"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What’s with that look?"
Bianca rested an elbow on the armrest and lazily propped her chin against her hand.
For a brief moment, she seemed lost in thought, remembering the woman who had just walked out.
"It’s nothing," she replied with a soft chuckle.
Then she laughed at herself, shaking her head again.
"I’m just... surprised."
She paused, searching for the right words before continuing.
"Even as a woman, I couldn’t help staring."
There wasn’t a trace of jealousy in her voice—only genuine admiration mixed with a hint of disbelief.
"That woman has an unbelievable figure."
Her gaze drifted downward for a moment as she instinctively looked at herself before letting out another quiet sigh.
Then she crossed one long, elegant leg over the other.
"Seriously..." she muttered with a wry smile. "Her legs have to be at least one-point-three meters long."
She looked back at Julian, the corners of her lips curling into a self-deprecating smile.
"For the first time in a very long time..."
"I actually felt a little inferior."
The confession lingered in the air.
It wasn’t bitterness or envy that colored her words.
If anything, it was the rare honesty of someone who had always been confident in herself, only to meet another woman whose presence was so striking that even she couldn’t help but feel humbled for a fleeting moment.
Julian blinked before instinctively lowering his gaze.
His eyes wandered toward Bianca’s own long, fair legs.
They were elegantly crossed beneath the desk, graceful and slender, drawing attention without trying to.
He studied them for a brief moment before answering honestly.
"I think they’re about the same."
Bianca looked at him with a playful smile that slowly curved across her lips.
"Really?"
There was obvious amusement dancing in her beautiful eyes.
She crooked a finger at him.
"Come here."
Julian walked around the desk until he stood beside her chair.
Bianca tilted her head slightly.
"If you could touch either her legs or mine..."
She paused deliberately, watching his expression with barely concealed mischief.
"...which would you choose?"
Julian laughed.
Without the slightest hesitation, he leaned a little closer.
"Of course, I’d choose yours."
He smiled naturally.
"Why let an outsider have something so wonderful?"
The compliment made Bianca’s smile deepen.
Before she could answer, Julian’s thoughts quietly surfaced.
[Only kids make choices.]
[Adults want it all.]
[Honestly... when it comes to their legs, they’re almost the same.]
[But Felberta’s peach-shaped hips have a slight advantage.]
[Each has their own strengths.]
The moment those thoughts echoed inside Bianca’s mind, the smile on her face froze.
Her eyebrow twitched.
"So..."
She thought to herself.
"He’s actually comparing us?"
A second later, she reached out without warning.
Pinch.
Her fingers found the soft flesh at Julian’s waist.
She twisted gently.
Julian’s eyes widened instantly.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"
He jumped in place.
"Why are you pinching me?"
He looked utterly confused.
He was certain he hadn’t said anything offensive.
At least...
Not out loud.
Bianca slowly withdrew her hand, pretending to remain perfectly calm.
She folded her arms beneath her chest and gave a light snort.
"Because..."
"I know what you say isn’t what you’re really thinking."
Julian froze.
His smile stiffened.
A cold chill ran down his back.
Impossible...
Did she somehow figure it out?
Could she really see through him?
Inside, Bianca was struggling not to laugh.
Of course, she wasn’t about to reveal the truth.
If Julian discovered that she could hear his inner thoughts, all of these amusing moments would disappear forever.
Keeping the secret was far more entertaining.
Not long ago, she had even tried discussing this strange phenomenon with Amara Ravenswood.
Since Amara could also hear Julian’s inner voice, Bianca hoped the two of them could compare notes.
Unfortunately...
The moment they tried talking about it, it was as though an invisible force sealed their lips.
No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t explain it to each other.
Every attempt failed.
It was almost as if the secret itself refused to be spoken aloud.
Standing beside her, Julian remained completely unaware of everything running through Bianca’s mind.
Instead, another embarrassing possibility struck him.
"Wait..."
He swallowed.
"Could she have seen through my shameless personality?"
The thought alone made him feel unexpectedly guilty.
Bianca suddenly stood up.
The earlier teasing expression returned to her face.
"Alright."
She lightly dusted off her skirt before looking at him with a bright smile.
"Hurry up and come with me."
"We need to reshoot the commercial."
"The previous shots can’t be used."
Julian gave a helpless grin.
"Got it."
As Bianca walked past him toward the office door, she gave him a playful slap on the backside.
It wasn’t hard.
Just enough to make him blink in surprise.
Julian laughed.
"You’re asking for revenge."
He reached out, intending to return the favor.
Bianca had expected exactly that.
With a delighted laugh, she nimbly stepped out of his reach.
"Hehe."
She stuck her tongue out at him in playful triumph before hurrying toward the office door.
Julian could only shake his head with an amused smile as he watched her escape.
The cheerful laughter she left behind lingered in the office even after she disappeared into the hallway.