Chapter 21 Hiding Their Relationship

Despite their agreement to keep their romance under wraps at work, Luke brazenly parked his car in front of the office, stepping out to open the door for Charlotte. "Next time, let's not do this. It stands out too much." Charlotte could already picture the day's office buzz. But Luke longed for everyone to know about them. "I've always been upfront. Dodging around might make us look guilty." Charlotte found herself agreeing, recalling their last public outing at a dinner, where they openly arrived and left the hotel together. This openness suggested they were hiding nothing; whereas secretive behavior could actually fuel rumors. "Okay, let's go with that." Charlotte grabbed her breakfast from Luke before stepping out of the car. After a quick goodbye, she went into the office. Inside, Charlotte fretted about becoming the day's hot topic again. Just then, a woman with a curvy figure, clutching a coffee, rushed toward her. The entire contents of the cup drenched Charlotte, ruining both her outfit and the breakfast Luke had made for her, as everything splattered on the floor. "Oops, didn't see you there." The blonde, Olivia Anderson, flicked her hair nonchalantly, her tone far from apologetic. Spectators gawked at the unfolding drama. 'We've been trying to catch Luke's eye for ages. Why does Charlotte get all the attention, always stepping out of his car? How can she be so brazen?' Their minds buzzed with jealousy. Charlotte was deep in thought and didn't react immediately when the coffee spilled on her. She glanced down at her coffee-stained white shirt and quickly shielded herself with her purse to prevent any wardrobe mishaps. Charlotte remained calm, viewing the incident as just a small accident. "Next time, be more careful and try not to be so reckless." "I'm really sorry, I'll definitely be more cautious." Olivia tailed Charlotte. "Haven't you had breakfast? Should I get you another?" "No need, thank you. It's nearly lunchtime anyway. Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it myself." Luke, observing from a short distance, saw the whole scene. He understood that Olivia's actions were intentional and noticed others nearby who seemed amused by the situation. Once Charlotte was out of sight, Olivia went back to her friends. "See, I told you she's too innocent. I do something like that, and she still thinks it's just an accident." The group laughed together. "You're so smart. She's supposed to go with the boss to meet a client today. How's she supposed to leave with her shirt looking like that?" Olivia smiled smugly. "Well, she probably won't go now. I bet the boss will ask me instead. I refuse to believe I can't win over him more than her." "Find this funny?" Luke's voice cut through the air. Olivia, visibly shaken, feared the worst. 'He must've seen everything. What if he fires me?' She nervously approached him. "Boss, I swear it was an accident. The coffee was scalding, and it slipped because—" "Scalding?" Luke's brow furrowed, and he quickly made his way to Charlotte's office. Thinking Luke had let her off the hook, Olivia breathed a sigh of relief. "That was terrifying. He's good-looking, sure, but he's really scary when he's mad." "Tell me about it," another woman chimed in, equally rattled. In her office, Charlotte was trying to clean the coffee off her blouse, looking upset. Just then, Luke entered. "Are you alright, Charlotte?" She shook her head. "My clothes are all wet. I can't go to the client meeting with you today." "Lawson, get a women's suit and some burn cream, fast." Luke's assistant, Lawson, immediately appeared. "On it, boss." Luke's concern for Charlotte was evident. "Don't stress, Lawson will return shortly. How's the burn? Did the coffee scald you?" Charlotte's neck showed a slight redness from the burn, causing her some discomfort, but it was subsiding. "I'm okay, it's not too severe." She set aside the tissue she had been using. "It really was just an accident. I wasn't paying attention and walked right into her." Luke stayed quiet, deep in thought about the appropriate response to the incident. He felt a sense of responsibility; as a leader, it was his duty to ensure a respectful workplace, and today's event highlighted a lapse in that duty. Recognizing the need for action to prevent future occurrences and to safeguard Charlotte, he planned to address the matter with those involved. "Focus on your tasks. I've got a meeting, but I'll bring your clothes over once they arrive." "Go take care of your work. I'm fine, really. Don't let this distract you." In his office, Luke scrutinized the surveillance video and called in those implicated. "Your reasons don't matter. After today, you can't stay in the company. You made your choice, now face the consequences." Olivia was tearful and meek. "It was a mistake. I've apologized to Charlotte. Please, can you give me another chance? It won't happen again." "Again?" Luke was clearly annoyed. "I'll keep this incident confidential, but this is your last warning." Olivia had always aimed to captivate the CEO since day one, attracted by his looks, wealth, and loyalty. So she wasn't ready to give up. "I'll replace Charlotte's clothes. But I want you to know it was truly accidental." Attempting to influence Luke, Olivia subtly unbuttoned her shirt. Luke averted his gaze, unimpressed. "Do you conduct business like this?" Realizing her seductive approach was futile, Olivia reluctantly buttoned her shirt back up. She had been confident in her ability to captivate any man with her forward approach, but Luke's disinterest challenged this belief.