I Accidentally Sent My Boss a Message Meant for My Best Friend - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
I returned to my desk and bit down on the cap of my pen.
I felt strangely disappointed.
Why? Probably because, for one foolish moment, I had hoped.
Hoped for something I had no right to expect.
Just as I had seven years ago.
“You’re Li Yue?”
Huh?
I looked up. A young woman in a dress stood in front of me.
“Yes, that’s me. Is there something I can help you with?”
There was something decidedly unfriendly about her tone. She held her chin high and barely deigned to look at me.
“Get me a cup of coffee.”
Then she turned and sat on the sofa across from my desk.
I had no idea what was going on, but anyone who could stroll into the Qin Group headquarters had to be somebody. I couldn’t afford to offend her.
I obediently went to make the coffee. At the pantry, I overheard two coworkers whispering.
“She’s done for. The rightful claimant is here.”
“This is going to be good.”
What were they talking about? I sidled over.
“Why am I done for? Who is she?”
They stared at me for a moment before answering.
“That’s Wen Yihan, the heiress of the Wen Group. She’s President Qin’s number-one admirer.”
“A rich friend gave me the inside scoop.”
“Everyone in their circle knows how hard Wen Yihan has chased after him.”
“Then again, that’s a world you’ll never have access to. No wonder you didn’t know.”
So that was it.
Had Miss Wen heard about yesterday’s fiasco at the office? Was that why she was treating me with such hostility?
Running my mouth had felt great in the moment. The consequences, not so much.
I made the coffee and set it in front of her.
“Here you are.” I should leave while I still could.
Qin Lie was out on business. If she started something with me now, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
“Come back.”
A bad feeling crept over me as she called me to a halt.
“Did I say I wanted iced coffee?”
I knew it.
“Take it away and make another. I want it hot.”
Outside, the temperature had climbed to forty degrees Celsius. I silently squeezed out an exhausted smile.
“Of course, Miss Wen.”
And so it began.
“Too hot.”
Make it again.
“Too cold.”
Make it again.
“Too sweet.”
Make it again.
“Not enough sugar.”
Make it again.
“It isn’t properly dissolved.”
Make it again.
“The rim of this cup looks dirty.”
“Make it again.”
Hahahahahahahaha.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
I was going to lose my goddamn mind.
“Miss Wen, we’re out of coffee.”
The bottom of her cup struck its saucer with a sharp clink as she stood.
“Are you really out of coffee, or do you just not want to serve me?”
“I came to see Lie. Is this how his assistant does her job?”
“You can’t even make a decent cup of coffee. What does this company keep you around for?”
“A dog would be more useful.”
I had thought she was merely a spoiled heiress throwing a tantrum. Apparently, she was perfectly willing to attack my dignity too.
I ignored her and turned away.
If I couldn’t afford to confront her, I could at least avoid her.
But she suddenly seized my arm and snatched up the coffee, ready to fling it at me.
How cliché.
I dodged.
My reflexes were faster than hers, so the coffee missed me.
It drenched Qin Lie, who had just walked up behind us.
A large patch of his white shirt turned wet. Unfortunately, there were no visible abs this time—the coffee had stained the fabric brown.
Everyone froze.
“L-Lie, I didn’t mean to!”
“It was her. All I did was say the cup looked a little dirty and ask for another one. Your assistant gave me an attitude.”
Wen Yihan pointed at me.
Qin Lie drew a heavy breath. Not a trace of emotion crossed his face as he looked down at her.
“This company is not a playground for your spoiled-heiress tantrums.”
“Don’t come here looking for me again.”
No wonder my best friend had said every rich young lady who approached him ran into a wall.
Cold. Merciless.
He did not dignify Wen Yihan’s accusations with a response. As he passed me, he said flatly, “Come inside.”
Under Wen Yihan’s furious, disbelieving stare, I followed him into his office.
“Find me something to change into.”
I opened a cabinet and took out a suit.
Qin Lie was an exceptionally driven man. When work got busy, he sometimes spent the night at the office instead of going home. It happened often enough that he kept several changes of clothes here.
He possessed the calm reason of a mature man and an almost brutal ambition. He was nothing like the idle heir to a family fortune. His standards for himself were exacting, and his workload was relentless.
I had just pulled out the suit when I turned around.
He had already removed his shirt and stood there naked from the waist up.
!!
My face went scarlet.
Since when had he become so… uninhibited?
“Give it to me.” He held out one large hand.
“Oh…” I snapped back to myself and hurriedly passed him the clothes.
My gaze, however, wandered of its own accord.
Defined collarbones. Pale, sculpted pectorals. Veins tracing his forearms. Those flawless lines across his abdomen.
Why wasn’t he the least bit self-conscious around me?
Could he be doing this on purpose?
I slapped my cheeks.
Impossible. A man like him…
How could he possibly?
