The CEO'S Forbidden Temptation

chapter 4

The Mysterious Boss

7:30 the following morning.

The Sovereign Group skyscraper towered over the heart of the city, its sleek modern architecture radiating an air of grandeur. Leng Yue arrived well before the start of the workday.

She wore a dark-gray blazer paired with straight-cut trousers, giving her an effortlessly cool, intelligent, and commanding presence.

Along the executive-floor corridor, the atmosphere was noticeably more hectic than usual. Female employees and senior secretaries gathered in small groups, whispering excitedly with flushed cheeks.

“Have you heard? Our CEO, Mr. Lu Chen, has officially returned from the European headquarters! He’ll be taking over operations here starting today!”

“I heard he’s incredibly strict and ruthless! One tiny mistake in a report could get a senior manager fired on the spot!”

“But he’s unbelievably handsome, and his physique is incredible… He’s still single, too, although his presence is absolutely terrifying!”

Leng Yue walked past them without breaking stride, a faint smile forming inwardly.

She already knew exactly who this business monster they were talking about was.

At precisely 7:55 a.m., a convoy of security vehicles pulled into the main lobby’s drop-off area.

A jet-black Rolls-Royce Phantom with tinted windows came to a stop on the red carpet.

Hans, the notoriously stern Senior Executive Assistant, hurried out of one of the security vehicles and opened the rear door with a gesture of utmost respect.

Lu Chen stepped out.

He was dressed in an impeccably tailored black three-piece suit from one of Savile Row’s finest tailors. His hair was slicked neatly back, accentuating his almost untouchable good looks and the overwhelming authority radiating from him.

Dozens of employees lined the lobby, lowering their heads respectfully as he passed.

As Lu Chen strode through the rows of employees toward the private elevator, his sharp, hawk-like eyes precisely locked onto Leng Yue standing at the front of the newly hired assistants.

He stopped directly in front of her.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

With a casual yet unmistakably dominant movement, Lu Chen caught the lanyard hanging around Leng Yue’s neck and tugged it forward, pulling her one step closer until only a few inches separated their chests.

Their eyes collided.

Lu Chen glanced down at the name printed on her transparent ID card.

“Leng Yue.”

“Good morning, and welcome back, Mr. Lu Chen,” Leng Yue greeted him in a clear, steady voice, showing not the slightest trace of hesitation or awkwardness in front of the breathless employees watching them.

Lu Chen released the lanyard, letting it fall lightly against Leng Yue’s chest.

Without another word, he turned and stepped into the private elevator. The doors closed behind him.

Three minutes later, just as Leng Yue had placed her work bag on her assistant’s desk, Hans approached her with a serious expression.

“Ms. Leng Yue, the CEO would like to see you in his office on the top floor. Immediately.”

Calm and composed, Leng Yue took the elevator to the executive penthouse.

She knocked on the massive mahogany doors.

“Come in.”

The deep, cold voice came from inside.

Leng Yue pushed open the door and entered the enormous office, its floor-to-ceiling glass walls offering a breathtaking view of the city.

She stood gracefully before the imposing glass-topped desk.

“Is there a special assignment you need me to handle for today’s operations, Mr. Lu?”

Lu Chen was leaning back in his luxurious leather chair. His gaze traveled slowly from head to toe.

“You don’t look surprised to see me sitting in this chair.”

“Your identity and position as Sovereign Enterprise’s majority shareholder were clearly stated on the business card you gave me last night, Mr. Lu,” Leng Yue replied matter-of-factly, completely unfazed. “I can read.”

Lu Chen rose from his chair and walked around the long desk until he stood directly in front of her.

The pressure of his presence seemed to make the space between them shrink.

“It’s good to know you can read,” Lu Chen said.

He leaned forward, planting both muscular arms on the edge of the desk behind Leng Yue, effectively trapping her in an intensely intimate space.

“Then you must also realize that you still haven’t paid me for the emergency shelter you used last night.”

Leng Yue gave him a faint smile, meeting his dark eyes without looking away.

“I work for your company in a professional capacity—to provide the best business analysis I can, earn my salary, and repay that debt with my dignity intact, Mr. Lu.”

Lu Chen tilted his head slightly and leaned closer until his warm breath brushed against the skin of her neck.

“In my financial system, interest accrues every hour, Leng Yue…”

His voice dropped.

“And I’m the only one entitled to decide how that debt is repaid.”

Leng Yue gave a quiet, amused smirk as she stared directly into the eyes of the man who ruled the company.

“Then I suggest you make sure your calculations are accurate, Mr. Lu—and that you don’t underestimate the value of my dignity.”