No Ads Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Doriss gaze met Lewiss , and for a fleeting moment , surprise flickered in both their eyes Its you ? Doris exclaimed , her tone tinged with both astonishment and delight as she liked at Lewis and the man standing behind him Daniel . Daniel , caught off guard by the encounter with the CEOs wife at Hartman Group , froze in place , barely daring to breathe Didnt you ask where I worked ? Lewiss expression remained stoic , his voice calm as ever Well , this is where I work You work at the Hartman Group ? Dorics eyes lit up , a spark of curiosity and admiration dancing in her gaze Lewis noticed that glimmer in her eyes , but his tone stayed low and steady . Why ? Is there a problem with that ? Doris glanced at the sleek Maybach nearby and then back at Lewiss simple white shirt and black suit a combination ! seemed to wear religiously . Her thoughts spun quickly , drawing a conclusion . He dresses exactly like a driver . He didnt want to tell me where he worked because hes just a driver ? Is he afraid Id look down on him for that ? This man sure has his pride , she mused. Unaware of the subtle shift in Lewiss expression , Doris grinned lightly , her tone bright and casual . No job is too humble or too grand . Look at me I make pastries for a living . The upside ? I get to sample all the delicious treats . Being a driver has its perks too , right ? You get to drive all kinds of fancy cars . Not everyone gets that opportunity Lewiss brows raised slightly in surprise . Is she trying to comfort me ? So , shes misunderstood I see . She thinks Im just a driver for Hartman Group, he pondered . Do you like this car ? Lewis asked , glancing at the Maybach beside him . Who wouldnt like it ? Doris shot back playfully . Dont tell me you dont . Not particularly , Lewis replied indifferently . He had so many luxury cars that he barely gave them a second thought . But what she said without much thought struck a different chord with Lewis . Her words and demeanor began to take on a new meaning in his eyes . To him , her casual admiration for the car was confirmation of what he had begun to suspect that she was a shallow woman , infatuated with wealth and status . It only deepened his resolve to peel back what he believed was a carefully crafted facade . Who do you drive for ? The CEO of Hartman Group ? Doris asked with curiosity , simply hoping to learn more about Lewiss work . Why , are you interested in him ? Lewiss gaze sharpened slightly , his mind jumping to conclusions . How greedy can she be ? he thought . Just curious , Doris replied , pausing thoughtfully . The heir of the Hartman family just returned and already has people working late into the night . Is he that scary ? What does he look like anyway ? Are there pictures of him ? She wasnt genuinely interested this was just her way of satisfying her friend Lolas curiosity . Lewiss lips curled into a faint , mocking smile as he made up a lie without blinking an eye . Short , ugly , mean , and covered in pockmarks . Terrifying , really . His words came out effortlessly , his tone completely deadpan . Doris froze , her face a mixture of disbelief and shock . Behind Lewis , Daniel struggled to contain his laughter , his shoulders shaking slightly . Hartman , seriously ? Did you have 13:04 Wed , 26 Feb F FLER Chapter 11 to go that far just to keep your cover he thought . Lewis deftly shifted the conversation . What are you doing here ?? 87 % Tin delivering pastries Doris held up a few paper bags with a cheerful grin . A bunch of departments at Hartman Group placed orders since theyre working overtime , and the hotel was short staffed , so here I am . Do you need help ? Lewis asked , his tone casual , though it was more out of politeness than actual intention . Actually , I do Thanks for offering . With your help , I wont have to run back and forth a hundred times Without hesitation , Doris shoved the bags into his hands , griming as if she had just solved a major problem . Lewis glanced at the paper bags now weighing down his hands , momentarily stunned . What am I to her ? Free labor ? While he felt a flicker of irritation , he reminded himself to keep up his disguise . Doris went back to grab more bags from the car . There were so many orders that she still couldnt manage all of them . Daniel , who had been quietly observing , stepped forward to offer assistance . Let me help you with that Oh , no . Youre his boss . I wouldnt want to trouble you , Doris said , feeling a bit flustered . Im just an assistant . Daniel replied hastily , glancing nervously at Lewis , not daring to consider himself a leader over the CEO . Gill , this is my wife , Lewis said smoothly , gesturing toward Doris with a neutral expression . Doris , this is Mr. Daniel Gill , the CEOs assistant . Doris sized Daniel up with a friendly smile . Gill , youre already the CEOs assistant at such a young age ? Thats impressive , Id appreciate it if you could keep an eye on my husband at work . Next time , Ill make some pastries and have him bring them to you as a thank you . Lewis blinked , taken aback . He hadnt expected Doris to try buttering up his supposed colleague on his behalf . Daniel , meanwhile , was frantically trying to think of the proper response to maintain Lewiss cover . Oh , no need for that . Hart … no , Lewis and I are colleagues . Were supposed to look out for each other . Its no trouble at all Lewis coughed lightly , cutting off the exchange . He turned to Doris . Are you done talking yet ? Arent you supposed to deliver the pastries ? Together , the three of them entered the sleek , modern lobby of Hartman Group , the pristine marble floors gleaming under the warm lighting . Reed , just leave the pastries at the reception desk . Ive already informed all the departments to come down and pick up their orders Daniel said with a polite smile , clearly having everything under control Lewis , you can call it a day too . Doris breathed a sigh of relief . Thank you , Mr. Gill , she said , sincerely appreciative of Daniels meticulous arrangements . It saved her the hassle of going upstairs herself . Lewis , however , nudged her impatiently . Doris , seemingly unfazed , turned to him with a pointed look . Arent you going to thank Mr. Gill Daniel stiffened visibly at her words , his nerves ratcheting up . Its really nothing . N no need for that , he stammered , his forced smile barely masking his growing panic . After all , the thought of his boss thanking him was as terrifying as it was unthinkable . Doris , unrelenting , fixed her clear , innocent gaze on Lewis , whose face remained as impassive as ever . 2/4 wed , 26 Feb Chapter 11 The intensity in her eyes was like sunlight filtering through crystal , a kind of quiet honesty that seemed to pierce through all his walls . Lewis let out a resigned sigh , his tone sharp and clipped . Gill , thank you Oh , its … its no trouble , Daniel stammered , beads of sweat forming on his back . He felt like hed narrowly escaped being caught in a storm , though the tension in his chest remained . Lewis and Doris walked side by side out of Hartman Group , the crisp evening breeze brushing against their faces , carrying with it a gentle coolness that made the night feel surprisingly pleasant . Under the honeyed glow of the streetlights , Doriss delicate features seemed to shimmer . Her expressive eyes , glinting with the light , looked as if they could hold entire constellations within them . Gill is such a nice guy , Doris said , her tone full of genuine admiration . Lewiss expression hardened . Youre into him ? Excuse me ? Doris stopped in her tracks , blinking in disbelief , wondering if she had misheard him . Lewiss deep set eyes glinted with an enigmatic sharpness . Doris , youd better stay in line . Her brows furrowed in confusion as he mused , Stay in line ? What on earth is he talking about ? Though she wasnt sure what he meant , she still felt the need to defend herself . Youve got it all wrong . Ive got principles and Im not that easy . Lewis let out a faint scoff , one that barely left his lips , but it carried a world of doubt . He thought , Principles ? Sure . This is the same woman who , right after our marriage , was meeting another man behind my back , cozying up with him as if 1 didnt exist . And now she cant stop praising my assistant or digging for information about the Hartman family heir . What exactly is she playing at ? Lets hope you stick to what youre saying . His sharp , chiseled profile stood out starkly under the interplay of light and shadow , making his features seem even more striking . How can he be so damn good looking and so mean at the same time ? Doris thought , biting back the urge to roll her eyes . Ill take you home , Lewis offered , his tone clipped but still gentlemanly , clearly thinking it was unsafe for her to head back alone so late after work . Doris shook her head with a polite smile . Im covering for a colleague tonight . My shift ends in an hour . You should head home first . I dont want to keep you up . Lewis glanced at his sleek watch , the faint ticking filling the short silence . I have something to handle anyway . Ill wait for you outside the hotel in an hour . Doris pressed her lips together , caught off guard by his persistence . She couldnt exactly refuse his gesture without sounding ungrateful . Alright , she said softly . Under the dim streetlights , their shadows stretched long on the ground , blending together momentarily as they parted ways . An hour later . Doris emerged from the hotel . It didnt take long for her to spot Lewiss black Passat parked neatly by the roadside . She jogged over , opened the door , and slid into the passenger seat . After fastening her seatbelt , she glanced at him with a smile .. Lewis didnt say a word as he started the car , his movements efficient . The whole ride was smooth and steady . The quiet hum of the engine filled the space , and as they drove , his focused expression somehow made his already handsome profile 3/4 Chapter 11 even more captivating . Doris couldnt help but steal a glance at his chilly expression , a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips . Whats so funny ? His low voice broke the silence , laced with mild irritation . Do I look like a joke to her ? he mused . Oh , nothing Doris said , her voice carrying a teasing lilt even she didnt notice . She didnt even know why she was smiling . Hartman , you look good when youre driving I do ! Lewis raised an eyebrow , a faint smirk playing on his lips . Only when Im driving , huh ? Her smile deepened , her eyes sparkling with mischief . You look even better when youre His jaw twitched , and for a moment , he was utterly speechless . not talking 4/4 B Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!