Within three hours, Desmond couldn't stand Zaria's bad mood anymore. Was she on her period? Had something happened and made her sad?

Whatever it was, he couldn't take it anymore.

Give me back my explosive yet cheerful assistant!

Thinking about it, he sent a text message on his phone.

Soon, a package was delivered to his office by Zaria's intern assistant. Dismissing her, he entered Zaria's office through the open door and placed a box on her desk.

She was slowly typing an email while half in a trance when the white box landed, so she looked up in surprise.

"It's for you." He said gently.

She opened the box curiously and found a small tub of strawberry ice cream as well as two blueberry muffins from Blacklight.

"This…" She couldn't comprehend.

"If I remember correctly, you once mentioned that you prefer ice cream to rose cakes. You like Norman's blueberry muffins too, so…" He pointed at the box to explain it.

She was even more confused. Since when was Desmond this kind? Her first reaction was to rub her eyes to confirm that she was awake.

Seeing that she was, she looked up at him curiously. "Why are you giving me this?"

The last two times he had given her anything, his reason turned out to be the ill intent of a jerk. She waited for his ridiculous reason but instead, he smiled gently. "I hate to see you in such a bad mood, so… I hope eating something you like makes you feel better."

"You… thank you, sir." She almost couldn't contain her surprise.

"Desmond." He corrected.

"Thank you, Desmond."

He was happier now and made his way back to his office. Standing by the door, he couldn't help taking another peek at her. She was happily munching her way through the muffins, making his heart melt. Since when could one be this happy just watching someone else eat?

When she next appeared in his office, she looked much better.

"Do you need a day off? You can go and handle your matter." He suggested.

"Thanks, boss. But I feel better now." She rejected the offer, not wishing to skip work because of a tiny matter.

She indeed looked much better, so he let the matter slide.

It was only when she let out her signature alluring smile that he was satisfied. He should restrict her from smiling that way in the presence of anyone else.

He was not sure what was going on with him today, but he couldn't bear to let her out of his sight. Before it was lunchtime, he had already asked for three bottles of water and two cups of coffee.

In the afternoon, she once again spent more time walking into his office than sitting behind her desk. Not only was he addicted to the magnificent view of her walking in, but the soft clank of her high heels also seemed to calm his frustrated mind too.

It was when he remembered that she needed to work that he stopped bothering her. Even so, he missed her so much that it was as though she was worlds apart from him.

By the time she left work, Zaria's feet were worn out. Why did that man need so many things today anyway?

She rushed to the parking lot and was preparing to flee when he appeared beside her like the devil he was. "I'll give you a ride home."

Before she could say no, the red key disappeared from her hand, and he threw it at the bodyguard behind him, leaving her with no choice. "Let's go."

Zaria was helpless. What was the use of giving her that car, exactly? She hadn't needed to use it that much anyway—not that she minded hitching his ride.

This time, she was in his line of sight, so he was much happier. He didn't bother her and silently dropped her off before going back to his mansion and trying to calm himself. What was wrong with him?

Why was he acting like a teenager having a first crush? Zaria wasn't even a crush, let alone the first one.

Besides, "She's your assistant, Desmond. And the enemy's daughter." He slapped his cheek and reprimanded himself, forcing the unwanted thoughts out of his mind.

After working out for an hour, taking a long shower, having dinner, and working for an hour, he was a few seconds away from successfully getting her out of his mind.

However, Liam ruined it all when he sent a barrage of text messages just as Desmond was about to retire.

[Liam: Guess what?]

[Liam: A popular brand released a new product.]

Desmond wanted to kick him through the phone. Can't this idiot send the whole message in one text?!

After typing for ages, he finally sent the next piece.

[Liam: Oh. It's Ly-E.]

[Liam: You know, that lingerie brand that's extremely popular among women but whose pieces cost a fortune.]

The man had finally said something that made some sense, but what about it?

[Liam: Are you going to buy any of them? I'd recommend this. Your girl will definitely want to wear it for you.]

He then sent a picture of a model wearing a red, lacy panty and bra.

Desmond's first reaction was to click his tongue. [The piece is beautiful, but Zaria would look much better wearing it.]

He had seen Zaria in a tight dress before, so he knew that she was curvy in all the right places.

When he imagined her wearing the red bra, his body was ablaze.

Cursing his friend a hundred times, he ignored him and made his way to the bathroom to take a cold shower and went to sleep as soon as he left the bathroom.

His dreams were filled with her.

They were in the elevator, but this time, she didn't leave after turning him on.

She flashed a bright smile and tugged on his tie as she softly yet seductively said, "Sir, you have assessed my abilities before. Don't you think it's time to assess my beauty now?"

In the next moment, she unbuttoned her dress to reveal a red, lacy bra.

"Zaria…" He whispered into the night, jolting awake.