Chapter 39

MADDIE

The whole morning, my mind kept drifting back to the kiss we shared inside his office. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, the memory lingered, the warmth of his lips, the way he held me like he had no intention of letting go. It infuriated me how easily he got under my skin, how effortlessly he made me lose control. I hated that he had this effect on me, that with just one touch, my carefully built walls crumbled at his feet.
Determined not to let him consume my thoughts, I threw myself into my work. I read reports, familiarized myself with the company’s system, and focused on the tasks assigned to me. The more I worked, the easier it became to block him out. For the past few hours, I had managed to keep my mind clear of him. Finally.
“Relax, Maddie. It’s just your first day,” Mark’s voice broke through my focus.
I blinked, startled, and turned to see him leaning casually against my cubicle, a teasing smile on his face. I hadn’t even noticed him approaching.
“I know,” I said, shaking my head with a small smile. “But there’s a lot to learn.”
“You can continue learning after eating,” he said with a chuckle.
It was only then that I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized that it was already lunch break. Time had passed faster than I thought.
“We’re all heading to the cafeteria. Come join us,” he invited, tilting his head toward the hallway.
I hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Sure.”
Quickly, I organized my desk, straightened my chair, and grabbed my phone before following Mark and the rest of the team. 
The cafeteria buzzed with laughter and chatter as employees gathered around tables, enjoying their lunch break. The atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed, a stark contrast to the serious and professional tone of the office.
Mark led me to a table where a few of our coworkers were already seated. As soon as we sat down, I felt myself relax. It was nice—being around people who didn’t know me as Hades' wife but just as Maddie, the new employee.
“So, Maddie,” a woman named Lisa started, stirring her iced coffee. “How’s your first day going so far?”
I smiled as I took a bite of my food. “Not bad, actually. A little overwhelming, but I guess that’s normal.”
Lisa nodded knowingly. “Yeah, I remember my first day. I felt like I was drowning in information. But don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.”
As the conversation flowed, I found myself genuinely enjoying my time with them. They joked about office quirks, shared funny stories, and gave me little tips on how to survive the workload. 
Mark nudged my arm. “You’re surprisingly quiet. Are you okay?”
I let out a small laugh. “I’m just… enjoying this. It’s been a while since I’ve had a normal lunch like this.”
Lisa arched a brow. “Normal? What do you mean? ”
I hesitated, realizing I’d said too much. “Oh, you know,” I said quickly, “I’ve just been dealing with a lot of personal stuff lately.”
Mark shrugged. “Well, whatever it is, you’re here now. And trust me, once you survive your first month, you’ll feel like a real part of the team.”
I smiled, appreciating his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was the fresh start I needed.
Just as I was about to take another bite, a shift in the air made me pause. The lighthearted energy at our table dimmed slightly, and I followed the direction of everyone’s gaze.
And there he was.
Hades stood at the entrance of the cafeteria, dressed in his usual crisp suit, radiating power and authority. His gaze swept across the room before landing on me. His lips curled into the slightest smirk, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.
My stomach flipped.
Lisa let out a low whistle. “Wow. The boss himself is here. That’s rare.”
Mark chuckled. “Yeah, he barely ever comes down here. Wonder what’s up.”
I quickly looked away and focused on my food, hoping—praying—that he wouldn’t come over. The last thing I needed was for my coworkers to start connecting the dots.
But when I peeked up again, Hades was still watching me.
And he was making his way over.
My heart pounded as I quickly looked down at my plate, pretending to be completely absorbed in my food. Maybe if I ignored him, he’d just walk past. Maybe he was just here for something else—anything else.
But then the conversation at our table died down. I could feel the shift, the heavy presence looming just beside me.
“May I join your table?”
His voice was smooth, rich, and unmistakably amused.
I forced a swallow before glancing up. Hades stood beside me, his piercing gaze locked onto mine. He looked calm, composed, and completely unaffected by the fact that he had just sucked all the air out of the cafeteria.
I tried to ignore him, acting as if I had no idea that he was talking to me. 
"O-Of course, Mr. Grant," Lisa was the one who managed to answer. "Have a seat, sir," she added as she pulled a chair beside her. 
I was holding my breath as I waited for Hades to move, but he didn't. He remained standing beside me as if he was telling me that he had no plan on sitting elsewhere than beside me. 
I slowly lifted my head and looked at him, subtly giving him a glare as a warning. But he remained unfazed. He then turned his eyes towards Mark as if he was silently telling him to give up his seat.
Somehow, Mark managed to get the message and quickly stood from his chair and offered his seat.
"Have a seat, Mr. Grant," Mark said as he pulled the chair beside me.
Hades immediately took the seat. I can feel his strong presence beside me. "How's your first day, Miss Phillips?" he asked, not leaving his eyes on mine.
"I— It was good, Mr. Grant. Thank you for asking."
"It seems like you were enjoying your lunch," he said. 
I managed a polite smile, my fingers tightening around my fork. “I am. It’s nice to take a break.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lisa and Mark exchanging glances. Everyone at the table had gone unnaturally silent, as if they were holding their breath.
“You seem… settled,” he remarked, tilting his head slightly. His voice was light, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it.
I froze, my fork pausing midway to my mouth. That's when I remembered that he was supposed to pick me up for lunch. 
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. The last thing I needed was for anyone at this table to sense the tension crackling between us.
I shifted in my seat. “Yeah. The team invited me to join them, and I didn’t want to be rude.”
His eyes darkened. “How considerate of you.”
Lisa and Mark were both staring now, their gazes darting between us like they were watching a scene from a drama unfold in real time.
Mark cleared his throat. “Uh, Mr. Grant, would you like to join us?”
My stomach dropped. Why would you ask that?!
To my horror, Hades actually looked thoughtful, as if he were considering it.
“Tempting,” he murmured. “But I wouldn’t want to interrupt.”
He was playing with me. That much was clear.
Then, just when I thought he might leave, he leaned closer to my ear, lowering his voice so only I could hear.
“Next time, don’t make me wait.”
My breath hitched. His words sounded like a reminder but a warning at the same time.
Before I could respond, he straightened, nodding briefly at the others. “Enjoy the rest of your lunch.”
And just like that, he walked away, his presence lingering even after he was gone.
I exhaled, my fingers tightening around my fork as I forced myself to take another bite.
Lisa leaned in, eyes practically sparkling with curiosity. “Okay, what was that?”
Mark raised an eyebrow. “You and him? Do you… know each other?”
I scrambled for a response, quickly shaking my head. “Not really. He was the one who interviewed me before I got hired; that’s all.”
Lisa hummed, unconvinced. “Uh-huh. Well, I’ve never seen him come down here before. And trust me, I notice things.”
Mark chuckled. “If the boss suddenly took an interest in me, I’d be asking for a raise.”
I forced a laugh, but my mind was still spinning.
Hades was playing games. He wasn’t going to make this easy for me.
*****