Fresher meat to eat

Xander was a man who cared a lot for his public image. He was young, successful, and handsome. Even though he didn't enter the entertainment industry, Xander's popularity as one of the rarest young CEO of a conglomerate was known to many. His fame even exceeded some rising stars.

So, his advances would always be vague. That was why Luca was confident he wouldn't do something grand in their first meeting. She didn't need to base it on their first encounter to know this man's gaze had hidden meaning.

He wanted her. As a fling or for serious dating? She didn't care, even though she already knew the answer.

"Lu, I'll have to settle some matters with them, alright?" Jacques excused herself, joining the rest after Luca nodded once. This type of scenario wasn't new to her, since Jacques would be the busiest person after Luca did her job.

In the end, she ended up sitting in the same spot with Xander and Nova's company. But she didn't once look in Xander's direction, watching Jacques join a different table to negotiate her schedule.

"You have a great handler." Xander broke the silence between them after two minutes of silence.

"I do." She smiled, keeping her eyes on Jacques's figure.

Although Luca had been with Jacques for years, she never paid attention to her manager's tasks. But now, she watched Jacques to appreciate how hardworking she was, and not because she was purposely ignoring Xander — well, sort of.

"I should treat her somewhere in my free schedule," she murmured, eyes turning soft as tofu as she thought to spoil Jacques, which she never did in the past.

"If you are going to look for a good place to send her, I can recommend some."

Luca slowly blinked, setting her eyes to the dashing man sitting beside her. As soon as she met his pair of jet-black eyes, the memory of how those eyes would look at her lovingly resurfaced in her head. He used to look at her as if she was the most important person in his life, only to toss her once he got tired of her.

The surge of anger swelling in her chest didn't deter her countenance as she smiled back at him.

"If you do not mind, then I will appreciate Mister Kane's recommendations." Her tone was polite, but distant, drawing a line between them and setting it as a professional relationship. Despite noticing this, Xander didn't budge and nodded, keeping his gentle smile.

"I'll tell my assistant to send you a list and you can ask him to do the booking. You're part of the family now, so this much is nothing," he added with the same low and magnetic voice.

"You're so kind, Mister Kane. But thank you."

"Xander," he corrected, observing the slight surprise in her eyes. "No need to use honorifics."

"Oho…" Nova snickered, watching this first encounter unfold. If she could have popcorn, she would happily munch it and see how Luca reacts.

Luca chuckled, leaning back until her back was against the chair. She kept her eyes on him. Even though this wasn't how their first encounter in the past played out, she was a little thrilled at the thought of changing things with a simple change in her actions.

"How dare I call you by the first name?" she bit her lip, suppressing her lips from stretching. "I do not want others to misunderstand."

"What is there to misunderstand?" he returned nonchalantly. "You are officially the face of the company, and having a great relationship with your new family is normal."

She shook her head mildly. "I don't mean the public eye, Mister Kane." Luca went straight to the point, pointing her chin towards his hand.

"I am more concerned about what Missus Kane would think."

Xander arched a brow and glanced at his hand where he wore his wedding ring. However, instead of annoyance, his lips stretched wider as he turned his attention back to her.

"You're worried about what my wife will think?" he repeated, amusement apparent in his eyes.

"Well, of course." She shrugged. "Although I know Mister Kane had no intention other than to take care of the new face of their brand, I do not want the young Madam Kane to misunderstand. After all, I have an image to take care of."

Xander rocked his head in understanding. "Meaning to say, Miss Luca is concerned about her public image that could be in peril if she angered my wife…?" he moved his face closer, narrowing his eyes, smirking mischievously as he didn't expect such a response.

"… but what if she doesn't know?" he asked, his voice hitting low and rasp.

This time, her only answer was a smile and a knowing eyebrow raised. Xander was a player, and he definitely grasped the meaning of her words.

"Goodness… look at this woman…" Nova could not help but let out a 'tsk' while observing her shameless servant. Luca was obviously lowkey flirting with Xander, and simply mimicking the man's frail seduction. After seeing how this was playing out, Nova could not help but wonder.

"What are you up to, by the way? You are not putting your claws on him because you still want to be with him, right?"

Luca could only answer in her head, smirking. 'I'd rather seduce his assistant since he's a fresher meat to eat.'

"..."

Little did Luca know, Nova could hear her thoughts and was rendered speechless by her human owner's thoughts.