Rebirth Swapped Bride: Married to a Ruthless Cursed billionaire Book2-Chapter 196: Unspoken thoughts

Chapter 196: Unspoken thoughts
The assistant stationed outside the CEO’s office immediately beamed upon seeing her, swiftly opening the office door.
Only after she stepped inside did the assistant close the glass door again, engaging the electronic lock before discreetly withdrawing from the area.
Lena had given explicit instructions: every time Beauty visited the office, all assistants outside were to lock the doors with the passcode and vacate the vicinity, ensuring no disturbances.
Though the order came from Lena, everyone knew it was the CEO’s directive.
No one dared linger even a second longer, fearing for their jobs.
When Beauty entered, Lucas stood with his hands clasped behind his back before the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sunlight bathed his silhouette, casting an almost ethereal glow, yet an icy aura radiated from him.
The sheer intensity of his presence sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.
"Mr. Marson, you wanted to see me?"
"I’ve told you before—when it’s just the two of us, drop the formalities.
Did you forget again?"
Lucas turned, his expression unreadable, and strode toward her.
In one fluid motion, he pulled her into his arms, resting his chin atop her head as he murmured in a low voice.
Every time he held her like this, her heart leapt into her throat, a mix of nervousness and unease tightening her chest.
Her gaze flickered toward the thick glass door.
Though the interior was perfectly visible from inside, she knew outsiders couldn’t see a thing.
Still, the thrill of secrecy sent her pulse racing.
Lucas chuckled, scooping her up and settling onto the sofa with her.
A lazy, satisfied smile curled in the depths of his dark eyes.
"Relax.
I’ve ordered everyone to leave.
No one will disturb us."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Did you notice anything different about this floor when you arrived today?"
Beauty nodded eagerly, like a little bird pecking at grains.
"There’s a new gym, a dining area, and a café. Are you planning to have meals and relax here from now on?"
"Exactly.
This space is reserved exclusively for us.
I’ve programmed only three fingerprints into the access system—yours, mine, and Lena’s.
Aside from cleaning staff, no one else is permitted entry."
As he spoke, he reached out and pinched her delicate, oval cheek playfully.
The voice lowered further, whispering, "From now on, you can join me for every meal up here.
If you want to invite Sarah, that’s fine too—but no bringing anyone else upstairs, and absolutely no dining out with others."
Beauty’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as realization dawned.
So this man was worried she might one day go out to eat with Dyson, hence his insistence on confining her meals to this floor.
A wry thought flickered through her mind: *What a calculating old fox.
Now he’s got both my work and personal life under his thumb.
Yet what puzzled her was his true motive.
Was Lucas acting out of jealousy, unwilling to see her with another man?
Or was it simply his domineering nature—an obsession with marking his territory, ensuring no one else could lay claim to what was his?
"You can have anything you want in this dining room.
No need to eat elsewhere," Lucas remarked coolly, lifting a cup of coffee from the table and taking a slow sip.
His gaze was inscrutable, but his grip on her tightened, as though afraid she might slip away.
"Lucas, are you *monitoring* me?"
Beauty’s eyes flashed with defiance as she glared at him, her delicate features hardening.
"Forbidding me from eating out—is this about keeping me from seeing someone else?"
Crossing his long legs with practiced elegance, Lucas drummed his fingers against the tabletop.
His eyes darkened like gathering storm clouds.
After a weighted pause, his voice cut through the silence: "Exactly.
I don’t want you near that man.
You know how I am.
Test me, and see what happens if you sneak off to meet him behind my back."
With that, his large hand seized her chin, fingers digging into her soft flesh until she winced in pain.
"I *knew* it!
You’re just being paranoid, Boss!"
A glacial glare from Lucas sent a shiver down her spine.
He yanked her closer by the nape, his breath icy against her ear as he enunciated each word: "*What* did you just call me?"
Beauty squirmed, desperate to escape his iron grip—terrified he might snap her neck in his fury.
But struggle as she might, his hold was unrelenting, leaving her utterly trapped.
"What?
You still want to rekindle things with that Dyson?
Don’t say I didn’t warn you—you belong to me now.
Remember that.
And trust me, I have a thousand ways to make him regret it."
Lucas’s threats dripped with possessiveness, but Beauty found it amusing rather than intimidating.
Who would’ve thought that Lucas, the untouchable tycoon of New York, could be so openly jealous?
If word got out, would anyone even believe it?
Suppressing a smirk, Beauty arched a playful brow at him.
She looped her arms around his neck and whispered close to his ear, **"Once I married you, as long as we’re not divorced, I’m yours.
I know my place.
Dyson and I ended up long ago—he’s just a friend now.
Don’t overthink it."
"Not even as a friend.
I won’t allow any contact with him."
She blinked. *Wow. So possessive.*
With an exaggerated sigh, she relented.
"Fine, I won’t see him again.
Happy?
I’ve never met anyone as domineering as you.
His expression softened slightly, though his gaze remained sharp.
After a pause, he shifted the subject.
"The jewelry gala is coming up.
How’s the design department’s progress?"
At the mention of work, Beauty straightened, professionalism overtaking her teasing tone.
**"I’ve been reviewing past design catalogs all morning.
This time, I want to create something completely different—a breakthrough in diamond rings.
I was deep in thought when you summoned me, you know.
You interrupted my creative flow."
**"Is that so?"**
He smirked.
**"Inspiration doesn’t come from overthinking.
It strikes in a moment.
Besides, you were so absorbed you forgot to eat."
With that, he picked up the office phone, dialed a number, and instructed the kitchen staff to bring in the prepared meal.
Then, he guided her toward the adjacent dining area.
As they entered the sleek, high-end private restaurant, Beauty couldn’t help but marvel.
**"No wonder the rich live differently.
You just casually built a dining space that rivals a Michelin-starred restaurant."
The two sat facing each other as a French chef approached with a decanter, pouring wine into their goblets with a practiced smile before withdrawing with impeccable grace.
"So, what do you think?"
Lucas’s voice was unusually earnest, his gaze steady.
"I’ve been planning this for a long time—a private restaurant and café on this floor.
It wasn’t because of anyone else.
I just wanted you to know how I feel.
And now that I understand your feelings too... let’s make this work, okay?"
Beauty rarely saw him speak with such sincerity.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
Her lips pressed together softly, her bright eyes flickering with unspoken thoughts.
The dining room fell into a hush so deep, even the sound of breathing seemed audible.