BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 14: Laughter's Echo

Chapter 14: Laughter's Echo

The break room was still echoing with my uncontrollable laughter, tears streaming down my face from the ridiculousness of it all. That's when Luke walked back in, his tall, imposing frame cutting a stark silhouette against the doorway. For a moment, my laughter hitched, caught in the sudden seriousness of his presence.

But the giggles wouldn't be tamed, bubbling up despite my best efforts to stifle them with a hand over my mouth. My shoulders shook with each new wave of laughter, signaling an 'I can't help it' to anyone watching. Luke's eyes locked with mine, and for a fleeting second, there was a spark of something in his gaze, a flicker that looked suspiciously like amusement.

His usual stiff posture softened slightly, as if my laughter had managed to penetrate that ever-present armor of his. It was a rare glimpse, seeing Luke Walton, the enigmatic boss, almost human. But as quickly as it appeared, that softer edge vanished, the familiar cool, detached expression sliding back into place like a well-worn mask.

"This isn't a fucking comedy club," he said, the ice back in his voice, wiping away any traces of that almost-smile.

With his usual brisk pace, he exited the room, leaving behind a shift in the atmosphere. The lingering aftershocks of his brief, unguarded moment were like a door that had opened and snapped shut too quickly, offering just a peek at the man behind the façade.

David nudged me, his voice pulling me back from the lingering thoughts of Luke. "Hey, Earth to Emily. You ready to dive back into the real world?"

I forced a smile, pushing the thoughts of Luke's rare smile to the back of my mind. "Yeah, let's get back to it," I replied, following David out of the break room.

The day melted into a flurry of coding and troubleshooting, but my mind couldn't help drifting back to that moment. Luke's unexpected glimpse of humanity added a new layer to the puzzle that was my boss.

Stepping out into the cool evening air, the city stretched out before me, its skyline aglow in the setting sun's golden light. It felt like a world of endless possibilities, a place of hidden depths and unexpected smiles – a journey of discovery, one chocolate bar, and one rare smile at a time.