In Love With My Bully-Chapter 94: Unspoken Feelings

Monday mornings at Numero Corp were always busy. The glass doors slid open, and Queen Numero strode into the lobby. Heads turned. Conversations paused. Even the coffee machine seemed to sputter to a stop as employees adjusted their postures, trying to look both busy and competent in her presence.

Queen was used to it. It came with the territory.

Her assistant, Lydia, practically jogged to keep up with her.

"Good morning, Miss. Numero. Your 9 AM with the marketing team is confirmed. The Oil and Gas department wants to move their presentation to Wednesday, and the head of departments meeting at noon—"

"Declined. Keep the Oil and Gas where it is. And move the meeting to two. I need time for lunch."

Lydia hesitated. "Lunch?"

Queen raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Lydia. Lunch. That thing where people eat?"

Lydia coughed. "Right. You just never schedule time for it."

Queen rolled her eyes. Today was an exception. She had plans, and Numero Fashion was at the top of her list.

They approached the elevator just as a figure appeared out of nowhere.

Dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, crisp white shirt, and a smirk that could cause power outages, he stepped into the elevator like he owned it.

Queen blinked. Who in their right mind entered her elevator?

Then she realized instantly it was Drake.

She relaxed but still eyed him suspiciously. "Drake? What are you doing here?"

"Good morning to you too." Drake leaned against the elevator wall, hands in his pockets, the picture of casual confidence. "I... I thought you knew."

Queen frowned. "Knew what?"

"Your father offered me the position of Director of Business Development. That’s actually one of the reasons my Dad asked me to come back."

Queen’s expression shifted from mild curiosity to mild betrayal.

"Excuse me? My dad didn’t say a thing."

Drake chuckled. "You mean the great Queen Numero, all-knowing and all-powerful, didn’t have this intel?"

Queen shot him a look. "I will throw you out of this elevator."

Drake smirked. "I believe that."

Queen sighed dramatically. "Unbelievable. You’re part of the empire now?"

"Not just part of it. I’m here to help expand it."

She folded her arms. "So, what exactly will you be doing?"

Drake shrugged. "Just making you even richer than you already are and maybe rescuing damsels in distress." He winked at her.

Queen scoffed. "You won’t find any damsels here. I’m a shark."

Drake grinned. "I look forward to working with this shark then."

The elevator stopped at his floor, and he gave her a casual wave. "See you later, Queen."

The moment Queen stepped onto the executive floor, she made a beeline for her father’s office.

Richard Numero was already at his desk, reviewing reports.

"Daddy!" Queen whined as she entered.

Richard barely looked up. "Baby, I told you not to call me that at work."

Queen plopped onto the chair across from him. "Fine. Mr. Numero. You know that sounds weird, Daddy."

Richard sighed and shook his head.

Queen leaned forward, tapping the desk. "You didn’t tell me you were bringing Drake on board."

Richard smirked. "Surprise."

Queen scowled. "You do realize I run this company too, right?"

Richard laughed. "You’re COO. You run the daily operations. But hiring a Director of Business Development? That’s my decision. Wait for your time."

Queen crossed her arms. "So what, you just woke up one morning and thought, ’You know who would look great in my office? Drake’?"

Richard chuckled. "Actually, I discussed it with Martin."

Queen paused. "Martin?" If Martin wanted his son here, then something was cooking.

"Look," Richard said, leaning back, "Drake is capable. He has connections, intelligence, and a certain... let’s call it ’charm’ that can open doors. And besides, I would like to keep him in the family."

"Are you trying to set him up with Abby?"

"Maybe." Richard smirked, He was setting Drake up for someone alright but it wasn’t Abby. "You don’t like it?"

Queen hesitated. "No, it’s fine. He’s good. But you could have at least given me a heads-up."

Richard shrugged. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Queen exhaled. "Fine. But speaking of hiring—I invited Chayara to lunch. I really would want her to head the Fashion department Daddy."

Richard nodded, his expression softening. "Good. She needs to be around family."

Queen hesitated. "You know she still won’t talk about Grandpa."

Richard sighed. "I know. Losing him was hard."

A rare moment of shared grief passed between them.

Then Richard cleared his throat. "Alright, I’ll clear my schedule. We will have all have lunch together."

Queen smiled. "Perfect."

*****

The restaurant across the street from Numero Corp was one of those pretentious-but-worth-it places. The kind where the napkins were folded like origami swans, and the waiters all looked like they had PhDs in fine dining etiquette.

Queen liked it because the food was good. Chayara tolerated it because Queen liked it.

They were already seated at a sleek, black marble table, waiting for Richard to arrive. Chayara was sipping her iced tea while Queen was... well, sulking.

"Queen, I am not changing my mind," Chayara said, keeping her voice calm but firm. "I don’t... I don’t need a job."

Queen huffed dramatically, poking at the air with her straw.

"You may not need a job, but you need a career," she countered. Then, lowering her voice into that whiny tone she only ever used with Chay, she added, "Chay... come on."

Chayara narrowed her eyes. "Oh no. Don’t ’Chay’ me. I see what you’re doing."

Queen batted her perfectly curled eyelashes, the very picture of innocence. "What? I’m just a girl, sitting in a restaurant, trying to convince her best friend to rule the world with her."

Chay snorted. "You sound like a Disney villain."

Queen grinned proudly. "Thank you."

"Not a compliment."

Queen sighed dramatically, then leaned forward. "Okay. What if you don’t have to come in daily?"

Chayara perked up. "Now we’re talking."

"You could be a consultant! You know, come in once a week, collate designs, tweak them, make everyone cry because they’ll never be as talented as you..."

Chayara pretended to think. "Hmm. Tempting. But can I also ignore emails?"

Queen raised an eyebrow. "You do that anyway."

"True."

Queen pouted. "Chay, I just... I need you around me. I need you with me. You’re my best friend."

Chayara sighed. Queen was good at this emotionally manipulative thing.

"Queen, I love you," Chayara said gently. "And that’s why I think it won’t work. Working together? It’s not going to work, honey."

Queen sat back, dramatically offended. "Excuse me. Are you saying I’m difficult to work with?"

Chayara blinked. "Yes!"

Queen gasped. "Wow. Just stab me next time, why don’t you?"

Chayara laughed. "Fine. I’ll do the consultant thing. But only because I don’t want you sulking every time."

Queen’s sulk immediately vanished. "You’re the best!"

Right then, the restaurant doors swung open, and Richard Numero walked in. And behind him was Drake.

Chayara’s heart did that flip-flop thing again.

Stupid heart.

Drake walked in with just enough casual arrogance to go with his formal look. He smirked when he spotted her, walking over.

"Hey, Chay," he said, sliding into the seat next to her.

Chayara took a sip of her drink, trying to act unbothered. "Hey."

Drake’s smirk widened. "You never did return my calls."

"I’m sorry," she said, giving him her best innocent expression. "When I get buried in my art, it’s hard to find where my phone is."

Richard sat beside Queen. They ordered their meals, and soon the conversation turned to Numero family business. They talked about Drake joining the company, and Chayara as a consultant. Before moving to more light topics.

"Chay, Nita is planning a birthday party for you this weekend..." Richard announced.

Chayara’s fork froze mid-air. "Oh, Uncle, no!" She groaned. "You know I hate those things."

Richard nodded like he completely understood. "I know. But if you came around more often, Nita wouldn’t have to resort to things like this."

Chayara dropped her head on the table. "Oh boy."

Richard chuckled. "Come on. I promise I’ll only make her invite family and very close friends. But you have to promise to show up."

Chayara sighed. "Fine."

Queen clapped her hands together, eyes sparkling. "We can go shopping!"

Chayara jerked upright, eyes wide with panic. "NO. No, no, no. I am NOT going shopping with you!"

Queen gasped. "Why not?!"

"Because last time you made me try on sixteen outfits in an hour, and I still left with the first dress I picked."

Queen rolled her eyes. "And it was a great dress, wasn’t it?"

Chayara groaned dramatically. "You are exhausting."

Queen pouted. "Ugh. You are no fun."

They giggled around the table, completely oblivious to Drake watching Queen. He followed the way her lips moved, the playfulness in her eyes that only showed when she was with Chayara. The perfection in her creation.

And Richard was watching Drake watch Queen.

Richard saw the look in his eyes. The same way he looked at his wife.

Not just interest. Not just attraction.

Admiration.

Richard smirked.

Looks like getting them together wouldn’t be too difficult.

After lunch, they all headed out of the restaurant waving goodbye to Chayara as she drove away.

As they stood at the crosswalk, Drake leaned toward Queen. "So... you got her as consultant uhn? You are losing your negotiation skills."

Queen smirked. "A win is a win."

Drake chuckled. "A quote only used by losers."

Queen flipped her hair. "You suck!."

Drake looked at her for a moment, his smirk softening into something else.

Something Richard definitely noticed.

As they crossed the street, Richard chuckled to himself.

This was going to be fun.