Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others
Chapter 43: His Coat, Her Sleep.

Chapter 43: His Coat, Her Sleep.

Slowly, Niklaus became immersed in his work, his focus sharp and unyielding.

Hermia, however, sat idle, her mind wandering in boredom.

Finally, she decided to retrieve her phone, but the moment she stood, Niklaus lifted his head, his gaze locking onto her as if tuned to her every movement.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

"I need to get my phone. I’m bored," she replied matter-of-factly.

Niklaus frowned. "I don’t think that’s a good idea. It might worsen your headache."

"I don’t have a headache," she retorted, narrowing her eyes.

"You might develop one," he countered, his tone unwavering.

Her jaw tightened as she mentally screamed, Yes, if you keep pestering me! But she forced herself to stay calm.

"I’m fine, really," she insisted.

"Please sit and wait for Steffon," he prompted softly, his voice nearly coaxing her into submission.

Before she could argue further, a knock echoed at the door.

Niklaus’s face brightened instantly, as if he’d been waiting for salvation. "Oh, he’s here!" he said, almost cheerfully.

When the door didn’t immediately open, Hermia started to rise again. "I’ll get it—"

But Niklaus was already out of his chair, striding toward the door. "I’ll handle it," he said firmly, cutting her off.

She sighed and sat back down, muttering, "But you’re working—"

"Let me," he interrupted again, his insistence leaving no room for debate.

Niklaus opened the door to reveal two janitors, armed with an array of cleaning supplies and tools.

His demeanor shifted instantly, morphing into the cold and commanding CEO everyone knew.

Gone was the soft, attentive man who had just been doting over Hermia.

"Get to work," he instructed sharply, gesturing toward the dusty storage room that was soon to be Hermia’s office.

The janitors nodded respectfully, offering Hermia a polite acknowledgment before stepping inside.

They moved with precision, their equipment humming as they began to transform the space.

Niklaus returned to his desk without another word, resuming his work as though nothing had happened.

The brief glimpse of his warmer side vanished, replaced by the unyielding professional.

Hermia, however, was left sitting on the couch, feeling as though she’d just stepped off a rollercoaster.

She glanced toward the storage room, where the janitors were hard at work, then back at Niklaus.

His head was bent over his computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

What just happened? she thought, her brows furrowed in confusion.

The man was a walking contradiction—one moment overbearing and sweet, the next cold and distant.

All she could do was shake her head and wait for whatever twist came next.

Steffon returned to the office, his arms laden with everything he’d been instructed to fetch: a steaming cup of coffee, a neatly folded dozen of white handkerchiefs, and a small packet containing a single tablet.

Hermia couldn’t hide her discomfort.

Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she reached out to take the items. "Thank you," she said with an apologetic smile, her tone soft.

Steffon, however, appeared unbothered, his earlier irritation about the situation seemingly forgotten.

His expression remained neutral as he turned to Niklaus. "Sir, there’s a meeting scheduled shortly," he informed him.

Niklaus nodded without looking up. "Make the necessary arrangements. Ensure everything is set up beforehand—we’ve got nearly an hour," he instructed, his tone clipped and businesslike.

Steffon gave a curt nod and exited, leaving the office in efficient silence.

Hermia, now left with the awkward spoils of Niklaus’s overconcern, glanced down at the coffee.

She wasn’t much of a morning coffee person, but she sipped it out of courtesy before swallowing the tablet.

Setting the cup aside, she unfolded one of the crisp white handkerchiefs and used it to dab at her forehead and nose.

The scent of the coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the faintly sterile smell of the office.

Niklaus had returned to his work, seemingly oblivious to her lingering discomfort, and the janitors continued their task in the background.

As Hermia sat quietly, trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment, she couldn’t help but wonder: Was this what working here was going to be like every day? A mix of strange kindness, overbearing attention, and utter chaos?

She sighed and folded the handkerchief neatly in her lap, preparing herself for whatever was next in this unpredictable whirlwind of a job.

Minutes later, Hermia dozed off on the couch, her breathing soft and even.

Niklaus glanced up from his desk and sighed, his stern features softening as his eyes lingered on her.

She looked peaceful but far from comfortable. Her head rested at an awkward angle, her hands loosely gripping the handkerchief in her lap.

Niklaus leaned back in his chair, debating whether to adjust her position, but he hesitated. Any movement might wake her, and he didn’t want to disturb her rest.

Quietly, he rose from his desk and crossed the room to her side. For a moment, he simply stood there, gazing down at her.

Gently, he brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary.

She stirred slightly but didn’t wake.

Niklaus sighed again, knowing his meeting couldn’t be delayed any longer.

Removing his coat, he draped it carefully over her chest, tucking it around her shoulders like a makeshift blanket.

It wasn’t much, but it would keep her warm and make her feel less exposed.

He lingered for a moment, his eyes tracing the curve of her face before he straightened and turned away.

His usual commanding presence returned as he stepped out of the office, closing the door softly behind him.

Work, work, work, he thought to himself with a resigned sigh as he strode down the hall toward the meeting room.

But even as he focused on the tasks ahead, his mind kept drifting back to the woman asleep in his office.

Steffon was surprised to see his boss come out in only his t-shirt, the man was a strict complete office attire man.