Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others
Chapter 48: The Wifi Password

Chapter 48: The Wifi Password

After a while, Hermia saw them returning. She caught sight of Niklaus first, stepping inside with his usual commanding presence, Steffon trailing behind him, holding a tablet and murmuring something.

Her breath hitched as her gaze zeroed in on Niklaus, his sharp suit impeccable, his hair perfectly in place.

He exuded an aura of control, yet there was a subtle softness in his demeanor as his eyes roved around the room.

He stopped abruptly when he spotted the coffee on his desk. His gaze flicked to her office, his dark eyes locking with hers through the glass wall.

’Oh,’ Hermia froze, holding her breath under his penetrating stare.

His expression was unreadable, but something in his eyes lingered—a mix of curiosity and surprise.

Her heart thudded as she quickly blinked and glanced back down at her files, pretending to be completely engrossed.

’Will he drink it?’ She wondered.

From the corner of her eye, she saw him reach for the coffee. He picked it up, studying it for a second before taking a slow, deliberate sip.

Her lips quirked into a smile, satisfaction bubbling quietly within her. He liked it.

She refocused on the papers spread out in front of her, though her mind lingered on that moment. Stay professional, Hermia. Focus on the work.

And yet, she couldn’t help but feel a small spark of warmth as she flipped the page.

He drank the coffee.

>>>>>>>>>>>

An hour later, there was a knock on her office door. Hermia lifted her head, expecting Steffon or someone from the lower departments.

Instead, she was met with Niklaus’ striking gaze as he stepped inside with a purpose.

Her breath caught as he marched toward her desk, his movements confident and unhurried.

She stared at him for a moment longer than she intended, her mind betraying her as it whispered, He’s so effortlessly cool... Why is he so cool?

Niklaus dropped a sleek black bag on her desk, interrupting her inner spiral. "Here’s your computer," he said simply, his deep voice steady yet somehow commanding.

Hermia scrambled to her feet, flustered by his presence and how close he now stood. "Thank you," she said softly, reaching for the bag. She unzipped it carefully, and her eyes lit up at the sight of the shiny new MacBook.

"Wow," she murmured, pulling it out gently as if it were made of glass. "This is... amazing."

Niklaus crossed his arms and leaned slightly against her desk, watching her with an amused expression. "Glad you think so."

Hermia placed the laptop on her desk and began setting it up, plugging in the charger, admiring the smooth aluminum finish, and tapping the trackpad lightly. Every action was meticulous, almost reverent.

"You’re handling it like it’s a precious artifact," Niklaus teased, his voice carrying a rare hint of humor.

She glanced at him, her cheeks warming. "Well, it’s my first official work laptop. It’s beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Hathaway. I promise I’ll use it to the best of my ability."

He gave her one of those rare, disarming smiles that softened the sharp edges of his face. "That’s the spirit," he said. Then, his tone shifted slightly, a trace of concern bleeding through. "But don’t overdo it. I don’t want you working yourself into exhaustion again."

Hermia blinked, momentarily thrown off by his unexpected consideration. "Oh, um... okay?"

He smirked at her confusion. "Good. Because if you pass out again, I might start thinking I’m the problem."

She let out a soft laugh. "I’m pretty sure it wasn’t your fault."

"Still," he said, his gaze holding hers. "Take care of yourself, Hermia."

"I will," she assured him, her voice softer now. "And thank you... for everything."

Niklaus straightened up, his smirk fading into something more genuine. "You’re welcome. Just keep that promise."

With that, he turned and left her office, leaving Hermia with a flutter in her chest and a shiny new MacBook she couldn’t wait to work on.

As Niklaus reached the door, Hermia called out impulsively, "Wait!"

He paused, turning back with a raised brow. "Yes?"

"I... um... the Wi-Fi," she stammered, gesturing awkwardly at the laptop screen. "I don’t know the password."

Niklaus exhaled softly, walking back to her desk with a measured, deliberate pace. "Let me show you."

He bent over, his tall frame now right beside her. The faint scent of cedarwood and something undeniably masculine filled her senses, and Hermia felt her pulse quicken.

His broad shoulders brushed hers lightly as he leaned closer, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.

"It’s simple," he murmured, his voice low. "Just type in..."

She began typing as he recited the password, but her hands fumbled on the keys. He chuckled lightly, the sound deep and rich. "You’re nervous."

"No, I’m not," she denied quickly, though her reddening cheeks betrayed her.

Niklaus shifted closer, his arm brushing hers as he reached for the keyboard. "Let me," he said, his voice almost a whisper now.

Hermia gulped as his sleek black hair fell slightly over his forehead, and she was struck by how effortlessly perfect he looked even from this angle.

She caught the subtle flex of his arm, her gaze darting between his steady hands and his profile.

Her breath hitched when, for the briefest moment, his arm seemed to tremble as he typed. He stilled, taking a deep breath before finishing. "There," he said softly. "You’re all set, Mia."

Her heart skipped at the sound of the nickname. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Niklaus turned to her then, his palm still resting firmly on the desk.

His dark eyes held hers, and she was unable to look away. "I told you I didn’t want coffee," he said, his tone teasing but warm.

She swallowed hard, her brain scrambling for a response. "But... you drank it."

He tilted his head, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "That’s because it was from you."

Her breath caught as his hand lifted. For a second, she thought he might brush her cheek, but instead, he gently tapped the tip of her nose with his finger.