My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 16: Lunch and Conditions

The clock on the wall read exactly eleven a.m. The minute hand ticked with almost theatrical precision, marking the arrival of the only person Felix truly looked forward to seeing before noon.

Right on cue, the office door opened with a soft click.

Katherine stepped in, wearing a calm, practiced expression, her heels tapping lightly against the floor. In her hand was a plain brown paper bag, slightly crumpled at the edges but carrying the unmistakable aroma of something warm and homemade.

Felix leaned back in his chair, the corner of his mouth twitching as he watched her approach. "Let me guess," he said, folding his arms behind his head. "That bag in your hand holds my fate."

She raised an eyebrow, nonchalantly placing the bag on his desk. "Your lunch. Early, just like we planned."

Felix sat up, already reaching for it with a smirk. "You wouldn’t be so heartless as to let me eat alone, would you?"

Katherine scoffed, peeling off the top of her coffee cup lid and sitting in the chair opposite him. "Please. We always have lunch together. What’s gotten into you today?"

"Maybe I’m just trying to appreciate you more," he said, unwrapping his sandwich with exaggerated care. "Or maybe I’m preparing myself for when you finally decide to leave me and get promoted elsewhere."

She gave him a pointed look. "Is this a ploy to make me feel guilty?"

Felix grinned, biting into his sandwich. "Is it working?"

"No," she said, though the corner of her mouth betrayed a faint smile. "Nice try, though."

The room was filled with a comfortable silence for a moment—just the quiet sound of unwrapping, sipping, and the occasional tapping of Felix’s fingers against the side of his cup. The warm lighting from the desk lamp softened the usual crisp atmosphere of his office. Lunch with Katherine always brought that—softness. Familiarity.

Katherine cleared her throat. "Oh, and there’s an invitation that came in this morning. A party."

Felix looked up, chewing slowly. "Really? What’s the occasion?"

"Celebration of Kingswell Holdings’ fiftieth anniversary," she said, checking her tablet for details. "It’s going to be at the Paramount Grand. Formal dress code. Big turnout expected."

"Sounds exhausting."

"You haven’t even said yes or no yet," she said dryly.

Felix shrugged, placing his sandwich back on the wrapper. "You know how I feel about those things, Kath."

Katherine leaned back in her chair, studying him. She knew, alright. Felix had always avoided parties, gatherings, events that required social niceties and public attention. He didn’t dislike people, exactly—he just didn’t trust most of them, especially when alcohol and small talk were involved. His idea of a good night was reading investment reports with jazz playing softly in the background.

As his secretary, she respected that. As his friend—his close friend—it made her want to drag him by the ear sometimes.

She crossed one leg over the other. "It’s Kingswell, Felix. One of our oldest business partners. People will notice if you’re not there."

Felix sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You’re starting to sound like my PR manager."

Katherine narrowed her eyes. "I’m your secretary. I manage everything, including the parts you’d rather ignore."

He chuckled and leaned forward, elbows on the desk. "Fine. I’ll consider it."

Katherine tilted her head, cautious. "Really?"

"But on one condition."

"Of course." She rolled her eyes. "There’s always a catch. What is it?"

Felix’s eyes glinted with mischief as he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair again. "You have to come with me."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"To the party. You. Me. One overly lit ballroom and a whole evening of awkward pleasantries."

Katherine raised both brows, trying to gauge whether he was serious.

"You want me to go as your date?" she asked slowly.

"I didn’t say date," he said innocently. "I said with me. Two employees of Lucent & Co. representing our shared disdain for corporate mingling."

Katherine sighed, but her lips curled into a reluctant smile. "You’re ridiculous."

"Only sometimes."

"And what happens if I say no?"

"Then I’ll RSVP on your behalf and inform them you’ll be my plus-one. That way, I’ll at least have a buffer between me and Harold Kingswell’s cigar breath."

She stared at him for a long moment before shaking her head. "You’re impossible."

"Not impossible," he corrected. "Just mildly persuasive."

She took a sip of her coffee, still watching him with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You’re lucky I tolerate you."

"I know," he said, standing to toss his empty sandwich wrapper into the bin. "That’s why I’m promoting you from secretary to semi-willing social handler."

As he straightened his jacket, he turned to her with a grin and gave a mock bow. "Can’t wait to attend the party with you, Miss Anderson."

Katherine snorted. "You’re enjoying this way too much." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Only because you’re coming. Otherwise, I’d be dreading it."

Katherine told herself that attending the party was simply part of her job. She was his secretary, after all. It wasn’t unusual for her to accompany him to business events—she had done it before. This would be no different.

Her smile softened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The office was quiet except for the sound of the city just outside the glass windows—cars honking faintly below, the occasional rattle of the subway beneath.

There was something unspoken in that pause. A flicker of something more. But neither of them reached for it.

Not yet.

Katherine rose from her seat, picking up her tablet. "I’ll add the party to your schedule."

Felix nodded. "And I’ll make sure the car is ready."

As she walked toward the door, he called out one last time. "Oh, and Kath?"

She turned halfway, eyebrow raised.

"Don’t forget to wear something that’ll outshine the room."

She gave him a wry smile. "I always do."

And with that, she was gone, leaving Felix alone with a full stomach and a grin that lingered longer than it should’ve.