Page 120 of King of Pride

Then she disappeared down the hallway.

Lucius watched her leave before turning back to Maverick. An amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“Looks like someone needs a long honeymoon.”

Maverick’s expression darkened.

“Do you have nothing better to do?”

Lucius dropped into the chair across from the desk, looking far too pleased with himself. He coughed, hiding a laugh as he leaned back.

“Fine. I came here to talk business.”

“Then talk.”

Outside the CEO’s office, Rose hurried back to her desk and gathered her things, her face still burning with embarrassment.

Every time she thought about Lucius walking in at the exact moment he had found her sitting on Maverick’s lap, she wanted to disappear all over again.

She shoved the last of her belongings into her bag and headed straight for the elevator, determined to put as much distance between herself and that office as possible.

Her car was already waiting at the entrance. She climbed inside and drove home, but she had barely been on the road for a few minutes when her phone rang and Zoe’s name flashed across the screen.

“Are you on your way?”

Rose answered through the car’s hands-free system.

“Yes. I’m almost there.”

“Good. Hurry.”

Rose smiled faintly. “I’m coming.”

By the time she pulled up to the mansion, she spotted Zoe waiting near the entrance. Rose parked and hurried inside, only to stop dead the moment she stepped into the living room.

“What the hell?”

The room was covered in stuff.

Boxes were stacked against the walls, bags were scattered across the furniture, and decorations spilled out of half-open packages. Zoe stood right in the middle of it all, pulling things from one bag after another as though she had been preparing for a small-scale invasion.

At the sound of Rose’s footsteps, she looked up and immediately let out a relieved breath.

“Finally! You’re here.”

Rose laughed as she looked around at the chaos.

“You bought all of this?”

“Of course.” Zoe spread her arms proudly. “Everything we need is here.”

Rose grinned.

They spent the next two hours turning the mess into something that actually resembled a birthday celebration.

By the time they were finished, the living room had been transformed. Red balloons floated near the ceiling, decorations framed the walls, and the room had taken on a warm, festive glow. It wasn't the most extravagant celebration either of them had ever seen, but it felt personal—and that mattered more to Rose.

She stood beside Zoe, looking around at everything they had put together.