Chapter 342: You're The One Doing The Hardwork!

For the next two days, Luca spent most of his time between Sophie and Rachel.

Spending more time with both sisters, Luca gradually came to understand the difference between their intentions.

Sophie wanted to get pregnant.

Whenever they were intimate, they deliberately avoided using protection because she wanted to conceive his child. She might not openly express her desires, but Luca had learned to recognize them.

Rachel was different. Apart from their first time, he always made sure to use protection whenever they were together.

It wasn’t that he doubted her willingness to have his child. She had already made it clear that she wouldn’t mind becoming a mother, even at her age.

Nevertheless, with Rachel was still young and about to begin university, Luca wasn’t prepared to let her rush into motherhood. He wanted her to have time to experience life and pursue her education before taking on such a huge responsibility.

Of course, if she had already become pregnant during their first encounter, there was little they could do about it now.

‘Well, I suppose fate will decide.’

As for Naomi, who also lived in Golden Water Bay, she had spent the past few days showing her mother, Elena, and Rosemarie’s family around San Fierro.

Luca hadn’t enjoyed Naomi’s dedicated attention in quite some time, and he was beginning to miss her.

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do but wait until she returned.

Aside from spending nights at Golden Water Bay, Luca had established a fairly consistent routine. He spent his mornings at home with his family before heading to Octaveo Pharmaceutical in the afternoon to help Vivienne with her work.

…

Creak!

The door to the lounge opened, and Vivienne wandered into the office, still looking sleepy. She covered her mouth as she yawned, then rubbed her eyes when she noticed Luca sitting at her computer desk, typing away with complete concentration.

Hearing her approach, Luca turned and gave her a warm smile.

“Awake already?”

“I still feel a little dizzy,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes again.

Vivienne rarely showed this side of herself to anyone. Only around Luca and Aunt Valerie did she let her guard down completely, allowing her naturally sweet and gentle personality to shine through.

If the employees of Octaveo Pharmaceutical could see their usually imposing chairwoman behaving like this, they would probably struggle to believe their eyes.

In their minds, Vivienne was the very definition of a capable businesswoman. Despite her youth, she handled people and business matters with remarkable maturity. She was meticulous, conscientious, and fair when rewarding good work or punishing mistakes.

Even senior executives weren’t spared when they made serious errors. Vivienne would reprimand them without hesitation, regardless of their positions.

She was, in every sense, a strong and independent woman who commanded respect.

Naturally, her employees had developed their own theories about her relationship with Luca.

Most believed Vivienne must be the dominant one between them. If she could be so assertive in the workplace, surely she would be even more commanding in her private life.

Some probably imagined that even when the two played cards, the King would always end up on top of the Queen.

After all, how could a woman as elegant, aloof, and domineering as Vivienne possibly behave like a spoiled little girl?

If anyone claimed to have witnessed such a thing, the others would probably assume they were dreaming.

Yet here she was, looking at Luca with sleepy eyes and a faint pout.

Every time Vivienne acted affectionately toward him, Luca felt his heart skip a beat. The more she let her guard down, the more irresistible he found her.

His fingers continued moving across the keyboard, but his concentration was already beginning to slip. He glanced at her through the small mirror beside his monitor, which perfectly reflected her stunning face.

Her lips curved into a subtle smile, and there was something utterly captivating about the sight.

“Why don’t you go back to sleep for a little longer?” he suggested.

“No!”

Vivienne puffed out her cheeks before walking behind him. She placed her hands on his shoulders as naturally as if they belonged there, then glanced at the computer screen.

A moment later, she leaned down and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“I want to sleep in my Husband’s arms.”

Luca’s fingers froze above the keyboard.

For a brief moment, he even forgot to breathe.

‘Good grief. Is this woman trying to kill me with cuteness?’

He glanced at the little mirror again, catching the sight of her beautiful face and slightly upturned lips.

What kind of woman could make a single sentence sound so dangerously alluring?

“Give me another minute, sweetheart. Go sit on the sofa and wait for me, all right?”

He gently patted the hand resting on his shoulder.

With a vixen like Vivienne hovering around him, how was he supposed to concentrate on work?

Luca could only sigh inwardly.

‘If she weren’t pregnant, I’d have a much harder time keeping my mind on business.’

Vivienne smiled and nodded, apparently satisfied with his answer.

Before leaving him alone, however, she picked up his glass of water and took a small sip. Then, as if remembering something, she leaned down and kissed his other cheek, leaving behind a faint trace of moisture.

Only then did she hum a little tune and make her way to the sofa.

Luca watched her go before turning back to his computer, shaking his head with an amused smile.

During the following days, senior executives and secretaries frequently visited the chairman’s office to report on their work.

Whenever they entered, they would greet Vivienne first, usually finding her relaxing on the sofa. Afterward, they would turn to Luca and begin explaining whatever matter had brought them there.

It had happened so often over the past few days that everyone had grown accustomed to the arrangement.

Of course, whenever a particularly complicated issue arose, the executives would instinctively glance toward Vivienne for guidance.

Luca would often do the same, asking for her opinion before making a decision.

After all, although he was perfectly capable of handling business, he didn’t yet have an in-depth understanding of every aspect of Octaveo Pharmaceutical’s operations. Vivienne, as the company’s chairwoman, possessed the knowledge and experience necessary to make the final call on many matters.

There was no point pretending otherwise.

About fifteen minutes later, Luca finally finished the last of his work. He stretched his arms, stood up, and walked over to the sofa.

The moment he sat down and opened his arms, Vivienne happily nestled against him, settling into his embrace as though she’d been waiting for him the entire time.

She tilted her face toward his and gave him a light peck on the lips.

“Hehe! Thanks for working so hard, My Husband!”

Luca chuckled and wrapped his arms around her.

In truth, Vivienne knew perfectly well why he had been coming to the company every afternoon.

Whenever he visited, he brought her different kinds of snacks suitable for pregnant women. He always claimed they were meant to keep the little glutton in her belly happy, but she understood what he was really doing.

He was looking after her.

Luca might usually prefer taking things easy rather than burying himself in work, but he had been making a genuine effort to help her manage the company’s affairs.

He didn’t want her exhausting herself while carrying their child.

And for that, Vivienne was deeply grateful.

“It’s no trouble,” Luca said softly. “You’re the one carrying our baby. You’re the one doing all the hard work.”

As he spoke, he leaned closer and brushed his lips against her pink earlobe. One hand settled gently over her lower abdomen, his palm resting against the warmth beneath her clothes.

Feeling his touch, Vivienne shifted slightly in his arms, searching for a more comfortable position before relaxing against his chest again.

After enjoying the quiet moment for a while, she suddenly remembered something.

“I think I heard you talking on the phone earlier. Is Arabella coming over?”

“Yeah. She’ll arrive the day after tomorrow.”

Vivienne had been half asleep when she’d gotten up to use the bathroom earlier. As she’d passed the office, she’d heard Luca mentioning Arabella’s name during his phone call.

She wasn’t particularly surprised that Arabella was coming to visit, but the thought reminded her of their first meeting.

Back then, Vivienne had found the beautiful girl rather cold and difficult to approach.

However, Arabella’s aloofness was quite different from her own.

Vivienne’s cold exterior was largely a product of her position. As the young chairwoman of Octaveo Pharmaceutical, she couldn’t afford to let employees, executives, or shareholders think she was inexperienced or easy to intimidate.

The company was too important to her, especially because she and her father had worked so hard to build it into what it was today.

And then there was Benjamin Caldwell.

The old man had long been eyeing her position, waiting for an opportunity to undermine her authority. If Vivienne showed even the slightest weakness, his faction of shareholders would seize the chance to challenge her leadership and gradually strip away the control she’d fought so hard to maintain.

She had to remain composed, decisive, and intimidating enough to keep them at bay.

Her coldness was a shield, one she had learned to wear to protect both herself and the company.

Arabella, however, was different.

Her aloofness seemed to come naturally, as though she were simply indifferent to the emotions and expectations of the people around her. She didn’t appear to be putting on an act or deliberately trying to intimidate anyone.

Combined with her breathtaking beauty, that natural detachment made her seem even more unapproachable.

Honestly, getting close to a woman like Arabella could be quite a challenge unless she developed an interest in you herself.

Even Vivienne had initially found her a little too distant.

Fortunately, things had improved as they’d gotten to know each other better. Arabella had gradually become more comfortable around them, and she occasionally even started playful little conversations in their group chat.

Sometimes, she would even stir up a bit of mischief.

It was a side of her that Vivienne hadn’t expected to see, but one she had come to appreciate.