LUCIFER'S HUMAN BRIDE

"That was fast," Ralph remarked, eyeing Lucinda warily as she handed him the cup of coffee. His suspicions lingered in his gaze, a flicker of doubt in his mind. "I hope this is not poisoned?" he questioned, his voice laced with an undertone that sent a chill down Lucinda's spine. His instincts warned him against drinking the coffee, but he ignored the inner voice and brought the mug to his lips. The rich aroma filled his senses, and he took a sip. The taste was sweet and refreshing, a testament to Lucinda's skill in brewing the perfect cup.

"You can go now. I'll call you when I need you. In the meantime, go through this file and report back to me," Ralph instructed, handing her a folder. Lucinda accepted it, a sly smile playing on her lips, and she sashayed back to her desk on the other side of the office. Ralph's gaze followed her, captivated by her movements as she glanced at the file, her fingers trailing through her hair and a pen teasingly placed in her mouth. He shook his head, attempting to dispel the distracting thoughts, and refocused on his laptop, setting the coffee aside.

As Ralph delved into the documents on his screen, an odd sensation began to crawl through his body. His face contorted, his hand instinctively gripping his stomach, and panic flashed in his eyes. He bolted out of the office with surprising speed, leaving Lucinda bewildered and concerned. She paced anxiously, wondering what could have caused such a sudden and severe reaction. "Did the poison work too quickly?" she muttered to herself, nervously biting her finger. Ralph burst back into the office, his glare fixated on Lucinda, pupils dilated with a mix of anger and pain. His accusation hung heavy in the air. "What did you put in the coffee?" he demanded, clutching his stomach with burning rage. Lucinda's eyes widened, genuine surprise on her face. "I just made coffee. What else do people put in it?" she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Before Ralph could respond, he clutched his mouth and rushed out of the office once more, desperately seeking refuge in the bathroom. Lucinda followed him, her concern overriding any sense of self-preservation. In the bathroom, she turned on the tap, cupping water in her hand, though it slipped through her fingers as she poured it over Ralph's head. The liquid dissolved into his hair, offering no relief.

"What are you doing here? This is the men's bathroom. Get out," Ralph managed to say between bouts of nausea, his hand resting on the table near the sink. He felt a wave of sickness wash over him, akin to a pregnant woman experiencing morning sickness.

"I want to help you. I don't care about that," Lucinda retorted stubbornly, continuing to pour water over his head. Ralph, weakened, reached into his pocket, retrieving a handkerchief to pat his lips. He leaned against the bathroom wall, his gaze drifting upward to the ceiling. "You can go now," he murmured, exhaustion seeping into his voice.

"I won't leave you like this," Lucinda asserted, her determination unwavering.

"Please, just go. Don't make things more difficult than they already are," Ralph pleaded, his grip on his stomach weakening as he let out a weary sigh. Suddenly, an employee burst into the bathroom, his intentions clear until his eyes fell upon Ralph and Lucinda.

"Ahhh!" the man shrieked, scrambling to preserve his modesty before fleeing from the bathroom in a hurry.

"There, you see? Go out!" Ralph's anger flared,

and he forcefully pushed Lucinda out of the bathroom. She stumbled backward, then quickly regained her footing and rushed back inside, continuing to pour water on Ralph's head. The same employee reentered, his eyes widening in shock.

"Ahhh, what are you still doing here?" he stammered, his gaze shifting between Lucinda and the ailing Ralph.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

"I'm sorry, but my boss is in need. I can't just abandon him," Lucinda replied with genuine concern. The man, understanding the gravity of the situation, reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of water, displaying it before Lucinda. "I'll take it from here," he murmured, a note of understanding in his voice. Lucinda glanced at Ralph, who motioned for her to leave with a silent gesture. Reluctantly, she stepped out of the bathroom.

Ralph, now alone with the employee, wiped his face with a towel, water dripping from his hair onto his shirt. "Sir, what did you eat?" the man inquired, curiosity tinged with concern evident in his voice.

"I don't know," Ralph replied curtly, his brow furrowing as he walked out of the bathroom. Making his way back to his office, towel still in hand, Lucinda approached him.

"Sir, are you feeling better now?" she asked, her lashes fluttering with feigned innocence.

"I think so," Ralph responded, a frown etched on his face as he took his seat. He placed a hand on his forehead, massaging it in an attempt to alleviate the lingering discomfort. Weakness pervaded his features as his gaze fell upon the coffee mug, which he picked up from the table, scrutinizing it intently.

"I suspect the mug may be contaminated. I'll have my lab operators examine it," he exclaimed, his eyes widening with realization. Lucinda's own eyes widened in sync, her anxiety mounting as she nervously clutched her dress. Ralph gingerly placed the mug back on the table. "Hello," Ralph said putting his phone to his ear.

Lucinda, standing at a distance, subtly twisted her hand, willing the mug to topple and shatter. Responding to her silent command, the mug obeyed, tumbling from the desk and crashing into pieces on the floor. Ralph stared at the broken fragments, astonishment evident on his face as he momentarily abandoned his phone call.

Rising from his seat, Ralph cast a bewildered glance at the fallen mug before turning his attention to Lucinda. "It seems the evidence has taken care of itself. I don't need you anymore," he said, his voice laced with a blend of confusion and suspicion as he ended the call.

Lucinda swiftly made her way towards his desk, the scene playing out differently yet again.