At my insistence, Levy and I walked to the same cafe I went to with Gray and Loke one my first day. The whole walk there was silent as I didn't really know what to talk about with her. But it was also because I was still trying to shake my aroused feelings from a few minutes prior in the elevator. God, I just couldn't seem to get over them and it was driving me crazy.

When we were finally seated, I immediately crossed my legs to try and hold myself together. I didn't need to draw any unwanted attention to myself. However, I guess I didn't do a very good job of it because Levy seemed to catch on that something was up.

"Lucy, are you alright?" she asked.

"Y-Yeah," I lied. Come on, Lucy, pull it together already!

"Are you sure? You look a little flushed."

I nodded. "I'm just hungry," I lied again as I quickly reached for the menu.

We stayed silent for a little longer until our server came by and took our order. I was grateful when he finally left because sitting here like this was making me eager to leave myself. What was going and why couldn't I get rid of this aching inside?

"Lucy..." Levy started again. "Did something happen with Natsu?"

That immediately drew my attention. Did she know?

"N-No. Why do you ask?"

"Well..." She paused for a moment. "I noticed he was in the elevator when you got off, and you've had this look about you since I saw you."

I took a deep breath. "I-"

She put her hand up to stop me. "If it's a private matter, you don't need to tell me."

"Then why -"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she said sincerely. "I know how Natsu can be and you seem like a nice girl, so I felt obligated to ask."

I smiled.

"I mean, he tried hitting on me not too long ago and I blew him off."

Suddenly, the aching in me disappeared. As relieved as I was, it was also a bummer to know that I wasn't the only one he had made feel that way. Even though there was enough evidence to show that his reputation seemed to be accurate, it still sucked when reality snapped me back to the truth that Natsu Dragneel is a player.

"H-He did?" I tried to act surprise.

Levy nodded. "Yeah, but I told him I was already in a relationship with someone. He tried to play it off like it was nothing, but as desirable as he is, I had to stand my ground and reject him."

"Oh."

"Don't look so disappointed, Lucy," she said. "I know he seems like a harmless flirt, but after seeing the way he is with the girls at work, and with how quick he is to disregard a relationship, you'd be smart to steer clear of him."

"You sound like Gray," I chuckled.

"Gray Fullbuster?"

I nodded.

"I'm not surprised he would say something like that."

"No?" I was curious now. I knew my best friend had it out for this guy, but now I wanted to know how deep he disliked Natsu.

Levy laughed. "Ever since Gray started working at Magnolia Publishing, he and Natsu have been at it like cats and dogs. Gray spouts about how Natsu should pick one girl and Natsu comes back about Gray being jealous."

"Wow," was all I could say.

"Yeah." Levy thought for a minute. "But anyways, tell me about you."

Over the next little bit, Levy and I go back and forth about our goals in life, why we chose publishing, and a little about her boyfriend, Gajeel. I'll admit, being single and hearing about someone else's love life makes me jealous because I always wanted to experience something like that at least once.

I suppose my time will come when the time is right.

When Levy and I returned from lunch, we parted ways and made our way back to our respective work stations. I got settled back into my work when I noticed someone sit on my desk beside me. I jumped and looked up expecting see Natsu again, but thankfully it was Gray. I have never been more relieved to see him.

"Hey stranger," he said with a cool smile.

I stood up ang hugged him. "Hey."

"Working hard?" He motioned to my desk.

I nodded. "Yeah."

Gray frowned. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," I said. "I've just been busy with all of these manuscripts."

Gray nodded.

"Where have you been?" I asked, changing the topic from me.

He motioned around the office.

I laughed. "Funny, because I've hardly seen you."

"I've been helping out some other employees catch up on some work. One of them -" He pointed to the white-haired girl I saw come out of Natsu's office this morning. I gulped. "Lisanna," he continued, "was sick for the last week, so I offered to help her."

"Uh-huh."

"Lucy, are you sure you're okay? You look pale."

"Y-Yeah," I lied. "I had a big lunch and I guess it's making me feel uneasy."

"Bad salad?" he joked.

I punched his shoulder.

"Ow! Okay, well if you need me, I'll be at my desk."

I smile. "Got it."

He left.

I dropped back into my chair and let out a sigh. I didn't know a person could be this exhausted by midday, and yet, there I was. After a few minutes I forced myself back into my work, hoping to keep my mind occupied from everything that happened today.

I heard a door open behind me and I tensed. I hoped to God it wasn't him, because I couldn't take another moment of being alone in his presence. It was too stifling.

"Lucy!" called Erza, to my delight.

I jumped up. "Yes ma'am."

She motioned me into her office with two fingers and I obliged quickly, following her into her office where she closed the door behind us. She motioned for me to have a seat and I did so without hesitation. When she sat down at her desk, her face looked so serious that I was beginning to wonder if I had done something wrong.

Oh crap! Was I about to get fired? Did Natsu tell Erza about earlier? Was it because I hugged another employee in the workplace? Or was it my work?

"You're not getting fired, Lucy," Erza spoke up, reading my mind.

I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Actually, I called you in here because you're being offered a new position."

"Huh?" I was really confused. "B-But I've only been here a few days."

She rested her chin on the heel of her hand. "Yes you have."

I wiggled in my seat a little because the look she was giving me was really unsettling. It was as if she was trying to figure something out.

"So, um...what is my new position?" I asked.

"Natsu Dragneel has requested to have you as his assistant."

My heart sank. Like, if it could have dropped below the surface of the earth, it would have. I was requested to become an assistant to the company playboy? I was basically losing any credibility I had earned in the little bit of time I'd worked here to wait on someone hand and foot. If anything, this felt more like I was being demoted, even if I was being requested.

"Ms. - Erza," I started, "is this request optional or mandatory?"

"I'm afraid Natsu was very insistent on having you." She stacked some papers together and handed them to me. "Drop these with Loke on your way to Natsu's office."

Without another word, I took the papers and trudged my way out of Erza's office and down the way towards Loke's desk. He had his head down, reading a manuscript, when I got him. I carefully dropped the papers on his desk and went to slip away unnoticed, my obvious disappointment a dead giveaway to anyone.

"Hey, Lucy," Loke said. I had barely gotten two steps away.

I turned. "Hey, Loke."

He stood up and walked over to me. "Are you okay?"

I sighed. "You know, you're the third person to ask me that today, and frankly, it's getting old."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry," I said more calmly. "It's just been really rough day."

"I can see that."

I just stood there in silence, hoping he'd take the hint and go back to his desk. But I guess not, since he continued to watch me like I might collapse.

"Seriously, Lucy," he went on, "are you okay?"

Out of the few people who warned me about Natsu since I started at Magnolia Publishing, Loke seemed to be the least judgmental of all. So I told him about the news I just got from Erza.

"You're kidding," he said.

"Unfortunately, no."

"You know any girl would kill to be in your position right now?" he whispered.

I frowned. "That makes me feel loads better," I snapped. I immediately thought of that white-haired girl Gray was helping. Lisanna, I think her name was?

Loke was about to say something else, but Natsu's voice came from his office. We both turned to look and he was leaning out a little bit, motioning me in before he slipped back in. I sighed and turned back to Loke, asking him to wish me luck. He did. Slowly but surely, I made my way to Natsu's office.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in," came his voice from inside.

I opened the door and stepped in far enough that I could make a run for it quickly if needed.

"Close the door," he ordered.

Scratch that attempt. I shut the door behind me, but keep close to it anyway. Natsu was sitting behind his desk on the other side of the carpeted room, elbows on the desk and his mouth resting against his folded hands. His long fingers were interlocked together like perfect stitching, but his eyes were boring holes into my soul from such a measurable distance, I didn't know what to do.

"So, Lucy," he said, "are you ready for your first task?"