Working at Luxford Group meant each employee was sharp and competent. Yet, when Cedric posed his question, they all hesitated like schoolchildren unsure of an exam answer.They finally managed to say, "White... roses are pretty."Cedric's demeanor softened slightly, though traces of dissatisfaction lingered. His gaze shifted toward the towering Luxford Group building before he wordlessly strode toward the entrance, leaving the nervous employees behind.-Sophie was in the midst of shutting down her computer, preparing to depart for the day when the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention.Assuming it was Linda returning for something, she turned, ready to inquire, only to find Cedric stepping through the door. His presence, emphasized by his impeccably tailored black suit, momentarily stole her breath."Who permitted your access up here?" she asked, regaining her composure.Even though it was after hours, there were still security guards on duty at the door. No one h
Sophie hesitated to take the next step, wary of potential hurdles. The memory of Vivienne's betrayal lingered, haunting her like a shadow cast over her marriage. She feared history might repeat itself, inflicting yet another heartbreak.Cedric appeared visibly shaken, his eyes widening as her words sank in. Each one felt like a sharp blow, leaving him speechless. She was right—he had failed to grasp her perspective."I have to go now." Sophie collected her bag, her usual composure resurfacing as she prepared to leave.Cedric could only watch in silence as she walked away, realizing the gravity of his oversight and how terribly wrong he had been.-Back home, Mrs. Carrie had dinner ready.Cherry, observant as ever, noted Sophie's slight delay. "Mommy, was there traffic today? You're 15 minutes later than yesterday."She took her bag and tiptoed to place it on a shelf, her round eyes scanning Sophie’s face."There was some traffic," Sophie lied.However, the clever child drew ou
In the Crimson Bar's private room.Cedric's silence deepened the already tense atmosphere, much to Sean's annoyance. "Bro, you don't smoke or drink, and you've been silent for over 30 minutes now. Say something, will you?" Sean implored, unable to bear the silence any longer.Breaking his prolonged silence, Cedric unexpectedly asked, "How well do you know Jeanna?" The sudden shift in topic surprised Sean, sparking a livelier exchange."Very well, of course! What do you think I've been doing for over five years? I know everything Jeanna likes and dislikes. I even keep track of her menstrual cycle," Sean boasted."Then why haven't you managed to win her over?" Cedric asked, dousing Sean's pride with cold water and causing him to cough awkwardly."What use is understanding her if she's unwilling to understand me? What bad deeds did I commit in my past life to fall for such a woman and yet utterly fail to win her over?" The more he spoke, the more low-spirited Sean became.However,
"What exactly are you trying to do?""Understand you," Cedric replied, his imposing aura tempered by a note of gentleness and indulgence. His voice, richer than the coffee he had brought, hinted at a promise. "From this point forward, I'll make an effort to know you as well as you know me."He had always thought she was too proud to bend, but he had not seen just how much she had silently endured.Sophie's heart was jolted, her emotions so scrambled that no adjective seemed adequate to describe her current state. 'He said he wants to start understanding me?'Almost evasively, she avoided those gentle eyes. When she spoke again, even she found herself sounding awkward. "If you really want to... understand, you’ve come to the wrong place. This is Luxford Group, not X Corp."The absurdity of the CEO of X Corp. delivering her coffee was too much for her to process comfortably."Of course, I know this is Luxford Group. However, I might need to stay here for the next week.""Why?"Hi
Linda’s office was next to Sophie’s, separated by a transparent glass panel. While originally intended to foster a collaborative environment, the glass now afforded Cedric a view of the adjoining office. He pretended to scan the room, but his attention was drawn to the slender figure next door, a smile of satisfaction playing on his lips."Mr. Carlson, please let me know if there’s anything unsatisfactory about the office.""There’s nothing. It’s all very satisfactory." Cedric’s voice was smooth, his earlier smile fading as he maintained a professional demeanor. He appreciated the proximity to Sophie."Alright, then. I’ll let you settle in." Linda smiled politely and turned to leave. Unexpectedly, she accidentally collided with someone at the door."Sorry about that," Evander quickly apologized, managing to catch some of the falling documents in a swift motion, a testament to his agility.Linda recovered quickly from the minor mishap, recognizing Cedric's assistant. "It's actually
At the mention of that, Cedric's demeanor transformed from detached sternness to an engaging charm, laced with intrigue. Despite promising Sophie space, his actions hinted that he wasn't prepared to fade into the background.As he glanced through the glass at Sophie, deeply absorbed in her work, his smile widened while his eyes gleamed with unwavering determination.A woman's intuition was often keen, and Cedric's gaze was sharper than most. As Sophie stared at her computer screen, her fingers tapping incessantly on the keyboard, she felt her heartbeat gradually quicken.'This guy has already made himself at home in Linda’s office. What more did he want?'That inescapable gaze seemed tireless, and Sophie could bear it no longer. Annoyed, she abruptly stopped typing.Noticing her discomfort, Linda asked, "Ms. Luxford, is something bothering you?""The glare is too harsh today. Close the blinds, please."'The glare is too harsh?' Linda thought she had misheard and glanced outside
Sophie lifted her head and met Cedric's smiling eyes. She suppressed her irritation and responded with distant politeness. "Thank you.""You're welcome." With a flick of his wrist, Cedric pressed the remote, and the blinds retracted, bathing the room in soft, ambient light. "Better, right? Staring at the computer in low light can easily cause eye fatigue. But don’t worry. I have plenty of top-quality carrot juice that can help relieve discomfort in your eyes."The sudden brightness made her squint, aggravating her further. Cedric's meddling was becoming a daily challenge."Cedric, aren't you bored of all this?"'Renovations! Carrot juice! Doesn’t Cedric have any actual work to handle at X Corp. that he has time to be so idle?'"Actually, I'm quite bored, so I came over to see you. But now that I see you, I find these little visits refreshing." He smoothly turned what was meant to be a complaint, his expression earnest.Sophie’s hand, hanging by her side, clenched into a fist. It
Sophie shook her head to clear her thoughts and walked briskly toward her car. She was set to meet Charlie today. If traffic allowed, perhaps she could unwind at the cafe first.-Sophie parked in front of the cafe and entered. However, the unusually quiet atmosphere immediately shocked her.This cafe was known for its authentic coffee and was a favorite among high-ranking white-collar workers. Even outside of peak hours, it typically hosted many patrons. Yet, it was exceptionally quiet today. Apart from the staff, there was not a single customer."It's unusually quiet today, isn't it?" she remarked as she entered."Ms. Luxford, Mr. Nielson has reserved the entire cafe for your meeting today," the waiter informed her with a respectful smile.Sophie was taken aback by Charlie’s grand gesture and chuckled softly. This was more elaborate than she had anticipated. She had planned to discuss a contract with Charlie, and there he was, grandly booking the entire venue.The tranquil set