Chapter 1086 - 561: Is That Okay? Is That Okay?

Julian Carter looked at Avery Jane, carrying a lunch box. I bet the boss is ecstatic—is there really someone delivering dinner to him? He glanced at the time and calculated by the second, rising from his office chair and heading towards the door. Maybe I should start a countdown? He internally mocked himself; what huge scene hasn’t he witnessed before, what kind of women hasn’t he been with—the American, the foreign, the mixed-blood? Although Avery Jane was undeniably beautiful, this was still too much, wasn’t it? Time and again offending people for her, almost losing his life in Las Vegas. The saying "beauty brings disaster" truly isn’t wrong.

Sure enough, just seconds later, the man who had been fuming in the office stormed out.

"Avery, why are you here instead of resting at home?" Joshua Hughes glanced at Avery Jane. She looked like she had just showered and changed her clothes. The air seemed to carry the fragrance of her favorite rose oil soap. Her hair appeared particularly glossy and enchanting, and she stood there like a ray of sunshine entering his heart.

"You don’t like me coming?" Avery Jane looked at him, pouting her rosy lips, as if both whining and complaining, which delighted the man immensely.

"How could I—I’d love it." Joshua Hughes took the heavy lunch box from her hand, gently holding her delicate white hand as they walked inside.

There were four departments waiting to report work downstairs. It seemed they’d have to be postponed; they probably wouldn’t be finished anytime soon as he could see the excitement in the boss’s eyes.

Pushing the door open, Avery Jane saw a middle-aged man standing inside. His hair was sparse, and when he lowered his head, the few strands hanging on his head seemed about to fall, making her almost laugh. The Hughes Clan wasn’t usually fond of hiring handsome men and beautiful women, was it? This man’s qualifications must be extraordinary; his position high enough to report work in Joshua Hughes’s office.

Joshua Hughes glanced at the nervous finance manager standing by the desk and waved a hand, granting reprieve as the nearly bald man exited quickly.

"Why so obediently visiting me?" Joshua Hughes hadn’t expected Avery Jane to come visit him at this time; his heart seemed drenched in honey. After so much effort, so long a wait, finally she responded a little—it moved him deeply even if it was just her coming to see him.

"The weather is uncomfortable; I made some congee and a few dishes for you. Would you like to eat?" While her cooking couldn’t compare to the top chefs at Hughes Manor, she wanted to make something for him; seeing him a bit troubled today, she worried.

"I’m just hungry—what delicious things did you make?" Joshua Hughes’s eyes rippled with emotion. Eating, even if it were poison, he’d swallow it immediately.

"I made some congee and a few small dishes..." In this weather, congee should feel comforting.

Avery Jane opened the lunch box, carefully crafted by Eliza Bell, even the box was exquisitely nerve-wracking. In the black-gold-framed box sat several small white porcelain dishes. Avery Jane’s fingers, delicate as orchids, deftly arranged the lunch box.

The dishes were exceedingly exquisite and delicious: crunchy jellyfish heads with tangy lemon juice, pickled cucumbers, the wind-dried chicken she’d made and refrigerated days ago was just ready to eat. She meticulously deboned it, prepared a plateful of shredded dried chicken, and served a small dish of marinated peanuts. In the insulated container, the congee was scallop congee—premium scallops slowly cooked in white congee until the flavor emerged, adding just a bit of salt for taste. The congee’s fine texture and fragrant aroma wafted around. Lastly, there were golden-colored egg pancakes. Laid out fully, Avery Jane took a bowl from the second tier of the box and served a bowl of congee: "Enjoy..."

Those jade-like hands right before him, Joshua Hughes held back the surging tide of emotions in his heart, taking the bowl—in the scene he’d long dreamt of, she gently sat by his side, cooked for him, cared about him all. When it happened suddenly, it was hard to believe—happiness coming so swiftly and overwhelmingly.

What she cooked was delicious and flavorful. It was uniquely hers, most suited to him...

Outside the window, dusk had settled; the golden sky seemed to scatter its light like a gossamer veil spread across the earth, everything hazy and dreamy. Through the light, Avery Jane’s eyes glistened slightly as she watched the man eat attentively, not wasting a single bite. She loved cooking for him every day, watching him eat, feeling a simple happiness—a feeling experienced for much time...

As dusk’s gold was swallowed by darkness, neon lights outside slowly lit up, twinkling in every hue like divine jewels scattered onto earth. Joshua Hughes loved heights, enjoyed overlooking everything, liked having everything within his sight. That included her; she was willing to be conquered by him but unwilling to be controlled—two distinct notions.

A man like him was born a king; he liked conquering, had a strong desire for control. If those feelings couldn’t be well adjusted, they’d probably quarrel often.

"Joshua, can we have a talk?" Avery Jane watched him contentedly place the bowl down, slowly tidying up the table while softly speaking. Not wanting to miss out on happiness, or let love slip away, she wanted a good conversation regarding their future...

Joshua Hughes watched her long black hair spread down her back, making her shoulders appear thinner and waist more slender.

He drew her hand to sit beside him, fingers entwining a glossy lock of hair, leisurely playing with it: "Alright..."

His voice was low, echoing in the vast office, seemingly resounding with echoes by her ears. This man was increasingly irresistible to her, and time would only make his mature charm more apparent.

His infatuated eyes seemed glued to her, unwilling to move even a tiny amount; her petite face was elegantly painted, skin fairer than snow. She seemed a bit shy, long lashes veiling her eyes like water, gently fluttering akin to a butterfly charmingly gathering nectar from a flower.

"We could try to date properly—I don’t want to miss out, but Joshua, you can’t domineeringly insist I must do whatever you say; I need my personal space, alright..." She shyly lowered her head, lightly tugging at his tie. The tie around his neck felt like it was tied around his heart—in one gentle tug, his heart pulsed with her movement.