Chapter 67: Or did she see through my lie

Clara waited outside for a few moments before the front door finally swung open.

"Miss Hayes."

Logan greeted her with his usual professional smile.

"I hope it didn’t take you too long to find the place."

Clara smiled back before stepping inside.

"Not at all."

She glanced around the modest house once more.

"But I definitely wasn’t expecting our meeting to be held... here."

The interior was neat and elegant, but surprisingly simple.

There were no crystal chandeliers.

No expensive paintings covering every wall.

No butlers standing in every corner.

Instead, the house felt...

Comfortable.

Warm.

Like someone actually lived here instead of merely owning it.

Logan chuckled.

"I get that reaction quite often."

He gestured for her to follow.

"This way, please. The boss is already expecting you."

"He is?"

Clara blinked in surprise before quickly following behind him.

As they walked through the hallway, she couldn’t help looking around.

The place wasn’t extravagant.

Every piece of furniture looked carefully chosen rather than ridiculously expensive.

Fresh flowers decorated the corners of the house, and sunlight streamed through the large windows.

It felt peaceful.

Very unlike what she’d imagined for one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen.

"My boss has always preferred living a private life," Logan explained.

Clara nodded thoughtfully.

"I’ve read quite a bit about him."

"Well... about his business, at least."

She laughed awkwardly.

"There isn’t exactly much information about the man himself."

Logan smiled knowingly.

"That’s intentional."

"I suppose so."

Clara tilted her head.

"But doesn’t he have family?"

"I mean..."

She hesitated.

"How do they let him live alone in such a quiet place?"

For the first time since they’d met, Logan’s smile became somewhat mysterious.

"I’m afraid..."

"Only my boss can answer that question."

Clara immediately understood she had stepped into a topic she probably shouldn’t pursue.

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize."

Logan smiled again.

"Besides..."

He glanced around the house.

"I know this place probably doesn’t match your expectations."

Clara laughed.

"I’ll admit..."

"I was expecting a mansion."

"Or at least a building with its own zip code."

Logan burst into laughter.

"So does everyone else."

Then, lowering his voice conspiratorially, he added,

"But trust me..."

"My boss never fails to surprise people."

They continued walking until they reached a glass door leading toward the backyard.

Logan stopped.

"This is as far as I go."

Clara looked at him in confusion.

"Aren’t you coming?"

Logan shook his head.

"The boss prefers meeting guests alone."

He stepped aside and gestured toward the door.

"You can go in from here."

Then, with an encouraging smile, he added,

"I sincerely hope you impress him."

"And secure the partnership."

Clara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"...Are you motivating me..."

"...or wishing me luck before I walk into a disaster?"

Logan laughed so hard he had to hold his stomach.

"I’ll let you decide after the meeting."

"...That’s not reassuring at all."

She sighed dramatically.

Taking a deep breath, Clara reached for the door handle.

Her heart couldn’t help beating a little faster.

Adrian Graham.

The elusive chairman everyone in the business world admired.

A man whose companies dominated multiple industries.

Yet despite his fame...

Almost no one had actually seen him.

There weren’t any verified photographs.

No interviews.

No public appearances.

Only endless rumors.

The upcoming charity gala would supposedly be the first time Adrian Graham would appear before the public.

People had been talking about nothing else for weeks.

As for Clara... she honestly wasn’t interested in his mysterious identity.

She only wanted one thing. The contract.

Please let this meeting go smoothly.

She pushed open the glass door and stepped outside. A gentle breeze brushed against her face.

The spacious backyard was beautifully landscaped, filled with blooming flowers, trimmed hedges, and rows of colorful plants.

The scent of fresh soil lingered in the air.

Then...

She noticed someone.

Not in a designer suit.

Not surrounded by bodyguards.

Not sitting behind a luxurious desk.

Instead...

A man stood a short distance away, wearing simple casual clothes and gardening gloves as he calmly watered a bed of roses, completely absorbed in tending to the flowers.

Clara stopped in her tracks.

"...Huh?"

She blinked once.

Then twice.

Her eyes slowly wandered around the garden.

Where’s the chairman?

There was only one person in sight.

The man watering the roses.

She discreetly looked behind the flower beds.

Nothing.

Toward the gazebo.

Empty.

Even the garden chairs were unoccupied.

"...Did I come too early?"

The man, seemingly oblivious to her presence, continued trimming a few wilted leaves before setting the watering can aside.

Clara awkwardly cleared her throat.

"Excuse me..."

No response.

He simply continued examining another rose bush.

Maybe he’s the gardener.

That made sense.

After all, this garden looked far too well maintained.

Still, Logan had specifically asked her to come here.

Could the chairman be inside and the gardener simply hadn’t noticed her?

She took another cautious step.

"Um... hello?"

This time, the man finally turned around.

He appeared to be in his late fifties, with neatly combed salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes that carried the calmness of someone who had seen much of life.

There wasn’t a single trace of arrogance on his face.

Instead, he smiled warmly.

"You must be Miss Hayes."

Clara blinked.

"...Yes."

The man nodded as though confirming something.

"You brought the desserts?"

She instinctively lifted the insulated carrier.

"I did."

"Wonderful."

He smiled again before placing the gardening shears onto a nearby table.

"For a moment there, I thought Logan had frightened you away."

Clara let out an awkward laugh.

"He did say I should prepare myself."

The man chuckled.

"That sounds like him."

Silence settled between them for a brief moment.

Clara looked around once more.

Then back at the man.

Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, she asked politely,

"Excuse me... but could you tell me where Mr. Graham is?"

The man’s smile deepened ever so slightly.

Instead of answering immediately, he dusted the soil off his gardening gloves and gestured toward a shaded seating area beneath a large tree.

"Why don’t you join me first?"

"We can talk over some gardening."

Clara hesitated for a second before nodding.

"...Of course."

Still believing she was speaking to the gardener, she followed him deeper into the garden, completely unaware that the man walking ahead of her was the very person she had come to meet.

***

Meanwhile, back at the bakery...

After hearing what had happened the previous night, Lily and Silvia immediately checked on Gen.

"Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?" Lily asked worriedly, carefully looking Gen over for any injuries.

Gen gave a small shake of her head.

"I’m fine."

Silvia, however, wasn’t convinced.

Her nostrils flared in anger as she slammed a tray onto the counter.

"That shameless idiot!" she fumed. "Just let him show his face here again. I’ll make him see stars in broad daylight."

She cracked her knuckles dramatically.

"I’ve been looking for an excuse to punch someone anyway."

Lily shot her a helpless look.

"...Violence isn’t always the answer."

Silvia shrugged.

"It is when the question is, ’How do I deal with trash?’"

Despite the joke, both women were genuinely worried.

The bakery had barely opened, and trouble had already found its way to their doorstep.

Lily turned back to Gen.

"I’m just relieved you’re safe."

She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"Why don’t you move in with us?"

Gen looked up.

"There’s plenty of room in the servants’ quarters at the Sterling Mansion," Lily continued gently. "You wouldn’t have to stay alone anymore."

Silvia nodded immediately.

"Exactly. At least we’d know you’re safe."

However, Gen didn’t respond.

She simply stared blankly at the floor.

Lily frowned.

"Gen?"

Still no answer.

This time Silvia waved a hand in front of her face.

"Earth to Gen."

"You still with us?"

Gen finally blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.

"...Huh?"

Ever since her conversation with Clara the previous night, her mind had been in complete turmoil.

She hadn’t slept at all.

Without realizing it, her fingers tightened around the pocket of her trousers.

Why did she lie...?

Why would she protect him?

...Or did she see through my lie from the very beginning?

Gen knew the truth.

Her father hadn’t stolen the money.

Because there had never been any money to steal.

She had hidden the cash herself, intending to frame him so the police would arrest him.

But Clara had unexpectedly claimed she’d taken the money home.

That single lie had ruined Gen’s entire plan.

Now the hidden money meant nothing.

A wave of guilt washed over her.

Should I tell Madam the truth?

The thought lingered.

But fear quickly followed.

What if she thinks I’m a fraud?

What if... she fires me?

Gen lowered her head.

Throughout her life, people had looked at her with suspicion and disgust.

Only Clara...

Had believed her without hesitation.

That made confessing even harder.

She finally looked up at Lily and Silvia.

"When... will Madam be back?"

The anxiety in her voice didn’t go unnoticed.

Lily and Silvia exchanged puzzled glances.

"I’m not sure," Lily admitted honestly.

"But Gen..."

She reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder.

"I really think you should move in with us."

"It isn’t safe for you to stay alone anymore."

Gen forced a faint smile and nodded.

"I’ll... think about it."

But in reality... her thoughts never left Clara.

She only wondered how she was going to explain the truth about the missing money.