Chapter 69: if you suddenly sneeze, someone is talking about you

Adrian gradually composed himself, clearing his throat as he tried to regain the dignified image befitting the elusive chairman.

The smile disappeared from his face, replaced by a calm, unreadable expression.

"Miss Hayes," he began seriously, folding his hands on the table.

"I should warn you..."

"I’m not very easy to impress."

Clara blinked once.

Adrian continued in the same composed tone.

"My assistant may have been completely won over by your desserts."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"But I’m an exception."

He expected nervousness.

Perhaps an eager sales pitch.

Or even an attempt to flatter him.

Instead...

Clara nodded in complete understanding.

"That’s perfectly fine."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"I didn’t bake them to impress you anyway."

"..."

Silence.

She smiled brightly.

"I baked them so you’d keep ordering."

"If you happen to be impressed along the way..."

She shrugged innocently.

"...that’s just free marketing."

Adrian stared at her.

For the first time in years, someone had answered him without even the slightest hint of fear or flattery.

Clara leaned forward with a grin.

"Besides..."

"If every customer was easy to impress, I’d eventually get lazy."

"I’d rather have one picky customer than ten who clap for burnt cookies."

"..."

Adrian remained speechless.

Then...

The corners of his lips slowly lifted.

"Interesting."

He let out a quiet chuckle.

"Most people try to sell themselves to me."

He looked at Clara with newfound admiration.

"You, Miss Hayes..."

"...just challenged me to become your regular customer."

Clara smiled sheepishly.

"Well..."

"A bakery survives on repeat customers."

"And judging by your garden..."

"You seem like the type who appreciates things that are nurtured over time."

For a brief moment, Adrian simply looked at her.

Then he laughed softly, shaking his head.

"Logan..." he thought.

"You really did bring me someone unusual."

Adrian had met countless people who would do anything to earn a place in his good books.

But Clara...

She reminded him of someone he had once known.

Someone who spoke honestly without trying to please others.

The thought disappeared as he looked at the insulated dessert box.

"So," Adrian said with a smile, "what have you brought for me?"

Clara immediately brightened.

"Only my best sellers."

She carefully arranged the desserts on the table.

"There aren’t many, but each one has survived the harsh judgment of my customers."

Without another word, Adrian picked up a butter cookie.

It looked simple.

Nothing extravagant.

He took a bite.

The cookie melted in his mouth almost instantly, leaving behind a rich buttery flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.

His eyes slowly closed.

"..."

Then he reached for another. And another. And another.

A few minutes later... every single plate was empty.

Clara stared at the spotless table before looking back at Adrian, who calmly wiped his lips with a napkin.

She blinked twice. "You said you were difficult to impress."

"I am," Adrian replied without the slightest embarrassment.

Clara pointed at the empty plates.

"You just committed a massacre."

Adrian looked at the table and nodded thoughtfully. "That... does appear to be the case."

She folded her arms. "So?"

He smiled shamelessly.

"Being hard to impress is one thing. I never claimed I could resist sweets."

He looked at the empty dessert plates with complete satisfaction. "And your desserts... have become something I quite like."

"So, congratulations. The contract is yours."

Clara stared at him.

"...That’s it?"

"That’s it."

She scratched her head in confusion. "I spent all night preparing for a business negotiation. You spent five minutes eating. I suddenly feel like I’ve been scammed somehow."

Deep down, however, Clara couldn’t have been happier.

She had done it.

She had secured the contract.

A grin slowly spread across her face.

Am I... actually going to be rich now?

The thought alone made her want to laugh.

Poor hubby...

He’s been working himself to the bone for years.

Carrying such a huge company all by himself must be exhausting.

She nodded to herself with complete sincerity.

Don’t worry, Dom.

Your wife is finally making money.

I’ll help shoulder the burden.

You won’t have to struggle alone anymore.

At that exact moment...

Inside Sterling Group.

Dominic, who was reviewing a stack of documents, suddenly sneezed.

"...Achoo."

He frowned.

Mark immediately looked up from his tablet.

"Boss?"

Dominic rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"...Strange."

"I don’t usually catch colds."

Mark nodded thoughtfully.

"My grandmother used to say that if you suddenly sneeze, someone is talking about you."

Dominic calmly picked up his pen again.

"That’s nonsense."

Mark shrugged. "Maybe Madam is thinking about you."

Dominic’s expression softened ever so slightly.

"...Perhaps."

Mark looked at his boss in disbelief before clearing his throat and opening his tablet.

"Boss, have you made up your mind?"

"About what?"

"The charity gala organized by Prestine Group."

Mark scrolled through his schedule.

"It’s been confirmed that Adrian Graham will finally make his first public appearance."

"I already mentioned it while going over your schedule this morning."

"You still haven’t approved your attendance."

Dominic leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.

Truthfully...

He was curious.

The chairman of Prestine Group had remained a mystery for years.

Despite building one of the country’s most influential business empires, Adrian Graham had successfully stayed out of the public eye.

No interviews. No photographs. No unnecessary publicity.

The business world had been trying to uncover the man behind Prestine Group for years.

After a brief silence, Dominic nodded. "I’ll attend."

Mark smiled. "I thought you would." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he snapped his fingers.

"Oh! There’s something else."

Dominic raised an eyebrow.

"Go on."

"I heard Vincent Hayes has been trying very hard to secure the catering deal for the charity event."

"He even sent over samples of their best-selling desserts."

Dominic remained expressionless.

"And?"

Mark couldn’t help grinning.

"They were rejected."

Dominic looked up.

"Rejected?"

"Completely."

Mark nodded enthusiastically.

"It seems Chairman Graham specifically requested authentic handmade desserts."

"He wants the children from the orphanage to experience something warm and homemade instead of factory-produced luxury pastries."

Dominic’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"So who got the contract?"

Mark’s grin widened.

"I heard Chairman Graham has already chosen someone."

"Who?"

Mark tried his best to keep a straight face.

"...Madam."

"..."

Dominic blinked once. "...Clara?"

Mark nodded proudly.

"Yes."

Dominic stared at him for a moment before the corners of his lips slowly lifted.

"My wife...is more capable than she realizes."

Mark sighed dramatically. "I genuinely feel sorry for Vincent Hayes. He probably spent days preparing a proposal. Meanwhile, Madam walked in with cookies...and walked out with the contract."

Dominic calmly picked up his coffee.

"That’s because..." He took a sip. "...her desserts are worth it."

Mark looked at his boss suspiciously.

"Boss... You sound less like the CEO of Sterling Group... and more like Madam’s number one fan."

Dominic didn’t even bother denying it. He simply took another sip of his coffee, silently accepting the accusation.