Chapter 161: Very Sweet, but Not as Sweet as You

Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Very Sweet, but Not as Sweet as You

Claire Kendall looked down from the second-floor window.

Miles Warren was leaning against a black Phaeton, his jacket casually draped over his forearm. He was looking up slightly, his eyes locked on the floor-to-ceiling window of her private room.

’It’s late autumn and chilly. He just got out of the hospital, is he waiting for me dressed so lightly?’

She quickly averted her gaze and picked up the wine glass in front of her.

"Fire Chief Stone, Director Walsh, Director Lowell, I’ll have to trouble you with the clarification statement. I can’t stay any longer today, but I’ll treat you all another day to thank you properly."

She tilted her head back and downed the drink in one go. The rush made her cough twice. She grabbed her bag and hurried out of the private room.

"Ms. Kendall, Ms. Kendall, let us see you out—"

"No, no, that’s not necessary." Claire Kendall quickened her pace, feeling both flattered and flustered.

She practically ran down to the first floor in her thin high heels.

Through the automatic glass doors, Miles Warren waved at her.

A smile spread across Claire Kendall’s lips as she rushed over. "Miles Warren, what are you doing here?"

He swept an arm around her waist, pulling her securely into his embrace. "Why are you running? There’s no rush."

"It’s chilly out, I was afraid you’d get cold. You can put me down."

Miles Warren loosened his grip slightly, and Claire Kendall’s feet touched the ground.

He held out a pink paper box. Inside was a small cake tied with a pink ribbon.

Claire Kendall took it, her eyes lighting up. "Chaki? Their cakes are so hard to buy, there’s always a long line."

"Nah, I was just passing by. There was no line today."

She looked up. "Chaki is in Farrow, and Regency Gardens is to the west. How is that ’on the way’ from anywhere?"

"Just get in the car!"

Miles Warren pulled open the car door and held his hand over the roof as she got in.

Outside the restaurant, Fire Chief Stone and the other officials had come out for some fresh air and to discuss how to phrase the statement. They looked up just in time to see this scene.

Miles Warren was leaning over to help her fasten her seatbelt, his eyes full of an indulgent smile as he gently tucked a stray strand of her hair back.

He was like a completely different person from the decisive, intimidating God of Wealth in the private room who had pressured everyone into silence.

Director Walsh nearly fell down the steps. "Is that Mr. Warren? He wasn’t like this in the room next door just now, was he?"

Fire Chief Stone lit a cigarette and stared at the sky. "Today’s statement has to be written perfectly. Not a single word can be ambiguous."

The others nodded in unison.

Director Walsh volunteered, "Should we go over and say a proper goodbye?"

Miles Warren closed the passenger-side door, turned around, and drew a finger across his lips, signaling them to be quiet. The group immediately froze.

Miles walked around to the driver’s side, started the car, and drove out of the parking area.

Claire Kendall had taken off her high heels and was curled up barefoot in the spacious passenger seat, eating the sweet cake one spoonful at a time.

"Is it good?"

"You should try it." Claire instinctively offered the spoon to his lips.

Only after she’d offered it did she remember he was a germaphobe. She wanted to pull it back but felt awkward, so she simply waited for his inevitable refusal.

Unexpectedly, Miles turned his head and took the spoon into his mouth. The sweetness spread between his lips and teeth, and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

"It’s too sweet."

"No, it’s just right. I love it."

As Claire went to pull the spoon back, his lips brushed against her fingers in a soft, light kiss.

"But not as sweet as you."

Claire froze, her ears burning bright red. "Miles Warren, you..."

’He’s been a little off lately. How is he getting so good at flirting?!’

She bit her lip and started scrolling through her phone to distract herself.

"The king of Wall Street investment banking, ZJ, is returning to the country to develop his business? All his industries are shifting to Aethel? I heard he’s from Aethel originally."

Miles kept his eyes on the road, his tone casual. "Shifting all his industries? It’s not that fast."

"How do you know?"

"I..." Miles paused. "You can’t really trust these online rumors."

Claire sighed heavily. "I don’t care about the other stuff, but I heard this ZJ invested in the fashion industry abroad and it’s booming. If he moves that business to Aethel, he’ll start eating into our market share."

"That bastard. Wasn’t he doing fine abroad? Why the hell is he coming back!"

A slight smile played on Miles’s lips, his voice low. "What if he doesn’t take your market share? Maybe he could even partner with you."

"Hah! Me, need him? Are there any good people in the business world?" Claire frowned and muttered under her breath, "Why is the road to supporting my husband so damn hard?"

Miles glanced over, a smirk on his face, and deliberately asked again, "What did you say?"

Suddenly, a video call popped up on the car’s display screen, breaking the somewhat flirtatious, awkward moment.

"N-nothing! You have a call, I’ll get it for you."

Claire reached out and answered the call.

The video feed lit up, showing a top-floor office in a distant Wall Street investment bank. The decor was expensive, minimalist, and sophisticated. A dozen foreign investors in designer suits sat in a row, their expressions respectful and solemn as they all stared at the large screen, awaiting instructions.

On the other end of the call, they saw the face of a beautiful Chinese woman.

She was holding a cake spoon in her mouth, her face leaning curiously toward the screen before she immediately pulled back.

"Miles, are you about to have a meeting?"

The man lowered his head, his gaze gentle. "Mm, just a small, unimportant meeting. You should get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there."

The car stopped at a red light, and Miles pulled out a blanket and draped it over Claire.

On the other end, they saw and heard the scene clearly. Even though their boss was speaking Chinese, they understood him perfectly.

’An unimportant meeting?’

’Is he talking about us?’

’Every single person here is worth tens of millions!’

He turned the screen to face him, his lips parting slightly. He spoke, not in Chinese or English, but in Italian, which Claire couldn’t understand.

His voice was soft, yet it carried a tone of absolute, ruthless decisiveness.

"Right now, liquidate all of ZJ’s apparel industry assets."

"Ban any apparel industry assets from our global branches from returning to Aethel. Halt all related projects immediately."

Shocked voices came from the other end.

"ZJ?!"

Miles glanced up and continued in Italian, "Switch languages. Use Italian."

Claire, half-asleep, thought she heard the name "ZJ" and opened her eyes. "Hm?"

Miles continued, "It’s nothing. Just a medical consultation."

"Dr. Warren, what language is that? It sounds beautiful."

"Be good. Go to sleep. I’ll speak it for you tonight."

On the other end, everyone switched to Italian and voiced their protests.

"ZJ? The apparel sector is one of our most profitable projects! It’s not like the other high-tech industries, but why cut it so suddenly?"

"Bringing in the light industry assets won’t cause any delays!"

Miles lowered his gaze. "The apparel industry is my personal investment. I’ll absorb most of the losses. I will compensate you for your dividends."

"But why?!" The people on the other end were completely baffled.

"There is no reason. Just do it."

Miles lowered his gaze again and ended the video call.

He glanced sideways at the sleeping Claire Kendall.

’What other reason could there be?’

’Can’t have anything getting in the way of my wife supporting me, of course.’