Chapter 328: Unspoken Rivalry

The following morning, the business partners collaborating with Aioryx began arriving early for the emergency meeting.

Richard, however, was among the earliest. Rather than heading straight to the conference room, he made his way to Isobel’s office.

"Richie, you’re early." Isobel looked up from her tablet, a hint of surprise crossing her face.

Richard placed a takeaway bag on her desk and began unpacking its contents. A box of freshly baked croissants and a cup of milk tea emerged.

"Breakfast," he announced, pushing them toward her.

Isobel’s eyes immediately settled on the drink. Without hesitation, she picked it up and took a sip.

Wintermelon. Her favorite.

"Thanks!"

Richard smiled at her reaction. It was clearly worth getting up early for.

"How have you been, Isobel?" he asked, his voice softening. "I was worried about you. Those things people were saying online..."

He reached over and affectionately ruffled her hair, an old habit from the days when she was much younger.

When Charlotte’s smear campaign against Isobel had reached its peak, Richard had quietly mobilized his PR team. He had worked behind the scenes to shift public attention toward Isobel’s invention, making sure that the positive feedback surrounding her work drowned out the malicious attacks.

The sudden surge of support hadn’t happened entirely on its own.

"I am fine now, Richie. Thanks to you." Isobel took another sip of her milk tea. "I’m pretty sure you had something to do with all that positive publicity."

Richard merely smiled.

Of course, he had a hand in it. Did she really think he would stand by and watch people drag her through the mud?

"It’s nothing. How could I let those crazy netizens get away with saying such things about you?"

"I know, I know. You’re the best, Richie!"

Her cheerful response brought a satisfied smile to his face.

They were still chatting when the office door opened.

Kristoff walked in.

His gaze briefly swept across the room before settling on the two items in Isobel’s hands. The half-finished milk tea and the half-eaten croissant.

Then his eyes moved to Richard.

A faint crease appeared between his brows, but it disappeared almost immediately.

"Richard, you are here as well," he greeted.

He approached Isobel’s desk and placed a bouquet of roses on it. Beside the flowers, he set down a cup of coffee.

"I seem to have arrived a little late," he remarked, glancing at the drink in her hand. "You’ve already had your breakfast."

Isobel looked at the cup of coffee, then at him.

"Richard brought my favorite milk tea, winter melon."

She said it casually, without the slightest awareness that her remark might mean anything beyond what it was.

Kristoff glanced at Richard, who responded with a polite smile.

Then he turned his attention back to Isobel. "I wasn’t sure if you’d had breakfast, so I also brought you something."

"Thank you." Isobel smiled at him before her gaze returned to the bouquet. "The flowers are beautiful."

Richard glanced at the roses, then casually checked his watch.

"By the way, Kristoff, what brings you here?"

Isobel’s question caught Kristoff slightly off guard.

"Am I not allowed to visit?"

"That’s not what I meant." She tilted her head. "I thought you would be busy dealing with the internet scandal."

Kristoff’s expression remained composed, though a faint trace of displeasure crossed his eyes.

"The matter is being handled."

"Oh, right! I almost forgot something."

Isobel put down her milk tea and looked at him.

"Thank you for the company shares you gave me. But don’t you think it’s a little too much?"

Kristoff’s expression softened.

"It’s nothing. You deserve them. Besides, I wouldn’t have won that bet without you."

He reached for her hand, his fingers closing gently around hers. His thumb brushed over the ring on her finger, lingering there for a moment.

It was a small, almost absent-minded gesture.

Except that when he adjusted his hand, the matching ring on his own finger became clearly visible.

Richard noticed.

His gaze moved from the ring on Isobel’s hand to the one Kristoff was wearing.

A matching pair.

For a brief moment, his expression became unreadable. Then he lowered his eyes to his watch, as though the discovery had been nothing more than an incidental detail.

"Are you two coming to the collaboration meeting?" he asked. "If not, I’ll head to the conference room first."

"We can go together, Richie."

"Isobel."

Kristoff’s voice interrupted her, calm but firm.

He released her hand, though his attention remained on her.

"There’s something I’d like to discuss with you. It won’t take long. We can join them in a few minutes."

Richard glanced at him.

There was no challenge in his expression, no trace of displeasure. He simply slipped his hands into his pockets and gave a small nod.

"Of course. Take your time."

He turned toward the door.

But just before stepping out, he looked back at Isobel.

"Don’t forget to finish your croissant. You always get so caught up in work that you skip breakfast."

"I won’t!"

Richard smiled and finally left.

Kristoff watched the door close before turning back to Isobel.

On her desk sat an almost empty cup of milk tea, a cup of coffee, a box of croissants, and a bouquet of roses.

He glanced at the untouched cup he had brought.

Apparently, getting here early wasn’t enough.

And judging by the way Isobel had casually accepted Richard’s familiar gestures, he might have a little more competition than he had anticipated.

Kristoff pulled out the chair beside Isobel’s desk and sat down.

"Are you particularly fond of Winter melon milk tea?" he asked, glancing at the cup Richard had brought.

Isobel nodded. "It’s my favorite."

"I see."

He picked up the cup he had brought and placed it closer to her.

"I thought you like coffee"

Isobel blinked before laughing. "I do, but I love milk tea more."

"That’s unfortunate. I thought I had remembered your favorite."

His tone was casual, but Isobel caught the faintest hint of disappointment.

She looked at the cup, then at him.

"Well, I can drink yours later. I’ll just heat it up."

Kristoff’s expression eased.

"Good."

He leaned back in his chair, seemingly satisfied with that simple promise.

Kristoff said nothing more.

He wasn’t about to question her relationship with Richard. After all, he had no intention of making Isobel uncomfortable over something so trivial.

But he did make a mental note.

Next time, he should have to know Isobel’s favorites.

Isobel, completely unaware of the silent resolution taking shape beside her, resumed reading the documents on her tablet.

A moment later, Kristoff leaned closer.

"Isobel, put that away for a while. You promised me a few minutes."

She looked at the clock.

"You’re right. What did you want to discuss?"

Kristoff’s gaze settled on her, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"Nothing particularly urgent."

"Then what is it?"

"I just wanted to spend some time with you."

For once, Isobel had no immediate answer.

And Kristoff seemed perfectly content to let the silence linger.