CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: PRESIDENT SHEFFIELD? THAT’S A DREAM I WOULDN’T DARE TO DREAM

The next day, driver Linton drove Silas Sheffield’s newly purchased commuter car to take Clara to the company.

Driving really does save time; it was only a little past eight thirty when they reached the company.

At this time, there weren’t many people waiting for the elevator, so Clara stepped inside as soon as it arrived.

Clara reached out to press the elevator button, but the man beside her just happened to do the same, both of them aiming for the twenty-seventh floor, inadvertently brushing fingertips.

Clara quickly withdrew her hand, "Sorry."

"No problem." The man’s voice was warm and rich.

Soon, the elevator reached the twenty-seventh floor.

The man walked out of the elevator.

Clara followed him out.

"Good morning, President Hawthorne!"

"Hello, President Hawthorne!"

"President Hawthorne."

People greeted the man as he walked past.

Clara lifted her gaze to the man a few steps ahead.

The man had a tall build, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a striking silver-gray suit.

So, he was her direct supervisor, the department director, Julian Hawthorne.

The man was very tall, estimated to be over 1.85 meters. Although Clara had entered the elevator with him just now, she hadn’t seen his face.

Clara walked to her desk, grabbed her mug, and headed to the break room to fill it with coffee.

Opening the door to the break room, the man’s tall back came into view.

"Good morning, President Hawthorne," Clara greeted him.

Julian Hawthorne turned his head and nodded slightly when he saw her, "Good morning, are you the new assistant?"

"Yes, President Hawthorne, my name is Clara Sterling. I just started yesterday."

Julian Hawthorne: "Welcome to my team."

Clara got a clear look at Julian Hawthorne’s face.

His features were almost sculptural, with pale skin, handsome brows, and a straight nose.

The corners of his lips slightly curved into a gentle smile, reminiscent of a warm spring breeze.

Julian Hawthorne’s first impression was genteel and elegant, exuding nobility and grace in his every move.

Lisa Holloway was right; a man like Julian Hawthorne truly is exceptional.

After getting her coffee, Clara returned to her desk, and Lisa Holloway arrived shortly after.

As soon as Lisa Holloway got to her desk, she leaned over and asked quietly, "Did you just see President Hawthorne? Isn’t he handsome?"

Clara nodded, "I saw him, he’s indeed quite handsome."

Lisa Holloway laughed, "I told you, President Hawthorne is the most attractive man in our department; several girls fancy him."

"Do you like him too?" Clara asked casually.

"I do, but it’s not like that between a man and a woman, it’s more like admiration for a good-looking guy, you know? I already have a boyfriend, and we’re planning to get married this National Day."

"Congratulations then."

"Do you have a boyfriend, Clara?"

Clara thought for a moment and shook her head.

She indeed didn’t have a boyfriend, but she had a husband—and that was President Silas Sheffield, whom people dubbed ’The Grim Reaper.’

Lisa Holloway was merely a colleague, so Clara didn’t feel the need to clarify.

"You don’t have a boyfriend even though you’re so beautiful? You must have a lot of people pursuing you," Lisa Holloway said, surprised.

Just then, Julian Hawthorne came over, prompting Lisa Holloway to stop gossiping and greet him, "President Hawthorne."

"Hmm," Julian Hawthorne glanced at Clara Sterling, "Come to my office for a moment."

"Okay, President Hawthorne." Clara immediately stood up and followed Julian Hawthorne to his office.

Julian Hawthorne handed Clara some documents and assigned some tasks, "Give them to me before the end of the day."

"Okay, President Hawthorne."

When Clara returned to her desk, Lisa Holloway asked, "What did President Hawthorne say to you?"

"He gave me some work assignments." Clara sat back down and started organizing the documents.

Lisa Holloway grinned, "Isn’t President Hawthorne considerate?"

She continued talking to herself, "President Hawthorne and President Sheffield are the two most handsome men in our company. However, President Sheffield is too cold and strict, we’re all afraid of him. But Julian is different, he’s kind and approachable, who wouldn’t like such a man? He’s every girl’s dream."

Clara found it rather amusing and asked with a smile, "President Hawthorne is every girl’s dream, what about President Sheffield?"

Lisa Holloway shuddered, "President Sheffield? He’s too daunting even to dream about!"

Clara chuckled.

Was Silas Sheffield really so intimidating?

They chatted for a few minutes before focusing on their work for the day.

Lisa Holloway said, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

"Sure."

On her second day at work, Clara was already familiar with some processes, thanks to Lisa Holloway’s help and guidance. Clara completed all the tasks Julian Hawthorne had assigned before the end of the day.

Clara took the documents to Julian Hawthorne.

After a few minutes of reviewing, Julian Hawthorne lifted his eyes, his handsome brows filled with a smile, his voice gentle, "You did very well."

Clara breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Thank you, President Hawthorne, for the compliment."

...

In the blink of an eye, it was already Friday.

Clara had settled into the routine of work and adapted to the intensity and pace at Sheffield.

After work this day, Lisa Holloway suggested dining together.

Hoping to establish good relationships with colleagues, Clara did not decline.

Lisa Holloway had helped Clara a lot at work, so Clara decided to treat her tonight.

The place was Lisa Holloway’s choice, a barbecue restaurant with great flavors located within a large mall.

After dinner, Clara and Lisa Holloway walked out of the barbecue restaurant, chatting and laughing.

"Clara, thank you for the meal tonight. I’ll treat you next time."

"You’re welcome, you’ve helped me so much, it’s only fair."

Lisa Holloway linked arms with Clara, "I really like being around honest people like you."

"During my first few days here, I often troubled you. Without you, I wouldn’t have adapted to the work so quickly."

Lisa Holloway sighed, "Ah, you have no idea how lonely it is to be drifting alone up here, with no friends. Colleagues stop contacting each other after work. Previously, I invited Felicity and Jenny from our department out for dinner, but neither agreed."

Lisa Holloway’s tone shifted, her eyebrows filled with a smile, "Luckily you’re here now. We can be friends from now on."

Clara curved her lips into a smile, "Sure."

Lisa Holloway patted her tummy, "Ah, I’m so full. How about we take a stroll in the mall to burn off some of this food?"

"Alright."

Clara strolled around the mall with Lisa Holloway for a while before they parted ways.

The driver had parked in the mall’s underground level one, waiting for Clara.

When Clara reached the underground parking, just as she was about to get into the car, she was suddenly called out.

"Clara!"

The next second, Isaac Sutton quickly ran to Clara, bringing with him a gust of wind.

Seeing Isaac Sutton’s face, Clara’s good mood vanished without a trace.

Her eyebrows furrowed.

What a persistent nuisance.

Isaac Sutton’s eyes lit up with joy, "Clara, I’ve been trying to find you these days. I finally get to see you again. Where do you live? Let me take you home."

"That’s not necessary." Clara’s eyes were cold, "Isaac Sutton, I already made myself clear last time. Please stop bothering me."

At that moment, Isaac Sutton’s gaze went past Clara and saw the man seated in the driver’s seat of the car behind her.

Isaac Sutton’s expression changed slightly; his gaze turned hostile as he scrutinized driver Linton.

Linton appeared to be about twenty-five to thirty years old, with a rather ordinary look and dressed in cheap clothes.

Isaac Sutton’s eyes then moved to the car, a flash of disdain appearing. Even the car wasn’t impressive.

Just as he suspected, a girl like Clara Sterling, with her background, couldn’t find a man better off than him once she left him.

Isaac Sutton’s vanity and sense of superiority were immensely satisfied.

He looked at Clara Sterling, his lips curving into a smile, "Is this the husband you’ve found?"