CHAPTER 12: CHAPTER 12: BLAKE SINCLAIR ARRIVES

The air instantly froze.

During the initial days of Lunar Lotus Studio’s opening, Holly Crowe would come over to help during her breaks.

However, during that time, the company had been established for less than a year, and Zion Pence’s eagerness for quick success led to many failed negotiations.

Back then, Holly still advised him not to rush, but Zion said she didn’t understand.

The most serious time, he directly lost his temper at her, his gaze cutting like a knife over her pants, and upon seeing the clay on her shoes, a look of disgust appeared on his face.

"Look at what you’ve made yourself into? Don’t you understand today’s cooperation? Holly, even if you can’t help me, don’t irritate me, okay? Clean up this mess quickly, stop doing ceramics, and stay by my side to build the company well."

At that moment, looking at the clay on her shoes, Holly wanted to question him.

But her questioning was withdrawn after Zion’s low and apologetic voice and his words, "Holly, I only have you."

Her hobbies, habits, everything changed for him, but what did she get in return?

"Senior..." Celia Stiles worriedly touched her hand.

Holly came back to her senses, her lips curling into a bright smile, "Whether he likes it or not, what’s it got to do with me?"

After speaking, she turned around, took an apron from the shelf, and tied it on, "From now on, what I like is the most important thing."

Celia’s mouth formed an O-shape.

Holly spent three minutes explaining to her.

By the end, Celia’s brows furrowed tighter and her face was completely red!

"I knew it!" Celia stomped her foot, her voice rising eight octaves, "I knew it, you can’t rely on a man who makes women give up their careers!"

Holly was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter!

Indeed, such a simple truth, yet it took her seven years to understand.

The two of them chatted for a while, and in the middle of it, Celia received a call.

After hanging up, Celia awkwardly twisted the apron strings, "Senior, a client ordered a tea set. I was supposed to deliver it after closing, but she changed her flight and it needs to be delivered to the airport now."

The main source of Lunar Lotus Studio’s income, besides some walk-in ceramic experiences, mostly comes from customized products.

Holly stood up and said, "I’ll deliver it."

"No, no." Celia shook her head like a rattle, but her hands were already deftly packing the gift box, "Senior, you stay and watch the store, I’ll deliver it!"

She prattled on explaining the reasons, "...the client’s demands are high... design changes..."

In the end, Holly didn’t really listen to what she was saying, just watched Celia flit like a busy little bee between the shelves and the warehouse.

Four years ago when she entrusted the management of Lunar Lotus Studio to Celia, she was worried, but who would’ve thought that the once nervous and stammering girl would run it with such flair.

Holly sent Celia off, pinching her chubby cheeks, "Don’t worry, Boss Stiles, I’ll look after the store!"

Celia’s face turned red, murmuring softly, "You’re clearly the real boss, Senior."

After seeing Celia off, the store was so quiet you could only hear the hum of the air conditioner.

Holly made herself a cup of jasmine tea, the tea aroma mixed with the faint scent of clay soothed her taut nerves.

Holly rested her chin on one hand, sitting on a small stool, her foot absentmindedly pressing the potter’s wheel. Coming back to this familiar place made her a little nervous.

The setting sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, coating Holly in a layer of gold.

It also illuminated the row of ceramic figurines on the top shelf.

Those were the ones she left four years ago.

"Ding-dong."

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Holly reflexively turned around, "Hello, welcome to Lunar Lotus...."

The words stopped abruptly.

A tall figure stood in the doorway, backlit.

The three-piece black suit outlined the perfect proportions of the man’s broad shoulders and narrow waist, a metallic tie pin on the tie refracting a dark glow, a sharp light flashed as he slightly turned.

Blake Sinclair.

That name, famous in Beldon, stood in her pottery shop at this very moment.

More absurdly, he was holding a pink strawberry bear backpack in his left hand and a little girl with braided pigtails in his right.

Holly was frozen in place.

"President Sinclair?" she hesitantly spoke.

The twilight flowed as Blake Sinclair’s silhouette gradually became clear.

It was only then Holly realized he wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his nose.

The cold air from the AC blew, the potter’s wheel still turning steadily.

The sounds echoed.

"Miss Crowe," Blake Sinclair suddenly spoke, his voice a bit hoarse, "Long time no see."

Holly’s mind was momentarily blank.

If she remembered correctly, the last time she saw him was two days ago at a bridal shop.

But she quickly came to understand, for someone as busy as Blake Sinclair, managing hundreds of millions, maybe he hadn’t taken the incident to heart at all.

Not remembering was good too, as she lost her composure somewhat that day...

Sinclair, in her plaid dress, was curiously examining the various tools displayed in Lunar Lotus Studio.

Holly’s gaze fell on the little girl trying to stand on tiptoe to see the second shelf of the display cabinet, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Could this be... Blake Sinclair’s daughter?

The media in Beldon had failed to dig up any secrets about Blake Sinclair, only for her to uncover this by pure chance?

"Uncle," the little girl suddenly shook Blake Sinclair’s hand, her voice sweet and childish, "I want to make a strawberry bear bowl."

The air was tense for a few seconds.

Blake Sinclair’s gaze landed on Holly’s slightly surprised face, a look of realization dawning on him, his lips twitching briefly.

His Adam’s apple moved slightly, his voice dropping even lower, "She is my niece, Sinclair."

For some reason, Holly’s ears burned hot, feeling as if her thoughts had been exposed.

Blake Sinclair gently patted Sinclair’s head, "Sinclair, greet her."

"Hello, Teacher Crowe." Sinclair smiled, her voice sweet as honey.

Holly squatted to her eye level, "Hello, Sinclair, do you want to make a strawberry bear bowl?"

Sinclair shyly nodded, hiding behind Blake Sinclair, leaving only her big curious eyes peeking at Holly.

Blake Sinclair adjusted his glasses, the light from the lenses obscured his gaze, "Sinclair Meadows Kindergarten requires a handmade pottery piece. We just happened to pass by."

Holly stood up, nodding.

So that’s how it was.

"I’m sorry, President Sinclair, the cycle from creating to firing pottery takes a month, so I’m afraid..."

Holly paused when she saw little Sinclair’s drooping mouth.

"However, today we can try making one and I’ll give you a piece later, okay?"

Sinclair’s eyes brightened again.

Holly smiled and brought a children’s apron, "Alright then, let’s start by making a small cup together."

Sinclair looked up at Blake Sinclair, and after getting his approval, she skipped over.

Holly helped Sinclair with the apron and had her sit on a small stool.

Blake Sinclair stood by her side.

Holly instinctively asked, "President Sinclair, would you like an apron?"