Chapter 303 Who Dares to Fire You?

Chapter 303 Who Dares to Fire You?

Grace buckled her seatbelt and looked over at Alexander. "I got into an argument with a coworker today."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Stanley?"

Grace shook her head. "No, he's always been good to me. Lillian, do you know her?"

Alexander didn't recognize the name. "Not really."

She was probably some team leader under Stanley. With all the different project teams and departments, he couldn't possibly remember every employee's name.

Grace's tone turned meaningful. "Well, since I was late getting back from lunch today, she ran straight to my supervisor to tattle on me. Got my bonus and perfect attendance docked. Then she went to Stanley's ear, trying to get me fired. When I told her I was out to lunch with my fiancé, she accused me of using company time for personal dates and wrote up a whole report about it."

Alexander couldn't help but smirk. "Oh really?"

Grace continued, "I don't know why, but she absolutely can't stand me. She'd love nothing more than to kick me out of the project team and get me fired."

Alexander started the car and pinched her cheek playfully. "Don't worry about it. Besides me, no one else can fire you."

Grace grinned at him. "So would you fire me, boss?"

Alexander looked at her with amusement. Her playful, innocent expression was absolutely endearing, making him lean over to give her a quick kiss on the lips. "Never. From now on, you're going to be my boss."

Grace laughed softly. "What if she spreads rumors that I'm acting up at work because my boyfriend supports me financially? That I have connections and special treatment?"

Alexander said matter-of-factly, "Then you can tell her your connection is Alexander Hayes."

Grace shook her head. "I'm not saying anything! I want to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble."

Alexander's expression turned slightly cold. "If she bothers you again, I'll have her terminated."

He didn't like having troublemaking employees on his payroll.

Grace's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Anyway, I didn't lose today. When she accused me of skipping work and ditching my duties, I told her that since I already lost my perfect attendance bonus, I might as well be late every day from now on and spend all my lunch breaks on dates with my boyfriend!"

Alexander chuckled and pulled out an elevator key card, handing it to her. "From now on, I'll have the cafeteria send lunch to my office, and you can eat with me. This card gives you access to the executive elevators that go straight to the CEO floor. You can come see me anytime."

"Perfect!"

She loved this kind of "special treatment"! The cafeteria was always so crowded, and if the timing was off, it was hard to find a seat. Now that she was pregnant, she didn't like being in crowded places anyway, so this arrangement was ideal.

When they got home, Grace pushed open the door and was immediately hit by the most incredible aroma.

She walked into the dining room and saw that Max had prepared an entire feast.

Her eyes widened in amazement at the elaborate spread, and she could feel her mouth watering.

Equally mesmerized by the delicious-looking food was Liam, who sat at the table staring at all the dishes with obvious longing, practically drooling. But he didn't dare touch anything - Max had warned him to wait until Mommy and Daddy got home before eating.

Lily sat nearby and sweetly greeted them as they entered. "Hi Grace! Hi Uncle Alexander!"

The moment Liam saw Grace and Alexander walk in, he threw his hands up in celebration. "Mommy's home!"

He completely ignored Alexander behind Grace, his mind focused entirely on one thing: now that Mommy and Daddy were home, he could finally eat!

Max suddenly poked his head out of the kitchen. "Liam, no sneaking bites!"

Liam quickly pulled his hand back and asked pitifully, "Max, when can I eat? I'm starving!"

His little stomach was practically concave from hunger!

Max rolled his eyes. "You're going to die of starvation waiting five more minutes? Just be patient while I finish up."

He was still putting the finishing touches on the cake.

Grace curiously walked into the kitchen to check on Max's "work in progress."

He'd been busy in the kitchen non-stop since getting home from school.

For Liam's birthday, Max had made an elaborate fondant cake. The base was a traditional cream cake, but on top, he'd created adorable little fondant figures representing their family of five: Mommy, Lily, himself, and Liam.

Alexander's figure was the last one he was working on.

When Grace walked in, she saw Max carefully holding a tiny brush, dipping it in colored icing to paint details on the little sugar figures.

He'd given Alexander a round, chubby face and a stocky little body. The man who was intimidating and commanding in real life had been transformed into something cute and endearing as a sugar figurine.

But the key was that Max had captured Alexander's distinctive features perfectly. At first glance, it was remarkably accurate, especially those serious, stern eyebrows that managed to look both adorable and fierce at the same time.

Alexander also entered the kitchen and immediately recognized that Max was working on a fondant cake. All the other figures were finished, and he was currently painting his.

Max was completely unaware that Alexander was standing right behind him.

Suddenly, the man's displeased voice came from above his head: "Why did you make me look so mean?"

Max jumped, startled by the unexpected question. His hand shook, and the icing-covered brush made a crooked line across Alexander's little face.

Now Alexander's sugar figure clearly had a lopsided mouth!

Max turned around in exasperation. "Why are you sneaking up behind me like a ghost? You scared me!"

Alexander replied dryly, "You're that easily startled?"

Max shot back confidently, "People can literally die from being scared!"

Alexander pointed at the figure in his hands. "Why did you make me so mean-looking? So ugly?"

"Ugly?" Max held up the little sugar figure and examined it from different angles, comparing it to the real person. He gave his honest assessment: "I think it looks just like you. You're always frowning and looking serious."

Alexander fell silent.

Was this really how Max saw him - constantly stern and unapproachable?

Soon, the cake was finished. Except for "Alexander's" crooked mouth, Max was quite satisfied with his masterpiece!

Max carried the cake out of the kitchen with pride.

Liam had been eagerly waiting for what felt like forever!

When he saw Max emerge with such an exquisite cake, he cheered, "Max, I love you!"

Once Max placed the cake on the table, Liam leaned over it, his eyes wide as he identified each figure: "This is Mommy, this is Max, this is Lily, this is me..."

Until he got to "Alexander" with his crooked mouth.

Liam's little head tilted in confusion as he asked uncertainly, "Is this supposed to be Daddy?"

Max grinned mischievously. "What do you think? Good likeness?"

Liam looked back and forth between Alexander and the sugar figure.

Alexander asked seriously, "Liam, do I really look that ridiculous?"

Liam scratched his head frantically, clearly struggling with how to answer diplomatically.