Chapter 26
Compared to Evelyn, Ava couldn't be more indifferent.
"He doesn't have extra legs or anything. Why get so excited?"
Evelyn looked completely smitten. "I've seen handsome guys, I've seen rich guys, but someone who has both of these top-tier qualities? In all of Emerald City, our CEO is the first. His title as the nation's dream husband isn't just for show."
Ava's gaze followed everyone else's. In the booth area, William sat with a woman dressed rather maturely and dripping with jewelry, looking like they were discussing business.
She hadn't paid attention to details this morning, but now, observing him carefully, she saw that he wore an exquisite tailored suit with a deep sea blue tie. When he reached out, a bit of his dark shirt cuff showed at his wrist. Even his coffee-drinking movements were elegant and refined. Sitting there, his whole presence was outstanding—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he made the coffee shop shine.
Just then, William looked up in their direction, then returned his attention to the conversation with that woman.
Ava pulled herself together and dragged Evelyn to the counter to order coffee.
Over forty cups total—not a small order. The girl at the counter said they didn't have enough coffee beans and needed to get some from the warehouse. It would take at least an hour to make them all.
After paying, the two stood around the counter waiting with nothing to do.
Ava couldn't help looking back again. William was staring at his phone, his slender index finger tapping rapidly on the screen.
Ava felt her phone vibrate. Opening it, she saw a message from him.
"I sent you here to work, not to buy coffee to bribe colleagues. Is this how you work hard?"
Ava put her phone back in her bag, not planning to reply.
Evelyn, beside her, was still chattering quietly,
"Ava, what kind of wife do you think Mr. Morgan will marry?"
Then she murmured to herself, "She must be as beautiful as a fairy."
When all the coffee was ready, they had waited exactly one hour. That hour had been absolute torture for Ava.
Since they bought so much, the coffee shop sent a server to help with delivery. Ava and Evelyn just had to lead the way.
The coffee cost six hundred and seventy dollars total. Ava took a photo of the receipt and sent it to Sarah. A few seconds later, Sarah transferred seven hundred dollars with a note:
"Thanks for your hard work, junior. Use the extra money for a cab tonight."
Ava snorted lightly, accepted the money, and transferred thirty dollars back to her:
"Please pay the water bill for JadeDragon Bay Residences. Stop letting the property management call me."
Back at the office, Sarah had a female colleague sitting next to her distribute the coffee to everyone. After making the rounds, the last cup went to Evelyn. When it was Ava's turn, she said very apologetically,
"Sorry, we're all out."
Ava waved her hand. "It's fine, I don't have a coffee-drinking habit anyway."
She focused on organizing her desk. Evelyn quietly pushed her own coffee in front of her.
"Ava, you have it. I've been having some insomnia lately."
Ava looked up. This recent graduate had eyes full of sincerity—completely different from those opportunistic workplace veterans. You could tell the difference at a glance.
Ava put the coffee back on Evelyn's desk. "Evelyn, thank you. But I really can't drink coffee."
She didn't say the second half—that pregnant women should stick to water and milk, and she didn't dare touch coffee or milk tea.
But why did Sarah dare drink coffee? Wasn't she worried?
The morning dragged by like this. Besides having her buy coffee, Sarah didn't assign any other tasks. Ava took the opportunity to work on her own design, to make up for the one Sarah had stolen.
At lunchtime, Jeremy, the butler from the Morgan Mansion, called. Ava hid in the stairwell to answer.
"Mrs. Ava Morgan, Mr. Howard Morgan has instructed me to bring lunch to the company for you and Mr. Morgan. Should I bring it to the cafeteria or to the CEO's office?"
Hearing Jeremy suggest bringing it to the cafeteria scared Ava into quickly answering, "Jeremy, bring it to the CEO's office."
She didn't dare eat food sent by the Morgan Family in public—that would definitely create big news. Thinking about having to go to the CEO's office made her uncomfortable, though.
"Jeremy, I don't have much appetite today. Just some milk is fine. You can take the food directly to the CEO's office. Mr. Morgan will eat it."
On the other end, Jeremy sounded troubled.
"Mrs. Ava Morgan, Mr. Howard Morgan had the kitchen make imported bird's nest soup for you. Worried that Mr. Morgan might steal it, he specifically told me to watch you eat it. Please don't make this difficult for me."
Ava fell silent. "Alright then."
How could she make things difficult for an old man?
Ava declined Evelyn's lunch invitation and waited until most people in the office had gone downstairs to eat before sneaking into the elevator and pressing nineteen.
All the way to the CEO's office, like a thief.
Jeremy was already waiting in the office.
On the dining table by the floor-to-ceiling windows, six dishes and a soup were arranged neatly and beautifully.
William was still buried in documents, seemingly very busy.
Seeing Ava come in, Jeremy smiled and pulled out the precious bird's nest from his bag, handing it to Ava.
"Veda in the kitchen made this early this morning. It's all cleaned properly. Try it quickly."
Ava took it with both hands, picked up the small spoon, and ate small bites. Jeremy glanced at the arranged dishes and smiled with satisfaction.
"Mr. Morgan, Mrs. Ava Morgan, take your time eating. I'll go downstairs and come back later to clean up."
William, holding documents, finally looked up, frowning with a disgusted tone.
"Don't send meals here anymore. Going through the trouble of bringing a dining table, the whole office smells like food. How am I supposed to work?"
His office had that typical minimalist style, just like his study at home, decorated in the three main colors of black, white, and gray.
Some designer had made the huge office simple yet classy, but that dining table by the floor-to-ceiling windows clashed completely with the office decor.
Ava also agreed with his opinion about not sending meals here. Rare for the couple to agree on something.
"Jeremy, really, no need to send food. I can eat downstairs."
Jeremy laughed awkwardly. "Mr. Howard Morgan said to keep sending every day. Mrs. Ava Morgan, make a list of what you'd like to eat and send it to me later."
William's expression darkened instantly. Jeremy escaped quickly before he could get angry, and as soon as he got downstairs, he called Howard.
"Mr. Howard Morgan, the young couple is eating the food. Don't worry, in less than two months, I guarantee Mrs. Ava Morgan will be pregnant with a big fat boy."
Howard was all smiles. "Well done. Keep sending tomorrow."
After Jeremy left, only two people remained in the office. Ava slowly ate her bird's nest, with no intention of speaking first.
William's work was interrupted. He finally got up from his desk and walked toward the balcony on his long legs.
"Sit down and eat."
He said.
Since it was already sent, what else could he do? He had no way to deal with his grandfather.
Ava finished the bird's nest and sat down across from him.
The two ate in silence, like strangers.
Today's food tasted a bit strange. Though the flavor wasn't bad, William couldn't figure out what ingredients were used. He didn't pay much attention to it—anything Howard sent couldn't possibly harm him.
Ava didn't eat much. She put down her utensils and carefully looked around his office.
Besides the work area, this office actually had a rest area in the back. She could see a wardrobe inside from far away.
"Curious?"
After a long silence between them, he finally broke it.
"You can go in and look."
Ava turned to face him. After a few seconds, her red lips curved slightly as she asked teasingly,
"You don't have a woman hidden in there, do you?"
William was quite annoyed with her.
"Always suspecting I'm hiding women. Am I really that desperate in your eyes?"
Ava went along with his words.
"A little bit."
"You're determined not to make this work with me, aren't you?"
"What else did you think?"
William was so angry his lungs were about to explode. Ava pointed at his rest area and asked,
"There's really nothing inappropriate to see?"