Chapter 73
Once the bite was in his mouth, Tobias’s pupils widened sharply. The flavors lingered on his palate, rich and unforgettable.
Tobias turned his head toward Russell and saw the same look of bliss and surprise on his face.
“This is on par with the food at the Splendor Hotel!” Russell declared, giving her a very public thumbs–up.
Kaia’s brow lifted slightly. The Splendor Hotel’s head chef was technically her student.
“It’s not just on par. I think it’s even better than theirs by a good margin,” Tobias added without
reservation.
He was secretly delighted. He had just discovered yet another side to this girl.
“Stop flattering me and eat. We’ve all been starving long enough.” Kaia had a habit of eating light in the evenings, so she usually didn’t eat much at night.
But this time, Tobias had filled her plate to the brim. She couldn’t finish it and had to leave some.
“You can’t finish it?” Tobias asked, glancing at her plate.
Kaia replied, “You gave me too much.”
Then give it to me. I can still eat more.” He reached out a hand.
“You’re going to eat my leftovers?‘ Kaia looked at him in surprise.
Russell peeked up while forking more Caesar salad into his mouth.
When Kaia didn’t move, Tobias simply took her plate himself.
She asked, “You… I didn’t finish this. You don’t mind?”
“It’s fine, I’m not picky,” Tobias replied with a shrug.
Kaia nearly laughed aloud in her head. She’d lived with him for over a month now, and every meal she’d ever seen him use only his own fork and knife. This was his idea of “not picky“?
“Yeah, right, not picky at all, Kaia snarked inwardly.
She shrugged it off. ‘Whatever, let him do what he wants. Not my problem.”
Tobias’s fork fell to the floor
“My fork’s dirty, I’ll use yours. Without asking, he picked up the fork she’d been using, speared a piece of roast chicken, and popped it into his mouth.
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Before, she hadn’t felt much about him eating her leftovers. But now, watching him use her fork… his lips closing around it…
That strange, hard–to–name feeling made her heartbeat pick up ever so slightly, sending ripples she couldn’t explain across her calm mind.
Russell had been happily digging into his food. Now, he felt a little cringe after hearing their lovely
conversation.
‘Seriously? It’s just dinner. You two don’t have to do this.‘ Russell grumbled inwardly.
He cast Tobias a resentful glance, silently begging him to tone it down. But Tobias didn’t even look at him, happily eating with Kaia’s fork.
Russell sighed. ‘Forget it. Better not to look. Out of sight, out of mind.
The next day. After breakfast, Kaia went to K&B headquarters. For once, she attended the board meeting. The moment it ended, she was ready to leave.
“Miss Bennett, it’s rare for you to come. There’s still plenty of company business you could help with before you go,” Conrad said with a strained smile.
“I trust your ability to handle it. You can do it. Good luck,” she replied without expression.
Conrad was left speechless.
‘Yeah, easy for you to say when you’re not the one doing all the work, he grumbled inwardly.
“But…” He didn’t even get the word out before she pushed him aside.
“The Sharp family’s here,” she murmured.
Hearing that, Conrad quietly stepped back.
Penny jogged over. “Kaia, my dad said you might be here, I didn’t think you actually would be.”
Kaia glanced toward Donald, giving him a polite nod.
He returned it with a smile and a knowing glint in his eyes.
Penny resisted the urge to ask directly whether Kaia was Conrad’s girlfriend. “Kaia, could look at our company’s proposal?”
you
take a
Kaia’s expression stayed neutral as she took the folder. Penny, under that gaze, felt oddly self-
conscious.
Kaia hid a smile and didn’t call her out. She skimmed through the proposal. “Not bad. But here. If
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Chapter 73
you adjust this section, it’ll be even better.”
Both Penny and Donald leaned in. “How should we adjust it?”
“Got a pen?” Kaia asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I do!” Penny quickly pulled one out.
She took the pen and began making swift notes.
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From the side, Conrad rolled his eyes. So much for “as long as the Sharp family’s work is solid, we’ll prioritize them.” She was literally helping them redesign their bid on the spot. No one in their right mind would reject a proposal modified by one of the most brilliant business strategists alive. She night as well have just handed them the contract.
Done.” Kaia handed the revised document back.
Let me see.” Donald took it eagerly. The more he read, the more impressed he was.
He had thought her connection to Conrad was the key to this meeting. But after watching her vork… maybe that wasn’t the whole story.
Their original proposal was already the product of the company’s top minds. But after her changes, t was flawless. The kind of flawless that they couldn’t match even with another month of work.
And she had done it in five minutes, without even seeming to think. Her business talent was errifying.
Will this really work?” Penny, not fully grasping the changes, looked doubtful.
percent. Unless
Trust me,” Kaia said with a reassuring smile. “This proposal will pass one hundred omething completely unexpected happens, the Sharp family will be K&B’s new partner.”
Hearing that, Donald and Penny couldn’t help but feel like Conrad was already shaking hands with hem on the deal.
At that moment, laughter rang out.
Kaia, you think you own K&B? You can decide which proposal to pass? Are you still daydreaming?” The mocking voice belonged to Louis, who strolled over with Andrea at his side.
Saia turned her cool gaze on them, “What are you doing here?”
After asking, her eyes brightened a little. “Are you here to compete for the partnership?”
‘That’s right. Smart of you to guess,” Louis said. “Why are you here?”
She said lightly, “None of your business. You’re not welcome here. Leave.”
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Kaia’s words only made Louis snort with even more sarcasm.
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He said, “Don’t make me laugh. I’m here representing the Ross family company. Who are you to tell me to leave?”
“I told you, K&B won’t be working with the Ross family,” she replied, just as calm.
Both Louis and Andrea stared at her in disbelief.
Suddenly, Andrea’s eyes lit up with an idea. “Kaia, are you telling me the person keeping you is one of K&B’s top executives?”
That made Louis’s eyes widen. He stared at Kaia, waiting for her answer.
Her brow furrowed in faint irritation.
