CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: WHO’S BETTER LOOKING, ME OR HIM?

Clara opened her mouth and ate the cake from his hand.

"Is it good?"

"Mm, it’s delicious."

Silas Sheffield scooped another piece.

Clara obediently ate it.

Their relationship was growing increasingly intimate.

Clara had become accustomed to Silas Sheffield like this.

She obediently finished the small cake.

Silas Sheffield lightly wiped away some creamy white frosting from the corner of Clara’s mouth with his thumb, his voice low and magnetic, "Is it sweet?"

A jolt like electricity ran through her body, leaving Clara tingling all over.

She nodded, "Sweet."

Just as she spoke, Silas Sheffield lowered his head and kissed her.

Clara’s breathing became erratic, her hands instinctively climbing up to Silas Sheffield’s neck.

Silas Sheffield pressed her against the edge of the office desk, kissing her with passionate tenderness.

The kiss lasted a long time.

Long enough to endure a scolding.

With the kiss over,

Both of their breaths were a bit uneven.

The man’s deep, dark eyes were filled with desire as he gazed into Clara’s eyes, speaking hoarsely, "It really is sweet."

Before leaving, Clara went to the bathroom to tidy up her appearance, only heading downstairs once she was sure she looked normal.

Back at her workstation, Lisa Holloway asked worriedly, "How are you? Did President Sheffield make things difficult for you?"

Clara shook her head, "No, he just asked about what happened."

"What about the five-million-dollar loss?"

"The company is going to sue Jonah Shaw and hold him legally responsible."

"That’s good, scared me to death." Lisa Holloway patted her chest, "I was afraid President Sheffield would make you cry during a reprimand."

Clara laughed, "Is President Sheffield really that scary?"

"He is." Lisa Holloway replied seriously, "Before, a girl in the sales department made a serious mistake that caused the company a loss, and she came out of President Sheffield’s office crying."

Clara: "That does sound pretty scary."

Lisa Holloway: "Yeah, but your situation is different. She made a mistake and got scolded, while you were set up by a villain."

...

In the evening, Lisa Holloway suggested celebrating the departure of a troublesome colleague by treating Clara to dinner.

Clara didn’t refuse.

They went to a restaurant with a nice ambiance.

The prices here weren’t cheap.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else." Clara said, "You’re treating, and I don’t want you to spend too much."

"It’s okay, my family supports me every month." Lisa Holloway laughed, "Today is such a good day, I’m happy, so of course we should have a nice meal to celebrate."

"Alright, next time I’ll treat you to something expensive."

"Okay."

Just as they found their seats and sat down, they saw Julian Hawthorne.

He dressed sharply in a dark gray suit, his tall and slender physique and handsome features made him stand out like he was in a different league from those around him.

Julian Hawthorne noticed them too.

He strode over to them, "What a coincidence."

"President Hawthorne." Clara Sterling and Lisa Holloway greeted in unison.

Julian Hawthorne nodded, his charming eyes turning to Clara, "Assistant Sterling, I wrongly accused you yesterday and criticized you a bit, sorry about that."

Clara quickly waved it off, "It’s nothing, President Hawthorne, it’s only right for you to criticize me. There’s no need to apologize, after all, I also made a mistake by not taking care of the contract."

Julian Hawthorne smiled warmly, "Assistant Sterling not only has strong work abilities but doesn’t hold grudges either."

Clara: "You’re too kind, President Hawthorne."

"Well, enjoy your meal, I’m here with friends." Julian Hawthorne said.

Clara: "Okay, President Hawthorne."

Lisa Holloway: "President Hawthorne, take care and enjoy your meal!"

Julian Hawthorne left.

"So, what do you think? Isn’t President Hawthorne nice?" Lisa Holloway laughed, "Isn’t he much more approachable than President Sheffield?"

In Clara’s heart, she thought: Silas Sheffield isn’t scary at all, he’s actually very gentle.

But she couldn’t say it out loud.

She could only smile and nod, "Yes, yes."

After the meal, Lisa Holloway went to pay the bill, but was told it had already been settled.

"It must have been President Hawthorne, he’s really generous, inviting us to eat." Lisa Holloway said, "Maybe he felt bad for wrongly blaming you, so this was his way of apologizing?"

Clara thought for a moment and said, "Maybe."

Lisa Holloway was touched, "We’re really lucky to have such a good boss."

"You have no idea how difficult the manager in the project department is, he’s always swearing and loves bringing negative emotions to work. Any little thing can make him vent his frustrations on his subordinates—being his underling is really unfortunate."

After dinner, they took a walk around the area.

"It’s getting late, we have work tomorrow. Where do you live Clara, should I drive you home?"

Lisa Holloway was the only child in her family; after she graduated, her parents bought her a car.

A car worth hundreds of thousands, which was already quite good for a young girl who just started working.

Clara wouldn’t dare say she lived with Silas Sheffield.

"No need, I live nearby. It’s only a few minutes on foot."

"Alright, take care and see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Lisa Holloway left.

Clara called driver Linton to pick her up.

Just after making the call, she looked up to see a black Porsche Cayenne pulling up in front of her.

The car window rolled down, revealing Julian Hawthorne’s handsome face.

"Need a ride?"

"No, thanks, President Hawthorne. I’ve called for a ride, it should be here soon."

"Alright." Julian Hawthorne nodded.

The Cayenne drove away.

...

Clara returned to Prospect Hill Villa.

Silas Sheffield was already home.

He sat on a sofa in the first-floor lounge, reading a financial magazine.

Seeing her come back, Silas Sheffield casually asked, "Where did you go?"

"Went out for dinner with colleagues to celebrate a troublemaker getting fired." Clara smiled as she walked over to sit beside Silas Sheffield.

The man merely uttered an "Mm," and continued to read the magazine.

Clara glanced at Silas Sheffield.

His side profile was as sharply defined and refined as a sculpture, with high nose bridge and clear jawline.

Even with glasses, his attractiveness was undiminished.

If anything, they added an extra touch of scholarly asceticism.

Thinking about Lisa Holloway’s assessment of Silas Sheffield, Clara couldn’t help but chuckle.

Silas Sheffield turned his head, "What are you laughing at?"

Clara’s beautiful eyes curved into a crescent moon shape, "Do you know what nickname your employees have given you?"

"What?"

"The Grim Reaper." Clara giggled.

"They say you and President Hawthorne are the most handsome men at Sheffield, but while President Hawthorne is approachable and the dream of countless girls, you, they wouldn’t even dare to dream about."

Silas Sheffield narrowed his eyes slightly, "Oh? You also think Julian Hawthorne is good-looking?"

Clara didn’t notice the change in his gaze, and absent-mindedly replied, "Yeah, President Hawthorne is widely acknowledged as having divine looks."

As soon as the words were out, the girl was pulled into the man’s embrace.

Silas Sheffield’s long, cool fingers pinched Clara’s chin, making her tilt her face up towards him.

The man’s deep eyes held an uncertain emotion, but Clara sharply sensed a hint of danger.

"Who’s more handsome, me or him, hmm?" Silas Sheffield’s eyes bore into Clara’s, his deep, magnetic voice captivating to the core.

Hmm? Is he jealous?

Clara blinked innocently, "You’re handsome."

She wouldn’t dare say Julian Hawthorne was more handsome unless she’d lived enough.

"That’s better."

Silas Sheffield bent down to kiss her.

This was their second kiss that day.

Clara closed her eyes, feeling heady from the kiss, when she suddenly thought of something.

Did he like kissing this much when he was in other relationships?