Chapter 214

As the words left his mouth, Cedric immediately wished he could take them back.

Despite what Daniela might feel, he had never planned to bring up Alexander in her presence.

The regret gnawed at him, fueled by his irritation at not having secured the title of Daniela's boyfriend sooner-instead, he lingered as just another hopeful contender.

Daniela, after all, wasn't short of admirers; lacking the official status of her boyfriend, how could he possibly shield her from the wave of persistent suitors?

His frustration knew no bounds, yet the words, once uttered, were irrevocable.

He tightened his grip a bit as he turned to look at Daniela.

Daniela offered him a smile. She was quite occupied today; an issue had cropped up in the Al development project she was overseeing.

Cedric asked, "Are you tied up? If so, I'll leave you be:"

Setting aside the documents she was reviewing, Daniela looked up at the person poised to exit the office."Where are you going?"

With a quick look back, Cedric remarked, "I'll go see how the orchard is doing."

With a keen eye on the quality of his produce, Cedric had taken to leasing an orchard on the city's outskirts,making daily personal inspections a part of his routine. His attention to detail was meticulous.

Just as Daniela was about to respond, the office door burst open, and Alexander made his entrance.

The secretary, wearing a look of regret, addressed Daniela. "Sorry, Daniela. I failed to hold him back."

Alexander lingered at the doorway, his eyes locked on the vanishing smile that once graced Daniela's lips.It disappeared, leaving a void that pulled his spirits down withit. He cleared his throat, his voice a mix of hope and hesitation. "Daniela, can we talk?"

"Mr. Bennett, the world does not orbit around your family's whims. We all have our own burdens to bear.Next time, consider scheduling an appointment." Daniela was clearly not in the mood to entertain interruptions, especially with her work piling up.

Alexander's hands balled into fists at his sides, his knuckles whitening. "I'm sorry, I was thoughtless.Please accept my apologies."

Despite his earnest apology, Daniela remained unmoved, her expression stoic.

Cedric, who had been observing quietly, turned to look at Alexander with raised eyebrows.

He was taken aback by Alexander's apology. Something was amiss-Alexander must be driven by some ulterior motive today.

Cedric's gaze sharpened, skepticism coloring his watchful eyes as he scrutinized Alexander.

Standing with the poise of a true gentleman, Alexander persisted. "Then, may I schedule a meeting for this evening? How about Midnight Bar?"

The suggestion seemed out of place-more suited for clandestine romances than serious discussions.

Cedric opened his mouth to object, but Daniela interjected, "I am neither your friend nor interested in any personal entanglements. Meeting at a bar is wholly inappropriate." She glanced at her watch. "You have five minutes.I have another meeting shortly."

Alexander cast a glance at Cedric, his eyes silently pleading for him to take his leave.

However, Cedric seemed.oblivious to the subtle cue, continuing his task of watering the plant without interruption.

The office was hardly the ideal setting for personal discussions, and Alexander had planned a meaningful conversation with Daniela for today.

The pressure was mounting from Joyce to finalize the engagement ceremony details, and Alexander felt the urgency to clear the air before the day ended. "No worries, take your time," Alexander responded, his tone soft and accommodating-a stark contrast to his usually assertive manner. "I'Il wait for you. If the bar isn't a good spot, l've also booked a table at a lovely restaurant for lunch. We could go there."

His preparation was evident, and without waiting for Daniela's consent, he offered a polite bow and exited.

Lillian,who had just walked in, watched Alexander's smooth exit in surprise and turned to Daniela, curiosity piqued."Is he trying to mend things?"

Daniela bowed her head, her expression unreadable. "It doesn't matter."

Acknowledging the response, Lillian simply nodded and retreated to her game, leaving the room to return to its usual quietude.

As Daniela wrapped up her data work, Cedric's plant wvas dangerously close to being overwatered.

With a gentle smile, she approached, relieving him of the watering can with a graceful gesture, "Everything okay?"

Cedric glanced upward, his eyes meeting Daniela's. "Are you going to lunch with him?"

Daniela gave a slight nod in affirmation. Just as Cedric's gaze began to drop, laden with disappointment,she went on. "Katrina is not the type to just sit around; she won't keep Joyce waiting much longer.Alexander's invitation is merely a desperate attempt to influence my decision, hoping I'll repeat past mistakes."

Cedric was taken aback by Daniela's pragmatic tone. "And you're still planning to go?"

"Yes. Otherwise, it would only lead to more complications. Once he realizes it's futile, I'll finally be free.Moreover, if I don't clarify things, it might just spark a hint of jealousy."

At her mention of jealousy, Cedric involuntarily coughed, his fingers brushing against the watering can Daniela had just put down. "Who would be jealous?"

Noticing the redness creeping up Cedric's ears, Daniela let out a gentle laugh. She then reassured him,"Lunch might not fill me up. I'll cook for you once I'm home." Cedric felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Do you show this kind of consideration to all your suitors?" he asked, a note of hope in his voice.

Daniela was about to answer when Lillian burst into the room, waving her phone energetically."Daniela, it's time for the meeting!"

After Daniela had hurried off, Cedric was left alone, pondering whether Daniela extended this kindness to all her suitors or if it was something reserved just for him.