Chapter 289

The secretary let out a frustrated sigh. "Are you all out of your minds? Daniela has someone. as remarkable as Cedric pursuing her. Why on earth would she waste a second on Alexander?"

The team exchanged puzzled glances. "Then why did she keep the flowers Alexander sent?"

Reflecting on Daniela's response, the secretary speculated, "She probably just couldn't be bothered.Refusing would have meant explaining herself, and we all know she doesn't like revealing her weaknesses to outsiders."

At the mention of outsiders, the group nodded in agreement.

It was clear: someone like Alexander could never hold the same appeal for Daniela as Cedric did. Alexander was under the illusion that his flowers had earned him the same privileges Cedric had-privileges like regular visits to Daniela's office.

The next day, he took the opportunity to go up to her office,claiming it was to tend to the flowers.

The secretary, aware of Daniela's allergy to those flowers, simply told him they had been moved to the first floor.

Confused, Alexander made his way downstairs, only to find the flowers placed near the restroom.

His excitement fizzled out in an instant, leaving him deflated.

While walking around, he overheard the employees discussing Daniela's allergy to the flowers he had sent.

A wave of frustration quickly shifted to guilt as he absorbed the information.

Determined to make it right, Alexander rushed out and bought an even larger pot of gardenias-bigger than the one Cedric had given her.

However, this time, he didn't encounter Daniela.Instead, he crossed paths with Cedric, who had just finished tending to the flowers.

"Mr. Bennett? This isn't your company. Don't you think it's a bit inappropriate for you to be planting flowers here?"

A smug smile tugged at Cedric's lips.

Once, he had always felt overshadowed by Alexander, never quite able to stand up to him.

But now, he was Daniela's husband.

That little fact gave him the confidence to speak his mind, as he now had every right to do so.

Even though their marriage was still a secret, Cedric still ordered the staff to dispose of Alexander's flowers without a second thought.

"That's not something you can just do!" Alexander snapped. "Oh, I can and I will. You don't belong here,Alexander. Don't think you can crawl back to Daniela just because things fell apart with Joyce."

A flush of anger spread through Alexander as he gritted his teeth. "I didn't mean it that way. It was just a simple gift, trying to be friendly."

"We don't need your gift. We already have flowers and someone to care for them. You're not needed."

Rage burned inside Alexander, but he knew better than to challenge Cedric face-to-face.

A sense of inferiority gnawed at him. In business,Cedric had the upper hand, and deep down,he knew he couldn't measure up to Cedric.

In this world, power and wealth were the keys to everything.

Alexander's fists tightened in silent resolve. He vowed to himself that one day he'd stand toe-to-toe with Cedric. He would reclaim his place at Elite Lux,win Daniela back on his terms, and show her he This Happy could provide all she deserved.

As Alexander stormed off, Cedric allowed himself a quiet chuckle.

Alexander's intentions were apparent and Cedric understood them perfectly.

Alexander wouldn't be granted the opportunity to redeem himself, nor would he ever stand before Daniela again.

There were certain losses that couldn't be undone.

Upon Daniela's return, the secretary filled her in on the events of the day.

"Did he get upset?" Daniela asked, her voice calm.

The secretary, assuming Daniela referred to Alexander, nodded. "Yes, he was absolutely furious when he left."

Daniela shifted her gaze towards the secretary."I was asking about Cedric."

The secretary's response was immediate. "No. He was in a great mood. After Alexander left, he was tending to the flowers and humming a tune."

A faint smile tugged at Daniela's lips.

Curiously, the secretary watched her and then asked,"Should I handle these situations differently next time?"

In business, it was often more advantageous to have allies than adversaries.

"No need to worry," Daniela replied with composure."When I'm not here, trust Cedric to handle matters."

With that, Daniela walked back to her office.

The secretary stood frozen, glancing at Lillian in disbelief. "Lillian, what did Daniela mean by that?"

Lillian's smile widened. "It meant exactly what you think it did."

"Are Cedric and Daniela an item?"

Lillian gave a sly nod, accompanied by a quiet gesture to keep it hush-hush. "Best to keep it between us."

The secretary nodded enthusiastically.

The next day, as Daniela stepped out for a meeting,Cedric arrived once more. He immediately noticed the warmer reception awaiting him in the secretary department.

"Mr. Phillips, we've prepared your favorite coffee.Would you like me to make you a fresh cup?"

"Mr. Phillips, this one's brand new and seems to suit you perfectly. Please, have a seat and let us know if it feels right."

"Mr. Phillips, here's the watering can. It's already filled for you."

Cedric asked in confusion, "What's with all the sudden enthusiasm?"

A chuckle escaped the secretary's lips. "Daniela mentioned that when she's away, you're the one in charge. We just want to make sure everything's perfect for you." Cedric's face lit up with a smile of satisfaction.

As Daniela entered, the door swung open, and she was instantly embraced by Cedric.

The secretary slipped out with a knowing smile.

Looking up, Daniela found herself met with a tender kiss,warm and lingering.

After a while, Daniela let out a breathless lagh."Are you really this happy?"