Chapter 7

“Mr. Hawthorne, are you really considering a ring?” “Not necessarily.” Edward glanced at her sideways, his expression clearly implying, If I were sure, why would I need your opinion? Alice: “…” For the sake of her paycheck, Alice kept her professional smile perfectly in place. “To be honest, if it’s a gift, I’d recommend a bracelet or a necklace instead. Rings carry a special meaning—they’re more suited for significant occasions.” Edward frowned slightly, a flash of impatience in his eyes. “You decide.” “What does Mrs. Hawthorne usually like?” “No idea. Just pick something women generally prefer.” “…” Why did Mr. Hawthorne give off such a strange mix of deep affection and total indifference? Not that it was any of her business. She just needed to do her job. Knowing when to stop, Alice didn’t ask further. With the help of the sales associate, she settled on a pearl necklace with a teardrop-shaped diamond pendant. She showed it to Edward, and he gave a slight nod. It was settled. While Edward relaxed in the VIP area, he glanced at Alice and handed her a sleek black shopping card. “Thanks for your help. Pick something for yourself.” Alice blinked in surprise and quickly handed the card back with both hands. “That’s really not necessary, Mr. Hawthorne. It’s part of my job.” Edward lounged lazily, his sharp features unreadable, his tone as flat as ever. “Choosing a gift for my wife isn’t in your job description.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it left no room for argument. Still, Alice firmly believed that rewards should be earned. Helping him pick a gift hardly felt worthy of extra compensation. She paused, about to reply, when her phone rang—it was William. She had no choice but to step aside, still holding the card, and answer. “Alice, do you remember where you filed the initial trade partnership documents? I need them urgently.” “They’re in the second drawer of my desk.” “Got it.” William was about to hang up when Alice quickly stopped him—how should she politely decline Edward’s offer? She wouldn’t have asked anyone else, for fear of gossip, but William was grounded and trustworthy. Plus, he’d worked with Edward for years. William chuckled. “If Mr. Hawthorne gave it to you, just accept it. Consider it overtime pay. He’s not short on money—what he needs is someone to help spend it.” Alice didn’t miss a beat. In the same calm tone, she said, “That’s what Mrs. Hawthorne is for.” “Mrs. Hawthorne doesn’t spend any of his money. In fact, in the two years they’ve been married, she’s never visited him on her own. The apartment he prepared for her? She doesn’t even live there.” Alice was stunned. In her mind, the fact that Mr. Hawthorne was personally picking out a gift spoke volumes about how much he cared. After all, this was Edward, the president of GrandVerse Group—a man whose time was literally measured in money per second. What she hadn’t expected was that, in his own marriage, this seemingly all-powerful Mr. Hawthorne seemed to be on the losing end. Not only did his wife not live in the luxury home he’d prepared for her, but she also didn’t spend a dime of his money. What kind of woman would turn down a man like Edward? Alice couldn’t help but feel curious about this mysterious wife of his. William’s voice came through the phone again. “Stop overthinking it. Just use the card. Mr. Hawthorne hates owing people favors.” That made everything click for Alice—rich people preferred to settle things with money rather than emotional debt. “Thanks, Secretary Brooks.” After ending the call, she glanced at Edward. He was focused on his phone, so she quietly made her way to the third-floor menswear section to pick out a gift for Anthony Hayes. As soon as she entered the store, the clerk, Lucas, gave her a once-over. Noting her casual outfit, his friendly smile dimmed. “Feel free to look around.” Alice seemed unfazed and began carefully examining the items. A sleek black tie caught her eye, and she reached out to take a closer look. Lucas suddenly cut in coldly. “Please don’t touch. These items are for display only.” Alice glanced around the store. Not far away, another clerk was helping a customer try on a tie. Her expression remained calm as she looked at Lucas. “So he gets to try them on, but I can’t even touch one?” Lucas visibly sneered. “That gentleman clearly has the means to purchase. I can’t say the same for you. This tie is expensive. You likely can’t afford it.” Alice let out a soft laugh, though her eyes were cold. She tapped her phone lightly. “And how do you know I can’t?” Lucas looked down his nose with zero patience. “People who shop here are either wealthy or well-connected. Look at you—your entire outfit probably costs less than this tie. Why are you even pretending?” As the secretary to the CEO of GrandVerse Group, Alice had worn enough designer pieces to know better. She usually dressed the part for work, but today was her day off—no need for power suits. Just something simple and comfortable. She hadn’t expected that dressing down would make her seem unworthy. Staring at him with cool indifference, her voice soft but firm, she said, “If you work in customer service and don’t even know how to treat people with basic respect, then maybe you shouldn’t be surrounded by luxury goods—it might be making you forget your place.” Lucas flushed red. “Who do you think you are? You don’t get to lecture me. If you’ve got the guts, buy the tie. If not, get out and stop wasting my time.” Alice raised an eyebrow slightly, the smirk on her lips widening. “Interesting. I hope you still sound this confident after hearing this.” She lifted her phone and hit play. Two distinct voices echoed clearly. “And how do you know I can’t?” “People who shop here are either loaded or important, and you—your whole outfit probably costs less than this tie…” Their entire exchange had been recorded, word for word. Alice paused the playback and looked straight at Lucas. Her gaze was sharp, her voice calm but unwavering. “This kind of behavior should really be reported to the Consumer Protection Agency. I’ll be having a detailed discussion with them about your store’s practices—let’s see if this is how you usually treat customers. Don’t worry, though—it’s not you who should be scared. It’s your boss.” She held up her phone slightly. “And I’ll be posting this recording online too, so everyone knows what’s happening. Don’t worry—I won’t edit a thing. Whatever you said, that’s what goes up. I just hope you keep up that arrogance. Don’t switch up now.” As soon as she finished, the smug look on Lucas’s face vanished, replaced by pure panic. “I—I’m sorry, miss! My tone was completely out of line. I apologize, really. Please don’t post the audio…” If his boss found out what he’d just said, he’d be fired on the spot. And if it went viral online? The backlash would ruin him. Alice kept watching him, a faint smile on her lips but ice in her eyes. “I didn’t quite catch that. What did you just say?” Panic set in fully. Lucas’s face crumpled. He practically choked on his words. “I’m sorry! I’m really, truly sorry!” The sudden outburst drew the attention of nearby shoppers. Whispers broke out as people glanced over, judging. Alice smiled again. “Sorry for what, exactly?” “I shouldn’t have judged you based on your appearance. I shouldn’t have refused to let you see the items, and I definitely shouldn’t have told you to leave. I was completely in the wrong. Please, give me another chance.” The crowd around them grew louder with criticism, and the floor manager hurried over. After a round of sincere apologies and disciplinary action against Lucas, Alice finally let it go. She twirled Edward’s black card between her fingers, cool and effortless. “Well, I’ll let it slide this time. I hope you learn from this. I’ll be buying what I need from your competitor next door.” When Lucas saw that signature black VIP card, regret hit him like a truck. That kind of card required spending millions annually to qualify. And he’d just treated its holder like dirt. The manager looked like he was about to faint on the spot. Alice strolled out of the store. Even several steps into the mall, she could hear the manager still yelling at Lucas in pure rage. She casually brushed her hair back and smirked toward the exit. Honestly, Edward’s card? Absolutely god-tier for moments like this. One swipe—instant karma. —— Near the store’s second entrance, a tall figure leaned quietly against the wall. Edward had been there the whole time. He’d witnessed the entire scene—and how Alice handled it. One brow raised slightly as his deep eyes followed her departure.