Hannah chuckled softly as she stood in the doorway of the dining room, then nodded politely to Alden, who was already there. She couldn’t help but smile as she thought about what had happened at Texco this morning. She really wanted to tell Alden everything right away.
But would that be wise? It was as if Hannah was just waiting to step on Jeffrey for his past misdeeds. Hannah wondered how Alden would judge her if he knew she was just as petty.
“You look happy,” Alden remarked.
“Is that so?” Hannah glanced briefly at the man sitting across from her, blocked by the table.
Alden couldn’t help but laugh, though it was only a soft chuckle. Hannah looked at him, surprised because she had never seen Alden so relaxed.
“Mr. Gulfman told me about your actions. It turns out you’ve already stirred up trouble on your first day as owner of Texco,” Alden said.
Hannah lowered her head immediately. “I apologize.”
“Trouble in a good way.” Alden smiled. “I like your assertiveness.”
“About firing Jeffrey?”
“What else? He deserved it. Especially coming from you, the owner of Texco.”
The praise made Hannah’s feelings a bit confused, between pride and feeling overstepped. There were some considerations; she should have just given Jeffrey a warning. But the emotions she felt made Hannah act impulsively.
“But won’t that be a problem, sir?” Hannah asked.
“What problem?”
“I don’t know Jeffrey’s performance in the office. What if he’s competent? And I end up firing someone who’s actually useful to Texco.”
“There are plenty of other useful people. And they don’t mix personal matters in the workplace.”
Hannah just nodded briefly.
“Did you buy some nice work clothes?” Alden changed the subject.
“Yes, but I’m not sure they’re nice according to you. Would you like to see them later?”
“Yes, of course.”
Dinner became pleasant for Hannah because they talked about office stuff. At least it was better than the silence at a funeral. Although it was only light conversation, about office decor, then Alden told her about building Texco from the ground up.
Sympathy began to grow in Hannah’s heart as she learned that Alden was a hard worker. Even after the accident, Alden was still struggling to build Texco.
Before, Hannah thought Alden was just a spoiled child. A desperate man who didn’t want to live after the accident. Hannah felt like she wanted to apologize right then and there.
After dinner, Hannah and Alden went back to the bedroom. It was actually a little awkward because they had never been alone in a room together before.
Something normal for a married couple, but their relationship had been very distant. Bound together only by business matters.
“How many did you buy?” Alden asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking at Hannah’s purchases.
“About three.”
“Very few.”
Hannah’s eyebrows almost furrowed. “I felt suffocated buying them. They were very expensive, sir.”
“Hannah, if there’s a sudden meeting at night, you can’t possibly wear the same clothes.” Alden sighed softly. “What will your colleagues say if you’re still wearing the same clothes in the morning?”
Only then did Hannah remember that Bernard had a dressing room, and she saw some spare clothes there. Since the room now belonged to Hannah, the changing room was completely empty.
“I didn’t think of that, sir. I’m sorry,” Hannah said.
“We’ll buy more over the weekend and keep some in the office. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now show me the clothes you bought,” Alden ordered.
Hannah just froze. Should she wear them or just let Alden see them?
“What are you doing? Hurry up and put them on.” This time Alden’s voice was impatient.
“Change here? In the bathroom?”
What a stupid question! Hannah cursed herself.
“If you want to change in front of me, that’s fine.” Alden stared at Hannah intently.
Whether it was a joke or Alden trying to tease, he managed to make Hannah’s heart beat faster in an instant. Without hesitation, Hannah grabbed her shopping bag and headed for the bathroom.
“I’ll change in the bathroom,” Hannah said, giving Alden a quick look.
As the bathroom door closed, Alden’s smile widened.
He felt that Hannah was his own entertainment, as her innocent behavior often made him shake his head. Alden never thought there would be another woman like Hannah in the world.
Not long after, the bathroom door opened and Hannah stood on the threshold. Hannah looked stunning, even though she was wearing only a simple baby pink shirt and white pants, she looked elegant.
Hannah seemed tense as she showed off the crop blazer she was holding.
“The clerk said these pants and blazer are a set,” Hannah said. “But it’s okay if I don’t want to wear it, right?”
“Come here,” Alden ordered.
Hannah walked awkwardly over to Alden and sat down next to him as Alden patted the edge of the bed. Suddenly their distance became very close as Alden shifted and his hand touched Hannah’s shirt collar.
“If you just want to look simple, don’t fold the collar like you usually do,” Alden said.
“Oh, okay.”
Alden adjusted the collar, letting it rise a little to cover the side of her neck, and casually unbuttoned one of Hannah’s shirt buttons. Of course, that made Hannah jump for a moment.
“So you look more casual at work. It looks better,” Hannah said.
“With the button undone like that, exposing part of my chest?”
“You can adjust it, it’s up to you.” Alden’s finger touched the V-neck of Hannah’s shirt. “I just want this to show. It makes your neck look slimmer.”
Hannah chuckled softly. “I didn’t expect you to be so good at arranging clothes, sir. That’s something new I’ve learned about you. Apparently you have many talents.”
Alden blinked. “Are you mocking me? Or what?”
“No, it’s a compliment. I swear.”
“In fact, there’s an even better model. Let me show you.”
“How, sir?”
Alden’s hand touched Hannah’s shirt button, then he leaned closer to her ear and whispered. “Leave all the buttons undone.”