Chapter 202: Compliment Or Insult
"Ah, the wedding of the century," Cillian quipped before turning to the gentlemen behind him. "Gentlemen, why don’t we connect again in a little while? As you can see, I need to go through some details regarding the upcoming wedding of our chairman. You can leave your points of discussion with Kevin, and I will pick them up from there."
"Y-yes, certainly, Mr. Pierce," the men replied simultaneously. "Please, go ahead."
They watched as Cillian gave them a small smile before walking up to Jade, gesturing toward his office door. "After you, Miss Ross." His deep, attractive voice felt like liquid heat to Jade’s ears, forcing her to step back, well aware that he always liked to play the charming type.
Giving him a firm nod with a straight face, Jade turned around and walked gracefully into his private office.
The moment they disappeared behind the closed door, the executives and the surrounding employees burst into hushed murmurs.
"Oh my god! Isn’t she Jade Ross, the heiress of the Ross Real Estate Empire?"
"That is her, alright!"
"Isn’t she Miss Vanderbilt’s best friend?"
"She is! But why is she here?"
"Didn’t you hear her? She said she is here to discuss the wedding."
"I heard Mr. Pierce is close friends with the chairman of our company. Do you think they have been planning the wedding together?"
"They must be. Otherwise, why would she be here? What is intriguing is that our CEO never invites any woman into his private office."
Gasps rippled through the cubicles. "Do you think something is going on between them?"
"Oh my god! Don’t tell me the second most desirable bachelor will also be taken off the market! I am so jealous. Maybe I should up my game before the CEO is stolen away."
"Dream on, sister. There is a long line to get into his good graces."
And so the whispers and murmurs continued throughout the office, making Kevin let out a tired sigh.
Because, in his head, he could only think that if they knew the truth, they would realise those two were always butting heads or at each other’s throats rather than sharing anything remotely romantic.
Shaking his head, he ushered the executives away from the office while silently wishing another fight wouldn’t erupt between the two while he was gone.
Meanwhile, inside the office, Jade sat down casually on the luxurious sofa. The space featured a rich wooden interior that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline.
It was around ten in the morning, and she had rushed over here after failing to get in touch with Aliana after her parents had called to pass along a request.
Cillian, on the other hand, strode toward the coffee station and asked, "Coffee?"
Jade looked at him and was about to refuse, but watching him approach the machine, she asked with a raised brow, "Are you going to make it yourself?"
"Yes," Cillian replied confidently. Turning to look at her, he caught the clear mocking doubt swirling in her eyes and defended himself. "In fact, I am very good at it, for your information."
The corner of Jade’s lips twitched into an amused smile as she replied, "Then go right ahead. I would love to try a coffee made by the diva himself."
Cillian narrowed his eyes. "You know, you should thank your stars that I am being so gracious with you, considering you are the first woman to ever enter my office."
"Oh?" Jade’s eyebrows shot up. "Colour me surprised. With the colourful reputation you have built for yourself, I would have never guessed."
Cillian scoffed, working efficiently to prepare the brew. He replied without looking back, "I never mix business with pleasure, Miss Ross."
"Charming," she shot back sarcastically before turning her attention to her phone, replying to a text with a faint smile playing on her lips.
Once he was finished, Cillian returned to place a piping hot cup on the table in front of her before taking a seat opposite her.
He caught the fleeting, private smile dancing across her face, but the moment she felt his eyes on her and looked up, the expression vanished.
Clearing her throat, she looked down at the perfect cappuccino. The rich aroma instantly flooded her senses, and when she looked back up at him, she was unable to hide her impressed expression.
Picking up the cup, she softly replied, "Thank you."
Cillian gave her a brief nod before asking bluntly, "Boyfriend?"
Jade almost spat out the coffee she had just sipped, staring at him with a bewildered expression. "Excuse me?"
Cillian took a sip from his own cup before gesturing with his eyes toward her cellphone. "I caught that private smile on your face. So, who is the unlucky soul?"
A nerve pulsed in her forehead as she narrowed her eyes. "Unlucky?" she repeated incredulously.
Cillian chuckled in delight, highly satisfied that he had successfully managed to press her buttons once again. "I am sorry, but how can I call anyone lucky who is caught in your orbit? Especially when I know exactly how much effort it takes to... handle a lady like you."
The sharp clink of her porcelain cup hitting the saucer drew his attention. Jade asked in a dangerously sharp voice, "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Cillian noted the fury simmering beneath her composure and replied smoothly, "Well, for one, I know no weak man could ever handle you. If the man you were texting is anything less, then I would definitely call him unlucky, since he would have no idea how to navigate your world. And second, I can only pity him for the legendary temper you would undoubtedly throw his way."
His words left Jade momentarily speechless.
From what she could gather, it sounded like an insult and a compliment wrapped together with a neat little bow and presented directly to her. She truly did not know what to make of it.
She had known that meeting this man in person would be a terrible idea.
However, Aliana’s parents had requested her assistance, and since she had been just around the corner, she had reasoned that a face-to-face conversation would clear up the matter much faster.
Making a herculean effort to stay calm, she briefly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, just as she had been taught in that meditation class she had attended with Aliana and centred herself enough not to throw the hot coffee right at his face.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the mischief still dancing in his gaze as he watched her every single second.
"Alright," she replied, her voice tightly controlled. "I am just going to ignore what you just said and remember the actual purpose of my visit."
"Please, enlighten me," Cillian replied charmingly.