Chapter 345: The Winemakers!!
The next morning arrived with cool winds drifting across Star Harbor.
The sky was still covered with soft gray clouds. The sunlight struggled to pass through them, giving the city a calm atmosphere.
Miles’ car slowly came to a stop outside Mars Residencies.
The engine became silent.
Miles and Chloe stepped out together.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Both simply looked at each other, smiling.
Chloe gently folded her hands behind her back.
"So..."
"The date ends exactly after twenty four hours?"
Miles smiled.
"So..."
"How did you like the last twenty four hours?"
Chloe’s eyes curved into a beautiful smile.
"I felt like..."
"...the luckiest woman in the world."
Miles shook his head.
"It was more fate than luck."
Chloe laughed softly.
"Then..."
"You have a wonderful fate."
Miles chuckled.
"I suppose I do."
He looked at her carefully.
"You should rest today."
"You must be exhausted."
Chloe stretched her shoulders a little.
"Actually..."
"I feel completely refreshed."
"I think I can work."
Miles looked at her for a moment before smiling warmly.
"Last night..."
"My family accepted you as one of us."
He took one small step closer.
"Let’s get married soon."
A blush instantly spread across Chloe’s cheeks.
"Hmm..."
"Someone really can’t wait anymore..."
"Can he, Mr. Chairman?"
She looked into his eyes.
"If you truly want..."
"You can take me away right now."
Miles laughed quietly.
"First..."
"Let’s go to Paris."
"I want to visit your parents."
"I’m hoping..."
"...to receive their blessing too."
Without saying another word...
Chloe stepped forward.
She wrapped both arms around him.
Miles immediately embraced her.
They stood quietly in front of the apartment building.
"I love you..."
"My fiancé."
Miles smiled.
"So..."
"We’ve officially moved up a title."
"I love you too..."
"My fiancée."
They slowly stepped apart.
Miles gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"See you soon."
Chloe nodded.
"See you."
"And don’t get lost while working thinking about me..."
"Mr. Chairman."
"Take care."
Miles smiled before getting back into the car.
He waved once through the window.
Chloe waved back until the car slowly disappeared beyond the gate.
Miles leaned comfortably against the driver’s seat.
He let out a long breath.
"Am I dreaming...?"
He looked ahead at the road.
"Who would have thought..."
"...this year alone..."
"...my life would change this much?"
Above Star Harbor...
The clouds gathered even more heavily.
Dark rain clouds slowly swallowed the morning sky.
Miles glanced upward through the windshield.
"It looks like it’ll rain."
"The monsoon is almost over..."
"It’s that time of the year again."
The warmth in his expression slowly disappeared.
His eyes became thoughtful as the car drove away from Mars Residencies.
...
Meanwhile...
Chloe unlocked the door to her apartment.
She was still smiling to herself.
The engagement ring caught her attention every few seconds.
She still couldn’t stop looking at it.
Click.
The door opened.
"Lissy..."
Chloe froze.
Alice was already standing inside the living room with both arms folded.
A mischievous smile slowly appeared on her face.
"So..."
"You spent the entire night with the Chairman, huh?"
"And now look at you."
"You’ve been smiling since you entered."
She leaned forward dramatically.
"So..."
"Did you two spend some quality time together?"
Chloe’s face immediately turned bright red.
"Uhh..."
"It’s not like that, Lissy."
"I was at his house."
"We had dinner."
"But Hope wouldn’t let me leave."
"She insisted I stay."
Another voice suddenly came from the sofa.
"Really?"
Kate sighed dramatically.
"I thought I was finally going to hear something spicy."
Chloe blinked.
"Kate?"
"You’re here too?"
Alice grinned.
"What?"
"Are we not allowed to visit our best friend anymore?"
"Or..."
She raised one eyebrow.
"Would you rather have someone else here?"
Kate immediately joined in.
"Someone tall."
"Handsome."
"Superhero type."
Chloe covered her face.
"You two..."
Unable to stop herself...
She walked forward and hugged both of them tightly.
Alice and Kate exchanged smiles before hugging her back.
After a few moments...
Alice gently looked at Chloe.
"You okay?"
"Did Chairman say anything?"
Kate nodded enthusiastically.
"I saw you both hugging from the balcony."
Chloe looked down.
A gentle smile appeared.
Without saying anything...
She slowly lifted her left hand.
The ring sparkled beneath the morning light.
For a second...
Neither Alice nor Kate spoke.
Their eyes remained wide open.
Kate pointed at it.
"Is..."
"Is that...?"
Before Chloe could answer...
Alice suddenly pulled her into another hug.
She squeezed her tightly.
"I’m so happy for you."
"Congratulations."
Chloe hugged her back.
"Thank you, Lissy."
"Thank you..."
"...for bringing me here."
Kate smiled warmly.
"Fate really plays strange games."
"Who would’ve imagined..."
"Star Harbor was our destiny all along?"
She laughed.
"And who would’ve guessed..."
"Our friend..."
"The one who stayed inside her room all the time..."
"Would become the first among us to get married."
Her smile softened.
"But..."
"Don’t forget me."
"Even after someone much better than us starts taking care of you."
Chloe immediately shook her head.
"I could never live without you two."
"You’ll always be my sisters."
Alice wiped the corner of one eye dramatically.
"Kate."
Kate looked over.
Alice raised both hands.
"Let’s open a few bottles."
"It’s celebration time."
Kate clapped excitedly.
"Absolutely."
"Even if Chloe doesn’t drink..."
"We’ll celebrate for her."
Chloe stared at both of them.
"In the morning?"
"Seriously?"
Alice laughed.
"What do you know?"
"Our best friend just got engaged."
"We’re allowed to be excited."
She grabbed Chloe’s shoulders again.
"I can finally fulfill my lifelong dream."
"I’m going to be a bridesmaid."
Chloe blinked.
"That’s..."
"...what you’re most excited about?"
Kate burst into laughter.
"She’s been talking about being a bridesmaid for years."
Alice proudly nodded.
"Of course."
"And don’t even think about choosing someone else."
"I’ve already claimed the position."
The apartment immediately filled with laughter.
Outside...
The first drops of rain quietly landed against the windows.
But inside...
Three best friends celebrated the beginning of a brand new Chapter together.
....
A gentle rain had already begun to fall over Star Harbor.
Fine droplets tapped softly against the windshield as Miles’ car entered the underground parking of Cinder Square.
He stepped out , his suit still perfectly neat despite the weather.
The morning felt unusually peaceful.
Perhaps because, this time in many years, there was no weight pressing against his heart.
He walked through the lobby, greeting employees along the way.
Everywhere he passed, people smiled and respectfully greeted their chairman.
Soon, the elevator doors opened on the executive floor.
As Miles entered his office...
April and June were already waiting.
The moment they saw him, both smiled.
"Congratulations, Boss."
They spoke at exactly the same time.
Miles laughed.
"Thank you so much, you two."
April folded her hands behind her back.
"So..."
"How did it go?"
Miles could not stop smiling.
"Very smoothly."
"She loved the ring."
He looked at April.
"Thank you for helping me choose it."
April’s smile became even brighter.
"I’m glad she liked it."
June looked between the two before speaking.
"I think Miss April is exceptionally talented at selling."
April blinked.
"What?"
Miles looked amused.
"Really?"
June nodded confidently.
"I analyzed the reports."
"Every store Miss April visits ends up making several times its normal profit."
"Her recommendations have an unusually high conversion rate."
She looked at April with complete seriousness.
"And today..."
"She successfully sold one of the most expensive rings in the collection."
She paused for dramatic effect.
"To her own boss."
Miles burst into laughter.
April covered her face.
"Miss June..."
"Love shouldn’t be compared with money."
She looked toward Miles.
"For a girl..."
"The engagement ring becomes one of the most precious memories of her life."
"If spending a little more can make that moment unforgettable..."
"I think it’s worth it."
Miles quietly looked at her.
The sincerity in her eyes carried genuine dedication.
He smiled.
"I agree."
"You really do have talent."
"It was the right decision to let you manage our jewelry store chain."
June nodded immediately.
"I agree as well."
"If Miss April can’t do it..."
"I doubt anyone else can."
April sighed dramatically.
"So much praise first thing in the morning..."
"It’s terrible for my digestion."
All three laughed.
She picked up her file.
"I should get back to work."
She looked toward Miles once more.
"And..."
"Congratulations again."
"Thank you."
Miles watched her leave before shaking his head with a smile.
"Old Mr. Hilbert Hartmann..."
"If he had met April before me..."
"He probably would’ve never sold me his business."
June smiled.
"I’d say he was the unlucky one."
Miles laughed again.
Then his expression became slightly more professional.
"Did you look into the matter I asked about?"
June nodded.
"Yes, Boss."
"I received all the details from Sister Monica."
"Everything is prepared."
"It’ll go smoothly this year too."
Miles leaned back comfortably.
"Good."
"I’m counting on you."
"I won’t disappoint you."
Before another word could be spoken...
June’s phone vibrated.
She answered immediately.
"Yes?"
Her expression changed.
"Who?"
"Please wait a moment."
She pressed a few buttons.
A live feed from the reception appeared on the office display.
Miles looked toward the screen.
"Is that Rose?"
His eyes moved toward the man standing beside her.
"And who’s with her?"
June quickly checked the visitor information.
"It’s her elder brother."
"Joshua Ainsley."
"He is from Ainsley Spirit Company."
Miles nodded.
"Oh."
"Then let them come up."
June returned to the call.
"Please send them to the executive floor."
...
Inside the elevator...
Rose stood happily with both hands behind her back.
Her brother looked considerably more nervous.
"See?"
"We didn’t even need an appointment."
Joshua adjusted his suit.
"Are you certain..."
"You know him that well?"
Rose puffed her cheeks.
"Big Brother."
"I may not know much about business."
"And I don’t have many business connections."
"But..."
"I have friends."
"Miles is my friend."
Joshua sighed.
"I just hope everything goes well."
A soft chime echoed.
The elevator doors opened.
A few moments later...
They entered the chairman’s office.
The instant Rose spotted Miles...
Her face brightened.
She happily raised one hand.
"Hello, Miles!"
Joshua immediately grabbed her wrist.
"Behave."
Rose pouted.
"Hmph."
"I’m just greeting my friend."
Joshua looked embarrassed.
He stepped forward.
"Mr. Sterling."
"Greetings."
"My name is Joshua Ainsley from Ainsley Spirit Company."
He bowed politely.
"Please forgive my younger sister."
"She has... never been very good with business etiquette."
Miles couldn’t help smiling as he glanced at Rose.
Rose quietly made a face behind her brother’s back.
Miles pretended not to notice.
He stepped forward and offered his hand.
"It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Ainsley."
"Please."
"Have a seat."
Everyone settled around the table.
Miles looked toward Joshua.
"I’ve heard a great deal about Ainsley Spirit Company."
"Your family is regarded as one of Haven’s finest winemakers."
Joshua smiled modestly.
"You flatter us, Mr. Sterling."
"We’re simply a family that has made wine for generations."
He glanced toward Rose.
Rose immediately picked up a neatly wrapped gift bag and placed it on the table.
"He brought you one of our finest bottles."
She quickly added with a grin,
"Although..."
"You don’t drink."
Miles smiled.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Ainsley."
"I truly appreciate the gift."
"Since I don’t drink..."
"I’ll give it to my parents."
Joshua visibly relaxed.
"I’m glad you accepted it."
Miles turned toward Rose.
"So..."
"How have you been?"
Rose smiled brightly.
"I’m doing great."
"What about you?"
"How are Uncle and Aunt?"
"And the two little cuties?"
Joshua slowly turned his head toward his sister.
His eyes widened slightly.
She knew the chairman’s family personally?
Miles smiled warmly.
"Everyone’s doing very well."
"Hope and Asher are keeping the whole house lively as always."
Joshua quietly wiped a tiny bead of sweat from his forehead.
The more he listened...
The more surprised he became.
He had never imagined his carefree younger sister was close enough to casually ask about the chairman’s parents and siblings.
Miles leaned back slightly.
"Mr. Ainsley."
He smiled reassuringly.
"Rose is my friend."
"So..."
"You don’t need to be formal."
"If you’ve come here for something..."
"Please ask openly."
"How can I help you?"
To be continued..