Chapter 38
Lilly beamed as she looked at the array of dishes laid out before her. She was seated at a small dining table in another section of Alexander's office that she hadn't noticed before. The office even had a resting room and a mini kitchen. It seemed Alexander had spent some nights here before their marriage.
The aroma from the food was so enticing that it didn't make her feel nauseous. Alexander had made just one call, and within 30 minutes, the dishes were delivered. "Why are you just staring at it? Eat," Alexander said, sitting across from her with the files she had reviewed earlier.
He must have read them and seen her markings on the faulty parts. Lilly picked up her utensils and began to eat, savoring each dish. "This tastes amazing," she said, wondering which restaurant the food was from. "Can you tell me where this is from?"
"No," Alexander replied.
"Why not?" Lilly pouted.
"You did this?" Alexander pointed to the file he had placed on the table.
Lilly nodded. "Yes, I marked the errors. One needs to be rejected outright, one is decent but requires some corrections, and the others need significant changes."
Alexander glanced at the file she marked "Redo" and then at the one she labeled "manageable." He frowned. "You said this one is manageable?"
Lilly saw his expression and wondered what she had done wrong. "Yes, their plan is good overall, but their cost calculations and land space for the construction are off."
Alexander had to admit she was correct. At first glance, he would have rejected all the projects, but she had done this to give the companies a second chance. What annoyed him was her favoring this particular company. "Do you know whose company this is?" he pointed to the one she marked "Redo."
Lilly shook her head. "No."
"What about this one?" Alexander pointed to the "manageable" file, looking her straight in the eye.
The files had abbreviations of the company names, and since Lilly hadn't been in the country for the past decade until eight months ago, she wasn't familiar with them and hadn't bothered looking them up online.
"No, I don't," she replied.
Alexander stared at her for a full minute before returning his gaze to the file.
As Lilly continued eating, she spoke. "So, will you at least meet with them to point out their mistakes?"
"You want me to do that?" Alexander asked.
Lilly nodded. "Please give them a second chance."
He leaned back in his chair, studying her before nodding.
"Really, you will?" Lilly smiled, relieved he wouldn't fire anyone.
"No, I won't. You will. I'll just watch you evaluate them."
"Huh?" Lilly was confused.
"Since you want them to have another chance, why don't you attend the meetings with me tomorrow and evaluate them yourself since you know exactly where they went wrong?"
Lilly put down her utensils and thought about it. It would be fun to do something she hadn't done in a year. Before returning to the country with her sisters, they used to give business advice and approve contracts for their grandfather. Many successful projects of the Blake companies in the past three years were evaluated and approved by her and her sisters. Unknown to everyone, they had been working behind the scenes.
"I'd love to do it. It's been a while, but I'm not your employee. Is it okay if I attend the meetings and speak on each project?"
"Yes, you can because I say so, and you'll act as a business consultant."
Lilly nodded. "Okay."
Alexander stood up.
"Mr. Kane, what abou—"
"Don't talk while eating," he ordered. "We'll leave in an hour," Alexander said and walked away.
But she had been talking the whole time she was eating. Did he know what she wanted to ask about?
At 5 PM, they headed home. They were halfway there when Alexander received a call.
"Grandma."
"Alexander, did Sandra inform you that she's finally returning home in three days?"
"She is?" he asked, pretending he didn't know.
"I can't believe she didn't tell you. She only told me today."
"Is that so?"
"She's going to get a good scolding from me when she returns," Grandma said angrily.
"Alright, Grandma."
"By the way, how is Lilly? I've missed her," Grandma asked.
Alexander looked at Lilly, who was looking at him. She could hear the conversation since it was on speaker. Lilly was sure he already knew when his sister was returning but acted clueless to avoid Grandma's scolding.
"Fine."
"Is she there with you?"
"No, she's at home resting."
"Make sure to always pamper her because if she ever complains to me, I'll give you an earful," Grandma threatened.
Alexander ended the call. Lilly smiled at Grandma's words; Grandma Helen always had her back.
Her phone suddenly rang, and Alexander stared at it, seeing the name on the screen. "Michael? Who's that?" he asked.
"A friend," Lilly said, cutting the call and sending a text instead.
"A friend? Explain," Alexander demanded, waiting for her answer.
Was he jealous? Lilly wondered, feeling a bit pleased at the thought. "He's a friend."
"Explain how he's a friend," Alexander frowned.
Lilly explained who Michael was, how they became friends in school, and how he came to the country with her.
"He left his country and came here with you?" Alexander questioned.
Lilly sighed. He would continue to doubt her even if she explained further. "Mr. Kane, our agreement states we won't meddle in each other's business, but you have been doing the opposite."
The look Alexander gave her after that statement made her body go cold. His gaze felt like fire burning her. Why was he even bothered about who she talked to, he wondered.
Even though he didn't want to interfere, he still felt uneasy and instructed James to find out who Michael was to Lilly. What would make him leave his country and come with her?
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