My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Messed Up Your Marriage Plans?

She hadn’t expected Jared Hawthorne to take her to the restroom.

"Wash them clean."

Jared Hawthorne gestured with his chin, his gaze landing on her fingertips.

Only then did Vesper Grayson notice the dirt on her fingertips. She set the proposal on the counter to the side and turned on the faucet to wash her hands.

The cool water flowed over her fingertips. The chill from washing away the dirt seemed to spread, just barely suppressing the sting of bitterness in her heart.

She kept her head down, scrubbing at her fingertips, when she heard the soft rustle of pages turning beside her.

To her surprise, Jared Hawthorne had picked up the proposal from the counter. His well-defined fingers flipped through the pages, his gaze intent.

After a moment, he spoke, his tone assured. "This is good work."

Vesper Grayson turned off the faucet and pulled a paper towel to dry her hands, her movements stiff and tinged with self-mockery.

"What good is it? If no one appreciates it, it’s nothing more than a stack of waste paper."

Jared Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. "Is this project that important to you?"

"Of course. Gwen Grayson resents Dad’s decision to make me vice president, so he set up a test for us. I doubt anyone likes having someone else lording it over them."

Knowing Gwen’s arrogant nature, if she really managed to get the vice president position, there’s no telling how she’d taunt and boss me around.

’I, Vesper Grayson, either do nothing at all, or I do it to be the very best!’

"Miss Grayson, you do remember what you promised me tonight, don’t you?" Jared Hawthorne asked, watching her with a half-smile.

"Huh?"

The subject had changed so abruptly that it took her a moment to catch on. When she did, a flicker of guilt crossed her eyes.

’Of course she remembered. She’d only said it to coax him into bringing her in.’

"I’m not in the mood... How about we reschedule for another day?"

As she spoke, she tried to pull the proposal from his hand, intending to make a quick escape.

Jared Hawthorne’s eyes darkened. He grabbed her slender wrist. "Is this you brushing me off, Miss Grayson? You’ve blocked my number. How exactly are we supposed to reschedule?"

Vesper Grayson bit her lip and softened her tone. "I’ll take you off my blocklist, alright?"

With that, she pulled out her phone. Her fingers flew across the screen as she removed him from her blocklist.

Jared Hawthorne released his grip, warning in a low voice, "Don’t block me again."

"Okay!"

She agreed readily enough, but she was already scheming. ’The moment I’m out that door, I’ll just block him again.’

As if he had read her mind, Jared Hawthorne narrowed his dark eyes and spoke nonchalantly.

"A friend of mine is quite close with the President of Vaudin Asia-Pacific. But looking at you, Miss Grayson, I suppose you don’t need any help from others."

Vesper Grayson’s eyes lit up. Her previous nonchalance vanished in an instant, replaced by an urgent tone.

"You’re not messing with me, are you, President Hawthorne?"

’The President of the Asia-Pacific division! That’s a whole other league compared to Valen, the Channel Director for Greater China. Their authority is worlds apart. Even if she managed to persuade Valen, the President of Vaudin Asia-Pacific would be the one to make the final call. A figure of that level was someone she could normally never even hope to contact.’

Jared Hawthorne watched the woman before him, her eyes shining like a little fox begging for a treat. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, an inexplicable wave of irritation rising in him. He suddenly reached out, cupping the nape of her neck and leaning in until his forehead rested against hers. Their noses touched, their breaths mingling.

"If I make the introduction for you, will you make good on what you promised me earlier?"

"Yes!"

’Yes, absolutely!’

’It wasn’t like she was losing out, anyway. She could enjoy herself and achieve her goal at the same time.’

’Where in the world could she find a deal that good?’

A faint smile touched Jared Hawthorne’s lips as he led her from the hotel.

Outside the hotel, Gwen Grayson sat in her car, gritting her teeth as she waited for Vesper Grayson to emerge. She vowed to make her pay.

Suddenly, she saw Vesper Grayson walk out of the hotel, her hand held by a tall, imposing man. The two went straight to a luxurious, limited-edition Maybach parked by the curb and got in.

She was too far away to see the man’s face clearly, but she was certain it wasn’t Valen. The man wore a well-tailored black suit that accentuated his tall, lean physique. Even from the back, he exuded an innate air of nobility and detachment.

"You’ve got some nerve, Vesper Grayson. Wasting no time fooling around with men the moment you’re back!"

She gripped the steering wheel, her eyes filled with venom. "I wonder how disappointed Dad would be if he knew about your promiscuous ways."

She started the car and followed them, keeping a safe distance.

’Let’s see just what kind of man Vesper Grayson has managed to hook!’

The car moved smoothly down the road. Jared Hawthorne’s gaze swept over the rearview mirror, and his long, almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly.

"We’ve got a tail."

Vesper froze, whipping her head around to look behind them.

The flickering neon lights illuminated the license plate.

It was Gwen’s car.

A BMW M4 convertible. It was a birthday gift from Milton Grayson on Gwen’s twentieth birthday.

Gwen had showed it off in her face for ages.

"It’s Gwen!"

Vesper’s expression turned cold. ’She didn’t go home? She’s actually following me.’

’If Dad found out she’d gone to a hotel with a man...’

’So, her little scheme to set me up failed, and now she’s so bitter that she’s following me to dig up some dirt and strike back?’

’She had just met with Master Hawthorne a few days ago, and he was keen on proceeding with the marriage alliance between their families. If word got out that she was meeting a man late at night, wouldn’t she be offending the Hawthorne Family?’

At this thought, Vesper grabbed his arm.

"President Hawthorne, find a way to lose her."

Jared Hawthorne glanced at her, a teasing note in his voice. "Why does this feel like we’re sneaking around for an affair?"

"..."

’It’s not like they were an official couple. Were they supposed to announce to the world with a megaphone that they were getting a hotel room late at night?’

"Hold on!"

Jared Hawthorne said no more. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he slammed his foot on the accelerator. The Maybach shot forward like an arrow, nimbly weaving through traffic. The roadside neons streaked past the car in brilliant blurs of light.

Vesper subconsciously gripped the grab handle, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest. By the time the car finally slowed to a stop in front of a suburban villa, her palms were slick with a thin layer of sweat. Her delicate face was so pale with fright it was almost translucent.

Jared Hawthorne rested one hand on the steering wheel and turned to look at her. Seeing her still-shaken expression, he couldn’t resist waving a hand gently in front of her face.

"Come back to us."

Vesper gasped, her chest heaving. Her voice was hoarse as if she had just survived a catastrophe. "You’re... a really good driver, President Hawthorne!"

"Did you like that?" Jared Hawthorne leaned closer, his warm breath ghosting over her ear. "The night is long. We can spend it ’polishing’ our ’driving skills.’"

Vesper instantly understood which "driving skills" he meant. Her cheeks flushed scarlet as she pushed him away, scolding him in a low voice.

"You pervert!"

Jared let out a low chuckle and gently pinched her flushed cheek.

"Get out."

This was a villa district in the northern suburbs, built by the sea and nestled among lush trees. The evening breeze, carrying the salty scent of the ocean, was pleasant and soothing.

’If I remember correctly, this villa district was one of Hawthorne Group’s development projects.’

Perhaps it was guilt, or perhaps unease, but she felt a forbidden thrill, like she was having a secret rendezvous.

"Jared Hawthorne, why did you bring me here?"

"I own Villa Number Eight. When I’m in Northolme on business, I stay here."

"Does your company do a lot of business in Northolme?"

"Why?" He raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Afraid I’ll come to Northolme too often and interfere with your grand marriage alliance?"

"..."

’This damn man was so perceptive, leaving her own little schemes with nowhere to hide.’

Jared Hawthorne took her hand and bent his head, placing a light kiss on her fingertips. His long, almond-shaped eyes held a mischievous glint. "But you have to admit, this feeling of having a secret affair... it’s pretty exciting."

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