My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Don’t be obsessed with me, I’m just a legend

"She certainly has... something special about her."

A low, amused voice suddenly spoke.

The pause was laden with insinuation.

Elena raised a brow, her smile unrestrained.

"That just goes to show Yance has good taste. Miss Grayson is beautiful and gracefully charming. If it were me, I’d fall for her too."

Vesper Grayson pressed her lips together, sighing inwardly.

’These pleasantries are so extravagant, even I’m feeling embarrassed.’

"Elena, don’t tease her. She gets shy easily," Jared Hawthorne said calmly.

...

’This damn man just had to say it all!’

Elena had grown up abroad, and her social circles were naturally bold and open. This was a stark contrast to Vesper Grayson’s self-restrained, dignified, and elegant nature.

"Alright, let’s get back to business." She wiped the smile from her face, her tone becoming serious. "Vesper, no matter how close Yance and I are personally, business is business. I’m willing to do him a favor and give you this chance, but if you don’t have the real ability to convince me, I absolutely cannot give you this opportunity."

In private, she could joke around with friends, but when it came to work, there was no room for games or compromises.

"I understand. Thank you, Elena, for being willing to give me a chance."

Vesper Grayson placed the proposal she had prepared on the lazy Susan, gave it a gentle spin, and sent it gliding precisely in front of Elena. "This is the proposal I’ve prepared. Please take a look."

Elena picked up the proposal and flipped through it page by page, the corner of her brow unknowingly lifting.

Though only a few short pages, it covered everything from market insight and brand compatibility to agency targets and phased planning, and finally, core operational strategies, financial planning, and risk control. Every section was well-organized, concise, and clear, without a shred of redundancy.

She looked up at Vesper Grayson, the initial disdain in her eyes transforming into admiration as a smile spread across her lips.

"Yance, this girlfriend of yours really has impressed me. Have you seen this proposal?"

Her words carried a questioning, probing undertone.

Jared Hawthorne raised a brow and replied calmly, "No."

He reached out for the proposal, quickly scanned a few pages, and a flicker of subtle surprise crossed his dark eyes.

The content was comprehensive, practically perfect.

Its detailed planning, paired with specific financial investment figures, was far more solid and down-to-earth than some flashy, exaggerated, and empty promise.

"Elena, you believe me now, don’t you? She is truly exceptional."

Elena raised her brows, noncommittal, but her silence was a tacit acknowledgment.

"If you think she’s worth a shot, then give her a chance to show what she can do."

Jared Hawthorne added nonchalantly, "If she doesn’t meet the set targets, I’ll cover the consequences."

Those words carried far more weight and value than a perfect proposal.

A fleeting glint of astonishment flashed in Elena’s eyes.

She laughed heartily. "Great! With you saying that, I have no more concerns!"

She turned to Vesper Grayson, beaming. "I’ll have my assistant contact you tomorrow. You can come to the company to sign the contract. Vesper, any problem with that?"

Vesper Grayson nodded dazedly.

"N-No problem!"

’Is that it? The deal is done?’

’Just a moment ago, Elena had only shown simple appreciation after reading my proposal, with no sign of wanting to cooperate. But just because of one sentence from Jared Hawthorne, the deal was sealed!’

Her phone rang, and Elena got up to take the call outside.

Vesper Grayson glanced sideways at the man beside her. He was leaning back in his chair, the clean, hard line of his jaw forming a smooth curve. His high-bridged nose made his eyes seem even deeper and colder. The midday sun slanted through the window lattice, casting a soft golden glow on his shoulders, creating an elegant and noble image that was hard to look away from.

A trace of curiosity rose in her heart.

’Just who is he?’

As if sensing her gaze, Jared Hawthorne’s eyes shifted, his dark, intense stare landing precisely on her.

Seeing her dazed and silly expression, a faint smile bloomed in his long, narrow eyes. A wicked curve formed on his lips as he chuckled low enough for only the two of them to hear.

"Don’t get obsessed. I’m just a legend."

...

Vesper Grayson fought the urge to roll her eyes and simply twitched the corner of her lip.

She leaned in a little closer and quietly voiced the question on her mind.

"President Hawthorne, who exactly are you? How are you so influential that you could persuade Elena with a single sentence?"

Jared Hawthorne’s tone was teasing. "What? Interested in me?"

"Yes."

"Given our fleeting affair, I don’t think we’ve reached the stage of getting to know each other that deeply."

He tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the table, his narrow eyes lifting slightly. An inscrutable, nonchalant smile danced in his pupils. "Unless you become my wife, then I’ll tell you everything."

Vesper Grayson snorted softly and turned her face away.

"Forget it. I’m suddenly not interested anymore."

’He can tell me or not. I’m not that curious anyway.’

’The more you know, the more entangled you become.’

’Rather than that, it’s better to keep things as they are now.’

’That way, when it’s time to break it off, it can be a clean break.’

The rest of the meal was quite pleasant. Elena was very talkative, and the two women exchanged contact information.

"Need a ride?"

As they left the restaurant, Jared Hawthorne looked at her with one hand in his pocket.

"No need, I drove."

"Okay. Elena, I’ll give you a ride."

Elena got in the car and waved at Vesper Grayson.

"Vesper, see you next time."

"Okay."

Vesper Grayson tilted her head playfully and called out to the man in the driver’s seat in a soft voice, "Jared, drive safe!"

Jared Hawthorne’s eyes instantly darkened to the color of ink, and his Adam’s apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.

The scene from last night flashed unexpectedly through his mind: in bed, she had wrapped herself around his neck, fiery with passion, forced by him to call out his name in a soft, yielding voice.

Her eyes were seductively hazy, utterly soul-stealing!

He took a deep look at the woman whose eyes were curved into crescents from smiling, then coolly withdrew his gaze, started the car, and sped away.

As the car disappeared from view, the smile vanished from Vesper Grayson’s face, and she let out a soft sigh.

Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the hotel across the street.

Gwen Grayson walked out of the restaurant opposite, smiling, with a blond, blue-eyed man. The man was extremely tall, at least six-foot-three by her estimation.

When he looked up, Vesper Grayson recognized him.

Valen.

’He’s meeting with Gwen Grayson in private.’

’It seems Joyce Rivers pulled some strings with the Rivers Family again.’

She coolly withdrew her gaze and turned to get in her car.

After seeing Valen off, Gwen Grayson caught a glimpse of a familiar car flashing past and couldn’t help but frown.

「Grayson Corporation’s underground parking garage.」

Vesper Grayson had just turned her steering wheel, preparing to pull into a parking spot, when a BMW suddenly accelerated and cut her off, stopping horizontally in the space.

"Sister, are you following me?"

Vesper Grayson unhurriedly parked her car in the empty spot next to it, opened the door, and stepped out elegantly, glancing at her coolly.

"When will you ever get over your paranoia?"

Her expression was cold, and she looked at Gwen Grayson as if she were looking at an unreasonable child.

"You dare say you weren’t following me?" Gwen Grayson craned her neck, pressing forward.

"Little sister, I know you’re not as pretty as me, you didn’t do as well in school as me, and your work is nowhere near as good as mine. You feel like I outshine you in every way."

Vesper Grayson’s tone was calm, yet every word was a stab to the heart. "But there’s no need to maliciously speculate about others like this."

"Who says I’m not confident? Who says I’m not as good as you!"

Gwen Grayson was so angry her eyes were wide, and she glared at her. "Vesper Grayson, stop being so self-righteous! I’m telling you, this time I will definitely secure the exclusive agency rights for Vaudin’s Greater China region before you do! Mr. Valen has already seen my proposal, and he promised to consider it carefully! I will prove with my own abilities who’s the one who’s all talk and no substance!"

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