The warm breeze by the ear brought a hint of restlessness.
Ethan Blackwood’s cigarette ash accumulated a long length and fell slowly with the warm breeze, landing next to Claire Shaw’s high heels.
When Claire parted from him, it was clear she was slightly out of breath.
She licked her moisturized lips and looked at the enigmatic man with slight annoyance, "Mr. Blackwood, the answer..."
The man’s lips curved slightly, "You’ll soon find out."
As he spoke, he ruffled her hair, "Sweet dreams, Ms. Shaw."
Claire returned ho in a daze, her heart beating wildly, her mind filled with the deep kiss he had just given her, holding her at the back of the head.
Once back in her small studio, her heartbeat gradually returned to normal.
She turned on the light and completed the finishing touches on her painting.
Claire dialed her partner’s number, "Senior, I’ve finished the painting. It can be delivered tomorrow. Didn’t you say last ti that his friend also wanted a custom piece? Will it be convenient to et tomorrow?"
"Alright, I’ll send you the eting address."
"Thanks, senior."
The next day.
Just as Claire arrived in the classroom, she heard other teachers complaining, "Ms. Shaw, you left too early yesterday."
"What happened?"
Yasmin Yorke swayed her hips as she appeared, "Ms. Shaw, you missed President Blackwood’s gift to , a bottle of Pétrus. It costs nearly thirty thousand dollars, and he gifted several bottles at once."
During dinner, didn’t Ethan Blackwood take her ho? When did he find ti to deliver wine?
"Well, I guess I missed out."
Yasmin had intended to show off, but noticing Claire’s indifference, with no emotional fluctuation, made her sowhat irritated, "Ms. Shaw, I bet you’ve never tasted such expensive red wine, have you?"
Mia Hughes’ voice chid in, "Is a few bottles of wine not enough for you to brag about all night? Should I put a label on your forehead saying you drank three bottles of Pétrus?"
The surrounding teachers chuckled, while Mia pulled Claire’s hand and explained, "Sean Jacobs foolishly sent so wine over, but it’s unclear if it was President Blackwood who instructed it. Soone nearly took the bottles ho to worship them."
Claire used to think Ethan Blackwood was a straightforward person. Little did she expect him to two-ti.
On one hand, proactively sending her ho, and on the other, having Sean Jacobs placate Yasmin.
Angered, Claire imdiately sent a ssage.
During a morning eting, Ethan Blackwood was presenting on the screen, with several top executives present in the conference room.
Everyone clearly saw a pinned ssage notification appear.
[Good Girl: Mr. Blackwood, be careful playing on so many boats, lest you capsize one day.]
Ethan Blackwood: ???
The onlookers: Wow, that’s thrilling.
On the surface, President Blackwood seed unassuming, yet privately he played in such a colorful world, with a foot in several boats.
Faced with the many curious gazes, he grinned with a doting smile, "Let’s continue."
Claire, having sent the ssage, set her phone aside.
Representatives from The Blackwood Group ca, claiming they were there to sign the land usage contract.
The director was beaming with delight, eagerly pushing Yasmin into the spotlight, while the other teachers were left in the background.
Yasmin twisted her body, the smile on her lips was harder to suppress than an AK.
Mia whispered into Claire’s ear, "Did she forget to deworm? That twisting is really uncomfortable."
Claire did not respond as her mood was somber.
If Ethan Blackwood’s answer was this, then the orphanage matter couldn’t be resolved.
A man in a suit holding a docunt folder walked over.
Yasmin, eager to flaunt her status, approached to greet him, "Thank you for making the trip..."
She hadn’t finished her sentence when the man walked past her.
Yasmin stood awkwardly, realizing that he hadn’t glanced at her even once!
The surrounding people discussed, and the director furrowed his brows, what was going on?
Didn’t President Blackwood send her so bottles of wine last night?
To everyone’s surprise, the man stopped in front of Claire, and said, "Ms. Shaw."
Claire then looked up at the person in earnest, recalling that when Ethan Blackwood ca to pick up a child, a stern-faced man sat in the passenger seat, and it was him.
"Is there sothing I can help with?" Claire was baffled, wasn’t he here for Yasmin?
The man’s expression was severe, with a semblance to Ethan Blackwood, yet he seed particularly respectful to Claire.
"It’s like this, my young master is very fond of Ms. Shaw. When he learned that you were feeling down about the land at the back, he pleaded with President Blackwood to free up the land for the children. The Blackwood Group will fund the construction of an outdoor pool, and President Blackwood drafted a contract for to represent the company to sign with Ms. Shaw."
These words slapped hard against Yasmin’s face.
Yasmin was taken aback.
What? This has nothing to do with her?
It was Mason Blackwood’s regard for Claire that facilitated the deal, and Ethan Blackwood wasn’t signing with the school, but separately with Claire.
Seeing everyone surrounding Claire, Yasmin felt a bit unbalanced inside.
Once it’s confird that it has nothing to do with her, how would she continue at the school?
Yasmin edged over, anxiously explaining, "Could there be a mistake? After all, I was the one who ntioned constructing the pool to President Blackwood."
"And you are?" The assistant’s expression was indifferent, his deanor strict, showing no signs of pretense.
Yasmin, trying to maintain a good temper, explained, "My na is Yasmin Yorke, also a kindergarten teacher. I went to the company and President Blackwood gave a private audience. Oh, and he sent a few bottles of wine last night too."
"So it was you."
Yasmin’s face lit up with joy, "Yes, that’s ..."
Unbeknownst to her, the assistant continued coldly, "You’re the teacher who was turned away for not having an appointnt."
The term ’turned away’ essentially pinned Yasmin to a pillar of sha.
Her face turned pale. She licked her lips, trying to explain, but during her visit to The Blackwood Group, Ethan Blackwood hadn’t even given her a proper look, how could she explain?
The assistant, still unsatisfied, added, "Director, please manage your kindergarten teachers well, so they don’t falsely parade under our President Blackwood’s na."
The director, unexpectedly called out, nodded repeatedly, "Yes, I understand, Mr. Yorke was only thinking of the children, there must be so misunderstanding..."
As he spoke, he gave Yasmin a fierce glare.
Recently Yasmin had been so arrogant, and now her fall would be as hard as her previous rise.
Even more bewildered was Claire, so Ethan Blackwood and Yasmin had no relationship at all.
Perhaps Yasmin visited The Blackwood Group under the kindergarten’s banner, and he mistook it for her, hence allowing her in.
Sean Jacobs’ misconception led to him looking at Yasmin differently, creating this entire misunderstanding.
Ethan Blackwood intentionally used Mason’s na to have her back, leaving Claire at a loss for what to do.
She wasn’t even interested in the pool, she owed him a big favor for nothing.
Claire knew well that there’s never a free lunch in the world, and this favor wouldn’t be easy to repay.
Amidst her anxiety, the assistant suddenly reminded, "I apologize, I left a docunt in the car. I don’t have much ti, Ms. Shaw, could you co sign it?"
The director quickly gave Claire a gentle shove, "Of course, it’s fine."
Claire followed the assistant to the car, expecting him to fetch the contract, only to have the car door open.
She saw the man seated in the back, the car door blocking his face, leaving his sharp jaw exposed.
His black shirt buttoned neatly up to the very top, highlighting a prominent Adam’s apple.
Even just sitting there casually, his unapproachable aura swept over with force.
In a commanding tone, his deep voice reached her ears, "Get in the car."
This was at school, and Claire’s heart raced wildly!
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