CEO's Girl Chapter 2

The morning sun, filtered through the towering skyscraper, did little to soften the sharp edges of Edward’s mood. The previous night's encounter lingered, an irritating burr he couldn't shake. The jasmine tea, the quiet disappointment in her eyes—it was all a distraction, a pointless complication in his meticulously ordered life. He finished his coffee and checked his calendar. An unscheduled breakfast meeting had been added by his assistant, a rare and deeply annoying intrusion. He read the details: Mr. Sato, a notoriously traditional Japanese industrialist, would be joining them at the penthouse. He wanted to "get a sense of the family behind the business." Edward swore under his breath.

He found Elizabeth in the living room, her hands full of books. She was meticulously arranging them on a shelf, her movements precise and quiet. She was dressed in a simple cream-colored silk blouse and dark trousers, looking every bit the poised and elegant hostess he knew she could be. The sight of her competence was another layer to his frustration. She was the perfect wife on paper, yet he found her presence an imposition.

"We have a guest," he announced, his tone clipped. "Mr. Sato will be here for breakfast in thirty minutes."

Elizabeth didn't flinch. "I'm aware. I took the liberty of contacting your assistant to confirm the details. I’ve already arranged for a traditional Japanese breakfast to be prepared." She gestured toward the dining room, where a small, low table had been set with delicate, lacquered bowls and a steaming kettle.

Edward’s annoyance was momentarily replaced by a flicker of surprise. He hadn't told her. "How did you know?"

"Your assistant's calendar is linked to a shared family one," she said, her voice a calm ripple in his agitated sea. "It's for occasions like this."

The doorbell rang, and Elizabeth moved with effortless grace to answer it, leaving him standing in the middle of the room. He watched as she greeted Mr. Sato with a deep, respectful bow, her Japanese flawless as she welcomed him into their home. She was not the quiet, fragile creature he had dismissed. She was a woman of culture, of poise, and of a quiet strength he’d never seen.

Throughout the meal, Elizabeth was the perfect host. She steered the conversation away from the difficult merger, focusing instead on shared interests like Japanese art and horticulture, topics Edward had no knowledge of. She spoke with a quiet confidence that drew Mr. Sato's respect, her answers thoughtful and insightful. Edward found himself watching her, a strange new fascination taking hold. He saw the way she listened, her gaze attentive and her small smiles genuine. When Mr. Sato finally brought up the business deal, his tone was far more amicable than Edward had anticipated.

"It seems you have chosen a good partner, Edward-san," Mr. Sato said, his eyes twinkling. "A wife who brings such balance and wisdom to the home."

The compliment was directed at him, but Edward found himself looking at Elizabeth. She glanced up at that moment, her eyes meeting his. Instead of the usual politeness, there was something else there, a flash of genuine, fleeting amusement, as if they shared a private joke. A hint of a secret she kept. It was a single, unguarded moment, and it hit him with the force of an arctic wind—cold, sharp, and entirely unexpected. In that brief second, the walls of his fortress felt a little less solid.

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