Chapter 38: Chapter 38: You Can Be a Child, Too
### Chapter 38: You Can Be a Child, Too
She turned toward the voice and saw Ethan Hawthorne standing quietly nearby, though she hadn’t noticed when he’d arrived.
He wore a sharply tailored, dark gray overcoat that accentuated his tall, straight figure. The dim, yellow light softened the usually stern lines of his profile, and his deep gaze was fixed on her.
Before she could ask, he had already stepped forward and held out a paper bag with a familiar logo.
White steam wafted from the edges of the bag, and the sweet aroma of milk and the rich scent of red bean immediately drifted toward her.
It was the signature item from her favorite Hong Kong-style café.
"Have a little something to tide you over."
Maxine Rhodes took it, dazed. The warmth spreading through her palm made her pause. ’How did he know I hadn’t eaten? And how did he know this specific place was my favorite?’
"Mr. Hawthorne, how..." She looked up.
A faint smile flickered in Ethan Hawthorne’s eyes. "I just happened to have a dinner party nearby."
Maxine couldn’t be bothered to question it further. She took a bite of the soft egg custard bun, its warm, molten filling flowing out. She squinted in satisfaction, like a contented cat, and her voice came out muffled, "Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne."
"Slow down," he said, his gaze sweeping over the corner of her lips, which was dotted with a bit of custard. His voice was even softer than before. "When you’re finished, we’ll go home together."
Maxine nodded. The egg custard bun and red bean milk settled in her stomach, easing much of the discomfort.
Once in the car, the vehicle moved smoothly, a river of city lights flowing past the window.
Ethan Hawthorne’s eyes were focused on the road ahead when he suddenly spoke. "I saw everything that happened in the private room today."
Maxine’s heart tightened slightly, and she glanced at him from the side.
While waiting at a red light, he steered with one hand while calmly reaching into his overcoat pocket with the other. Then, he mysteriously produced an object.
He opened his palm. A strawberry lollipop lay in its center.
He turned his head to look at her, his gaze exceptionally gentle in the dim light of the car. "This is your reward."
Maxine stared at the candy, so out of place with the mature man before her. She was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh. "It’s like you’re rewarding a little kid."
Ethan Hawthorne turned back to face the road, the corner of his lips seeming to curl into the faintest of smiles. His deep, clear voice struck a chord in her heart. "You can be a child, too."
The indulgence in his tone made Maxine’s heart skip a beat. She lowered her gaze, her long lashes hiding the turbulent emotions in her eyes.
She silently unwrapped the candy. The sweet strawberry flavor instantly spread across her tongue, seeping into her taste buds bit by bit, as if it were also quietly seeping into her heart.
The night breeze slipped in through the slightly cracked window. She watched the dazzling, receding lights outside. This was the first time someone had given her a sweet piece of candy for winning a battle.
And told her she could be a child, too.
The sweetness of this candy seemed more profound and lingering than any she had ever tasted before.
The next day, as soon as Maxine Rhodes entered the office, she was surrounded by an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm.
"Director Rhodes is here!"
"Director Rhodes! Good morning!"
"Director Rhodes, you look extra beautiful today!!"
Greetings flooded in from all directions, the employees’ faces beaming with genuine respect and joy.
"Max Darling!!!"
Bubbles rushed over like a whirlwind and linked arms with her. "We heard everything! You were totally badass at The Grandeur Hotel yesterday! Outsmarting that greasy old Chandler, forcing Sterling the Skinner’s hand, and fighting for the rights of all your fellow women!"
Coco squeezed through the crowd and shoved a latte into Maxine’s hands. "Sis! When the admin department sent out the email this morning, all the company group chats exploded! A bunch of women from other departments secretly added me on WeChat just to say that Director Rhodes is a total boss!"
She lowered her voice. "I heard President Sterling smashed a cup in his office this morning! And Rose Joyce was in the breakroom making passive-aggressive comments..."
Bubbles cut in, hands on her hips. "Who cares what sour grapes she has! Our Max Darling got here on real skill!"
Just then, the three female employees from yesterday also gathered around, offering her homemade snacks and a thank-you card, their eyes filled with gratitude and admiration.
Surrounded by them all, Maxine responded to each one with composure.
At a desk not far away, Rose Joyce stared daggers at Maxine, who was enveloped in flowers and praise, her nails digging so deeply into her palms they nearly broke the skin.
On the computer screen in front of her was a trending post on the company’s internal forum, filled with discussions about how Maxine Rhodes was "a true heroine," "outsmarted a greasy client," and "fought for the welfare of all female employees."
"What’s there to be so smug about..."
She practically hissed the words through gritted teeth, her pretty face twisting with jealousy. "It was just blind luck, happening to find some leverage on Mr. Chandler. Does she really think she’s some kind of savior now?"
’Maxine Rhodes, just you wait!’
At that moment, two young employees walked past holding files, talking in low voices.
"Look at this scene. Director Rhodes is truly living up to everyone’s hopes."
"Wouldn’t it be great if Director Rhodes was our company’s top leader!"
And that sentence, along with the entire scene, was witnessed completely by Benjamin Sterling, who had just stepped out of his office.
His face was ashen, his jawline clenched tight, and a furious anger surged to his head.
The company policy email from that morning and the current scene of her being worshiped by all were like two stinging slaps to his pride.
But just as the thread of his reason was about to snap, he suddenly recalled a distant yet clear memory.
It was from when Maxine had just joined the company. In order to help him land an important client, she had pulled all-nighters for a week straight. She nearly fainted during the final presentation, but still managed a pale smile at him, as if to say, ’I did it.’
Back then, the light in her eyes shone only for his approval.
At this thought, Benjamin Sterling’s tense jawline suddenly relaxed.
He understood.
’This seeming provocation of outshining her superior, these tactics to win over the staff, this deliberately distant attitude... it’s all a disguise!’
’Maxine went to all this trouble, making such a huge scene, all for one reason, isn’t it? She wants me to see her value and acknowledge her efforts, just like in the past.’
’If she truly didn’t care about me, she could have just left. Why go through all the trouble of pushing for reforms within the company?’
’This woman is still the same as she was five years ago, using the clumsiest methods to demand my attention. She’s just switched to a more aggressive approach now.’
Just then, the phone on his desk rang at the perfect moment. The name "Director Warren" flashed on the screen.
Benjamin Sterling took a deep breath and answered the call, his voice having already returned to its usual composure. "Director Warren."
"Benjamin, Maxine Rhodes has been making quite a name for herself lately," Director Warren’s voice had a chiding tone. "Several key clients are specifically requesting to deal only with her. Let me remind you, the company’s lifeline cannot be in the grasp of a single woman!"
A few minutes ago, these words would have sent him into a panic. But now, all Benjamin Sterling could see was the image of Maxine as she used to look at him, her eyes filled with nothing but him.
’These old fossils. How could they possibly understand the subtleties of our relationship?’
"Director Warren, you’re worrying too much." He let out a low chuckle, his tone filled with the certainty of someone in complete control. "I know exactly what her little game is. It’s just a woman throwing a tantrum, trying to prove that I can’t live without her. It’s all just a ploy. Don’t worry, I have her wrapped around my little finger."
"Are you sure it’s just a tantrum?" Director Warren said meaningfully. "Benjamin, aren’t you being a little too confident? I get the feeling this woman is more than she seems."
A smile played on Benjamin Sterling’s lips. "Rest assured, Director Warren. I know her as well as I know myself. She’s doing all of this just to get my attention. When she’s had her fun, she’ll naturally come back to me."
Director Warren’s tone was still laced with worry. "Alright, but I still suggest you keep a close eye on things. Don’t get caught off guard."
Benjamin’s tone was resolute. "Everything is under control."
Hanging up, Benjamin Sterling shook his head and chuckled. ’Such unnecessary worrying!’
*****
