The CEO Gets What He Wants

Nicole carried herself with all the elegance in the world. Every single gesture of hers emanated a sense of sweetness and allure. “It's been a long time, Mdm. Allie.”

Seeing Cayden there, she remarked shyly, “You're home too, Mr. Moore.”

Cayden merely inclined his head at her indifferently in a gesture of politeness.

Meanwhile, Allie stood up and greeted courteously, “Don't stand on ceremony while you're here, Nickie. Make yourself at home. Besides, there's no need to call my son Mr. Moore when we're at home and not the office. Just call him Cayden.”

“Wouldn't it be inappropriate, Mdm. Allie?” Nicole directed her words to Allie, but her bashful gaze surreptitiously drifted over to Cayden at the side.

Taking her fair and delicate hand, Allie replied exuberantly, “It's just an address. Would he be so petty to forbid someone from calling him by name? I happened to be thinking that it'd been more than a week since you last visited me. No sooner had I spoken of that than you came over!”

Unbidden, a deep frown marred Cayden's countenance.

Why had I never known that she'd gotten so close to Nicole at some point in time?

Allie's remark had a blush staining Nicole's ivory cheeks. “I came today to give you something, Mdm. Allie. Previously, you said you fancied a peony hairpin at Amethyst Accessories, but it was out of stock. When I went shopping the day before, I found that the shop had restocked. One of the hairpins was of a pretty similar design as the one you took an interest in, so I bought it for you.”

After saying that, she took out an exquisite mahogany box and handed it to Allie.

Opening it, Allie saw that it indeed contained the peony hairpin she liked back then.

The design theme of the hairpin was peony petals, branches, and leaves, complemented with pearls and rhinestones. Each pearl and rhinestone inlaid on the hairpin was crystal clear, glittering brightly. On the whole, it looked ornate yet not gaudy.

She loved it beyond words.

Although she was lacking greatly in poise and manners, she had a rather keen eye for dressing and accouterment. In other words, she was the typical type of woman who appeared to be a noblewoman if she didn't speak, but once she did, her identity as a nouveau riche shone through.

Caressing the hairpin, she couldn't help lamenting, “How thoughtful of you, Nickie. If Cayden were half as caring as you are, my life would've been worth living.”

Nicole flashed her a sweet smile. “That's not true, Mdm. Allie. Cayden is undoubtedly filial. But men are always busy with their careers, so he doesn't have much time to keep you company.”

Those words of hers comforted Allie tremendously.

Allie pinned the hairpin onto her hair before asking Nicole, “Well, what do you think, Nickie?”

She was wearing a navy blue embroidered gown. Despite being in her fifties, she was still as charming as ever. With the classic hairpin adorning her hair, she appeared just like a noblewoman in her silence. From her profile, one could even vaguely see traces of her beauty back when she was young.

“You look stunning with the hairpin, Mdm. Allie! It matches your gown really well. The gown you're wearing is also very beautiful,” Nicole complimented.

Allie smiled so widely that all her teeth were visible. “You've got such a glib tongue. I'd be over the moon to have such a thoughtful daughter. This gown was a gift from Cayden for my birthday a few months ago.”

“In that case, he has impeccable taste. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to pick a gown that suits you so well,” Nicole continued praising.

“If you like it, I'll have him bring you out to buy one suitable for young ladies,” Allie offered.

In response, Nicole lowered her head shyly without replying to that.

Subsequently, Allie started criticizing Cayden. “Look, how nice it is to have a daughter! See how thoughtful Nickie is, keeping in mind the things I like. That aside, she even came all the way here to gift a hairpin to me in person. Say, what's the use of me raising a disobedient son like you who does nothing other than infuriate me all the time?”

Cayden said nothing, merely reclining against the couch languidly while watching the financial report broadcast on television.

Allie then chatted with Nicole about personal matters at length. Although the latter was talking to Allie, she kept stealing peeks at Cayden every so often, her love for him was as clear as day.

Allie was naturally aware of Nicole's feelings for Cayden, but she didn't expose her. Thus, the two of them continued chatting nonchalantly.

Seeing that it was getting late, Nicole got up and took her leave.

Outside the house, it had started drizzling at some point in time. Strong gusts of wind accompanied the rain. As soon as one stepped out of the warm house, the freezing cold would seep into one's bones. Allie initially suggested that Nicole stay overnight at the Moore residence. But Nicole knew that her strict adoptive father, William, would definitely be displeased if she didn't go home at night, so she declined.

Since the weather was bad, and she intended to create an opportunity for her son and Nicole, Allie said to Cayden, “I'd worry if Nickie were to go home alone in such stormy weather, so please drive her home.”

It was freezing outside, but still, the public couldn't resist the temptation of the innumerable city lights. While there weren't as many cars as usual, there were still a lot of vehicles speeding on the highway.