The CEO Gets What He Wants

Nicole had donned a pristine white dress before heading to the restaurant as she believed that white could portray her innocence. Someone had once told her that when wearing white, she resembled a delicate lotus flower—a symbol of purity and beauty.

Alas, Daniel left filthy stains on her white dress when he was clinging to her earlier.

Nicole was a perfectionist, so even though the stains on her clothing weren't noticeable to the untrained eye, she decided to head to the boutique next door and purchase a new outfit.

After changing her clothes, she went to Number Nine Eatery and settled down at the table she reserved in advance. Cayden wasn't there yet.

Inside the luxuriously decorated restaurant, Nicole sat by the window as she stared at the brightly lit city outside. A flash of resentment crossed her face.

Usually, men would arrive at the restaurant in advance to wait for their date to demonstrate their gentlemanly qualities.

However, Nicole had to reserve a table at the restaurant and arrive in advance to wait for Cayden. That made her feel aggrieved.

Clad in a sunny yellow dress, Nicole radiated elegance. Her delicate features and expertly applied makeup illuminated her natural beauty, making her shine like a star.

She had a pitiful expression that could spark a man's instinctive desire to protect her.

Instead of reserving a private room, she chose an ordinary table.

By being in the same space as the other patrons of the restaurant, she could allow the male patrons to admire her beauty. At the same time, she was hoping that someone in the restaurant might take photos of them and that they would appear in the news the following day.

Around half an hour later, Cayden arrived at Number Nine Eatery.

He approached Nicole, who was sitting in her seat and holding her chin in her palm. She seemed lost in thought, gazing out of the window. Calmly, he said, “I apologize for being late, Ms. Nicole. Something unexpected came up at work and I got held up. I'm sorry you had to wait.”

He then pulled out his chair and sat down.

The man possessed a complex combination of qualities that made him noble, elegant, and somewhat aloof yet with a mysterious charm, allowing him to effortlessly captivate those he met.

Nicole's eyes lit up with delight when she caught sight of him even though she was previously grumbling about his attitude. All her displeasure evaporated as she gazed at him lovingly. It was like the world had suddenly become brighter.

As if he was the source of her revitalization, he made the stagnant spring of her life flow again.

Thanks to him, her life was filled with excitement.

Nicole replied gently, “I just arrived as well and I didn't wait too long.”

It didn't feel that long even though Nicole had actually waited for almost an hour before he arrived. As long as Cayden didn't flake on her, she would be willing to wait for him for the entire night.

Cayden concealed the iciness in his gaze and flashed a polite smile. “Ms. Nicole, what would you like to eat? Let me get the menu.”

Nicole's gaze was gentle as she replied, “I'm not a picky eater, so you can order whatever you like.”

Cayden's lips curled into a charming smile, emphasizing his handsome features. “That won't do, Ms. Nicole. I believe there must be some food you prefer, right? Please order whatever you want. I'm not very hungry right now, so I won't be eating much.”

The truth was, even if a spread was served before them right now, Cayden wasn't in the mood to eat with Nicole.

He wouldn't even play along with a pretentious woman like her if he had no ulterior motive.

After all, he was in a hurry to head back home to have supper with Avery and the kids.

Avery had a knack for home-cooked dishes, and her skills were on par with professional chefs. As a result, her food was so delicious that it made him picky about what he ate.

After she got pregnant, he didn't want to tire her out and hired a chef and a nutritionist to be in charge of their meals.

However, Avery would still cook for them whenever she was free.

He enjoyed the time spent around the dining table with his family, treasuring each and every moment they shared together.

Nicole was taken aback, but her face lit up with a warm smile as she exclaimed, “Cayden, we have known each other for a while now, so it's time for you to stop calling me Ms. Nicole. Please, just call me Nickie. I have been to this restaurant many times with my parents, and I can vouch for the fact that the food here is delicious. I'm sure you'll find something that you like—be it sour, sweet, or spicy—and I'd be more than happy to order something for you. You won't be disappointed as this place has something special to offer for every taste.”

Cayden gave her a long look. “Thanks for the offer, Ms. Nicole, but I don't have anything particular that I like. You can order anything. I'll be fine.”

Nicole was becoming increasingly frustrated as she heard him continually refer to her as “Ms. Nicole.”

Cayden had never addressed Avery as “Ms. Rumpley,” yet he insisted on ignoring her requests. She felt powerless and exasperated that he didn't listen to her.