Chapter 60

Evelyn waved her hands frantically. "No need. Phoenix Labs is just a small subsidiary of the Celestia Group, and our director reports directly to me. It's nothing compared to a high-ranking CEO like you. Don't scare people like that when you meet them."

"Hey..." Alexander chuckled, rubbing his chin. "This flattery is good. I might just reward you for it."

Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "What kind of reward?"

"What do you want?" He stepped closer, his breath brushing against her ear.

A shiver ran down Evelyn's spine. She jumped back, putting distance between them. "I'll have to think about it! Let's eat first—I'm starving!"

Alexander watched her dart into the kitchen, amusement flickering in his gaze. He didn’t stop her. Instead, his smile faded as his attention returned to the tablet in his hands. His expression darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes.

Even if it was just nonsense, any woman who dared to provoke him like this would regret it.

In the kitchen, Evelyn washed her hands and opened the refrigerator. She had expected bare essentials—instant noodles, maybe some eggs—but was surprised to find it fully stocked with fresh meat, vegetables, and even pre-packaged broth bones.

She had assumed a man like Alexander wouldn’t bother with groceries. The housekeepers only came every other day to clean, so how had he managed to keep so much food stocked?

After surveying the ingredients, she decided to cook first and ask him later.

The past few weeks had been hectic with the Eternal Bloom project, leaving little time for proper meals. Alexander had taken her out to dinner twice, but nothing compared to home-cooked food.

The broth bones made things easier. After blanching them to remove impurities, she set them to simmer. A few eggs and some garnish later, dinner would be ready.

Alexander finished a few tasks before rising from his seat. The rich aroma of cooking food lured him toward the kitchen.

Evelyn stood at the stove, spatula in hand, stirring vegetables while checking the soup. The oversized apron wrapped around her slender frame made her look even smaller.

Beautiful.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching silently.

Then, before he could stop himself, he strode forward and took the spatula from her hand.

"Whoa!" Evelyn startled, nearly dropping the utensil. His reflexes were quick—one hand steadied her waist while the other kept a firm grip on the spatula.

A second later, he took over.

"You're cooking?" she asked, bewildered.

Alexander deftly avoided her attempt to reclaim the utensil, nudging her gently out of the way. "Go sit. I've got this."

His tone left no room for argument. Evelyn hesitated, but after watching him handle the dish with surprising skill, she relented.

"Go!" he barked when she lingered.

With nothing left to do, Evelyn stepped back—just in time to see him reach for the salt.