<b>Chapter </b><b>107 </b>


    Hearing footsteps approaching, Brandon immediately fell silent and looked toward the courtyard.


    Briar, dressed in a tracksuit, was walking toward them. Ashton turned around and checked the time on his watch. It had been ten minutes Facing Briar, he smiled and said, “Looks like you’re hungry.”


    She used ten minutes to get dressed and wash up. By any standard, that was impressively fast for a girl.


    Briar smiled. “Yeah, I’m hungry.”


    Briar didn’t usually wear makeup, but she would at least take care of her skincare routine. However, today she hade out without applying anything after washing her face. She nned to head back to bed after breakfast anyway.


    Ashton and Briar went inside to eat breakfast, while Brandon stayed outside practicing his martial arts and going over the tasks Ashton had assigned him.


    After finishing thest spoonful of scrambled egg, Ashton handed her a napkin and asked, “It’s your day off. Got any ns?<b>” </b>


    Briar took the napkin and met his gaze. “Unless you need my help with something, I n to sleep all day.”


    They were both sleep–deprived, and now that they were neighbors, Briar didn’t mind earning some money while she was at it.


    Catching her implied suggestion, Ashton’s expression softened. He immediately offered a way out, without hesitation. “I have a meeting at thepany this morning. I can clear two hours at noon. Briar, want toe to mypany and hang out?”


    Briar looked up just as a beam of sunlight fell across her pale and beautiful face. Her smile took on a soft, mysterious charm. “Sure! <b>If </b>you’re not worried that my gaming will distract you from your work, I’ll go get changed right now.”


    She was about to stand up.


    Ashton reached out at the right moment and grabbed her wrist. His fingers brushed against the warmth and softness of her skin, pleasant and delicate. He controlled the pressure, resisting the urge to caress or squeeze. “No need to change. You look great just like this.”


    Briar looked down. She was wearing a basic tracksuit, the kind she usually wore lounging at home. Then she looked at Ashton, who was dressed in an impably tailored handmade suit. She raised an eyebrow. “Not afraid I’ll embarrass you?”


    Ashton raised his brow too, his expression carrying a hint of roguish charm. “Of course not. Let’s go. I stocked your favorite snacks in the car.”


    Just like that, Ashton somehow managed to bring Briar with him to the office.


    The Wade Group headquarters was located in the prime area of Shoneport<b>, </b>consisting of three office towers, each over 50 stories tall. Ashton’s office was on the 88th floor of the tallest building among them.


    Their car entered the underground garage. Taking the executive elevator reserved for the CEO, they ascended straight to the 88th floor. Briar followed beside Ashton the entire time. She didn’t encounter a single Wade Group employee on their way up.


    Ashton had told her not to worry, and now she understood why. She wouldn’t run into anyone at all.


    Ashton’s current secretary was Jalen from the third branch of the Wade family. He and Ashton were both 26 years old, but since his birthday came a monthter, he was ranked fifth in the family, just below Ashton.


    As Ashton’s personal secretary, Jalen always arrived at the office half an hour earlier than his boss. When he saw the CEO’s private <b>elevator </b>open, he didn’t think much and stepped forward. “Mr. Wade, the international meeting today…”


    <b>15:18 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>14 </b><b>Aug </b>( W


    But then he saw the beautiful young woman following behind Ashton and froze mid–sentence.


    He wondered if she was the doctor who was going to treat Griffin.


    Then he noticed how closely she was standing next to Ashton and narrowed his eyes slightly, giving a subtle smile as he closed his file <b>and </b>


    said nothing more.


    That settled it. If Ashton was bringing her to thepany, then Griffin’s wish was probably about toe true.


    Their always elegant, aloof, and woman–averse prince was about to be happily settled down.


    “Jalen, I just sent you a snack list by email. Have someone buy everything on it as soon as possible,” Ashton said calmly, as if he hadn’t noticed the amused look in Jalen’s eyes.


    Jalen nearly screamed internally. ‘Holy hell! They’re not even together yet, and he’s already spoiling her like this?‘


    He thought, ‘Ashton, have you forgotten that in your office, not only are snacks banned, but even strongly–scented drinks aren’t allowed? What about your principles? Your boundaries?‘


    Despite all the silent ranting, Jalen remained the professional secretary. He maintained a serious expression, nodding while leading the two toward the CEO’s office. “Understood, Mr. Wade.”


    In thepany, no matter one’s rtionship with Ashton, everyone addressed him strictly by title.


    Once inside Wade Group HQ, Jalen was responsible for Ashton’s security. That was why Brandon didn’t follow them upstairs. Naturally, tasking someone to buy snacks fell to Jalen.


    Ashton’s office reflected a sense of restrained luxury and minimalist style. There were no unnecessary decorations, no shy ornaments. It was clear evidence of Ashton’s work ethic and efficiency.


    “Make yourself at home. You can touch anything in this office,” Ashton said as he led her inside. He even unlocked theputer on his desk right in front of her, showing no intention of hiding anything.


    Of course, Briar had no interest in hisputer password. She casually wandered around the office, then settled in on the sofa with a magazine on human geography.


    As the head of a top 100 global corporation, Ashton had plenty of work. From the moment he sat down and opened hisputer, he was buried in nonstop tasks. Watching him made Briar’s scalp tingle.


    She was grateful she had tricked Nathan into taking over the Jennings Group after she got it back. Otherwise, she’d be stuck like this every day, chained to a desk with an endless stream of work.


    She liked money, but she didn’t like endless work.


    Jalen was very efficient. In less than half an hour, he had bought everything on the snack list Ashton sent him. When he walked in carrying. the bags of snacks, his expression was ratherplicated.


    From what he knew, many of the snacks on the list were considered junk food in the Wade family household. They were strictly off–limits to children. If they wanted to eat them, they had <i>to </i>sneak out and buy them in secret.


    Ashton was known to be extremely disciplined. Jalen was certain that most of these snacks were things Ashton had never even tasted. <b>They </b>were never allowed near his office.


    But now, not only had hepiled a list, he even had someone go buy them specifically.


    If Briar acted any more childlike, Jalen figured the CEO’s office might as well be outfitted with <b>a </b>game console.


    1518 <b>THU </b>17 Aug


    As Jalen stepped in, still stunned by how over–the–top this pampering was, he suddenly heard the loud and thrilling sound of a <b>gunlight </b>video


    game.


    And the always strict, meticulous Ashton hadn’t stopped it. He had even handed over his secondptop.