Chapter 486



Barely five minutes after Jake left, a knock echoed through the door. Kallie had already devised a backup plan. Despite the reassuring words the director had given her, she remained skeptical as she knew nothing concrete.

She suspected the individual might be jacking around, or perhaps it was someone she knew who wanted to help her discreetly without facing rejection from her. She realized she was right the moment she heard Jake was the client wanting to meet her.

“Come in, please,” Kallie said, regaining her composure. The door opened, and a man stepped in, dressed in a tailored suit.

The man had a handsome, gentle demeanor, carrying a folding fan. His folding fan seemed out of place in the modern setting.

As the man entered, he nodded courteously to Kallie and offered a smile. “I apologize for any inconvenience. My schedule is tight, so if you have any business to discuss, please get straight to the point. If I sit down, I’ll be your guest, which means engaging with you, and that’s not exactly in my best interest.”

Kallie wasn’t surprised by his words. She had done her research on this man. His name was Clayton Morgan, and he appeared to be a gentle soul. Clayton belonged to the biggest jewelry-selling family in Halstead, possibly even in Avalann. His family owned several mines and pearl-plucking ports.

For the future growth of the Turner Group, Kallie grasped that she needed to cultivate a positive relationship with Clayton.

Despite Clayton’s refusal to sit down and preference for direct and concise talk, Kallie still poured him a cup of coffee. Clayton seemed intrigued by her calm and composed demeanor. Something about how she carried herself caught his attention, and he found himself stealing a few extra glances at her.

“It smells so good,” Clayton couldn’t help but sigh, his voice tinged with appreciation. Pointing at the coffee, Kallie offered a warm smile. “Want to give it a try?”

Clayton hesitated briefly before taking a seat opposite her. As they sipped their coffee, the tension that had lingered between them began to dissipate. With a sincere smile, Clayton gave Kallie a meaningful look. “I never thought of you as someone who knew how to brew a good cup of coffee. It’s rare these days, you know. Most people of wealth don’t bother to learn such skills.”

His words carried an implied weight, suggesting there might be more to her sudden expertise. Kallie, far from feeling offended, simply reached into her bag and presented something to Clayton: her certification as a senior coffee expert.

Caught off guard, Clayton coughed awkwardly. Kallie remarked, hoping to lighten the moment, “I was mute once, but after my throat healed, I returned to the Nixon family, eager to pursue all my interests. This certificate might not mean much, but I wanted to use this skill to get closer to you today.”

At Kallie’s candid admission, Clayton felt a mix of embarrassment and admiration. He furrowed his brow and shook his head at her.

“My family used to work with the Turner Group, but the reputation of the Turner Group has really tanked lately. To be frank, most folks in the industry are betting they’ll go under soon.”

Kallie nodded understandingly. “I get your concerns, but take a look at this first.” She handed a design sketch to Clayton.

Clayton examined it, his expression shifting from curiosity to awe. “Who did you get to draw up this masterpiece? It’s heads and shoulders above the person who got caught plagiarizing others’ work.” A flicker of emotion crossed Kallie’s eyes.

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