Following that, there were no exchanges of glances between the two.
Charlotte Thompson was clear, if they kept going on , she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the meal. So she decided to just focus on eating.
Justin Battleson also understood Charlotte’s concerns and agreed with her choice, gracefully focusing on his meal as well.
An attractive couple, they ate together.
Under the warm glow of the room’s lights, there was a palpable sense of peace and tranquility.
This meal helped ease the awkward tension between them.
It also gave Charlotte time to think about what Justin had said.
Maybe Justin wasn’t as bad as she thought, perhaps he genuinely trusted her?
With this thought in mind, Charlotte found herself somewhat puzzled.
Then, another server came in with more dishes.
Both of them remained silent as they ate.
Only after the server had left did Justin speak.
"I know what you’re worried about."
On hearing this, Charlotte raises her head: "What?"
It’s almost as if he could read her mind...
"Gratuitous favors often hide ulterior motives." Justin was blunt and straight to the point.
Having her misgivings pointed out, Charlotte could feel herself blushing.
"Ah, well... not entirely, it’s just... "
Once again, she stuttered in front of Justin.
Before she could finish, Justin interrupted.
"Don’t forget, you’re not just Charlotte Thompson, but also Ashton’s renowned designer, Joy. I believe you are more likely to understand the Ashton Princess’s preferences."
Understand her preferences? Of course!
But what happens after understanding them?
Justin seemed to understand the doubts in Charlotte’s eyes, continuing, "By giving you the project, the department can avoid a lot of detours."
There’s no denying, Justin is indeed a shrewd man.
"This decision was made after careful consideration. From the company’s perspective, you are the most suitable choice."
With an innocent look on his face, Justin even smiled to express his goodwill.
Justin explained his initial intentions from a business perspective, once again emphasizing his lack of ulterior motives.
Although claiming to have no other motives, there might be some.
His desire to give Charlotte the project wasn’t solely due to the company’s interests. Part of it was also personal.
He values Charlotte and wants to give her this opportunity for promotion, to help her firm her position at Vanguard Jewelry.
If Charlotte didn’t have the ability, he wouldn’t insist.
Since she does have the skills, why should he let someone else benefit?
Justin’s calculation was crystal clear. No matter how he looked at it, he wouldn’t lose.
Most importantly, Charlotte could be tied to him.
He didn’t know why he was so drawn to Charlotte, but he just followed his heart.
Weirdly enough, Justin did have a point!
Seeing Justin’s calm demeanor, Charlotte was now more inclined to believe him.
But his directness made Charlotte feel a bit awkward. Was she really wrongly assuming his intentions?
This thought left Charlotte feeling a bit chagrined.
Charlotte didn’t respond, she just made an "Oh" sound and continued to stir the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks.
She was already a bit full, and the moment they started talking about work, her appetite vanished.
However, she did need to consider Justin’s proposal carefully.
Charlotte cleared her throat to speak.
Justin looked up, his eyes focused on her, anticipating her response.