Chapter 80
At Noria Group, Charles <b>noticed </b><b>a </b>change in his boss since the weekend. Though Matthew seemed <b>as </b>frosty as ever on the surface, there was something different in his demeanor–a bit softer, <b>in </b>a better mood. Charles even thought about asking for a raise while Matthew was <b>in </b><b>a </b><b>good</b>
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The strange, inexplicable feeling <b>peaked </b>at noon during the lunch break when <b>Charles </b>went into the office to <b>ask </b><b>about </b>ordering
the usual premium set from Golden Elegance, as he always did. Instead, Matthew surprised everyone by pulling out a lunchbox from his bag and asking about the microwave. That was when things got really weird.
<b>A </b>lunchbox? Seriously! If anyone had ever said Matthew and lunchbox <b>in </b>the same sentence. Charles would’ve thought they were joking. But now, it hit him his usually high and mighty boss was <b>showing </b><b>some </b>serious human vibes today.
Now, the aloof <b>Matthew </b><b>knew </b><b>to </b>bring an umbre and pack his <b>own </b>lunchbox Charles had always thought Miss Warren was impressive for taming Matthew’s famously bad temper. But now, he saw her skills as downright formidable.
The CEO’s office <b>was </b>atop Noria Tower, with senior leadership on the two floors below. They mostly ordered lunch, so microwaves were scarce. The few avable were in the open workspace below. So, Matthew took the elevator down three floors.
A group of junior <b>managers </b>were chilling, figuring out lunch. When they <b>saw </b>Matthew, they freaked out. They wondered if they messed up big time and the big boss wasing for them. Instant panic ensued. They were scared stiff, harely daring to breathe too loud<b>, </b>afraid the big boss might just fire a couple of them on the spot.
To their surprise, Mathew didn’t even look their way, heading straight for the break room. But their relief <b>was </b>short–lived. Moments <bter</b>, Matthew came out of the break room and pointed at one of them.
“M–Mr. Grant, you needed me for something? The manager’s heart raced as he scrambled to <b>recall </b>everything he’d done over the past few years.
But Matthew’s question caught him off guard. “The microwave, I mean, why isn’t it working!”
The manager rushed to the breakroom and discovered <b>that </b>the microwave’s plug had juste loose. He quickly plugged it back in. “All good now, Mr. Grant
“Thanks. Then Matthew asked, “How many minutes does it usually take to heat up a meal?”
Five minutester, Matthew sauntered out with his lunchbox freshly heated. The entire office fell eerily silent until he was out <b>of </b>earshot. Then everyone turned to each other in disbelief before erupting in chatter
“No <b>way</b>, I must be seeing things. The big boss himself microwaved a <b>damn </b>lunchbox?
“Nah, <b>you’re </b>not tripping. <b>I </b><b>saw </b>it too. But guys, are we freaking out for no reason! It’s probably <b>just </b>homemade stuff from his family. I heard Mrs. Grant spoils him rotten. Maybe she made it.”
“Doubt it’s from <b>that </b>old <bdy</b>. She <b>once </b><b>sent </b>him a lunchbox when I was delivering files to him. Hers was this big, fancy spread made by their chefs. But did you see Mr. Grant’s? Just regr home–cooked stuff. Smelled good though.
“Damn, you think Mr. Grant’s got himself a panner now<b>! </b><b>Snag </b>someone from the mighty Grant Family and you’re golden“”
“Oh god, I <b>always </b>thought Mr. Grant would go for some bombshell, not a homebody. Should I start packing lunchboxes too or am I toote?”
<b>Charles </b>couldn’t resist the juicy gossip he overheard and rushed to tell Matthew <b>all </b>about it “Mr. Grant, everyone’s going nuts out there, specting about the mysterious woman who’s won your heart”
Matthew unpacked his fork and spoon, opening <b>his </b><b>lunchbox</b>. ncing up briefly, he remarked calmly. “Tiresome chatter.”
“Now you find idle talk tiresome! Why didn’t you realize that earlier! Charles wondered, but he didn’t have the guts to confront the guy unting his homemade lunchbox like it was the <b>talk </b>of the town. Charles now found that his frosty bou <b>was </b>a total show–off <b>at </b>heart. Mr. Grant used to look down on Miss Warren, but now he was unting like there was no tomorrow. “<b>That’s </b>a major self–burn, Mr. Grant, Charles muttered to himself.
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11.26 AM
Chapter 81
As Charles muttered, Matthew’s attention was fixed on the lunchbox. With tasty spaghetti for breakfast, he anticipated this meal. The lunchbox boasted variety–pan–fried fish fillet, shrimp, broli, and creamy soup. The colors and nutrition were enticing
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Distracted by the juicy gossip. Charles forgot to order lunch for himself Watching Matthew dig in now, his own hunger grew as he eyed the lunchbox enviously
Catching Charles’s gaze. Matthew looked up with a frown. “Tell your wife to <b>pack </b>you one next time”
Charles <b>also </b>wished he could. But that depended on whether his wife was up for it. Plus, her <b>cooking </b>skills were nothingpared to Miss Warren’s, <b>Wait</b>, wasn’t he even allowed to <b>feel </b>a little jealous?
Just then, footsteps approached from outside, Charles turned and his expression quickly changed. “Mr. Grant, Mrs. Grant’s here.”
Sophia hadn’t been in the office long before picking up on the employees‘ excited chatter. When she walked in, Matthew’s lunchbox was already halfway empty. It was toote to put it away.
“Wow, who whipped up this lunch for you, Matthew Sophia didn’t hold back her curiosity.
“Grandma, you should’ve let me know you were dropping by, sod Matthew
“Let you know what? I’m just popping in to see my grandson, do I need to schedule an appointment?” She brushed off his attempt to change the subject. “Whose lunchbox is this? Some youngdy’s, I’d her?”
trime, she’d tried to arrange a marriage for him. If she learned <b>Valerie</b>, her lifesaver,
Matthew didn’t want his grandma to find out about Vallerie. Last tim was <b>already </b>his <b>wife</b>, it wouldplicate things with Valerie.
Seeing his silence, Sophie’s expression turned <b>serious </b><b>as </b>a thought hit her. “Matthew, don’t tell me this is from <b>that </b>Miss Santos
Matthew knew she had the wrong <b>idea </b>and swiftly interrupted. “It’s not from Lindsey”
Sophia clearly rxed with relief.
In Kranson City, there were four big–shot families, the Grant family was the top dog, followed by the Anderson family, the Reynolds family, and the Santos family.
Lindsey, the second daughter from the Santos <b>family</b>, <b>had </b>this weird crush on Matthew for some reason. But the thing was, the Santos <b>family </b><b>and </b>the Grant family had been business rivals, making <b>any </b>romantic stuff between them a total mess
Ultimately, it didn’t matter because of some past stuff between the <b>Santos </b>family and Matthew. Sophia wanted absolutely nothing to do wi
with the Santos family, no matter what
Hearing Matthew’s denial, Sophia rxed. She realized she might be overthinking it. Matthew kept the Santos family <b>at </b>arm’s length, and the pampered Santos girl wouldn’t make lunchboxes anyway<b>.</b>
Sophia examined the modest lunchbox, guessing it was probably from some eager female employee trying to impress <b>and </b>level up” Not a real threat since she knew her grandson, always conl as a cucumber. Melting him would take more than just a lunchbox; it needed a kind–hearted, caring <b>girl </b>like <b>Valerie</b>. So let the officedies y their games if they wanted.
“Alright, if you <b>think </b>Grandma’s just being nosy, I’ll back off. It’s good someone’s taking care of your meals. You never eat right. Haven’t seen you in ages, but you’re looking healthier now, your face filling out nicely. That’s how a man should be, not just skin and bones Sophia chuckled happily, oblivious to how tightly Matthew gripped his spoon.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Matthew’s expression twitched, barely noticeable. He wondered if he really put <b>on </b>some weight.
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