The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 348

As for why Rebecca chose to keep her identity a secret, Joyce didn’t press for answers. After all, it was Rebecca’s personal business—and Joyce understood the importance of boundaries.

...

In the CEO’s office, Dylan was still at his desk, immersed in work. The lamplight cast sharp shadows on his focused face, highlighting the determined lines of his jaw.

It was already eight o’clock. The entire office floor was deserted, wrapped in a hush broken only by the clack of Dylan’s keyboard and the occasional rustle of paperwork.

The only other person left was Garcia.

She had ordered a takeout dinner from an upscale restaurant, made sure it was perfectly packed, and had it delivered straight to the office.

Satisfied, she carried the food in and headed to Dylan’s office.

Dylan, deep in his work, was visibly irritated by the interruption. He frowned at Garcia standing in the doorway, his voice edged with impatience. “Why are you still here?”

Garcia stepped inside, her gentle smile unwavering as she held up the bag. “Mr. Austin, it’s already late. I figured you must be hungry, so I brought you some dinner.”

Dylan didn’t soften. “At the office, you should call me ‘sir’ or ‘Mr. Austin’—let’s keep things professional.”

Garcia’s smile faltered for a moment before she quickly recovered. “Of course, sir.”

She placed the food on his desk, careful not to disturb the mountain of files. “Sir, you really should eat something. Skipping meals all the time is going to ruin your stomach. Why not take a break and have some dinner?”

She hesitated, then added softly, “I’m surprised your wife doesn’t worry about you—doesn’t even send you a meal...”

Garcia hesitated, a hint of worry in her tone. “Ma’am, won’t that be too obvious? What if Dylan gets annoyed?”

Encouraged by Mrs. Austin’s words, Garcia felt her confidence bloom. With Mrs. Austin’s blessing, she knew this was her chance.

“All right, Ma’am. I’ll do my best tonight—I won’t waste this opportunity.”

Mrs. Austin nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Remember, be bold. Don’t be shy. Men like women who take the initiative.”