Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others
Chapter 50: His Stern & Attentive Side

Chapter 50: His Stern & Attentive Side

"There’s nothing in your house, Mia," he countered casually, using her name with a familiarity that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. "You just relocated."

She crossed her arms defensively. "I was at the supermarket this weekend, remember?"

They was history this weekend and she didn’t like thinking about it.

He took a step closer, his gaze steady and disarming. "Have dinner with me," he said softly, his tone less commanding now, more like an invitation.

"Niklaus, I don’t—" she began, but he cut her off with a look that silenced her protests.

"It’s just dinner," he assured her, a hint of warmth in his voice. "And besides, I’m starving too. You wouldn’t let your boss eat alone, would you?"

Hermia sighed, glancing away to avoid the intensity of his gaze. She felt a mix of irritation and amusement bubbling up. "You’re relentless."

"And you’re hungry," he quipped, reaching for his car keys. "Let’s go. My treat."

She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, muttering under her breath, "This better not become a habit."

Niklaus smiled as he opened the door for her. "No promises."

As they stepped out of the office together, Niklaus headed directly for the stairs, not even sparing the elevator a glance. Hermia followed silently, her curiosity piqued.

His breath didn’t change at all during their descent—steady and unaffected, as if it took no effort at all.

He must be so strong, she thought, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

But why didn’t he suggest using the elevator?

It wasn’t like her fear was public knowledge unless Steffon had mentioned it.

Or maybe he had his own reasons for avoiding them? She bit back the question, deciding not to pry.

Workers and staff scattered along the way, bowing their heads respectfully as they passed. Their hushed whispers were drowned out by their hastened steps, trying to stay clear of their sharp-eyed boss.

Niklaus didn’t miss a thing. If a crooked stack of papers caught his eye or if a workstation looked even slightly out of order, he pointed it out with a curt, ruthless remark. "Is that how things are done around here?" he snapped at one worker, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. "Fix it."

Another time, he stopped mid-step to glance at an improperly formatted poster on the wall. "This looks sloppy," he barked, his tone cold and demanding. "Get it replaced. Today."

Hermia watched in quiet astonishment, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at his perfectionism.

Does he ever miss a detail? she wondered.

His sharp commands and frowning demeanor were intimidating, yet she couldn’t help but admire the unshakable authority he carried.

She clutched her bag tighter, making sure to keep pace with his long, deliberate strides.

As much as his ruthlessness unsettled others, she found herself intrigued by the layers beneath his stern exterior.

What kind of man hides behind all that power and control?

"Still keeping up?" he asked suddenly, glancing at her with the faintest hint of amusement.

She raised a brow, unwilling to let him see she was slightly out of breath. "Of course. Stairs don’t scare me."

He smirked but said nothing, his focus shifting back to the path ahead.

His silence felt heavy, like there was more on his mind, but he wasn’t ready to share it just yet.

Maybe he’ll never share it, she thought, shaking off the strange pull she felt toward him as they exited the building.

As they stepped outside, the cool evening air greeted them. Hermia’s thoughts lingered on her father.

She debated internally whether to ask Niklaus why he had been at the building earlier but ultimately decided against it.

It’s not the right time, she reasoned. Besides, she wasn’t ready for her father to find out she was still in the country. Not yet, at least.

Her musings were interrupted when they approached a sleek, black Lamborghini gleaming under the parking lot lights.

Niklaus moved ahead and opened the passenger door for her.

She hesitated for a moment, her cheeks warming. "Thank you," she murmured, sliding into the plush leather seat. The interior smelled like luxury—a mix of leather and his subtle cologne.

Niklaus followed, taking the seat next to her. As the door shut, she noticed the middle-aged man in the driver’s seat. His warm, fatherly smile immediately set her at ease.

"You must be Miss Hermia," the driver said, his tone kind and enthusiastic. "I’m Arthur. Mr. Hathaway’s personal driver. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Hermia blinked in surprise at his genuine friendliness. "Oh, thank you. It’s nice to meet you too, Arthur."

"You’re even more stunning in person," Arthur added with a chuckle. "And polite too. A rare combination these days."

Her cheeks turned bright pink at the unexpected compliment. She glanced down, a shy smile playing on her lips. "That’s very kind of you to say," she replied softly.

Niklaus, sitting beside her, pressed his lips together, clearly suppressing a reaction.

His sharp eyes flicked to Arthur for a brief second before he leaned back in his seat, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.

Arthur, completely unfazed, continued. "You know, it’s about time Mr. Hathaway had someone as thoughtful as you around. He’s always so focused on work—"

"Arthur," Niklaus cut in smoothly, his voice steady but with an edge of warning. "Let’s not keep the conversation too personal, shall we?"

Arthur glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his smile remaining undeterred. "Of course, sir. Just making sure Miss Hermia feels welcome."

Hermia hid a laugh behind her hand, sensing the tension. "I do, Arthur. Thank you," she said sincerely, glancing sideways at Niklaus.

His jaw was tight, and his gaze was focused straight ahead, but she could see the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

As the car pulled out onto the road, she bit back a smile, wondering if Arthur had a knack for pushing Niklaus’ buttons—or if this was just how their dynamic worked.

Either way, it amused her more than she cared to admit.

They Reached the Restaurant

As they stepped through the gilded double doors of the restaurant, Hermia was struck by the sheer opulence of the place.

The warm glow of crystal chandeliers bathed the room in light, and soft classical music played in the background.

The air smelled faintly of roses and something savory she couldn’t quite place, immediately setting her stomach to rumble.

She trailed behind Niklaus, who moved with the kind of confidence that turned heads.

His every step was purposeful, commanding attention without trying.

She couldn’t help but admire the way he seemed completely at home in a setting like this, while she felt a little out of place in her office attire, suddenly wondering if her blouse was too wrinkled or her heels scuffed.

As they approached the maître d’ station, a poised young woman greeted them with a dazzling smile.

"Good evening, Mr. Hathaway. Your table is ready," the hostess said, her eyes briefly darting to Hermia before returning to Niklaus with practiced professionalism.

Niklaus gave a slight nod. "Good. Lead the way."

Hermia bit back the urge to shrink under the hostess’s subtly appraising gaze. Instead, she kept her chin up and followed as they were ushered to a corner table by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

"Right this way," the hostess said, motioning to the table.

"Thank you," Niklaus replied curtly, pulling out a chair for Hermia.

She blinked in surprise. She wasn’t used to this level of gentlemanly treatment, and the gesture caught her off guard. "Uh, thank you," she murmured, slipping into the seat.

Niklaus settled across from her, leaning back in his chair as though this was just another routine dinner for him.

Hermia, on the other hand, felt acutely self-conscious. She glanced around the room, taking in the elegant couples murmuring softly to each other, the waitstaff gliding between tables with trays of steaming dishes, and the twinkling city lights beyond the window.

"This place is... beautiful," she admitted, almost to herself.

Niklaus smirked, resting an arm on the back of his chair. "You should get used to it."

She glanced at him, arching a brow. "Used to what?"

"Being treated well."

Her cheeks warmed at his words, and she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to study the menu that had just been placed in front of her by an attentive server.

The server cleared his throat softly. "Good evening. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

Niklaus didn’t bother looking at the menu. "A bottle of your best red wine. And water."

Hermia hesitated, then glanced up. "Could I just have iced juice, please?"

The server nodded. "Of course, ma’am. One iced juice coming up."

As the server walked away, she sighed and leaned back in her chair.

She was tired from reading through files all day, but this place, with its warm ambiance and lavish surroundings, gave her a strange burst of energy.

"You look like you’re thinking too hard," Niklaus observed, studying her.

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