My Clingy CEO Husband

### Chapter 43: As Long as You Made It

"Vice General Manager of the Project Department..." Benjamin Sterling mused. This was no trivial position; it was directly tied to the company’s core business and a full level above Maxine Rhodes’s role.

As if she had anticipated this, Lydia Thorne calmly took out her tablet, pulled up several files, and slid it toward him.

"Here are case studies for three overseas projects I’ve managed, as well as an initial list of potential partners I can bring to The Sterlings, including Apex Capital and Global Tech."

Her tone was firm. "I can bring a strategic investment to The Sterlings of at least this much."

She made a hand gesture indicating a number.

The figure made Benjamin Sterling’s heart skip a beat.

Just then, Rose Joyce gently tugged on his sleeve and said softly, "Benjamin, you don’t trust Lydia’s abilities? She’s been the most capable person in our circle since we were kids. Besides, think about it. Maxine is stealing the show right now. Even people like Director Warren are practically listening only to her and not you. It’s time someone came in to create a balance..."

Those words struck Benjamin Sterling’s most sensitive nerve.

A smile returned to his face, this time with an added touch of seriousness. "Excellent! President Thorne has certainly come prepared! I admire your straightforwardness! In that case, the position of Vice General Manager of The Sterlings’ Project Department is yours! Welcome aboard!"

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Lydia Thorne’s eyes—this was exactly what she wanted. She smiled and nodded. "However, I still have some matters overseas to wrap up personally. After that, I will formally join The Sterlings."

Benjamin Sterling nodded. "An elite like yourself, President Thorne, is naturally busy. Then it’s settled. The Sterlings will be ready to welcome you."

「That evening.」

When Ethan Hawthorne returned from work, he was met with the unexpected aroma of food. He followed the light and faint sounds to the kitchen doorway and saw a scene he had never anticipated.

Maxine Rhodes, wearing a simple apron, was looking at a recipe on her phone, appearing a bit flustered.

A pot of soup was steaming on the stove. She carefully tasted it with a spoon, then drew in a sharp breath as the heat burned her.

Ethan Hawthorne didn’t make a sound, simply leaning against the doorframe, watching quietly.

The warm yellow light outlined her focused silhouette, and the steam rising from the pot softened her features. In that moment, this vast, cold house finally felt the warmth of a home for the very first time.

’So this is what she looks like when she cooks.’

Maxine finally noticed him. A trace of embarrassment at being caught flashed across her face, but she quickly regained her composure. "You’re back? Perfect timing, we can eat. But..."

She paused, her tone laced with a hint of uncertainty. "I rarely cook, so I have no idea how it tastes."

On the dining table sat a simple three dishes and a soup, their appearance unremarkable.

After washing his hands, Ethan Hawthorne sat down across from her. His gaze lingered on the dishes for a moment before he picked up his chopsticks and earnestly tasted a bite of each one.

"It’s delicious," he said, looking up at her, his tone serious.

Watching him, Maxine’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly, the anxiety in her heart finally dissipating. She picked up her own bowl and chopsticks and said softly, "You’re always the one who cooks when you have time. I figured... it was my turn."

Ethan’s motion of picking up food with his chopsticks paused almost imperceptibly.

’She’s noticing my efforts now, and she’s reciprocating, isn’t she!’

Maxine put a bite of the stir-fry into her mouth. The feedback from her taste buds was immediate, and her brow furrowed. It was far too salty, with a distinct bitterness.

"Don’t eat it!" She put down her chopsticks and reached out to stop his, her voice laced with annoyance and a bit of urgency. "This is obviously terrible! It’s too salty!"

With a slight twist of his wrist, Ethan Hawthorne avoided her hand. Not only did he not stop, but he instead took a large helping from the very dish she had just tasted. Without hesitation, he put it in his mouth and ate it with his rice, seeming to savor every bite.

He chewed, swallowed, and only then did he raise his eyes to look at her, his gaze as gentle as a deep pool steeped in moonlight.

"What’s so terrible about it?" His tone was casual. "I think it’s great."

As he spoke, he ladled a large spoonful of soup and drank it with contentment.

His voice was low and gentle, each and every word crystal clear. "As long as you’re the one who made it, it’s the best flavor in the world to me."

All of Maxine’s rebuttals, right on the tip of her tongue, were gently silenced by his words. She looked at the genuine sincerity and satisfaction in his eyes, her heart feeling as if it were stuffed full of something both aching and soft.

「Two days later.」

A venture capital summit for the new media era was being held in Kingsland.

Benjamin Sterling had always been dismissive of this kind of forward-looking industry conference, considering it mere armchair strategy. He thought sending someone just to listen in was enough.

"You can represent the company and show your face." He casually tossed the invitation to Maxine Rhodes, his attention returning to his seemingly more practical social engagements.

He had no idea that this was exactly the kind of opportunity Maxine had been waiting for to independently display her capabilities.

On stage, Maxine Rhodes delivered the keynote speech as the company’s representative.

She wore a sharp suit, her posture poised, and the PowerPoint behind her was filled with solid data and tight logic.

Maxine’s speech was clear and logical, her insight sharp as a tack. Her strategic layout for a "lawful seizure of power," in particular, demonstrated astonishing business acumen.

During a coffee break, as Maxine was quietly discussing the previous speakers’ points with Coco, a middle-aged woman with an extraordinary air smiled and walked straight toward them.

"Director Rhodes, your speech was brilliant."

The woman began, her gaze both scrutinizing and appreciative. "Especially the third step you mentioned, regarding the risk contingency plan for intellectual property recovery. But I have a question. If the other party is already prepared, has registered defensive trademarks in advance, and has built a trademark ’moat,’ how would your method break through that?"

The question was sharp and to the point, striking directly at the proposal’s most vulnerable point of counterattack.

Maxine was startled and instantly shed her relaxed attitude.

She pondered for a moment before replying with clear logic: "In that situation, I would take a more roundabout approach. First, I’d argue that the other party is squatting on the trademarks rather than using them for legitimate business. Second, I’d search for evidence of flaws in their registration process. Third, and most importantly, I would preemptively lay the groundwork by registering trademarks in core categories in the name of partner companies or affiliates early in the project..."

The two delved into this technical issue, a back-and-forth of ideas colliding fiercely at the borders of law and business strategy. It was like a duel between masters, causing several onlookers to turn and watch.

After their exchange, the admiration in the woman’s eyes grew even stronger. She handed over a personal business card, elegantly simple, with only a name and phone number printed on it.

"I’m Claire Sinclair. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Director Rhodes. Let’s exchange contact information."

Her smile was gentle, carrying the approval of a senior for a junior. "My son is also in the business world. You young people have such dynamic minds; you should talk more. Perhaps there will be opportunities to collaborate in the future."

Maxine sensed the woman’s sincerity and influence. She accepted the card with both hands and said humbly, "Thank you, Ms. Sinclair. It’s my honor."

’Getting to know a connection with such depth could only be beneficial to her.’

Coco, who had been waiting at her side, immediately rushed over after Claire Sinclair left, her voice low with excitement. "Max! You’re incredible! Do you know who that was? Claire Sinclair! The special guest commentator for this summit! She was a legend in the business world back in the day—razor-sharp insight, never made a single bad investment! She only turned to research and commentary after semi-retiring. Normal people don’t even register on her radar!"

Maxine rubbed the high-quality card stock between her fingers. It finally dawned on her why the woman had such a powerful presence and such a sharp, seasoned perspective. She carefully put the card away.

After the summit ended, Claire Sinclair got into her car and eagerly dialed a number.

Ethan Hawthorne was in the middle of processing documents when he saw the caller ID. He picked up. "Mom, what’s up?"