My Clingy CEO Husband

### Chapter 97: I Can’t Help But Want to Take You Right Now

Soon, several gift boxes, each with a distinct style but all feeling substantial, were placed one by one on the coffee table in the reception area.

The most eye-catching one was an exquisite gift box tied with a champagne-colored satin ribbon, giving off a sweet, creamy fragrance.

Upon opening it, she found twelve fondant cake models, each with a different design. From rockets and planets to a champion’s trophy, the variety was endless and full of creativity.

Underneath each model was a card, and piecing them together formed a sentence: "To my treasure: may your future be as vast as the sea of stars, and your life one hundred percent sweet!"

Resting on the top layer of the box was a stylish black and gold card. On the back, in flourishing handwriting, was a message: Ms. Rhodes! When my dessert shops open up all over the country, I’ll be counting on you for the investment!

—Your eternal fan club president, Susie Summers.

Maxine couldn’t help but chuckle.

Next was Elias Grant’s gift: access to the top floor of Stellaris Tower A.

Stellaris Tower was the newest top-tier smart office building under Grant Properties, and the top floor of Tower A was a reserved space not for public lease.

This gift was both an entry ticket and a watchtower, an acknowledgment that she was qualified to stand on higher ground and survey the landscape. Its value and meaning far exceeded the material.

Noah Sutton’s gift was a top-of-the-line, immersive VR conference system, accompanied by a black card for a private club. Printed on the card in a wild scrawl were the words: "New map unlocked. Ms. Rhodes, looking forward to racing through your galaxy. —Noah Sutton."

It perfectly matched his maverick image as a tech mogul and extreme sports enthusiast.

Night had fallen, and most of the office space at Stellar Tech was dark. Only the lights in the CEO’s office remained on.

Maxine Rhodes was frowning at a complex budget on her computer screen, her fingertips flying across the keyboard.

A new company had a million things to sort out, and every penny had to be spent where it counted most.

The office door was pushed open gently.

There was only one person who would enter without an invitation like that.

She didn’t even look up. Her nose simply caught a familiar scent, mingled with the warm aroma of food.

"Eat first," Ethan Hawthorne’s deep voice sounded beside her.

As he spoke, he placed an insulated food container by her hand. He opened the lid, revealing still-steaming seafood congee, shumai, and a few refreshing side dishes—all her favorites.

Only then did Maxine pull herself away from her work. She rubbed her sore brow and looked up at him.

Ethan Hawthorne stood beside her desk, his suit jacket draped over his arm. He leaned over slightly, his gaze sweeping over the dense columns of numbers on her screen, and his brow furrowed for a moment.

"Stuck on the budget?" he asked.

"Mhm, weighing the costs of building an in-house team versus outsourcing."

Maxine answered honestly, naturally picking up the spoon and taking a mouthful of congee. "What are you doing here? Didn’t you have a social engagement tonight?"

"It’s over. I figured you hadn’t eaten."

Ethan Hawthorne’s reply was concise. He pulled over a nearby chair and sat down naturally beside her.

"Look at this."

He pointed to a module on her screen. "This part doesn’t have a high technical barrier, but the maintenance costs will grow exponentially with business volume. Outsourcing it initially and locking in core services and response times with a contract is the optimal solution. The money you save can be invested here—"

His finger moved to another spot. "Rapid iteration during the market validation phase requires an in-house core team to maintain absolute agility."

His analysis was sharp and incisive, instantly clearing the fog of her confusion.

Maxine’s eyes lit up, filled with undisguised admiration and reliance. "That makes sense! Mr. Hawthorne is Mr. Hawthorne, after all~"

Ethan Hawthorne glanced at her. From the few sips of hot congee, a faint blush had crept onto her cheeks, and her eyes were bright as she looked at him with complete focus.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He averted his gaze, letting it fall back on the gift boxes.

"Opened all your gifts?" he asked, feigning casualness.

"Mhm, you can see them," Maxine said, continuing to eat her congee. Her mood had clearly improved. "Susie’s was the most over-the-top. Elias’s and Noah’s gifts are too much."

"So which one is your favorite?" Ethan Hawthorne asked suddenly.

The hand Maxine was holding her spoon with paused, and she looked up at him.

He was looking down, fiddling with the lid of the food container. The lines of his profile were particularly distinct under the soft light.

A mischievous thought suddenly occurred to her. She deliberately drew out her words, "Hmm... let me think. Susie’s cakes were very thoughtful, Elias’s top-floor access is very practical, and Noah’s equipment is so cool..."

With every item she listed, she stole a glance at his reaction.

His fingers, which had been fiddling with the lid, paused slightly. Although his expression didn’t change, his entire aura seemed to freeze for an instant.

Maxine chuckled inwardly. Changing the subject, she gently tapped the food container in front of her with her spoon. "But, as the saying goes, ’delivering charcoal in a snowstorm is better than adding flowers to a brocade.’ This hot congee someone brought me in the middle of the night seems a little more life-saving."

Ethan Hawthorne looked up, his gaze deep as he looked at her.

Her eyes held a sly smile, like a little fox that had just stolen a treat.

The frozen look in his eyes instantly melted, replaced by a smile. "Just a little?"

He arched an eyebrow slightly and leaned forward, closing the distance between them.

His scent enveloped her more distinctly. "Ms. Rhodes, I’ve sent you a legal consultant, I’ve sent you a project, and now I’m moonlighting as a late-night snack delivery boy and free consultant..."

His voice dropped lower, carrying a slow, magnetic quality. "Tell me, at this point, don’t I count as your sugar daddy?"

He whispered the last two words right next to the curve of her ear, his breath warm and obviously teasing.

Maxine’s heart began to race uncontrollably.

She forced herself to remain calm, scooping up a spoonful of congee and bringing it to his lips, her eyes glinting. "Well then... Lord Sugar Daddy, have a taste. See if this congee suits your palate. If it does, then in the future..."

She paused deliberately, drawing out the last word. "Shouldn’t I have to repay you properly?"

Ethan Hawthorne looked at her provocative yet charming face, and his gaze suddenly deepened.

He didn’t take the spoonful of congee. Instead, holding her hand steady, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.

"Tastes good."

He straightened up, his eyes locked on her instantly widened eyes and even redder cheeks. He said slowly, "As for repaying me, we can talk about that when we get home. I’m a pretty greedy person. An ordinary repayment probably won’t cut it for me."

Their eyes met, and invisible sparks crackled in the air between them.

In the end, Maxine was the first to back down. Blushing, she lowered her head and continued to eat her congee, muttering under her breath, "Sly old fox."

Ethan Hawthorne let out a low chuckle. "Finish up, or I won’t be able to resist taking you right here, right now."

*****