Chapter 304

After hanging up the phone, Christina should have dived back into her work.

But she stared at the documents in her hand for a long time without absorbing any of it.

Feeling a bit agitated, Christina was about to call her assistant in to discuss some details of the draft.

Her phone rang again.

Assuming it was William, she answered without looking, her tone a bit impatient.

"I told you, it's not necessary. Just take care of yourself."

But as soon as she finished speaking, a slightly teasing voice came through the phone, "Whoa, what's got our Ms. Windsor all riled up?"

"Ah..."

Christina instinctively let out a sound and then looked at her phone, realizing it wasn't William calling, but Stefan Hensley, the new business partner she had just signed a contract with.

"Haha, did someone upset Ms. Windsor? I actually have some contract details to discuss with you. Do you have time?" Stefan smoothly changed the topic.

"Yeah, I do." Christina had been trying to distract herself from those thoughts anyway.

Her call with William had only lasted a short while.

For some reason, though, Christina couldn't stop replaying those moments in her mind, making it hard to focus.

"Great. I'm downstairs at your office. Why don't you come down, and we can discuss it over lunch?"

"What?"

Christina was surprised. She looked out the window and indeed saw a flashy sports car parked below.

Seeing this, Christina couldn't help but recall the beginning of her collaboration with Stefan.

Back then, Christina didn't have any big deals and had heard about Stefan's temperament from a friend.

He had inherited his parents' company but had innovative ideas that took the company to new heights.

Christina decided to take a chance, and to her surprise, he was unexpectedly pleasant.

Not only did she not have to drink a single glass of wine, but she also didn't face any sarcasm or inappropriate looks. They signed the contract directly.

This stark contrast left a deep impression on Christina.

"What's wrong? Is it not convenient?" Stefan asked politely when she didn't respond for a while.

"No, it's fine. But I should be the one treating you to lunch." Christina quickly gathered her thoughts and replied.

"Oh, come on. It doesn't matter who treats whom. Since it's convenient, come on down. I'll be waiting."

"Alright, I'll be right there." Christina hung up, got up, and tidied herself up a bit before heading out.

She bumped into her assistant at the door, who was coming to discuss the next steps of the project.

"You go ahead and start the meeting. I'll discuss some follow-up details with our partner. If you have any questions, post them in the group chat, and I'll respond when I can."

"Got it."

When Christina got downstairs, Stefan was already out of the car. He had a sunny disposition and was dressed casually, leaning against the car door with a smile that was almost blinding.

"Mr. Hensley, you're too kind."

Seeing him waiting, Christina hurried over.

He smiled and opened the passenger door for her.

"Don't mention it. I was just passing by and thought we could discuss some details. No need to feel pressured."

His emotional intelligence was off the charts. He immediately sensed Christina's discomfort and reassured her.

"Well, I feel bad about it. You pick the place, and I'll treat."

"You can't refuse, or I'll really feel bad."

Honestly, Stefan was the most agreeable business partner Christina had ever worked with.

He was extremely gentlemanly and spoke kindly.

Though he seemed a bit unreliable on the surface, he was organized and smart.

Working with someone like him meant they could achieve their goals without beating around the bush.

This was exactly what Christina hoped for. Stefan just smiled lightly in response.

"Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter who treats whom. Let's go."

After buckling his seatbelt and driving a bit, he asked, "Do you have any dietary restrictions? Or anything specific you'd like to eat?"

Christina looked at him anxiously.

"Aren't I supposed to be the one asking that? And then I decide?"

"Oh, come on. It's all the same. I'm more familiar with the area. Just tell me."

"I don't have any dietary restrictions. Since it's lunchtime, we can just grab something. If you don't have any restrictions either, I'll just pick a place."

"Alright, no problem."

When they arrived at the restaurant, Christina realized that Stefan's idea of "just picking a place" was a restaurant that only accepted fewer than 50 reservations a day.

"Mr. Hensley, you're too kind. I thought I was supposed to choose. This is quite extravagant."

"Enough with the formalities. The owner is a friend of mine. Let's go."

A waiter greeted them at the door.

They weren't seated in the main dining area but in a private room upstairs.

The room was small, only accommodating four or five people.

With just the two of them, it didn't feel too spacious.

"The usual set, please."

The waiter, familiar with Stefan, began setting the table.

"Sure."

Before the food arrived, Christina adjusted her mood and started discussing work details.

In casual conversation, Stefan was warm and a bit playful.

But when it came to work, he was serious and had specific requirements.

"Although the design is good, I think it's too generic. Since it's a personal brand, it should have some unique features."

"I understand your design concept, but this is our company. I think we should add a bit more to it."

Christina nodded at his words.

"Alright, we'll do it your way."

"However, after signing the contract, I already drafted some sketches and had a meeting to revise them. You can take a look at the general idea."

Christina pulled up the sketches on her phone and handed it over.

She expected Stefan to take the phone, but he leaned in close to look at it.

Their proximity made Christina a bit uncomfortable.

But Stefan didn't seem to notice and continued pointing out details.

"This cuff here, I think it could be raised a bit to make the arm look longer. Everything else is great. I really appreciate your design."

After looking, he started to pull back, but their heads almost bumped as Christina was about to respond.

The moment became awkward.

Just as Christina was wondering if she should say something to break the tension, the waiter knocked and announced that the food was ready, easing the situation.

"Let's eat first. We can discuss more after."

Stefan awkwardly rubbed his nose.