The Cherished Wife

Noelle quirked an eyebrow and blinked innocently. "Lunch is over, so what's up? Why did you call me here?" She asked the question but was already on her feet, heading over to Charles's desk. It was covered in a mountain of papers and data-stuff she had crunched Charles just chuckled and pointed to a couple of spots on a page. "Are these calculations yours?"

numbers on earlier with Arya and Brian. "Whoa, you got through this pile already?"

Leaning in, Noelle's curious gaze scanned the page. "Yep, that's my work. Is something off?"

He shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "No major issues. You've done a solid job. But, you know, if we trim down here and tweak the method a bit, it might just turn out even better."

Grabbing a pencil, Charles beckoned Noelle to his side. She watched, fascinated, as he started sketching and scribbling notes on the paper. She had seen Charles in work mode before he was always so precise and focused-but never from this up-close. Standing there, next to him, Noelle felt a sudden wave of humility wash over her. His mind was like a laser, cutting straight to the heart of any problem.

"Are you getting all this?" Charles glanced up, catching Noelle's gaze locked on him. Her eyes were a bit glazed, lost in thought.

looked at her, his eyes twinkling with unspoken words and a gentle

caught the feeling of being watched and, with a jolt, found herself locked in Charles's gaze. She quickly looked away, her cheeks warming as she touched

to give Noelle's shoulder

smile was bright,

she could not shake the

1.n

her lip, Noelle tidied up the papers and hurried to keep up with Charles. "Charles, I made barbecued pork ribs, grilled salmon,

bubbly chatter and felt a warm sense of

his