Elise stepped back a step further, smoothing her clothes and quickly regained her composure.
"What do you want in return? How bout shares in my company?"
"I know you don't need the money but—," she continued, her voice filled with renewed determination.
"Ah~! If you allow me to use your ideas, we'd actually have a fighting chance at being a top name in the jewelry business."
Brandon's eyes twinkled with mischief.
In one swift motion, he reached out, grasping Elise's hand and pulling her onto his lap.
"Ah~!"
She let out a small gasp of surprise, her body tensing for a moment before relaxing against him.
He gazed at her lovingly, his nose brushing against hers in a playful gesture.
"What's mine will be yours and yours mine soon anyway," he murmured, his voice low and intimate.
"I don't need anything. All I need..."
He paused, his eyes locked on hers,
"is you."
Elise's breath hitched as a rosy flush spread across her cheeks.
Brandon gently cupped Elise's chin, tilting her face towards his. Their eyes locked for a moment before he leaned in, pressing his lips against hers.
This time, Elise didn't push away. Instead, she melted into the kiss, her arms snaking around his neck, pulling him closer.
Gordon, ever the professional, politely shifted his gaze to the ceiling once again.
'Ah, young Master Brandon,' he mused silently. 'It seems you've inherited the Blackstone charm. Your father would be proud.'
As they parted, Elise's cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling.
"W-We need to start working on this right away," she stammered, her usual composure cracking to reveal a shy, vulnerable side.
Suddenly, her expression shifted, a cute pout forming on her lips.
"And stop bullyin' me," she grumbled, her attempt at anger adorably unconvincing.
She leaned in, threatening to bite Brandon's nose, still perched comfortably on his lap.
Brandon chuckled, his hand moving swiftly to deliver a playful smack to her backside.
"Alright, alright," he conceded, grinning. "Let's head to the workshop and get started, I have a few more ideas."
They rose together, Elise smoothing her clothes as Brandon stood.
Hand in hand, they made their way towards the door, ready to bring their exciting new ideas to life in the jewelry workshop on the second level.
The elevator dinged, its polished doors sliding open to reveal Brandon and Elise, their hands intertwined. Gordon trailed behind, his face impassive as ever. Brandon stepped out first, gently tugging Elise along.
The bustling workshop fell silent.
Dozens of eyes widened, jaws dropped, and tools clattered to the ground.
A collective gasp rippled through the room as the staff beheld their ice queen CEO hand-in-hand with a man.
One jeweler's loupe popped out of his eye, clattering across the workbench. Another fumbled her delicate pliers, nearly dropping a priceless diamond. A young apprentice stumbled backward, knocking over a tray of gemstones that scattered across the floor with a musical tinkling.
Whispers spread rapidly, a murmur of disbelief and curiosity.
"Is that... Miss Oppenheimer? Holding hands?"
"Who's that guy? He's gorgeous!"
"Did you see how he led her out? What kind of man has the right to do that?"
"Is he her boyfriend? I didn't even know she dated!"
"I didn't know she even had a heart…"
"Look at how she's smiling at him. I've never seen her smile like that before."
Brandon felt the weight of their stares, a mix of curiosity and awe.
He squeezed Elise's hand reassuringly, feeling her momentary tension.
A senior craftsman, his magnifying glasses perched atop his balding head, leaned over to his colleague.
"In all my years, I've never seen Miss Oppenheimer look so... human."
His colleague nodded, eyes still wide.
"That man must be something special. Did you see how he was a step ahead? And she just... followed."
A young designer whispered excitedly to her friend,
"He's so handsome! No wonder he melted our ice empress's heart."
Elise cleared her throat, silencing the murmurs. The staff scrambled back to their stations, stealing glances at the unexpected couple.
Elise turned to Brandon, "I'll start working on the pendant with my graphics team. Do you want to come along?"
Brandon shook his head and smiled.
"I trust you," he said, his voice warm.
"But could you lend me your artisan team for a bit? I want to try something."
Elise nodded, a mixture of curiosity and excitement flickering across her face. She led him towards a group of skilled craftsmen huddled around a large workbench. As they approached, the artisans straightened up, their eyes darting between Elise and Brandon.
"This is our top artisan team," Elise explained, gesturing to the group.
"They're responsible for our most intricate and innovative pieces."
Brandon watched as Elise's demeanor shifted, her warm smile replaced by a cool, professional mask. She turned to her team, her voice crisp and authoritative.
"This is Mr. Blackstone. His orders are mine. Follow his lead."
The artisans straightened, their faces a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Elise's eyes swept over them, her gaze sharp and expectant.
"Use this opportunity to showcase your skills. I expect nothing less than excellence."
Without another word, she pivoted on her heel and strode away, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
Brandon couldn't help but admire the way she commanded respect, her presence leaving a palpable impact in her wake.
As Elise disappeared around a corner, presumably to work on his pendant design, Brandon found himself facing a team of wide-eyed artisans. The silence stretched, thick with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.
Brandon cleared his throat, offering a friendly smile to ease the tension.
"So... shall we get started?"
The artisans exchanged uncertain glances, their hands fidgeting with tools and materials. Brandon's gaze swept over the group, searching for someone who might take the lead.
Suddenly, a gruff voice cut through the silence.
"What you want?"
The artisans parted, revealing a weathered man in his fifties. His salt-and-pepper hair was disheveled, and his piercing dark eyes scrutinized Brandon with undisguised skepticism. An unlit cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth, and his calloused hands were stained with years of meticulous craftsmanship.
"We have lot of work, no time to waste."
The elderly Vietnamese man's blunt question hung in the air, challenging Brandon's authority.
The other artisans held their breath, clearly accustomed to the head artisan's brusque manner.
Brandon met his gaze steadily, unfazed by the man's gruff demeanor. He could sense the years of experience and dedication radiating from the head artisan. This was a man who demanded respect through his work, not his words.