No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian)

Chapter 104

Dawson had to find something about Ms. Clara to needle him with.

Glancing in the rear-view mirror, he grinned and said, "Mr. Hayes, it seems like Ms. Clara has been on the job hunt lately, hitting up quite a few companies. You know, with her strong abilities and stunning looks, if one of our rivals snatches her up, it would be a significant loss for us, wouldn't it?"

lan, who was half-dozing, slowly lifted his eyelids. A chill seemed to ripple through his dark, glossy eyes. "Spread the word. If anyone is not afraid of getting squeezed by the Hayes Corporation, they can go ahead and hire her,"

On Friday evening, lan headed to the Lancaster Estate to attend a business networking dinner. As the car rolled into the parking lot, a familiar figure caught his eye. It hit him right in the chest. Clara was wearing an avocado-green silk blouse paired with beige capris, exuding a polished yet feminine allure. Her wavy chestnut hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders.

lan's gaze was fixed on her intently. He was hoping to see a trace of bitterness on her face from being ostracized in the workplace, to witness the frustration after continuous rejections. To his dismay, not only was there no sign of pain on Clara's face, but she also

radiated an enthusiasm he had never seen before.

As Anders stepped out of the car, Clara walked over with a smile. She lifted her charming yet somewhat innocent face. "Anders, the Hicks family are the hosts, and almost all the bigwigs of Northbridge are here. Christy's going to introduce us-if we land a deal with any one of them, we'll be off to a flying start."

The sparkles in her beautiful almond eyes were like flecks of light. She radiated positive

energy.

Seeing her back to the confident and passionate person she was in her college days made Anders smile reassuringly. With tender eyes, he said, "With you by my side, I am bound to meet the expectations." He extended his arm, linking it with Clara's as they walked toward the banquet hall.

lan watched their receding figures, and the chill in his eyes grew deeper.

Dawson, who had just parked the car, looked up sharply and caught sight of Clara. Excitedly, he blurted out, Mr. Hayes, look, isn't that Ms. Clara?"

lan's voice was icy. "I'm not blind!" With that, lan stepped out of the car with a stony face.

Dawson immediately followed, still basking in the joy of seeing Clara.

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"Mr. Hayes, don't you think Ms. Clara seems even more beautiful than before? She looks so vibrant. Could she be in love? You know what they say, 'Nothing makes a person more spirited than good fortune."

lan could feel a vein throbbing in his forehead. He was increasingly convinced he needed a new assistant. He stopped in his tracks and glared coldly at Dawson. "Got too much free time?" Dawson caught on and immediately made a zipping-lips gesture.

The two men proceeded into the banquet hall. They were greeted by Roger, the scion of the Hicks family.

Roger walked over to lan with a smile, clapping him on the shoulder, and teased, "Look at you, all chipper. And here I heard you were on your deathbed."

lan shot him a withering look, his tone frosty. "You believe that crap? What are you, birdbrained?"

Roger chuckled, knowing full well that lan must have seen Clara. "I don't care what I am, as long as you're here to grace my event. Come on, I'll take you to the VIP section."

lan wouldn't have bothered with this networking event if it wasn't for Roger's involvement.

They made their way to the VIP seating area.

Christy led Clara, and they were busy engaging with several