Chapter 160

Maxwell let out a heavy sigh. "Victoria Kensington sure has all the luck, doesn't she?"

Without waiting for responses from Isabella and Nathaniel, Maxwell leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Even though Victoria's team pulled weekend shifts, the project barely moved forward. Last night around seven, Alexander Whitmore returned to the office to assist with the critical phase. That's when things finally started progressing."

He paused dramatically.

"Here's the kicker," Maxwell continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Apparently, Alexander and Victoria stayed overnight in the upstairs office suite. They still haven't emerged this morning."

He shot Nathaniel a knowing look, eyebrows waggling suggestively.

Nathaniel immediately understood the implication.

Maxwell was clearly suggesting that after finishing work, Alexander and Victoria had... other activities upstairs.

Nathaniel's hands flew to cover Isabella's ears. "Good heavens, what am I hearing?"

Isabella had already caught every word. The ear-covering came far too late.

Besides, when Sophia had called Alexander earlier, it was Victoria who answered. That explained everything.

Just as Nathaniel opened his mouth to respond, Victoria materialized in the doorway.

Nathaniel dropped his hands with a scoff. "Haven't they surfaced yet?"

Maxwell spotted Victoria too and coughed awkwardly. "Ah, seems they have now."

Victoria looked exhausted but strangely radiant.

Between the overtime and whatever transpired upstairs with Alexander...

Maxwell abruptly found the ceiling fascinating.

Given the circumstances, her fatigue made perfect sense.

After nodding briefly at Nathaniel, Victoria joined her team's meeting.

Isabella and Nathaniel returned to work after their brief respite.

As lunchtime approached, they debated dining options.

That's when Alexander strode in.

His gaze flickered to Isabella before quickly darting away as he entered the meeting room where Victoria waited.

The team stood to greet him.

Victoria remained seated, smiling up at him. "You made it."

Alexander nodded. "Progress?"

"Much clearer now. The pieces are finally coming together."

"Good."

Victoria's lips curved. "All thanks to your assistance last night."

Alexander returned her smile. "My pleasure."

He addressed the team. "Appreciate everyone's hard work these past days. Lunch is on me later."

Excited murmurs rippled through Victoria's team, reinforcing the perks of working with her.

Then Victoria suggested, "Shall we invite Mr. Graves too?"

Meaning Nathaniel, Isabella, and Maxwell's entire team.

Though Alexander offered the meal, Victoria proposed expanding the guest list - the kind of suggestion typically made by someone in an intimate relationship.

"Fine by me," Alexander agreed easily.

With that, Victoria exited the meeting room and approached Nathaniel and Isabella.