Her Hidden Crowns (Suzanne and Austin) novel Chapter 241

Suzanne had only meant to steer the conversation away from the awkward territory, but the moment the words left her lips, she felt a sudden heat creeping up her cheeks. It was a flush that betrayed her inner discomfort.

Speaking in such a measured tone felt stiflingly formal, yet she couldn't seem to help it.

Halfway through signing some documents, Austin's steady hand froze. He squeezed his pen a bit tighter and, for an instant, a surge of warmth spread across his eyes. "Yeah," he murmured.

Gabriel—sitting close by—caught every syllable, and even though he had grown used to these odd moments over time, it still hit him like a shock. The two business department heads standing nearby weren't nearly as fortunate. Their eyes were wide with disbelief.

Was this really the same decisive, no-nonsense Austin they had come to fear? For a split second, they wondered if someone else had taken over his mind. If the situation weren't so formal, they might have even screamed.

Feeling her face burn even hotter, Suzanne scrambled to regain control. "So... what are you doing right now?" she blurted, nearly dropping her phone as if it were on fire.

Austin's cool gaze swept over the stunned room before he replied in an even tone, "I'm in a meeting."

It hit Suzanne like a freight train. She knew exactly what Hall Corporation's meetings were like. They were serious, formal affairs. And here she was, chatting about personal matters. Mortified by her own slip-up in such a serious setting, she quickly hung up.

Rubbing her aching forehead, she sighed, vowing silently to keep personal chats out of work hours. With a deep breath to shake off the embarrassment, she moved to her study to focus on her laptop.

Just as she opened her laptop, her phone rang again.

Frowning, she saw it was Seline. What could she possibly want at this hour? Suzanne considered ignoring the call but thought it might be something work-related. Reluctantly, she answered. "Hello?"