Chapter 10 Personally Picking Her Up from Work

• Major Crimes Unit building.
• Elsie turned off the green light in the autopsy room, removed her mask and goggles, and walked to the office area.
• She was about to sit down to sign the autopsy report when she saw her desk piled high with exquisitely packaged supper boxes. The paper bags bore the name "Cloud Palace."
• "Bradley, what's this?" Elsie frowned.
• "Boss, it's takeout for you." Bradley glanced enviously at the fancy food containers. "Cloud Palace is one of the most exclusive restaurants in Elysian City. They say it's membership-only, with a membership fee in the millions. What kind of person has the status to get Cloud Palace to deliver takeout this late?"
• "Mine?" Elsie's frown deepened. "Who sent it?"
• Bradley found a small card next to the boxes and read it aloud, "Ms. Simmons, thank you for your hard work—sincerely, Leonel."
• Bradley was stunned after reading the card, and Yvette was equally puzzled.
• They had no doubts about Elsie's expertise in forensics, but in terms of appearance, she was plain. Her round face, flat nose, and nondescript features made her easily forgettable. They couldn't believe Leonel would be interested in Elsie, but the takeout from Cloud Palace suggested a special relationship.
• Bradley hesitantly asked, "Boss, what's your relationship with Leonel?"
• "Strangers."
• "Boss, you're lying, right?"
• "Believe what you want."
• Elsie took the card from Bradley and threw it in the trash. Then she glanced at the takeout boxes and said coldly, "Bradley, share these with the colleagues working overtime in the forensic department. If there's any left, give some to the night watchman."
• After that, Elsie took out a pack of compressed biscuits from her bag and started eating.
• Bradley was confused. "Boss, you're not eating Cloud Palace's food but compressed biscuits?"
• Elsie gave him a look. "Got a problem?"
• Bradley quickly shook his head. "No problem. I'll distribute the food right away."
• Elsie chewed on her compressed biscuits, not giving the fancy takeout boxes another glance.
• Cloud Palace might be luxurious, but Elsie didn't believe in taking what wasn't earned. She wouldn't accept anything that wasn't rightfully hers. However, she didn't mind passing on the food to others who would appreciate it.
• Yvette didn't touch the Cloud Palace boxes. Instead, she watched Elsie intently.
• Yvette was increasingly impressed by their new boss. Not only was Elsie highly skilled, but she also handled powerful figures like her grandfather and Leonel with grace and confidence. Despite her plain appearance, her calm demeanour commanded attention.
• "Boss, can I have a piece of your compressed biscuit?"
• Elsie met her gaze and smiled slightly. "You don't want Leonel's takeout?"
• "I don't know Leonel. I was just curious about your relationship with him. Since you said he's a stranger, I'll follow your lead," Yvette said. Having seen Elsie's professionalism and character, she was willing to treat her as a superior.
• Elsie found Shawn's granddaughter interesting and broke off a piece of her biscuit.
• "Here you go."
• The two girls chewed on the bland biscuits, sharing a smile.
• As they looked at each other, Yvette suddenly noticed that, while Elsie's features were plain, her eyes were exceptionally beautiful. Especially when she smiled, the sparkle and mischief in her eyes were unforgettable.
• ...
• The next morning.
• In the towering office building, Leonel stood by the glass wall, overlooking the bustling traffic below.
• Dressed in a black shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his chiselled features were as cold as a sculpture, exuding an air of authority.
• Jared's face dark with frustration, reported, "Elsie seems unaware of what the Tylands represent in Elysian City or the status of Cloud Palace. Last night, I saw her distributing Cloud Palace's takeout boxes to the night watchman!"
• Leonel's lips curved slightly. "She might know exactly what the Tylands and Cloud Palace are."
• Jared gritted his teeth and voiced his bold suspicion. "Sir, if Elsie isn't ignorant, then she's likely playing hard to get. She's trying to pique your curiosity step by step. If she's that cunning, she might even try to use Miss Sophie in the future ... "
• Leonel's eyes flickered, and his fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk.
• "Jared, your imagination could write novels."
• "Sir ... "
• "We couldn't hack into her information, and you still think she's an ordinary person?" Leonel sat back in his chair, his eyes dark with intrigue, and a faint, ambiguous smile on his lips. "A forensic consultant? That's just the tip of the iceberg with that woman."
• Hearing Leonel's words, Jared suddenly realised his mistake.
• "Sir, I underestimated her."
• "No matter." Leonel folded his hands under his chin. "Reschedule all my evening appointments. I'll personally pick her up from work."
• His interest in Elsie, this human, had never been higher.