FIVE

"What are you telling me to come here?" Avelyn folded his hands lazily across her chest. Meanwhile, the handsome man with light brown hair just grimaced from behind his desk which was filled with papers. With a happy face, he walked over to Avelyn, then hugged Avelyn tightly.

“I won a tender for digital product advertising. And you will be the model."

Avelyn only gave a faint smile without returning the man's hug. Her reputation as Michael's sister-in-law brought her a huge advantage as Michael gave her the job more often than any other model. No wonder her presence there is often the talk of people. Those who were jealous of her often threw gossip that she had sold her body to Michael in order to get the jobs.

"I wonder at you, why am I always the priority to become a model in those tenders?"

"Because that's their request," replied the man as it is. “You are a valuable asset to this company, so you deserve preferential treatment. Those who often talk about you and make vile accusations about you. But just ignore them.”

"You know about that? They’re badmouthing me." Avelyn asked in surprise.

She thought that he never knew that all this time she was being bullied invisibly by a bunch of junior models who were jealous of her career. She could say that only Rebecca could be sincere friends with her because she was never too concerned about the competition that occurred between the models.

"Of course. Whatever has to do with you, I know. It's just that I don't want to take it too seriously because of you too."

He released his hug and gave Avelyn a light kiss on the cheek. For a moment Avelyn didn't react because she seemed to be thinking about something. But when the man started stealing more kisses on her lips, only then did Avelyn come to her senses and immediately pushed the man's shoulder hard.

"What the hell are you!" Avelyn shouted loudly. “Never steal anything from me! Not even a kiss!” Avelyn's emotions gushed like fire.

Avelyn just pushed the glass door with the emotion she felt. A cold and strange chill immediately burst out of the empty room that Michael used to work in. In the middle of the room, Michael's large table seemed to be covered in thin dust. Then by the window, the black curtains occasionally moved slowly as the wind slid in through the openings to give a little fresh air to the room which had now been abandoned by its owner.

"Miss Avelyn?"

Just as Avelyn was about to step into Michael's room, Stuart called her from behind and seemed to frown at her. The tall man with a slightly oriental face kept staring at Avelyn deeply with his narrow eyes perfectly framed with white-rimmed glasses.

"Yes? What a coincidence, Stuart. I am looking for you."

Stuart raised an eyebrow, then he coded Avelyn into the room.

"You want a drink, Ave?" Stuart offered, setting himself a cup of coffee on the table.

Recently he made coffee in the pantry because he wanted to take a walk as well to get rid of his boredom. It can be said that the atmosphere at the office has not returned to normal after Michael's death because the office does not have a physical replacement leader.

"Thanks, but I just had a drink. Well, long time no see," greeted Avelyn with small talk. It felt rude if she immediately told the man that she came this time because she wanted to resign as a model.

“You look even more gloomy than usual. I'm sorry about your loss."

"Thank you."

After that there was silence. Either Avelyn or Stuart, they became awkward with each other because they hadn't really gotten along very well. Michael often monopolized her familiarity with the man in this office, who never liked that she looked familiar with other men besides himself, so Avelyn rarely got into long chats with Stuart or the other men in this office.

But even so, Avelyn often watched Stuart from afar. More or less she knows how the life of Stuart, who is a man of mixed Chinese and Canadian blood who was raised by his parents in Florida. Stuart's parents are corn garden owners who frequently export maize to all parts of America. Financially, Stuart is actually a rich man. But he didn't have a knack for agriculture, so he chose a career in Chicago as a manager.

"Okay, so what do you want to talk about?"

Avelyn placed her hands on the table, straightened her originally slightly bent body, then looked at Stuart intently with her pretty round eyes. “I want to step down as a model here. I'm moving."

"Why all of a sudden? Is it because of Michael's death?”

“Mmm… maybe. I want to calm down and start a new life."

"Are the rumors true?"

"Rumors about what?" asked Avelyn incredulously. Her thick eyebrows just clicked together when her brain was busy thinking.

"If you and Michael have a special relationship."

Instantly Avelyn chuckled at Stuart's words. Although the laughter didn't sound sincere, Avelyn felt genuinely funny at the statement Stuart had just made. “Yeah, brother-in-law and sister-in-law relationship. You're taking the jokes too seriously, Stu."

“Hmm... I thought you guys were in a relationship like lovers. But Ave, you have a shooting schedule the day after tomorrow." In a flash, Stuart changed the subject of their conversation from personal to work.

I will still do it. For the last time."

"Then the fine? You are still under contract with us."

"You take it easy. I'll pay the fine by next week. My lawyer will take care of everything. And speaking of the new leader, have you met McLean Kaofax?”

"Now that's what I also wanted to ask you for a long time." Suddenly Stuart becomes even more excited when they start talking about the mysterious man who will replace Michael in the office.

"What's wrong with that man?"

"I've never met him. But according to Michael's lawyer, the man was his best friend. Have you met him before?"

"Even the tips of the nails, I've never seen him." Avelyn snorted irritably. She thought Stuart was going to give her information about the man.

"Weird. Suddenly Michael's position was handed over to a stranger who had never shown the bridge of his nose here at all. After all, when did Michael empower that man? He should have touched me on that if he had given power to someone else."

"Tsk, don't be silly, Stu." Avelyn said with a snort. "Nobody knows if Michael will have an accident and... and... die." Avelyn's throat just choked up when she talked about Michael's death. Immediately her heart rate began to increase, and it took her a while to normalize everything.

"I'm sorry, Ave. I know it's tough, and I shouldn't be offending it. But I was just surprised, because that man only communicated through Michael's lawyer."

"Then the emails from him?" asked Avelyn incredulously.

"That is me. I'm the one who emailed the models on his behalf because it was asked by Michael's lawyer a few days ago. He said the work here had to keep going while waiting for him to be ready to take over the responsibilities given to him by Michael."

"Oh, I see. Too bad I won't have time to meet him."

"I'll send your greetings to him when he becomes the new boss here," chuckled Stuart. His glasses also moved up and down, following the rhythm of his crisp laughter.

"Then I'll go now. Our business is clear, right? See you next time, Stu. You're the best manager I've ever known," said Avelyn, stretching out her arms to hug Stuart. And without being awkward, Stuart returned Avelyn's hug while giving Avelyn a soft pat on the back.

"Good luck, Ave."