Mandy's flawless makeup and radiant skin made her look like a delicate doll, hiding any signs of the scheming woman who supposedly ousted her predecessor. Wendy once said that appearances can be deceiving, and her wisdom and experience made me consider her point.I mustered my focus and smiled politely in return. "Mrs. Muller.""Please, just call me Mandy. We're around the same age," she said warmly, urging me to have a seat.I sat across from her as Mandy handed me the menu. "Since it's our first meeting, order whatever you want."I declined the menu. "I'll have a Blue Mountain coffee, please.""Ah, I love Blue Mountain coffee too. It's unique with its smoothness, aroma, hint of sweetness, and touch of acidity in the aftertaste.""You're quite knowledgeable about coffee.""I used to be an executive assistant, so I dealt with a lot of coffee. Naturally, I know a bit more than most. It seems we have a lot in common."Mandy was observant. She noticed my cold and distant attitude
"Destiny Tech is poorly managed and has a bleak outlook. It wouldn't be wise for Mulligan to acquire it," I explained.JL Capital was known for its rigorous approach. With the research results out, Luke wouldn't assist Mulligan in acquiring Destiny."I don't care about the condition of Destiny Tech. I just want to ensure Mulligan successfully acquires it," Mandy stated."Why?" I inquired."You don't need to know the reason." Mandy examined her fresh manicure. "Mr. Walker used to surround himself with only male workers. You've recently gone through a failed marriage and faced rejection from several companies before landing at JL Capital. I don't need to spell out why."Mandy's words carried implications."Please be direct," I requested."We're all smart people. Why make things uncomfortable by stating the obvious?""I'm sorry, but this intelligent person doesn't understand your meaning."Mandy and her driver were indeed similar!I pretended not to understand."Ms. Middleton,
I had only seen Francis Muller on TV and in magazines and newspapers before. He was always elegantly dressed in a suit and exuded a refined demeanor, despite his infidelity and divorce. At thirty-five, his handsome appearance seemed to buy him a lot of leniency. Thanks to effective PR, Mulligan Group's reputation didn't suffer from his scandals. Instead of being grateful and restraining himself, he continued with his reckless behavior!People like him are the reason why the industry gets a bad reputation, with misunderstood relationships between CEOs and their female secretaries or assistants.A thought crossed my mind, similar to what Wendy had suggested before: anonymously exposing some business elites online. The comment section would be very entertaining.Seeing my reaction, Francis's smile grew more amused. He crossed his legs, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. "You're quite the innocent one, aren't you? Interested in working for Mulligan?""Mr. Muller, are you here to discu
"Your actions would deserve those two slaps even if she were just a janitor at JL Capital," Luke said in a deep, resonant voice that sent shivers down my spine. His image in my mind grew even more impressive, and he seemed to radiate a dazzling light.In that moment, I felt a sense of pride and honor being an employee of JL Capital.My attention was solely focused on Luke, and I had forgotten that he still held my right hand."Mr. Walker, does this mean you're no longer interested in partnering with Mulligan?" Francis cautiously ventured."If you maintain this attitude, then there's no point in discussing any partnership." Luke turned to Zac, who had just returned with the surveillance footage. "Show him out.""Yes, Mr. Walker." Zac, having seen the footage, looked at Francis with disdain and gestured toward the door. "Mr. Muller, this way, please.""Mr. Walker, I was out of line just now. I shouldn't have behaved that way toward your assistant."JL Capital is a major player in
"Wendy, you're so brave! I applaud you!""In Johnsonville, there's no one who can make me suffer yet! Not slapping her twice was me showing restraint.""Wendy, you're awesome!""Hearing you say that, it makes sense why Francis and Mandy are togetherโthey're two peas in a pod.""A pair of oddballs.""Luke didn't take the opportunity to exploit him and help Mulligan acquire Destinyโhis professionalism is top-notch.""JL Capital's reputation in the investment banking circle is well-deserved.""Look at you, all proud. Now tell me, how was Mr. Walker's hand? Was it broad and strong, warm and secure?""I was so shocked by his actions that I didn't have the mental capacity to notice anything else."I didn't particularly notice if his hand was broad and strong or warm. But the moment Luke appeared in the reception room, I felt a deep sense of security. Maybe that's what Wendy meant by a sense of safety?"No worries, Jen. You'll have another chance to fully appreciate it next time."
"Did Calvin ask you to help with my workload?" I asked.Bryan and Zac just smiled without answering."If I hadn't brought it up today, were you planning to keep covering for me? I should have kept slacking off and let you two run yourselves ragged, unable to balance work and life!"Since joining JL Capital, I had experienced kindness from many people, which only strengthened my resolve to work hard.News of JL Capital's refusal to help Mulligan acquire Destiny spread quickly through the industry.Francis Muller came to the company several times, but Luke declined to meet him, citing a busy schedule. Soon, other investment banks were courting Francis.Francis had his pride. No matter how powerful JL Capital was, if they didn't want to work with Mulligan, he wouldn't beg. A week later, he signed a contract with Balance Capital.Mandy, eager to gloat about achieving her goal, sought me out.I was standing outside the company, waiting for a taxi when she had her driver pull up in f
Under the dim neon lights, Luke stood tall and composed, one hand in his pocket, showing no signs of irritation despite the damage to his car. Although the Bentley Continental was primarily at fault for the rear-end collision, I felt no sympathy for Mandy. In fact, I wished the collision had been more severe to cause her more harm."We'll see what the traffic police have to say about fault!" Mandy snapped, covering her forehead and seething with anger. "I know you're panicking inside. Telling me this is just to comfort yourself!"If Mandy was familiar with high society, she should have recognized Luke. Did she really think Mulligan's power could overshadow JL Capital?I later found out that during the crash, Mandy's eyes were bruised and she couldn't see Luke clearly at all."Ma'am, the other car is a Bentley Continental," her driver whispered, trying to calm her down as she continued to curse."So what if it's a Bentley? I have one parked in my villa's garage too!" Mandy retorted
"Mr. Walker, why did you get out of the car?" Luke released my shoulder and explained, "Goofy has diarrhea. I'm buying medicine for him.""Who's Goofy?" I asked, confused. Luke lived alone, so this name came out of nowhere."He's the Husky. You've met him before.""Oh, he's a pet. If he has diarrhea, you should take him to a vet for medicine." Goofy, goofball... Luke's name choice fit the Husky's character perfectly. "There's a pet hospital nearby that's open late. We could check it out.""You're good with pets?""Not really. Wendy has a Maine Coon cat. I look after it when she's away. I recently got a Samoyed, so I've been reading up on pet care to take good care of it."Wendy's cat was named 'Big Dog,' and she suggested 'Dog Junior' for my Samoyed, saying it sounded affectionate. Though small, the Samoyed was lively and mischievous, so 'Dog Junior' didn't quite fit. Its name was still undecided.Luke and I approached the cashier. As I took out my phone to pay, Luke placed his
We both knew how we felt about each other, but neither of us made the first move to confess.โI gave birth to him in circumstances I couldnโt control,โ Molly said, her hands tightly clutching her cup, fingers unconsciously tracing its edge. โI used to think about fighting back against the people who hurt me, but reality forced me to wake up. I couldnโt afford to lose everything.โShe hesitated, her gaze dropping. โThere are things from back then that I just canโt bring myself to tell him.โWhen I arranged for Luke and Molly to spend some time alone, the two of them mostly sat in silence.โMrs. Walker couldnโt have children for years after her marriage. Luke was just a tool to help her secure her place in the family,โ Molly explained.Mr. Walker was handsome, wealthy, and from a good family. After getting married, women constantly threw themselves at him. According to the information Wendy had dug up, Landon didnโt exactly push them away.In such a situation, Mrs. Walker, Ashleigh
Molly poured four glasses of juice and sat across from Luke.She looked like she wanted to say something but didnโt know where to start.I gave Ian a quick look.Ian took a sip of his juice and said, โMiss, the juice is sweet and sourโitโs so good!โโDrink it up, and Iโll pour you some more,โ Molly offered.Luke interjected, โItโs almost time to rest. Donโt drink too much juice.โโIโm sorry, I donโt have experience taking care of kids,โ Molly said, lowering her head. After a pause, she quietly repeated, โIโm sorry.โShe was probably thinking of Luke as a baby.I clutched my stomach, pretending to wince. โExcuse me, Molly. My stomach hurts; I need to head back to my room.โAs I stood, I grabbed Ianโs wrist.Ian caught on quickly. โJen is a girl. Sheโll get scared going back aloneโI have to go with her.โNot giving Luke a chance to respond, I opened the door and said, โMr. Walker, you stay and chat with Molly. Ian and I will be back in a bit.โIn the hallway, Ian looked thoug
Molly wasnโt the type to make things difficult for others. She didnโt give the hotel manager a hard time.After the staff left, Molly turned to thank Luke and me. โThank you for staying with me and helping me handle this.โLuke glanced at her but didnโt say anything.The silence grew awkward, so I quickly broke it. โYou donโt have to thank us. We didnโt really do much.โโWould you like to come in and sit for a while?โ Molly invited us into her room.Before either of us could respond, Ian, whoโd been holding back his excitement, eagerly chimed in, โYes, yes! Letโs go!โI sighed internally.Molly finally noticed the little one in Lukeโs arms. โAnd whoโs this?โโIโm Ian Lloyd,โ he introduced himself cheerfully.But the moment he got a good look at Mollyโs face, he let out a small โHuh?โ and then turned to look at Luke.Luke frowned slightly, and their eyes metโa silent understanding passing between them. Ian immediately shut his mouth and swallowed whatever heโd been about to sa
Five hours later, we arrived in Sharonville.Before the trip, Luke had everything arranged. After landing, we took a car to the hotel heโd booked in advance.In the hotel lobby, we ran into Molly. She was walking with two middle-aged men in sharp suits, smiling as she chatted with them.When her eyes met Lukeโs, her smile froze for a moment, then slowly softened as she stared at him without blinking.Luke didnโt acknowledge her. He walked right past, brushing by her shoulder as though she wasnโt there. From the corner of my eye, I saw her eyes redden.The two men exchanged glances but didnโt say anything. That night, however, they sent two young, handsome men to Mollyโs room.Our room was on the same floor as Mollyโs. After dinner out, we returned to the hotel and saw her standing at her door with the two young men.Their faces were powdered with heavy makeup, and they looked eager to please, practically glued to her.My thoughts immediately took a less innocent turn.Luke co
Amy messaging me at this hour was probably another complaint about other agencies trying to poach her, or how stressed she was about it all.The underlying message? She wanted me to contact Mr. Lloyd to secure better resources for herโa thinly veiled threat, essentially.Since several popular artists left One Entertainment, the companyโs resources had started to dwindle.Mr. Lloydโs return wasnโt just because of his love for acting. He also wanted to support the companyโs artists, giving them more opportunities to shine.Amy had already begun to stand out. If she simply focused on honing her craft and stayed patient, sheโd get her share of the spotlight.When Mr. Lloyd founded the company, his goal was to grow it into a powerhouse that protected its artists. Now, he had adopted a more laid-back approach: if an artist wanted to leave, they just needed to pay the penalty fee.Amyโs tactics wouldnโt change anything.I went back to reading my book.My phone buzzed again, and I ass
Mr. Lloyd's words carried a hint of reassurance for me.โJen, Uncle asked me to create a travel itinerary!โLuke had been telling Ian lots of stories about Sharonville, and Ian had also looked up a ton of information online. He now knew every street in the city and how many shops were on each one.Carefully folding his sweaters, Ian placed them neatly into his suitcase, which was decorated with a cheerful Doraemon sticker.โIโm really looking forward to your travel guide, Ian!โโIโve already finished most of it!โ Ian was a serious little worker who never did things half-heartedly. If he said it was nearly done, he was probably putting on the finishing touches.I praised him warmly.โJen, since the three of us are traveling together, we need to consider everyoneโs preferences and suggestions.โโSo, you want to get my input to finalize it?โโExactly.โโWell, wherever you want to go is where I want to go. This trip, Iโll leave the planning to you.โLuke had work to handle in Shar
For the past few days, Luke has been picking me up and dropping me off at work.Reporters often linger outside One Entertainment, and it took a lot of effort for rumors about me and Luke to die down. I didnโt want them to resurface.Luke understood my concerns, so he always parked his car a block away from the company. Once he sent me a message, Iโd grab Ian and head over.That evening, Luke prepared another full table of dishes for dinner.Ever since things thawed between us, I hadnโt said much during meals, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.โSheโs already in Sharonville,โ Luke said.โHasnโt she been out of the country for years? Will she be safe there alone?โHe was talking about Molly.The Walker family has been a prominent family in Sharonville for generations, with deep-rooted connections and influence. Mrs. Walker is a respected figure, and many people in Sharonville owe her favors. It wouldnโt be surprising if someone decided to teach Molly a lesson on
I watched the behind-the-scenes footage, and Mr. Lloyd looked great. After stepping out of the spotlight for a few years, his demeanor has become even more composed and sophisticated, perfectly matching the calm and collected surgeon he portrays in the show.โHeโs as brilliant as ever,โ Beatrice said, her eyes filled with admiration. โAs long as the co-stars hold their ground, this show is bound to be a hit.โโHe has an exceptional eye for picking scripts,โ she added, her gaze glued to the screen.I didnโt interrupt her. Instead, I got up and went to the kitchen to check on Ianโs progress.For someone so young, Ian took everything seriously. Standing on a small stool to make up for his height, he carefully worked on brewing coffee, his movements precise and methodical.โWaiter Number One, Ian Lloyd, at your service. Your oat latte will be ready soon,โ he announced cheekily.I laughed at his playful tone and played along. โWaiter Number Two will now deliver orange juice to Mr. Ian
While Beatrice chatted with Ian, I brought the gifts to the living room."You're too kind, Ms. Middleton.""Ian bought these with his pocket money."I winked at Ian.He caught on quickly, nodding.Beatrice warmly invited me to sit.Fresh fruit and two plates of nuts were on the coffee table.She placed a fruit bowl before me. "Yesterday's blueberries are freshโcrisp and sweet."The large blueberries were covered in bloom. I took one and made space for Beatrice."What would you like? Coffee or juice?""Fresh orange juice for me, and Jen likes oat milk latte," Ian said, playing with a doll, squishing its face into different shapes.Suddenly remembering our earlier conversation, he dropped the doll and ran to the kitchen. "I've learned lots from Jen. I can make juice and coffee!"Beatrice praised him: "How impressive!"She started toward the kitchen, concerned.I held her arm. "Ian's a quick learner. He does everything properly. We can trust him.""He gets along so well wit