"Since that is so, I hope that you'll take charge of this project, Ms. Johns. I'll give you a month's time and hopefully, you can present a sound proposal at the next monthly meeting. Any problems?" Xavier's deep and calm voice concluded.
Arya frowned slightly and looked at the documents which are handed her. She hesitated for some time before looking up at Xavier who was reading through some documents. "I..."
He raised his head slightly when he heard her voice, his quiet, dark eyes meeting hers. He spoke up when he saw Arya hesitating,
"You can tell me if you face any difficulties. I'll get two experienced assistants to help you. Aren't you confident in yourself, Ms. Johns?"
Arya was surprised by his tone as she realized that he had a lot of faith in her. Vice President kept signalling her with his eyes, so she helplessly nodded and said,
"Thank you for having faith in me, President Knight. I'll do my best and not let you down."
Xavier nodded and then looked at everyone.
"I hope everybody can work on your delegated tasks. Talk less and do more. There'll be rewards if the quota is met every quarter. If there's a surplus of results, I'll take 5% of the pure profits from your department and give it as a bonus. How much you get depends on how hard you work."
"Yes, President! We'll do our best!"
Everyone was hyped up. Who would not be excited to know that they could get more money?
It was unexpected for Chairman Knight to be so generous and use such reinforcements to encourage the employees. Would everyone not work hard in order to get the bonus? They would get more if they worked more!
"Any more problems?" Xavier asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Meeting adjourned."
Xavier stood up and left the meeting room with Rick and James swiftly following him.
The others left the meeting room as well.
...
Arya's office was on the 51st floor which had a simple and elegant design and was pretty spacious as well. Behind the large office table was a huge window. Outside the window, one could see the sea. Altogether, it was a very pleasant working environment.
Tok-tok!
There was a rap on her door moments after Arya sat down.
"Come in!" Arya had her eyes glued onto her computer screen and just reacted plainly.
The door opened and her assistant Reena came in, bowing politely.
"Ms. Johns, Chairman Knight's assistant Rick called and said that Chairman Knight wants you to go to his office."
The Chairman's office?
Arya paused before raising her head and looking at Reena. She hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "I got it."
"I'll get back to work then!" Reena then left the room swiftly.
Arya felt a sudden headache as she was reminded of the new development project. It was difficult for her to handle such a huge project alone. She might need to gather a team and conduct a thorough analysis. Only then she might come up with a more complete proposal.
She thought that she would have to share her sentiments to her supervisor.
She was about to tell Vice President Lin about it, but she remembered that it was Xavier who had appointed her directly and not through Vice President Lin, so she probably had to tell him anyway.
Arya stood up and left the office with the documents on her table.
The chairman's office was on the 58th floor, the top floor of the building.
When Arya arrived, she saw James come out of the room with a stack of documents in his hands. He greeted politely when he saw Arya,
"Ms. Johns!"
Arya nodded slightly and her fair face softened. She had a favourable impression of James as he had helped her on several occasions like when she burnt her hand.
"Hello, Assistant James!" She replied.
"Please go in first. However, you might need to wait for a while because Boss is talking to the Elder Madam!" James made a phone calling gesture with his hand.
"Mmm, I'll wait inside. You can go on with your work." Arya smiled as she looked at the stack of thick documents in his hands.
James patted the stack of documents and passed by her as he smiled.
Arya knocked on the door, but the door opened by itself after knocking. It was not locked.
She pushed the door and saw Xavier standing facing away from her while on a phone call.
Xavier turned around when he heard footsteps. He nodded lightly at Arya when he saw her enter before he pointed at the desk nearby.
"I know, you don't have to worry. I hope nothing similar happens in the future again."
Xavier spoke to Bella Knight with a slightly impatient tone. She was really desperate to find him a partner. Sometimes, it would be the granddaughter of an old comrade. Another time, it might be the daughter of some high-ranking official. He was really getting tired of her nagging these past few days.
"Xavier, I'm doing this for your own good. You said that you're busy working, so I've filtered the girls for you, and you can look through them and marry one that you like. Isn't it great to kill two birds with one stone? You get a wife; we get a granddaughter-in-law. Businessmen like win-win situations and this is a win-win deal. Your grandfather and I are really bored after retiring. If you don't get us something to do, of course, we'll bug you," Bella Knight said forcefully.
"I told you that you can go to France to relax with Grandfather. Nora's over there now on a holiday. She'll only come back after some time, so you guys can get her to accompany you." Xavier's indifferent tone came through the phone.
However, Bella Knight was starting to get impatient. How could she let this brat avoid this issue after so long?
"I don't care. I want my granddaughter-in-law. I want a great grandkid. Just you wait and see if I don't get them by next year. You're the same as your grandfather. You guys won't do it if I'm not forceful enough!"
Bella Knight's angry tone came through the phone, making Xavier frown.
"Grandmother..."
"I'm reaching the company soon. I'll talk to you later. You'd better watch out if you dare give me any more excuses again!"
Before Xavier could say anything, Bella Knight hung up.
The loud voice even reached Arya who was silently flipping through the documents at the moment. She never expected that Chairman Knight of Glory World Corporation would face such a situation at home as well.
However, Xavier and her had met through that silly game of blind dating too. Arya could not help but smile as she suddenly thought about how funny it was.
Xavier put his phone down. The moment he turned over, he saw Arya trying to hide her smile as she looked down at the documents.
He paused and then smiled. "You can laugh if you think it's funny. You don't have to hold it in."
He then walked past Arya and sat in his chair.
Arya laughed lightly and said, "No, it's just... I didn't expect you to be the same as me..."
"I take it that you're always bothered by such problems as well?" Xavier raised his eyebrows, his eyes brightening slightly.
Arya nodded in embarrassment. "Mia and my mother are very worried about me, so..."
"Mmm, I remember, like when we first met."
Arya smiled and raised up her scalded hand. "Yes, I'm really grateful for your help again and again. I have no idea how to repay you."
Help again and again?
Xavier laughed as his tone was accompanied by a sense of gentleness and rare humor.
"There are lots of ways to repay someone. One good example is to devote your heart to that person."
Arya was stunned. She felt awkward and did not know what to say.
Xavier quickly covered up the awkward situation as he looked at her and pointed at the documents she was holding.
"This was the proposal you've submitted before. I've looked through it and made some revisions. Take them as a reference and I'm sure it'll help you out on your workload."
Arya opened the documents and scanned through them. Indeed, several details had been revised and he had written the words personally. His writing seemed powerful and charismatic just like the man himself.
She was surprised and impressed. After a while, she looked at him calmly and said,
"I'll submit a thorough proposal to you a month later."
"You can let me know what you need. This project might be the main focus of next year, so we have to be meticulous in the initial phase of work."
"I got it. I think I might need to set up a team to conduct a detailed analysis research to come up with a targeted plan," said Arya after giving it some thought.
"I'll have Ruiz and Casey help you. As for setting up a team, it's up to you. The company will coordinate with your plans. Right, there are a few images here that might be useful to you."
Xavier then swiftly typed a bunch of words on his laptop. Then, he opened a folder with several design images inside.
Arya moved and stood beside him, focusing on the screen.
"This is the design for a project in France. It's going through a review at the moment, but it's similar to the project you're doing, so you can take it as a reference."
Going through a review?
Arya looked at Xavier in surprise. Suddenly, she had no idea what to say.
Without waiting for a reply, Xavier looked away from the screen and raised his head to see Arya looking at him.
He smiled as he suddenly thought of something. There was a short silence before he said, "Arya, I believe in you."
His words moved Arya deeply.
As a person so proud that she did not even bother to explain herself, it was so much like the previous version of her, which was what made him believe in her.
Arya's hand that was holding the document clenched slightly and her fingernails slowly turned white. Her eyes shifted with a distant light as she took a shallow breath and nodded after a while. Just as she was about to say something, there was a quick knock on the door.
They both looked at each other and then looked at the door together while Rick entered.
"Boss, Elder Madam is already here. She..."
Xavier frowned when he heard Rick's news.
"I'll go back down first." Arya quickly packed her documents.
"There are copies of the design. If you want to look at them, just come over anytime," Xavier assured.
"Okay."
Arya then swiftly left the office.
Time passed by quickly after a day of busy work. Soon, evening came. Arya wanted to get home earlier to start preparing for the upcoming project, but she had an unexpected visitor at the entrance of Glory World Corporation.
"What are you doing here?"
On top of the stairs, Arya looked at the sad and gentle-looking Victoria. Her expression darkened and she put up a cold aura around her. Her icy reaction made Victoria pale.
"Sis..." Victoria called out to her feebly, "The company is in trouble. Grandmother was too worried and suddenly fainted. I've been calling you but couldn't get through, so I came here directly. Please go and take a look at her. Father is still in Sweden City and can't come back now. Mother is worried that Grandfather might overthink, so she did not tell him. She's waiting outside the operating room now. I don't know what to do and I'm scared... Grandmother hasn't been well for some time... I'm really worried, Sis..."
Victoria's eyes were filled with fear as she just stared at Arya.
The company was in trouble?
Arya frowned. How was it that Johns Culture Media under Grandmother was not doing well? She had seen from the television that they had just contracted several big projects and were really busy with it recently, so why was there suddenly an issue?
"Which hospital?" Arya asked after a small pause.
Victoria replied quickly.
Arya had mixed feelings regarding her grandmother Kristina Johns. Before Victoria came to her family, her grandparents had really doted on her. Then, everything changed after Victoria arrived. She became the stranger at the corner, watching them laugh together like a real family.
"Arya, your sister likes your room. Swap with her."
"Arya, Victoria is attending a dinner with me. Let her wear the dress I bought for you before. You've never worn it anyway."
"Arya, how could you let Victoria into the water knowing she has a frail body? What have I taught you?"
"Since Ethan and Victoria like each other, why are you so stubborn? Wouldn't you be happier letting them be together?"
"You're the mayor's daughter. Don't you have all the men in New York City to pick from? You're making everyone uneasy. Your grandfather fell sick because of you as well. How can you be so selfish?! Why do you have to fight with Victoria?"
"You're really childish. I'm so disappointed in you!"
Suddenly Kristina Johns's words echoed clearly in her ears and she felt a pang of anguish in her chest.
Sometimes when a person ran away from a certain something, fate would haunt the person with that same thing.
When they arrived at Hospital, Kristina Johns had just finished her surgery and was on the way to the recovery ward.
The doctor had said that it was a sudden stroke and that she would have died if she had not reached the hospital in time.
Arya stood by her bedside and looked at Kristina Johns who was still unconscious. Layla looked worried. When she looked at Arya, her eyes seemed strange and she also frequently stole glances at Arya.
"What's wrong?" Arya asked coldly.
Layla's eyes lit up, but her expression darkened. She took a deep breath and said,
"Johns Culture Media contracted several big projects some time ago. The company was focused on them when suddenly, the investors backed out. The Vice President ran away after embezzling a huge sum of money from the company, and now Johns is facing a huge financial crisis. Your grandmother..."
Backed out?
Why did that happen so suddenly?
Arya looked at Layla in doubt, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"It all started with Victoria. The Boss of Smith Corporation has been interested in Victoria for a long time now and wanted to marry her, but you know Victoria and Ethan are inseparable, so, of course, she wouldn't agree to marry that person. Then, Smith Corporation backed out in anger, and under such circumstances, the Vice President stole the company's funds and ran away. Your grandmother was extremely shocked about it and passed out."
Layla suddenly turned around and looked at Arya. After a while of struggling, she finally mustered her courage and said,
"Arya, I know the whole thing about Ethan is Victoria's fault. All of us still can't get over it in the past few years, especially your grandparents. They're really worried about you.
"However, Ethan and you are matters of the past. He's truly in love with Victoria and I hope that you can move on and let them be. Your grandmother has been really worried about you. She's afraid that you might not be taking care of yourself well alone, so she's been trying to find you a good partner."
At this point, Layla paused and her eyes held a very faint sense of insincerity. She bit her lip and said,
"Actually, the Boss of Smith Corporation isn't bad at all. He's tall and handsome and comes from a rich and prestigious family. All the women in New York City are dying to marry into the Smith family, which is pretty decent. I know the lady of the Smith family. They're an easy-going bunch..."
Arya's eyes turned cold upon listening to her. Steeling herself, she put up an icy cold grin and asked,
"So what?"
"So... so..."
Layla looked down.
"Let me say it." An old and exhausted voice interrupted them.
"Are you awake now, Mother? How are you feeling? The doctor said you've overexerted yourself. You can't get worked up..."
Layla seemed surprised and went up to her. Arya realized that Kristina Johns had already opened her eyes without anyone even noticing. Her old pair of eyes were still looking sharp.
"Help me get up."
While Kristina Johns's voice sounded weak, her aura was still as strong as ever.
Layla helped her up and put two pillows behind her back while Arya just stood there as she watched Kristina Johns silently and calmly.
"Sit down!"
Kristina Johns's tone sounded a little frosty. Obviously, she was not very pleased with Arya.
"Do you still know that you're a member of the Johns family? You don't even come back when your grandfather was sick or when your sister came back? What's wrong with you?"
Arya maintained her cold grin as she accepted the scolding.
"Why should I go back? I'd go to a doctor if I was sick, I'd go back home to eat. What can I do if I go back there?"
Kristina Johns did not anticipate Arya to talk back to her. Back then, no matter how much she was criticized, Arya would just keep quiet and now...
Kristina Johns frowned and her expression darkened. Layla quickly exclaimed,
"Arya, how could you talk to your grandmother like that? Your grandmother can't take any more stress now! The doctor told us just now, didn't you hear?"
Arya's grin grew wider as she stood straight and turned to face the window. It was as if she did not hear Layla's words.
"Johns is the blood and flesh of the Johns family, so she's also my family. I never expected to face something like this and it's my fault. I know you've been upset about Victoria and Ethan, but don't you forget that your part of our family too. How can family members hold grudges against each other? Moreover, everyone can see that Victoria has been really worried about you for the past few years."
Kristina Johns softened after looking at Arya for a while. "It's not a critical moment for the Johns family. I just hope that we can unite together and overcome this challenge. We have to get those big projects from the Smith Corporation. In the current industry, with Johns facing such circumstances..."
"That's right, Arya. Johns is the hard work of us Johns family. All of your grandmother's effort is in it. You have to save Johns!" Layla pleaded anxiously.
"I save Johns? How? Did you guys appoint me to take a high position in Johns? Or do you guys think I'm some sort of ruler of Smith Corporation?"
Arya thought it was a joke.
"You can save Johns as long as you agree to marry the Boss of Smith Corporation. If you'd agree to marry him in place of Victoria, then it'd solve all these problems. After all, you look quite similar to Victoria, so the Boss of Smith Corporation will surely be happy with your looks. The Smith family wanted a daughter-in-law from a prestigious family and you're the mayor's daughter. So, with that fact and your looks, it'll definitely be enough!"
Kristina Johns's eyes were brimming with confidence as she spoke.
Arya inherited the beauty features of Arianna Johnson. Her looks and aura were a notch higher compared to Victoria's. If it were not for her personality, if it were not for... Kristina Johns still willing to love her, unfortunately...
Arya was stunned. Very strong dark thoughts muddled her head as she stared at Kristina Johns, thinking that she had misheard something.
"What did you say just now? Marry the Boss of Smith Corporation in place of Victoria?"
"Arya, the Boss of Smith Corporation is great. Aiden Smith is the only son of the Smith family. With their huge business and background, it's even bigger than the Han Corporation. With all that, you can forget about Ethan soon, and maybe you can even get married on the same day as them!" Layla explained excitedly.
"So, you guys can't wait to push me out and get me to replace Victoria as your bargaining chip to solve Johns's crisis?" Arya turned to look at Kristina Johns with an air of indifference and a forced smile.