"Thank you for placing your trust in me. I'll do my best!"
Vice President accepted the job respectfully, staying true to Glory World's key values: confidence and sincerity. If one could take on the workload, then they would put in their best efforts instead of trying to slack off.
Under Vice President's influence, people under him like Arya shared similar values as well.
Xavier nodded. "Vice President, please stay back. Everyone else can leave for now."
"Yes, Chairman Knight!"
The other Vice Presidents swiftly left the room.
Xavier slowly raised his head when he heard the sound of the door closing.
"Director Johns mentioned to me that you're interested in the showbiz industry. I believe you've done your research well, so I'm confident leaving this in your hands."
"Thank you for trusting me, Chairman Knight!" Vice President bowed humbly.
Xavier gently lifted the black folder before him and handed it to Vice President.
"These are some documents regarding Smiths and Johns Media. Director Johns spent quite some effort arranging these and I made some simple edits on them. Take a look at it and I'm sure it'll help you out a lot."
Vice President accepted the folder, feeling a little odd. Did Chairman Knight skip the chain of command? Usually, he was the one issuing orders to Director Johns.
Vice President paid it no mind and started flipping through the document. There were two different handwritings on it. The clean-looking script should be Arya's, while the one with powerful strokes should be Chairman Knight's.
"Let me know if you need anything. You're one of the most senior ones around here. I believe in your capabilities and Grandfather often praises you too."
It was a rare compliment from Xavier.
Vice President nodded out of gratitude as he closed the folder.
"Yes, I'll do my best. Chairman Knight, I hope that Director Johns can help out a little since she has experience dealing with Smiths before. Things will probably be easier with her around."
Arya was his outstanding subordinate and they were always on good terms. He was sure that they would make a formidable pair.
Vice President's words drew a frown on Xavier's face. He thought about it and said,
"Isn't she working on the South River project now?"
"Don't worry, Chairman Knight. I mean that I just need Director Johns to help out just a little and I promise it won't take up too much of her time. I'll make sure it won't affect the progress of the South River project too. I know Director Johns's capability well. She's a very dedicated person with high efficacy, so it would be great if she could help me out a little!" Vice President praised Arya as he carefully observed the calm and stoic Xavier.
Vice President was shocked to see an odd smile appearing on Xavier's poker face. His voice sounded at peace too.
"I can see that you have high hopes for Director Johns."
Vice President was stunned for a moment. He then replied with an awkward laugh,
"Well, Director Johns is a pleasant person, so..."
Xavier sipped some tea before nodding.
"I'll consider your request. You can go back to work now and I'll call you again when I need you."
"Noted, Chairman Knight!" Vice President bowed at him and then left quietly.
As Vice President just left, Rick knocked and entered right before the door closed.
"Master!" Rick carefully went before Xavier and quietly called out to him.
Xavier continued looking at the documents in his hand. He replied without raising his head,
"What's the matter?"
"The newly appointed CEO Ethan of Martinez Corporation got his assistant to send you an invitation card!" Rick informed quietly, seemingly worried that he might be disturbing Xavier's focus. He then presented a red invitation card.
Xavier took a pause and raised his head. The fiery-red card with words imprinted in gold on it came into his view. The bold and loud red made him uncomfortable.
He had seen a similar invitation card on his bedside drawer!
He inspected the invitation card, then he looked at Rick. For a moment, his eyes turned icy.
Rick quickly explained, "Master, this is the invitation to the engagement to CEO Ethan of Martinez Corporation and the daughter of Mayor Johns, Victoria. It's this Friday. Back then, Logan Martinez and Madison Martinez were partners with us on several projects..."
Xavier went silent. His aura seemed to flicker several times around him. After some time, he said,
"Leave it there."
A dark storm was brewing in his ocean-deep eyes. Rick felt oddly uncomfortable, but he did not say anything. He quickly left the invitation there and got out of the room.
"Wait!"
Before Rick completely exited the room, Xavier's voice reached his ears. Rick halted his steps and then quickly turned around.
"Anything else, Master?" Rick asked politely whilst feeling anxious.
Xavier kept quiet for a brief moment. Then, he looked up at Rick and said,
"Did the PR Department arrange some guests to come over during our company anniversary celebrations?"
"Huh? Ye-yes! They are mainly the ambassadors of Imperial Sky Jewellery City, and also several popular celebrities. Hopefully, it can help to create a more relaxed environment and help smoothen the promotional work in the future," Rick quickly replied.
Xavier pondered his words and then said, "Help me get the PR manager to come up here."
PR manager?
Was he worried about the anniversary?
Master usually...
However, he did not dare to question his Master's intentions, so he nodded and then went out of the room.
After the discussion about the endorsement for Imperial Sky Jewellery City, it was already noon when they walked out of Glory World Corporation. The sun was high up in the sky with the dry wind blowing through.
Victoria took the expensive-looking coat her manager handed her and wore it. She turned around to gaze at the enormous building and was stunned for a moment.
As expected of one of the leading businesses of New York City, even she felt tiny as she stood before such a huge building.
The scene where Xavier passed her closely played in her mind. As people said, he was not very friendly and cold towards other people.
It was her first time experiencing something like this!
She knew that even a prideful person like Ethan was really impressed by that person as well.
"Victoria, CEO Ethan is waiting over there!"
Victoria came back to her senses when she heard manager's voice. She looked at the direction manager was facing and saw Ethan's Rolls Royce parked at a plaza outside Glory World Corporation.
Victoria took a deep breath before glancing at the building again and walking towards the car.
"Ms. Victoria!"
Ethan's assistant quickly opened the door when Victoria went towards the car.
"Ethan!" Victoria sat in the car and called out to him. Ethan had just finished a phone call and he grabbed her by the waist to squeeze her. He asked in a concerned tone,
"Done with work?"
"Mmm, it's just a discussion about the upcoming project. Why are you here?" Victoria looked at Ethan doubtfully. She thought he had come here just to pick her up and her eyes were brimming with love.
"I just came by to drop an invitation card to invite Chairman Knight to our engagement. I know you're here as well, so I waited for you." Ethan then looked at the huge building and said,
"Invitation card... Did you give it to Arya personally?"
Ethan's words stunned Victoria. She clenched her fists tightly as her expression turned pale. She nodded, her eyes unable to hide her sadness. She said gloomily,
"I gave it to her, but she..."
Victoria did not continue and her beautiful eyes started to tear up. Her expression was in pain while she bit her lip and went quiet. Looking downwards, she quietly said,
"You know her personality. What happened recently must have hit her quite badly. Please don't blame her, Ethan. I've always considered Sister as a really good person. Don't you think so too?"
What did he think of Arya?
...
He was suddenly reminded of their past...
"I hope we can make up to her, Ethan. About Johns Media, I know your parents are doing it for my sake, but can we give her a token of compensation? $5 million... Is it too little?"
Victoria frowned as she looked at Ethan.
"I don't care, even if Grandmother objects, I'll compensate her myself. I'd do anything to make her feel better."
"Okay, Victoria, I understand how you feel. I guess there's no other way since it's come down to this. We didn't know that my parents and your grandmother would make that kind of decision as well. It's really cruel towards Arya. Moreover..."
The scene when the knife plunged into her shoulder started playing in his mind. He could not believe that she would pull such an extreme stunt!
"Ethan, do you think Sister will attend our engagement party? I wanted to look for her just now, but I was worried that she might be unhappy if she sees me, so in the end, I didn't..."
Victoria's eyes were full of misery as her tone turned weak and worrisome.
"Father became cold towards Mother for quite some time because of what happened to Sister. I really don't understand, Ethan. Does she not feel comfortable with whatever we've done for her so far? Why is Sister being like this?"
"Stop talking about it, Victoria. I'm the one who betrayed her. It's not your fault and you don't have to blame yourself... Let's go now. Back to the villa!" Ethan told the driver impatiently. He held Victoria's waist and looked outside the window, his gaze seemed complicated.
He had never loved Arya, but why did he felt such a heavy sense of guilt when he saw her extremely cold expression?
The guilt made him feel an indescribable pressure. He would prefer her to scold him angrily instead of just walking away coldly. He might have felt better instead of feeling really troubled by it as he did now.
...
The sun slowly went down and the sky turned red as the last of the soft golden rays bathed the city from the horizon. The whole town was shrouded in a gentle charm.
Tiny rays of sunlight went past the window blinds. Arya, who had been working on the living room sofa the whole afternoon, finally looked away from her documents. She glanced at the sun through the windows and instinctively took a look at the clock. She noticed that it was already pretty late.
Xavier was not back yet. Usually, he would already be preparing food in the kitchen. Maybe he was busy because the holidays were coming soon.
He seemed to dislike people disturbing his life. According to Emma, Master Knight only allowed them to come and clean the house after he left. Looking at the huge Maple Residence, even though it was empty, it was a different feeling as compared to when she was living alone. It was at times like this that she felt lonely.
Was he feeling the same way as her?
She laughed at her own thoughts. Inhaling a deep breath, she left all the documents on the table. As she started to stretch her body, she forgot about her shoulder injury and a sharp pain shot through her as she opened her arms. She frowned and quickly pressed her wound...
She rested for a while before walking towards the kitchen slowly.
Moments after she went into the kitchen, the door of Maple Residence opened. A tall and white figure entered the house.
It was Xavier. He was talking to someone on the phone and James was behind him, holding his briefcase quietly.
It was his good friend, Jacob, on the call.
"I just called Daniel and he wants to hang out too. Why don't you come over to my place for poker tonight? Or we could go to your house too. We can just stay there overnight. It's not like we've never slept together before. We can even just sleep around on the floor!"
Jacob was sitting in his large office chair with a cigarette in his mouth.
Xavier laughed and said, "Don't you always hang out at Daniel's place? Why did you suddenly think of me today?"
Jacob flicked away some cigarette ash as he grinned widely.
"I haven't seen you in such a long time and I miss you! So, my place? Recently, I set a bar counter up at my house. Daniel said it helps set the tone..."
"I've been busy with my company's anniversary lately. We'll gather again someday. I'll ask James to send you some rare whiskey. Let's meet in a few days."
"You think a couple of bottles of whiskey are enough for us to let you off? Give me the red wine in your store room as well. I don't see you drinking it anyway."
"Mmm."
Xavier hung up on the call after his brief reply. Then, he told James behind him,
"James, get the stuff in the living room, and then get some wine from the storeroom and send it to Jacob's house. Invite them to Maple Residence this Friday. Tell them not to come if they haven't prepared any expensive gifts."
James was stunned for a moment, but he soon came back to his senses and nodded.
"Got it, Master!"
He then put the briefcase on the sofa and left quickly.
The sky turned dark and there was only the living room was dimly lit by the light from the kitchen.
He turned the lights in the living room on and scanned the place. He then noticed that the table beside the large window was full of documents. There was also a running laptop and paper was strewn all over the table, some even littering the floor.
As he went over to pick them up, he noticed that all of them were related to the South River project. There were some data analysis and images which all seemed complicated.
Now, her laptop screen was displaying a data chart with one-third of it complete. There were some folders opened as well.
He casually picked up a document and read through it. Moments later, his long fingers started typing on the keyboard swiftly...
Arya was surprised to see the lights in the living room turned on when she came out of the kitchen with some dishes. She looked around and saw Xavier sitting in the place she had sat at some time ago.
"You're back?"
Arya put the dishes on the table and went over to Xavier, stopping beside him.
"Mmm," Xavier replied without averting his gaze away from the laptop. His hand movements did not slow down either as his viola-like voice continued, "You just had to make yourself busy, didn't you? Why are you like this even when you're on holiday?"
"Well, it's pretty boring, so I might as well get some work done. Oh, right, the designs you showed me the last time, can I...?" Arya asked.
"It's in the laptop inside the study room. The password is the same as the one on the card I gave you. They should be in the D drive. Look around."
After saying that, a completed analysis chart appeared on the laptop. He checked it and then saved it before turning off the laptop. Turning his head around, he looked pointedly at her as she stared at the laptop.
"Regarding Glory World being involved in the showbiz industry, I've placed Vice President in charge. He hopes that you can help him out a little. What do you think?" He asked quietly.
Arya went silent and gave it some thought. She then nodded. "Sure."
"Can your frail body handle the workload?" Xavier looked at her doubtfully.
A gentle smile spread across Arya's beautiful face.
"It's alright, but I might trouble you to help me out a bit on the South River project."
He was familiar with the South River project anyway. The documents he had given her were analyzed in detail and he could not have done so without spending time studying it.
"You're really clever at utilizing your resources. By the way, Jacob and Daniel are visiting this Friday." Xavier casually straightened her crooked shirt as he said.
"Jacob and Daniel?" Arya was stunned and just looked at him with a gleam in her eyes.
"Don't worry. The sly foxes took advantage of me. This Friday is an excellent chance to take it all back from them, so don't be nice to them. If they don't give you anything good, they can lose everything, but they can never lose face, especially before the woman of their best friend," Xavier said in a casual tone as he started grinning.
Arya opened her eyes wide. A moment later, she started giggling. "Mr. Knight, I realize you're pretty mean. How could you ask me to do something like that?"
"I'm teaching you how to maximize the benefits you can reap. I can't guarantee that they won't take advantage of you since you're stupid. You'll understand once you speak to them."
Xavier smiled.
"Then, do we need to prepare anything? Friday... Hmm, we're already on holiday..."
"Just stay put. I'll get Emma to prepare something. Also, get ready for the annual meeting on Thursday." Xavier stood up and his tall body blocked Arya.
"Prepare what? Isn't it just about receiving an award?"
Arya glanced at him, then she went towards the kitchen. "Dinner's ready. Let's eat first."
...
After a while, three dishes and a crockpot of soup were served on the table. The couple sat opposite each other.
After drinking two bowls of soup, Xavier frowned as he looked at Arya. He asked quietly,
"Missus, don't you think the soup tastes a little weird?"
"Does it?"
Arya frowned. She spooned the soup into her mouth and did not find it odd, so she looked at him in doubt.
"Try more. Tell me again after drinking two more bowls. Here... Try it..."