4
I glanced at my watch. My meeting with Vera was in a few minutes. A flicker of anxiety sparked within me.
“Aria. Ross. I’ve already told you, I’m not here for you. Now move. I have work to do.”
“Not here for us?” Aria’s voice became shrill with disbelief. “I’ve been out of the country for months. I lanc today, finish a shoot, and you just happen to appear? You expect me to believe this isn’t a calculated move?”
“Fred, you were the one who said you hoped we’d never meet again. But the moment I’m back, here you are Do you really think I don’t know what you’re up to?”
Staring at the two people blocking my way, I felt the last of my patience burn away.
‘Are you two done? If you’re finished with your little performance, then get out of my way!”
‘Now, now, Fred, no need to get defensive,” Ross sneered. “We’re only stopping you to say hello. After all Aria chose me in the end.”
‘She still feels guilty about you. We’ve been so happy these past few years, but sometimes she worries about now you’re doing.”
had finally figured it out. Their minds were hermetically sealed, capable of containing only their own self serving narratives.
stopped arguing. I turned, sat down on a nearby sofa, and pulled out my phone to call Vera.
I’m downstairs at your company, being held up,” I said, my voice calm. “The two people blocking my way claim to have a ‘connection’ with you. You might want to come down.”
hung up.
Aria and Ross exchanged a look, then laughed.
Fred, are you actually pretending to call the CEO?”
ignored them, focusing on the proposal in my hands.
Ross snatched the papers from my grasp, glanced at them, and then, with a contemptuous sneer, ripped the roposal to shreds. “What’s with the act? Holding a few pieces of scrap paper? Do you have any idea who the CEO of Veridian is? How dare you speak to her like that.”
You probably just dialed a random number and spouted nonsense!”
stared at the confetti that had been my team’s all-nighter, a storm of frustration and fury finally breaking nside me. I swung my hand and slapped Ross hard across the face. “Ross, have you spent so much time on vacation that you’ve forgotten how the real world works? Have you never been taught a lesson?”
He clutched his cheek, his face a mask of disbelief. “You… you hit me?”
1/10
16:54
“Fred! I was personally invited here by Ms. Vance! You hit me! Do you have any idea what the consequences
will be?”
“I was actually thinking, if you begged a little, I might put in a good word for you, get you a meeting with the CEO, maybe save your failing company.”
Aria rushed to his side, her face a picture of concern. “Fred, you’re throwing away a golden opportunity! Apo- logize to Ross right now. Maybe he’ll still introduce you to Ms. Vance for my sake. If you don’t, you’ll have to face the consequences yourself!”
The receptionist’s face had gone pale. “Mr. Green! How could you hit Mr. Qin? He’s a personal guest of our CEO! If something happens, can you really take responsibility?”
Aria smirked. “Fred, if you get on your knees and apologize, I’ll speak to Ms. Vance on your behalf.”
The argument had now drawn the attention of everyone in the lobby.
No one noticed the private elevator doors sliding open.
Not until a pair of slender, fair arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
