Two figures with personalities and status poles apart from each other, stood across the white marble fountain with lotus and white lillies floating in it.
"Assistant Chen? What are you doing here?"
Raising his dark brows, Ethan glanced askew at his subordinate, Assistant Chen who was shivering visibly with a lump in his throat.
"Elder Madam.. She was worried about you. Last night, you were supposed to go back home but.. Everyone were worried and they were searching for you.. So, I.."
Sweeping a glance at Ethan who was staring intently at him, Assistant Chen expounded albeit nervously. Trying his best to sound clear.
Exasperated, Ethan felt a headache coming. He should've informed the old lady at home before rushing over to White Meadows.
"Oh! I'll call grandmother.. You get back to office and prepare for the meeting"
Almost on the verge of breaking into cold sweat, Assistant Chen humbly bowed down and scurried away abiding by his boss's instructions.
"Yes, CEO.."
Meanwhile, Xia Ruo Lan and her chubby little assistant, Wang Fang were still standing under the tree where Ethan and Xia Ruo Lan were soundly sleeping previously.
"Wang Fang? Why didn't you pick up my calls last night?"
Tilting her head to the side, Xia Ruo Lan questioned in a slightly stern manner.
"Boss.. That, my mom, she's here in B City and last night, I couldn't leave her alone at home. And alsomy phone was confiscated by my mom. So, I'm sorry.."
Pushing back the spectacles resting on top of her nose, Wang Fang explained with a cute pout. She was trying to act cute in order to steer herself clear from Xia Ruo Lan's wrath.
Addled by the earlier incident as well as the time spent with Ethan last night, Xia Ruo Lan wasn't her usual calm self. She was a bit listless.
"Hmm.."
Contrary to Wang Fang's expectations Xia Ruo Lan didn't lash out at her nor criticized her, she simply hummed a tune. Nodding her head.
"Boss? You're not mad at me?"
Stunned, Wang Fang quizzed in a loud voice. She wasn't expecting herself to get away without any reprimanding from Xia Ruo Lan.
"Of course I am.. Go, go call the electrician and also, clear up all the mess inside, now."
Crossing her arms around her bosom, Xia Ruo Lan slowly nodded her head as she jutted her chin towards the main door. Her tone wasn't gentle yet it wasn't hiding any anger within. It was neutral.
"Yes, Boss.."
The little assistant didn't waste any time. Wang Fang bowed in gratitude for not being criticized harshly by Xia Ruo Lan and swiftly turned around, her fingers tapping on her cellphone.
Watching Wang Fang's disappearing back, Xia Ruo Lan's lips curled into a subtle smile recalling her prior reaction. She shook her head and turned around only to be greeted by Ethan's nonchalant front. He was standing in front of her with his hand in his pocket, his dark eyes smiling mirthlessly. Strange.
A small smile crept up Ethan's lips that didn't quite seem like a smile to Xia Ruo Lan. She stood silently waiting for the man to speak.
"I'll make a move.. Take care"
Listening to the words of concern from Ethan's mouth, a weird sensation stirred the depth of Xia Ruo Lan's heart. It was odd. She shrugged those thoughts and smiled, it was a subtle smile that was very polite yet distant.
Nodding her head, Xia Ruo Lan reiterated Ethan's words. She briefly lowered her head only to raise her gaze and meet Ethan's dark whirlpools. They were bewitching. She sincerely thanked him for his appearance last night.
"You too, take care of yourself.. You look tired. Also, thank you for helping me"
Taken aback by the demure and meek behavior of Xia Ruo Lan towards him, Ethan chuckled softly. He shook his head and bade his farewell. His lips curled into a gentle smile that reflected through his eyes.
"Don't worry.. You can call me anytime since Miss Lu is not available. Bye"
Giving a curt nod in response to Ethan's statement, Xia Ruo Lan blinked and bade her farewell. He turned around and strode towards his car.
"Hmm.. Bye"
As Ethan walked away, Xia Ruo Lan stood watching the man's moving back with a plethora of unreadable emotions in her eyes.
- - -
The exclusive elevator opened directly into the private office on the top floor of the building. A huge room occupying the corner of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows giving magnificent views in two directions.
The two remaining walls contained a wooden door that led to a private lounge, a big bookshelf, a comfortable couch with coffee table and a single oil painting - a vase of flowers by Vincent van Gogh. It was bright and colorful, white, pink, yellow, red, orange and blue flowers were set inside a vibrant blue vase.
The black glass surface of the desk was equally uncluttered - a computer, a leather notebook, and a framed photograph of a beautiful family, files and a thick stack of documents with a ruby red paper weight resting on top. It was elegant and modern.
A figure in black was perched upon the black executive chair with it's back facing the glass door. Peering at the cityscape and vast blue sky with cottony clouds through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
Holding a cellphone in one hand that was pressed against the ear, a deep voice reverberated in the quietude of the large office. It was neither gentle nor cold, just right for a business like tone. Another hand was resting on the armrest while a finger tapped the cold surface in a practiced rhythm.
"Hello.."
"Hmm.. I see, I want you to bid that item for me... Also, find out the details of other bidders, if there are any persistent ones, I want their names. I want that item in my hands, by hook or by crook!"
Two figures with personalities and status poles apart from each other, stood across the white marble fountain with lotus and white lillies floating in it.
"Assistant Chen? What are you doing here?"
Raising his dark brows, Ethan glanced askew at his subordinate, Assistant Chen who was shivering visibly with a lump in his throat.
"Elder Madam.. She was worried about you. Last night, you were supposed to go back home but.. Everyone were worried and they were searching for you.. So, I.."
Sweeping a glance at Ethan who was staring intently at him, Assistant Chen expounded albeit nervously. Trying his best to sound clear.
Exasperated, Ethan felt a headache coming. He should've informed the old lady at home before rushing over to White Meadows.
"Oh! I'll call grandmother.. You get back to office and prepare for the meeting"
Almost on the verge of breaking into cold sweat, Assistant Chen humbly bowed down and scurried away abiding by his boss's instructions.
"Yes, CEO.."
Meanwhile, Xia Ruo Lan and her chubby little assistant, Wang Fang were still standing under the tree where Ethan and Xia Ruo Lan were soundly sleeping previously.
"Wang Fang? Why didn't you pick up my calls last night?"
Tilting her head to the side, Xia Ruo Lan questioned in a slightly stern manner.
"Boss.. That, my mom, she's here in B City and last night, I couldn't leave her alone at home. And alsomy phone was confiscated by my mom. So, I'm sorry.."
Pushing back the spectacles resting on top of her nose, Wang Fang explained with a cute pout. She was trying to act cute in order to steer herself clear from Xia Ruo Lan's wrath.
Addled by the earlier incident as well as the time spent with Ethan last night, Xia Ruo Lan wasn't her usual calm self. She was a bit listless.
"Hmm.."
Contrary to Wang Fang's expectations Xia Ruo Lan didn't lash out at her nor criticized her, she simply hummed a tune. Nodding her head.
"Boss? You're not mad at me?"
Stunned, Wang Fang quizzed in a loud voice. She wasn't expecting herself to get away without any reprimanding from Xia Ruo Lan.
"Of course I am.. Go, go call the electrician and also, clear up all the mess inside, now."
Crossing her arms around her bosom, Xia Ruo Lan slowly nodded her head as she jutted her chin towards the main door. Her tone wasn't gentle yet it wasn't hiding any anger within. It was neutral.
"Yes, Boss.."
The little assistant didn't waste any time. Wang Fang bowed in gratitude for not being criticized harshly by Xia Ruo Lan and swiftly turned around, her fingers tapping on her cellphone.
Watching Wang Fang's disappearing back, Xia Ruo Lan's lips curled into a subtle smile recalling her prior reaction. She shook her head and turned around only to be greeted by Ethan's nonchalant front. He was standing in front of her with his hand in his pocket, his dark eyes smiling mirthlessly. Strange.
A small smile crept up Ethan's lips that didn't quite seem like a smile to Xia Ruo Lan. She stood silently waiting for the man to speak.
"I'll make a move.. Take care"
Listening to the words of concern from Ethan's mouth, a weird sensation stirred the depth of Xia Ruo Lan's heart. It was odd. She shrugged those thoughts and smiled, it was a subtle smile that was very polite yet distant.
Nodding her head, Xia Ruo Lan reiterated Ethan's words. She briefly lowered her head only to raise her gaze and meet Ethan's dark whirlpools. They were bewitching. She sincerely thanked him for his appearance last night.
"You too, take care of yourself.. You look tired. Also, thank you for helping me"
Taken aback by the demure and meek behavior of Xia Ruo Lan towards him, Ethan chuckled softly. He shook his head and bade his farewell. His lips curled into a gentle smile that reflected through his eyes.
"Don't worry.. You can call me anytime since Miss Lu is not available. Bye"
Giving a curt nod in response to Ethan's statement, Xia Ruo Lan blinked and bade her farewell. He turned around and strode towards his car.
"Hmm.. Bye"
As Ethan walked away, Xia Ruo Lan stood watching the man's moving back with a plethora of unreadable emotions in her eyes.
- - -
The exclusive elevator opened directly into the private office on the top floor of the building. A huge room occupying the corner of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows giving magnificent views in two directions.
The two remaining walls contained a wooden door that led to a private lounge, a big bookshelf, a comfortable couch with coffee table and a single oil painting - a vase of flowers by Vincent van Gogh. It was bright and colorful, white, pink, yellow, red, orange and blue flowers were set inside a vibrant blue vase.
The black glass surface of the desk was equally uncluttered - a computer, a leather notebook, and a framed photograph of a beautiful family, files and a thick stack of documents with a ruby red paper weight resting on top. It was elegant and modern.
A figure in black was perched upon the black executive chair with it's back facing the glass door. Peering at the cityscape and vast blue sky with cottony clouds through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
Holding a cellphone in one hand that was pressed against the ear, a deep voice reverberated in the quietude of the large office. It was neither gentle nor cold, just right for a business like tone. Another hand was resting on the armrest while a finger tapped the cold surface in a practiced rhythm.
"Hello.."
"Hmm.. I see, I want you to bid that item for me... Also, find out the details of other bidders, if there are any persistent ones, I want their names. I want that item in my hands, by hook or by crook!"
