26

"Mr. Mike… I simply can't continue anymore!" Ian panted while they trudged along the stairs.

The hotel ceiling was extremely high, so the floors required extra steps than usual. Ian had already started breathing hard before reaching the 8th floor. His legs ached, and he was already contemplating giving up.

A man should not give up so easily. There are just two floors remaining. Hurry." Kalus prompted Ian as he ascended the stairs without breaking his composure.

Kalus was 30 years old. He was two years older than Ian but had served as a soldier in the peacekeeping force in his early days. He had retired from the army, exercised often, and practiced martial arts and hence his physical fitness was much better than that of ordinary people.

He could still climb another 20 floors if he had to, as when he was in the army, he would have to run at least 30 laps during their night run.

Finally, they reached the 40th floor. Ian sat on the stairs and panted hard, while Kalus glared at him icily and shook his head.

"Mr. Mike, nice to meet you."

Kalus turned around upon hearing the voice. He saw a man walking toward him with a polite smile. He was clean-cut and good-looking. He had what a lot of women would describe as a puppy-dog face, and it was hard to estimate his real age.

"I'm Ms. Denz's secretary, Steven Lovett. Ms. Denz has been waiting for you a long time. Come with me."

Were she complaining because we were slowpoke?!'" Kalus fumed, but he had no outlet for his rage. His face darkened slightly. "Well, my legs don't move any quicker than an elevator. Hope Ms. Denz don't mind." Steven didn't say a word. He merely spun around and went downstairs, without giving them a second glance.

"Whatever your attitude is!" Ian gasped for air and couldn't help but be treated thus. He wanted to blame Steven, but Kalus stopped him.

"Wait for me here."

Kalus followed Steven up to the office door of the general manager.

He took a deep breath.

Somehow, Kalus tensed up upon finally encountering elusive Dera Denz, although he was basically resistant to everything.

Once Steven knocked, Kalus heard a woman's voice call out, "Come in!"

Steven opened the door and motioned for Kalus to enter.

Kalus's throat moved slightly. He unslouched and went into the office.

At this point, I was munching on chocolate in front of the computer monitor in the adjacent room, observing with curiosity as it all unfolded.

There was a young lady with a clean and flawless face sitting at the back of the desk. She was nicely attired, and her long hair was left down. She seemed to be a good lady.

Was she Dera Denz who brought trouble to him in all sorts of ways? Kalus couldn't help being a little disappointed.

Somehow, his Dera Denz was different. The woman standing before him lacked the haughtiness, authority, and poise of a pampered heiress.

"Mr. Mike, you must be exhausted. Sit down, please."

Dera used a Bluetooth headset to give commands to her "puppet," who conveyed the message, although not as smoothly or smooth-tongued as she would have done.

Kalus sat on the couch and looked around the room with a lack of interest.

This office was tastefully decorated, with a black piano in the corner. There was a natural marble coffee table that had a stylish design and a plush vintage leather sofa as the unique pieces of furniture in the room.

But most of what Kalus noticed was the quoted phrase framed behind Dera.

"Hide your strength and bide your time."

"Good calligraphy." Kalus sighed deeply.

I stopped chewing on my chocolate when I heard this, and my heart trembled.

This was the first time in my recollection that Kalus complimented me.

I took care of all aspects of his daily life throughout the three years that I was married to him. But regardless of how hard I worked, I did not get any appreciation from this man.

Unexpectedly, he complimented me this time.

It was a shame I didn't like it anymore.

"Mr. Mike, do you like it?" Dera put on a forced smile on her face.

"Yeah." Kalus, a man of few words, even when giving compliments.

"If you like it, you can take it with you when you are leaving. Just think of it as a gift for our first meeting."

No need. I just find calligraphy so beautiful and artistic. It's impolite of me to take such an art piece from you." Kalus declined nonchalantly.