Emily playfully pinched her arm, "If you can't say anything nice, you might as well donate your mouth."
Donna raised her hands and
Zipped her mouth shut, "I'll keep quiet."
.......
As the real estate agent was about to lead them to the fourth phase, Emily quickly pulled Elton aside, explaining that she disliked housework and that a larger house would burden her more.
Elton didn't understand, "You can hire help, right?"
Holding onto his arm, Emily insisted, "I don't like unfamiliar people in my personal space."
This reason seemed to satisfy Elton, and they eventually settled on a south-facing 186-square-meter apartment on the 22nd floor of phase three. However, the agent informed them that the owner was abroad and the apartment was under management. It was immediately available for rent, but buying would require some waiting.
Murray chuckled on the other end of the phone, “Tell me, what do you want this time?”“I want to join Bucapital,” Emily answered straightforwardly.“Oh? Why?” Murray’s voice sounded relaxed, almost as if he had anticipated her request.Emily licked her lips, trying to sound as confident as possible, “I want to see you every day, go to work with you, come home with you…” She paused, her voice tinged with a longing, “I don't want to be here all day, doing nothing, just waiting for you to return.”There was a brief silence on the other end, filled only with Murray's shallow breathing.Emily’s heart raced, her fingers turning white from the tension. After a long time, Murray hummed in affirmation.“You agree?”“Hmm.”&ld
Fifteen years ago, Barlow was deeply involved in the competitive bidding for the Sandviken redevelopment project. At that time, Gotrust was at a crucial point in its transformation, and securing this project was pivotal for the company's survival.Barlow risked almost everything he had, but he also thought about leaving something for his daughter, Emily, in case of failure. He hastily set up two companies independent of the group.One was a real estate company led by Barlow's sister, Nora Rockefeller, the legal representative. The company held various fixed assets: twenty terraced houses in Sandviken's Moon Bay, commercial and residential apartments in C&D Block A and E, fifty retail spaces in the Trade Center, and the Egret Lake Hot Spring Resort.The other company was a light-asset operation with an initial capital investment of two hundred million U.S. dollars, helmed by Barlow's brother-in-law, Alston.&nb
"Since when does the CEO's office interfere with the personnel center? Do you want to start breaking the rules now?"His cold gaze and the rhythmic tapping of his well-defined fingers on the desk seemed to echo ominously in Cornelius's anxious heart. Cornelius trembled slightly, regretting his impulsive suggestion."Mr. Gibson, please give me another chance," Cornelius pleaded, almost in tears.Murray's voice, deep and resonant, carried a warning, "Three strikes and you're out.""Thank you, Mr. Gibson. Thank you," Cornelius said, his face gloomy as he left the office.After dealing with his immediate tasks, Murray picked up his phone and made a call. After three rings, the call was answered."What are you doing?" Murray asked casually, idly spinning a pen on his desk with his slender fingers.Emily responded from the other end, "Jus
Murray entered the hall to find Emily slumped over the table, one hand clutching a wine bottle, the other pillowing her head, motionless as if passed out or asleep.Treading lightly, he approached her, his fingers gently brushing the long hair away from her face. Her delicate features were scrunched in discomfort, even her small nose wrinkled, as if she were still scolding him in her dreams.Murray couldn't help but find the scene amusing. Leaning over her, he observed her closely. She looked like a docile kitten in this state, a stark contrast to the vitriol she had spewed over the phone.Suddenly, Emily's petite nose twitched, her lips slightly parted as she unconsciously licked them, making a lazy murmur. This endearing sight softened Murray's heart, filling him with affection. He couldn't resist leaning down to gently kiss her lips.Startled by the kiss, Emily's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowl
Murray stood motionless, letting her embrace his waist. He asks Malcolm, "Prepare the car.""Right away," Malcolm hurriedly.Soon he returned, "boss, the car is ready."Murray glanced at Emily and sighed helplessly, "Take her with us in the car.""Let me go! What are you trying to do?"Emily began to struggle. The two young servants dared not breathe, restraining her. She was drunk, making her movements sluggish."Murray, you cur, where are you taking me? I won't go. I want to get out of the car. Let me go."Murray, sitting in the front, was already in excruciating pain, and her cursing only added to his headache. In a fit of anger, he shouted, "Stop the car!"The nanny's car screeched to a halt. They were in a transition area between the villa and the city, with no villages ahead or stores behind.
Emily didn't feel like talking with him."Got dumped by a sugar daddy?""Bullied by someone?" Ronald then shook his head, "With your strength, you'd be the one bullying others. Who could bully you?""So, why did you get drunk?" Ronald persisted.Emily, exasperated, replied offhandedly, "Aren't you angry that I beat up your bro?"Ronald leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs, with a mischievous smile, "Well, you're still my 'girlfriend'... For me, brothers are like clothes.""Get lost," Emily laughed despite herself. "I was just frustrated about getting rejected from a job.""That's it?" Ronald looked disappointed, expecting some juicy gossip.Emily stared at the ceiling, "You don't understand."Ronald offered her a cigarette, which she initially refused, but he insisted, placing it in her m
"Good evening, everyone," Ronald greeted, kissing the room's occupants.Emily frowned slightly at his flamboyant entrance, feeling embarrassed.Sensing Ronald's growing exuberance, Emily stepped forward and discreetly pinched his arm. Ronald, snapping back to reality, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her towards Murray.Murray sat with crossed legs and an expressionless face on the sofa. His chiseled features, highlighted under the flickering lights, appeared more profound than ever.Ronald pushed Emily gently towards Murray and leaned in, saying, "Emily wasn't in the best spirits yesterday and accidentally hurt you. She's in the wrong and is here to apologize. Let's put this behind us, shall we?"Murray remained seated, his gaze on his injured right hand, which cast a large shadow under his long eyelashes. It seemed like ages since Emily last saw him, with a strange sense of alienation in the air.Emily's eyes fell on his right
Stacey smiled and placed her hand over the rim of Murray's glass. "Of course not; you're already injured. Do you want to heal too quickly or something?"Murray lowered his eyelids slightly and raised his injured hand before Emily, shaking it slightly. "Did you hear that?"Emily bit her lip, unable to find the words. She had thought that by showing genuine remorse, Murray might be less angry considering her sincere apology.She hoped that if Murray was still willing to talk to her, there might be a chance to reconcile and potentially secure her position at Bucapital. Now, she wondered what she could do to gain his forgiveness.She turned to look for Ronald, hoping he would say something again, only to realize that he had disappeared.Jean had also stepped out to take a phone call.Now Emily stood alone in front of the sofa, ignored and without a seat.&
In the coffee shop, Murray pushed aside his sugar-added coffee, a gesture Stacey noticed as her hand paused, spoon in mid-air. "What's wrong?""I never add sugar to my coffee," Murray said with a smile."Before..." Stacey started, then stopped, realizing the significance. What used to be was in the past; now it was a different story."Why did you ask me to come here?" Stacey dropped the spoon into the cup, a droplet of dark brown liquid splashing onto the white saucer, starkly visible.Murray looked puzzled. "Wasn't it you who invited me?"Stacey, half amused and half irritated, pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and pushed it toward Murray.A message inviting her for a meeting, signed by Murray, flashed on the screen.Murray frowned; he had received a similar message from the same number. He dialed the number from Stacey's phone, which was quickly answered. "How is it going? Did Murray show up? Talk it out. After so many
"Is it well peeled?" Holding up the neatly peeled apple, Emily smiled with her eyes curving into crescents. "Look, I didn't break the peel even once."Elton opened his mouth but suddenly found himself at a loss for words. An invisible wall stood between them, unseen yet palpably separating them."Mr. Cromwell, may I come in?" Sandy stood at the door with her laptop, her arrival seemingly a rescue for Elton."Come in."Emily stood up. "If you need to discuss work, I won't intrude."Elton politely insisted it was okay for her to stay, but Emily mentioned that now that she, too, worked at the company, it was proper to follow protocol.Elton didn't press her to stay any longer.Before leaving, Sandy gave Emily a knowing wink, and Emily nodded in understanding.Once outside the hospital, Emily searched on her phone for the nearest mall. She planned to do some shopping. Ronald had called her, pleading for her to attend his mother's b
Entering the office, the supervisor perused Emily's file, her brows knitting into a tight knot. This resume was the most outlandish she had ever seen since joining the company. However, the more outlandish it was, the clearer it became that this girl was no ordinary employee.She gestured for Emily to sit, her tone softening slightly, "Your team members have formally accused you of malicious competition."As Emily predicted, those two must have claimed that she had hidden other members' reports to favor her own.Emily remained expressionless. "Was it Lydia or Karen?"The supervisor was taken aback by her directness. "Both of them have made allegations.""Oh," Emily nodded, meeting the supervisor's gaze calmly, "I assume you investigate such claims."The teacher's eyebrows lifted in surprise; the young lady didn't seem like a novice in the workplace. "Indeed, at Bucapital, a major company, we don't target any employee based solely on an accus
"Starting to check up on me now?" Murray teased as he playfully kissed Emily, pausing between each peck.Emily dodged his kisses with a smile, "If you're avoiding answering, you must have had dinner with a woman."Murray pinched her cheek lightly, "Even if there were women at the dinner, they were business partners. Does gender really matter?""Fair enough," Emily said, pushing his shoulders to sit up. "I have a question for you."Seeing her serious expression, Murray couldn't help but smile."Be serious, don't laugh," Emily chided, tapping his shoulder.Murray composed himself, waiting for her question."If, and I'm just saying if, someone made you choose between me and Stacey, who would you pick?"Murray frowned, "What kind of childish question is that?""Just answer me," Emily urged, shaking his arm.Murray squeezed her hand firmly, his voice cold, "I'd choose to eliminate the person forcing me to make that cho
Caught under the intense gaze of such a handsome man, Donna couldn't bring herself to look up, her face flushing like pomegranate seeds.Emily, noticing Humphrey's look, immediately understood his intentions. She swiftly pulled Donna behind her, speaking firmly, "I'm warning you, don't even think about it."With a puzzled expression, Donna thought to herself, 'The boss is interested in me? Is this really happening?'She discreetly poked Emily's waist, internally pleading, 'Please don't stop the boss from showing interest in me.'Emily, misunderstanding Donna's gesture as fear of offending Humphrey, reassuringly patted her shoulder, "Don't worry, I'm here. He won't dare do anything to you."Humphrey raised an eyebrow and leaned forward to get a better look at Donna. As someone experienced in reading women, he was well aware of what they desired and confident in his allure.Humphrey snapped his fingers at Donna, tilting his chin suggestively,
As Elton left with Odelia, he avoided Emily's gaze. However, Emily stopped him with a smile, "You should go to the hospital first."Elton looked up, meeting her smiling face. She spoke with concern, but her eyes lacked their usual sparkling brightness. Suddenly, his steps felt unbearably heavy, as if they were laden with lead."Are you coming or not?" Odelia impatiently tugged at his sleeve.Regaining his composure, Elton sighed, hunched over, and slowly shuffled out."If you want to cry, just let it out," Humphrey, lounging on the sofa, his arm supporting his head, said to Emily with an amused smile.Emily sensed a change in the atmosphere after the two left. Humphrey's demeanor shifted from malicious mockery to a gentle familiarity, unintentionally lowering her guard.Standing for so long, her legs had become numb. Emily moved to sit on the sofa opposite Humphrey, her tone calm, "Why should I cry?"Humphrey, lips curled in a meaning
As he spoke, Humphrey paused briefly, his gaze unabashedly sweeping over Emily."Out of the two, one must stay with me today. As for who stays, you decide."He leaned back into the sofa, seemingly amused by his own game. Resting his chin on the back of his hand, he chuckled lightly.Emily looked at Elton, seeing him clench his teeth, his eyes bloodshot with anger.Clinging to Humphrey's leg, Odelia complained, "I'm your girlfriend; how can you say such things in front of me?""Girlfriend?" Humphrey laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He wrapped an arm around her, his voice soft but his eyes chillingly cold, "I have many pets, but certainly no girlfriend."Odelia turned pale, incredulous, "You see me as your pet?"Humphrey laughed again, "You're not even a pet, to be precise, a toy.""No, that's not true. You've
Emily donned a sleek, all-black ensemble, complete with a baseball cap, and just before stepping out, she clipped a pen to her waist.In the car, her thoughts were in turmoil. She hardly knew Humphrey, but it was clear that he was not someone to be trifled with.Yet, Elton had insisted on keeping the Cromwells in the dark. Contacting the police would blow their cover, so she pondered texting Murray for help but ultimately decided against it, not wanting to drag him into this messy affair.Parking on the Road, she didn't head straight for the back streets. A glance around revealed two traffic officers at the street corner, offering a slight reassurance.She then fished a tiny pepper spray from her pocket, holding it tightly in her palm, before venturing into the dark alley. Fortunately, it was short, and she emerged quickly.Outside, she spotted a tall, lean young man leaning agai
After work, Emily stepped out of the skyscraper, not wanting to return to the villa. She walked slowly along the sidewalk, the city lights just beginning to twinkle. The streets bustled with traffic, and the colorful lights on the overpass lit up like a rainbow arching over the city.The CBD, every inch of it worth its weight in gold, seemed like two different worlds by day and night. The aroma of various street foods wafted from the carts lining the road, stirring up a voracious appetite in passersby."The hustle and bustle of life, it truly soothes the soul," Emily thought, looking up and taking a deep breath. Then, she pulled out her phone and ordered a takeaway for two, hoping to share it with Donna.However, Donna was out at a dinner party.It seemed every time Emily called Donna. Lately, she has been at some social events. Emily couldn't help but wonder what kind of entertainment company Donna