Julissa blinked.
She had kissed and hugged him while drunk, even made some rather suggestive remarks—shouldn’t he be angry?
Unless… Scott actually liked being taken advantage of by her?
The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
She looked up at him, only to find that his gaze was filled with a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite decipher.
Fragments of memories surfaced in her mind. She vaguely recalled that after carrying her to the bedroom, he had said, “Wait for me, don’t fall asleep.”
She had obviously fallen asleep afterward, but that also meant that last night, he had wanted to…
Julissa found it hard to believe. No, it was impossible.
Scott? Interested in her?
“Mr. Nichols, I don’t understand what you mean.”
Scott’s deep eyes locked onto hers. “Julissa, are you truly this clueless, or are you just pretending?”
Her heart pounded wildly.
She wasn’t stupid. Nor was she playing dumb.
She was j
Scott took a deep breath and said, “Julissa, I’ll give you one month to reconsider. Please think carefully before giving me your final answer.”Julissa felt an overwhelming sense of pressure and dominance, making her instinctively nod.But a moment later, she realized—Wait, why am I letting him control the situation?She didn’t need a whole month to think this over.“There’s no need to consider anything. I really don’t have those kinds of feelings for you. So, Mr. Nichols, you don’t have to force yourself to keep me employed. I’ll go to HR this afternoon to resign.”With that, she turned on her heels to leave.But before she could take a step, his cold voice rang out from behind her—“Stop.”His tone was sharp, intimidating.She flinched inwardly but stood her ground. When she turned back around, her expression was stubborn and defiant.
“Last year’s?”“Yeah. I’m sure of it because our company’s overseas department won the bid for this project in the end.”“So, this document is outdated? Then why is Scott making Julissa summarize it, saying he needs it urgently?”Kendrick smirked. “What do you think?”Annabelle processed the thought and then glared at him. “No wonder you two get along so well—you really are birds of a feather.”Why was Scott making Julissa work on an outdated document? Obviously, just to keep her by his side a little longer.His scheming and manipulative ways were exactly like a certain someone she knew.Annabelle thought about it, then smirked. Mimicking Kendrick’s tone, she sent a message to Julissa:“I’m not home, and I didn’t bring my phone.”She wanted Julissa and Scott to make some progress, so of course, she wasn&rsquo
Logically speaking, since he had confessed his feelings, he should be pursuing her now—shouldn't he be doing everything to please her?But he clearly had no intention of doing so.Had he given up after being rejected? Was the proud and aloof young master so fragile that he’d just walk away that easily?If he could give up so easily, then he probably wasn’t serious from the start.A wave of inexplicable anger rose in Julissa’s chest.She lowered her head and focused on eating, refusing to say another word.Just then, Julian came downstairs and happened to pass by the dining room.Scott set down his chopsticks and glanced at him. “Skipping lunch? Where are you going?”Julian took a few steps back to the dining room doorway, scratched his head, and grinned.“A friend called me out. I’m heading off—see you later, sis-in-law!”With that, he waved at Julissa.
Julissa hung up the phone and gestured for Serena to follow her.As they walked toward the CEO’s office, Julissa felt a little uneasy.The day before, at the engagement party, she had splashed a glass of wine all over Serena.Although Serena had provoked her first and had even picked up a glass to throw at her, Julissa had acted first by grabbing the glass and returning the favor.No matter the circumstances, she was the one who struck first.And the one who strikes first is usually in the wrong.Was Serena here today to settle yesterday’s score with Scott?Julissa glanced sideways at Serena, only to see a smirk playing on her lips, her expression full of confidence—like a victor certain of her win.Julissa was almost certain that Serena had come for her, not Scott.She wasn’t afraid of her.She just didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble for Scott.Lost in thought, she reali
After the board meeting, that veteran shareholder had even approached Scott to explain himself, hoping Scott wouldn’t misunderstand—he insisted that he remained loyal to the company.Meanwhile, Julissa, that clueless girl, had no idea that her straightforwardness had actually helped him.She had even apologized to him after the meeting, saying that she had spoken impulsively out of frustration on his behalf and promised that she would never speak out of turn again.If not for another assistant being present at the time, Scott would have really wanted to pull her into his arms…Back in the office, Scott cleared his throat, resting a fist against his lips, and said, “Then I’ll trouble Miss Hickman to make two cups of coffee. You can use the equipment in the break room.”“Understood, Mr. Nichols.”Julissa turned and walked off with an air of defiant pride, making Scott chuckle.He could cl
Just then, the electric kettle beeped three times—the water was boiling. It was time to make the coffee.Not being able to hear the rest of the conversation left a knot in Julissa’s heart.She wanted to keep eavesdropping, but their voices had gotten too quiet. All she could tell was that they were still chatting.Hah, they sure have a lot to talk about.To be fair, Serena was quite attractive—but she was also unbearably arrogant. Julissa had thought Scott wasn’t the type to be blinded by looks, that he could see beyond a pretty face. Turns out he’s just as shallow as the rest.Thinking this, she almost forgot about the coffee in her hands.According to Scott’s instructions, a pour-over coffee required two rounds of water after the blooming phase. But she had waited too long between the first and second pour. Would that affect the taste?Well, aside from that small hiccup, she had followed all his s
Julissa anxiously glanced at Scott, only to see him take a sip of his coffee, blow on it, and say, “What she said is actually correct. Brewing two cups of pour-over coffee at once requires some attention. If you don’t have experience, it’s easy to fail the first time.”Hearing him explain on her behalf, Julissa breathed a sigh of relief.At least, in front of others, Scott didn’t plan to reprimand her.She was about to slip away when she saw Scott take another sip of his coffee, his brow furrowing even tighter.Nervously, she asked, “Mr. Nichols, is it not good?”“Why don’t you try it yourself?”Scott pushed the cup toward her.Julissa quickly picked up the cup and took a sip, grimacing.It was so sour and awful—the coffee’s aroma hadn’t come out at all, and only the sourness stood out. Overall, it was weak and overly acidic.She felt so embarr
"Fine, if you're not interested in the project, then let's drop it. But your assistant publicly poured wine all over me—I need an explanation for that."Serena was not someone who could tolerate even a speck of injustice. She refused to accept any kind of humiliation.Originally, she had intended to use the contract matter as leverage to get Scott to fire Julissa.Since that plan failed, she couldn’t just leave empty-handed.She had to get an answer."Wait a moment."Scott picked up the landline phone and dialed the assistant’s office."Julissa, come to my office," he said coldly. He didn’t even wait for her response before hanging up.On the other end, Julissa listened to the beeping sound from the phone and suddenly felt uneasy.This is bad...Nervously, Julissa entered the office.Before she could say anything, Scott immediately asked, "I heard you poured a glass of champagne on S
“I missed you, so I flew over.”Kendrick smiled as he wrapped his arm around Anna’s waist, leaning in for a kiss.Annabelle dodged slightly, making his lips land on the corner of her mouth instead.“Are you mad?” he asked.“Jax is still here,” she whispered, her face instantly turning red.Kendrick glanced over at Jax.The man was standing not too far away, very tactfully admiring the sky, the sea, the sand—basically everything except looking in their direction.Satisfied, Kendrick captured Anna’s lips in a proper kiss, though he didn’t linger too long.Even if Jax wasn’t watching, her colleagues were also sneaking glances.It wasn’t that he minded showing affection in public.He just didn’t want other men to see her blushing.“Tired?”Annabelle shook her head, feeling a little embarrassed. “I slept the whole way.”“When does filming start?”Her excitement was obvious as she replied, “The director said the weather will be great tomorrow morning, so we can start shooting then!”Her exp
The group was set to take a seaplane to their final destination—a small island. As they got closer, excitement among the crew grew. Most of them, aside from the director, cinematographer, and the the Murphy Group’s accompanying staff, were regular workers. Their jobs were demanding. Shooting a commercial was manageable since it had a short production cycle, but working on a film or TV series meant being on set for months—sometimes half a year or more. Even if they had money, they rarely had the time to take a vacation. So, getting a free trip to the Maldives? That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was no surprise they were thrilled—and naturally, their attitude toward Annabelle had warmed up significantly. Of course, that hadn’t always been the case. At the script meeting, she had been shy and unfamiliar with the team, and they hadn’t been particularly friendly either. Everyone knew she had requested script changes, and people tended to resist change. They thought she
Annabelle was first surprised, then quickly realized—this was exactly the kind of thing Kendrick would do. At the same time, she couldn’t help but complain inwardly. That guy! He actually kept this a secret from her, making her think she’d have to film in the freezing waters of Elfhedge. She had worried for *days* over nothing. And really, if the production was already planning to shoot at a warm southern beach, why did he have to go *this* far? Whether she was annoyed that he kept it from her or upset that he was being so extravagant, deep down, all she felt was warmth. Ever since being with Kendrick, her entire life had been arranged perfectly. She didn’t have to worry about anything—he always planned ahead for her, considering every little detail. Because of that, she had grown more and more dependent on him, to the point where she was starting to lose her independence. But Annabelle also understood—her past resilience and self-sufficiency hadn’t come from an inherent love
Wrapped in a thick down jacket, Annabelle sat in the car driven by Jax, feeling both the dread of the winter sea and the nerves of her first-ever film shoot. Thinking about today’s filming made her uneasy. According to the script, she had to wear a thin wedding dress and jump into the freezing ocean in the middle of winter. And she wouldn’t be allowed to come out immediately—there were also underwater scenes to be shot. Could the waters near Elfhedge really produce the crystal-clear effect the script required? She let out a long sigh. Why had she been so stubborn about changing the script? Clearly, playing smart didn’t suit her—every little *trick* she had pulled ended up backfiring on herself. *T_T* She glanced at her phone, debating whether to message Kendrick, but in the end, she put it away. It should be nighttime where he was. Kendrick had left the day before on a sudden business trip—something even he hadn’t expected. Before leaving, he had kissed her cheek and told h
For days, an unease had lingered in Annabelle’s heart—the assassin who kept targeting Kendrick. That *Mr. Whitney* was like a ticking time bomb buried beneath their seemingly peaceful lives. They had no idea when he would strike again, bringing the next “explosion.” **“What are you thinking about?”** Kendrick asked. Annabelle turned to look at him. **“That Mr. Whitney… Have you figured out who he really is?”** Kendrick’s eyes darkened as he shifted his gaze back to the road ahead. **“Yes.”** Annabelle’s eyes widened. **“Who is he? Do you know why he wants to kill you?”** Kendrick fell silent for a moment. He knew Anna didn’t follow the news and was unaware of how powerful Ryan from the Chu Group truly was. Should he tell her now? Should he tell her that *Mr. Whitney*—Ryan—wasn’t just the CEO of the Chu Group, the company currently locked in a fierce market battle with the Gregory Group? Should he tell her that Ryan was also the *young master* she once trusted and was deepl
Kendrick played it cool, explaining, “Didn’t I tell you earlier? I was nearby.”Annabelle immediately sensed something off in his words. Could it be that he had been in Lin’s Group all along, secretly watching her?That definitely sounded like something he would do.At that moment, Simon, who was sitting behind his executive desk, asked, “So, Anna, how was your talk with Malina?”Annabelle replied that everything had gone smoothly. She had adjusted the script slightly, and Malina would report the details to him later.Simon nodded with a smile. Checking the time, he noted that it was already noon. Since she was done for the day, he advised her to head home early and rest well—once the commercial shoot began, those days would be exhausting. He had a lunch appointment and wouldn’t be able to join her and Kendrick.Annabelle hadn’t expected Uncle Simon to join them for lunch anyway. She exchanged a few polite words before leaving Lin’s Group with Kendrick.The Japanese restaurant Kendric
“He’s more or less confirmed,” Malina frowned slightly. “But I’m not entirely satisfied.”Annabelle asked, “Is it someone I know?”“A top-tier A-list actor—Julian. You’ve heard of him, right?”Hearing the name, Annabelle’s eyes instantly lit up.Julian was Scott’s younger brother. And Scott was a good friend of Kendrick. From what Kendrick had told her, he and Julian had a decent relationship.That meant Julian could be considered one of their own.As for the scene she was most worried about—the kiss that might make Kendrick jealous—she could simply ask Julian to use camera tricks to make it appear real. He would surely cooperate and not cross any boundaries.Kendrick should be able to relax now, right?Plus, she could invite Julissa, that little fangirl, to visit the set. She had always adored Julian, and this would be the perfect opportunity for her to take a photo with her "Julian-gege" and get to know him better.With all these thoughts in mind, Annabelle felt much more at ease.“
Malina willingly stepped aside, letting Annabelle take his seat at the computer.She began typing out her ideas in a document.Scene One: On a grand cruise ship, a lavish wedding is taking place. Suddenly, the bride leaps into the sea and transforms into a mermaid.The groom, without hesitation, dives in after her. Just before she loses her ability to speak, the bride utters a single sentence:"Take my tears and come find me in ten years. If you still love me, the curse will be lifted."A teardrop falls from the bride’s eye—deep blue, shimmering—and lands in the groom’s palm, transforming into a sapphire.Scene Two: The groom brings the sapphire ashore and entrusts it to a jewelry designer (the background of the designer's studio will feature the Lin Jewelry logo). The sapphire is eventually crafted into a necklace—a delicate golden chain suspending a teardrop-shaped blue gem, passing through a finely carved, hollow heart-shaped pendant, resembling a tear falling straight from the hea
The man’s gaze seemed stuck on Anna, unable to pull away.Wasn’t Malina supposed to be arrogant? Why didn’t he seem arrogant at all? Instead, he appeared particularly attentive to Anna.Logically, Kendrick should be happy that someone appreciated Anna, but he couldn’t help feeling sour about it.Still, he couldn’t react too strongly. Anna had always been displeased with his jealousy, so he had to restrain himself. As long as that man didn’t cross the line, Kendrick would stay put.Just as he was thinking this, he saw Anna say something to Malina. Malina frowned slightly, then walked over, bending down a little to look at the document in her hands.One hand rested on the back of her chair, while the other casually slipped into his pocket as he leisurely explained something to her.Was it really necessary to be this close just to read a document? It almost looked like he was holding Anna in his arms!Kendrick couldn’t sit still any longer.Just as he stood up, ready to walk over, he saw