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
After Serena left, Scott turned to Julissa and said, "You’re my assistant. Your job is to help me solve problems, not create them. Can’t you make my life a little easier?"Julissa huffed, "You don’t even know right from wrong. If you think I’m a bad assistant, then I think you’re a terrible boss with bad judgment! Just fire me!"She was so worked up that she didn’t notice the way Scott’s once-calm and controlled gaze darkened.As she turned to leave, Scott grabbed her wrist, pulled her back in front of him, and trapped her between his body and the desk."What are you doing?!"Ignoring her protests, he seized both of her hands and pinned them behind her back. His other hand pressed against the back of her head.Then, he kissed her.His lips were firm and forceful, nearly bruising hers.For a brief moment, Julissa was too stunned to react. But as soon as she snapped back to her senses, she started struggling fiercely.She lifted her foot and stomped hard on Scott’s instep.He frowned sl
"If I wasn’t wrong, then why did you apologize?" Julissa’s voice was much quieter now, her confidence faltering. She stood there, her eyes flickering with a mix of confusion and hurt.Scott sighed, exasperated. "I didn’t want you to keep getting harassed," he began, his voice heavy with a weariness that went beyond the moment. "With Serena’s personality, she’ll definitely try to retaliate against you. I won’t always be around to protect you."Julissa stared at him blankly, her mind racing to catch up with the implications of his words. So that’s why he had intervened, why he had apologized on her behalf. It wasn’t about admitting fault; it was about shielding her from further harm."Sorry, Mr. Nichols. I really didn’t expect you to—" she started, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the right words. She felt a pang of guilt for misunderstanding his intentions. Her heart ached with the thought that she might have hurt him, even if unintentionally."Julissa, do you think I co
Julissa tapped her forehead lightly, forcing herself to stop overthinking. Maybe Scott truly cared about her, but she wasn’t ready to accept anyone’s feelings so easily. Her failed relationship with Dr. Carter had been a painful lesson.Dr. Carter had been sincere, even proposing to her. In an attempt to move on from a past heartbreak, she had impulsively accepted his proposal. Eventually, she had the courage to break up with him, but not before causing him a great deal of pain. She had been reckless, irresponsible—she had played with someone else’s feelings.So until she truly figured out what she wanted, she wasn’t fit to be in a relationship. And she had a strong feeling that if she accepted Scott and later changed her mind, he wouldn’t let her off so easily. This man was cold, calculating, and ruthless when necessary. Running a massive corporation at such a young age was proof of his capability. If he ever wanted to retaliate against her, it would be as easy as flipping his hand.
Scott sat in his chair, proud and unmoved, alone against the room.Then, his gaze swept across the room like a blade. His commanding presence silenced everyone.With an air of finality, he declared, "There is no need to discuss Julissa any further. This topic ends here."Scott left the meeting room and cast a glance at Julissa but said nothing.The other shareholders also exited one after another.Most of them looked indifferent, but the elderly shareholder who had been arguing fiercely—Mr. Bishop—furrowed his brows tightly and let out a cold snort when he passed by her.Once everyone was gone, Julissa approached Scott.He sat behind his desk, flipping through documents, looking completely unbothered by the tense discussion that had just taken place.After a while, he looked up at her. “Do you need something?”She first reported the emails she had organized and his schedule for the day.Scott gave a few instructions, then returned to his paperwork.She knew it was time to leave.But a
Scott chuckled, his sharp gaze tinged with amusement. “What, you want to accompany me on my trip?”“...I didn’t mean that!” Julissa quickly denied.“This business trip is important, and Jerry has been handling this project from the beginning. He’ll be meeting me in Tokyo in a few days. You’ll stay here and continue your work—I still need you to coordinate things on this end.”Hearing that she was still needed, Julissa felt a subtle sense of accomplishment and anticipation.Jerry was another assistant to the president, known for being Scott’s most trusted right-hand man. Unlike her, Jerry was an elite—his intelligence and skills were beyond comparison. He was not just an assistant but also served as an executive decision-maker when necessary.Julissa admired him.She wished she had his abilities.Right now, she was just struggling to keep up, trying not to make mistakes. Let alone taking on big responsibilities, she hadn’t even proven herself as a competent assistant."Thinking of taki
They wanted him to abandon his push for AI development and return to real estate—an industry they were more comfortable with.But Scott had no interest in entertaining their demands.He was the one in control, and no one else would dictate Time Group’s future.Clashes between the CEO and the board were nothing new.As for Time Group’s future, Scott wasn’t worried.If he let emotions dictate his decisions instead of strategy, the company wouldn’t have grown so rapidly under his leadership.Still, there was no need to tell Julissa about this.If she found out, she might blame herself, or worse, think that Time Group was on the verge of collapse. Knowing her, she might even resign out of guilt.That was unacceptable.Letting her work here had always been his decision—not the board’s.The next day, Julissa threw herself into self-improvement.She ordered a stack of books online, covering topics from economics to management. Titles ranged from The Wealth of Nations to The Warren Buffett Wa
As Jerry walked past Julissa’s desk, his sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the printed resignation letter.Without a second glance, he proceeded straight into the CEO’s office.After placing a document on Scott’s desk, he remarked casually, “Mr. Nichols, Miss Hickman just wrote a resignation letter.”Scott’s brows furrowed slightly.After a moment of silence, he said, “I’ll review these documents later. I’m going to the gym.”“Understood, Mr. Nichols.”Scott changed into sportswear and walked out of his office, heading toward the company’s private gym.As he passed by Julissa’s office, he knocked lightly on her transparent glass door.Lost in thought, Julissa jumped slightly at the sound. Looking up, she saw Scott standing there, dressed in a fitted black athletic outfit.“Mr. Nichols!”Flustered, she hurriedly stood up and, in a panic, stuffed the resignation letter into her desk drawer.Scott pretended not to notice.“I’m heading to the gym. Come with me.”“Oh… okay.”Julissa quickly 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