Inside the CEO's office on the top floor of the Winslow Conglomerate headquarters, Assistant Sutton stood respectfully before the desk, watching her boss review documents with a calm and leisurely demeanor. She wondered whether she should relay that message or not.
Julian Winslow looked up, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes behind his glasses. "Is there something else?"
"Mr. Winslow, Miss Hughes asked me to pass on a message," Assistant Sutton said calmly. She figured she was merely a messenger; it shouldn't be a problem.
"What message?" Julian asked, his tone indifferent.
"Miss Hughes said she has absolutely no interest in becoming your spouse," Assistant Sutton reported truthfully, not leaving out a single word.
"Alright, I understand. You may leave," Julian said.
"Yes, Mr. Winslow."
Not long after Assistant Sutton left the office, Julian took out his phone, unlocked it, and dialed a number.
At that same moment, Shalma Hughes, who was in the middle of conducting a sales department meeting, saw the caller ID flash on her phone screen.
It read: "Lord Benefactor."
She gestured for the other department members to continue without her and stepped out of the conference room.
Shalma wore a sharp white business suit. As she stood in the company hallway holding her phone, she painted such a striking picture that the male employees passing by couldn't help but steal glances.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Winslow?" Shalma asked, completely dropping the sweet, delicate tone she used to adopt with him.
"Didn't you always call me 'Lord Benefactor' before? Why the sudden change in tune?" His rich, intoxicating voice carried through the receiver. Shalma could perfectly picture the expression on his face as he spoke.
"Mr. Winslow, if my memory serves me right, our relationship ended a week ago!" It was true. They hadn't seen each other or been in contact for an entire week. Just as they had agreed, once they broke it off, they would become absolute strangers. She simply hadn't expected him to call her at a time like this.
"Our relationship as lovers has ended, yes. But another kind of relationship, I'm afraid, is just about to begin."
Just as Shalma was about to demand what he meant, BEEP BEEP BEEP echoed from the line. He had actually hung up on her!
Her beautiful eyes flared with anger. She decided that this man was utterly despicable.
One week later.
Early in the morning, Shalma strode into the office in an excellent mood, holding a cup of black coffee, a designer bag slung over her shoulder, and wearing a pair of stiletto heels.
It had been three years since she joined the company. During this time, Shalma had worked incredibly hard. Even though many gossiped behind her back that she had slept her way to the top, she didn't care in the slightest. After all, up until two weeks ago, she really did have a man backing her.
"Ms. Shalma, you seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today." Upon seeing her arrive, Shalma's secretary, Thea Grant, hurried forward clutching a thick stack of documents with a flattering smile.
"Did I look like I was in a bad mood before?" Shalma opened the door to her office and walked in.
Thea followed her inside. "Yeah! You had a terrible temper last week. None of the team members dared to talk to you, terrified you'd chew them out." Thea spoke with an innocent face. Because of this situation, she had been pushed into running endless errands by the rest of the terrified staff.
Hearing Thea's words, Shalma paused in the middle of sorting through her files. Her pretty brows furrowed. It turned out that inexplicable phone call had affected her that much. It had ruined her mood for an entire week.
"Do you guys really think I'm some sort of dragon lady? I'm not that scary!" Shalma chuckled, opening the documents she had found and preparing to read them.
Just then, the phone on her desk rang. Shalma picked up the receiver.
"Alright, I understand," she said, before hanging up. "I need to make a trip to the Chairman's office. Organize these materials first; I'll need them for a meeting this afternoon."
"Got it, Ms. Shalma," Thea replied obediently, taking the files.