I See Myself in Her

'Ah, I don't like this. I hate her.’
Lillianne immediately thought of that when she saw the interaction between Blaze and Helena Grace. From the moment the model arrived, she was determined to loathe her. She couldn't stand the sight of her body language towards her mate.
"I come to fulfill your invitation. Let's talk in a more private place," said Blaze. The man remained calm amidst all of this.
"Of course. I always have time for you, Mr. Davies. I am not like you who can ignore someone as attractive as me and leave them feeling lonely. We can meet in any private place if you want - however long it takes."
'Oh, look at her. How disgusting the way she acts and talks to him. She doesn't even bother to hide how unprofessional she is.'
Lillianne couldn't hold back the cringe she felt. She was even very close to using her powers to make the model vanish from Leander's sight. Her presence was such an eyesore.
However, as much as she hated to admit it, she actually saw herself in that fellow woman. She noticed that what she was doing was the same as the way she had been seducing her boss all this time. Was that the reason why Blaze kept rejecting her? Apparently, it felt so cringy and cheesy by others.
As if she could read her mind, Helena Grace glanced at her. Lillianne could tell that the woman didn't like her either. Helena gave her a little side-eyed while briefly looking at her from head to toe.
'Why are you looking at me? I know, you don't believe his secretary is this beautiful, right? I am even waaaaay prettier than you.'
Lillianne barely kept her words from coming out.
"Who is she? Your new secretary?" Helena Grace asked shortly.
As long as Lillianne wanted to use her ability to push this annoying woman away, she couldn't do that. She knew that such imprudence could destroy everything.
'Now I understand why Theodoros warned me to control my emotions in front of her. So, this is why.'
Thus, instead of showing her sour face or looking for a fight, Lillianne greeted her with her best fake smile.
"This is the first time we have met, Ms. Grace. My name is Lillianne Guinn. I am Mr. Davies' new secretary. Nice to meet you.”
She gave Lillianne another blasphemous look.
"Yeah, me too." She ignored her to face Blaze again. Her cynical gaze on Lillianne earlier changed to being sweet to him. "I don't think it's very good to talk here, Mr. Davies. Let's find a better place."
***
"I don't understand why you have to ask me to meet in person, Ms. Grace. I think our representatives have explained the contract matters very well and clearly to you."
Blaze Davies opened the main topic of the meeting as they entered a special room to discuss it.
The woman looked ambiguous again. She sat elegantly in front of them, crossed her legs, and then showed that annoying smile at the CEO of Pageant Corp.
"Yeah, they did. But there are still things that need to be discussed," she said shortly.
"What are they?"
"Hm..." Helena Grace played around. She put on a thoughtful face, even though it seemed like an excuse. "Well, it seems there is no point in lying. I did talk to your company representative, but I want to meet you to sign our contract. I have to use this a little to my advantage, you know? I mean, this is also your fault for always ignoring me all this time."
'Oh, how lowly of her to do that.'
Lillianne judged her silently again, but then she came back to herself. She remembered that just a few days ago she had done something no less embarrassing in the hotel room.
On the other hand, Blaze Davies still looked calm. It was the same reaction as back then.
"I don't know if you rememmber, but it's almost a year we never saw each other again after the party. I tried calling you many times, but you always ignored me. That's why I need to take a little revenge for it first." Helena Grace only kept rambling. "Anyway, I am curious why you chose me to be the ambassador after everything that happened between us? This is your way of luring me back because you missed me after I left, right? I knew it!"
"We need to emphasize here that this is not my own decision, but the result of an internal company meeting," Blaze replied.
"But you are the boss. You are the one who ultimately decided it in the end, right? Stop reasoning!"
'Ah, she is getting more annoying. Why is she as stubborn as me?'
Lillianne kept restraining her own emotions so as not to pounce on this woman alive in front of Leander. This woman is too sl*tty towards her lover. She couldn't stand it anymore.
She glanced at Blaze. This man was indeed quite different. How could he be so indifferent like that?
"When the brand ambassador candidates were determined, my reason for choosing the winner was the same as the others. This is for the sake of Pageant Corp. So, that the product we are showing at the anniversary can reach the public through someone who influences many people. I think you are that person. I think this product also suits your image," said the man shortly afterward.
"Okay, I will pretend to believe it." Helena Grace didn't seem to wake up yet. "But, shouldn't there be other rewards I get if I accept this project? I can guarantee the success of this product under my influence. Apart from those written in the contract, I want to get other benefits--"
"All the benefits for this collaboration have been outlined in the contract. It was even negotiated with you beforehand, and I am sure it is already more profitable than the average offers in this field. We cannot promise other benefits, Miss, especially in matters unrelated to the project."
"But, I--"
"Let's get this straight. I really don't like wasting time on useless things like this. So, if you are interested in joining this project based on the agreed contract, then come on, sign on. But if you are still going to keep beating around the bush and do useless things like this, then leave it. We can find someone else instead."
Lillianne secretly grinned at the boss' words. As expected from her mate.
Meanwhile, Helena Grace's face flushed slightly at his words, although she still tried to hide it.
***
'Seeing Helena Grace, I suddenly thought about myself. It turns out that being over the top to seduce Lenader doesn't seem sexy but cringy. It wouldn't work to erode his hard heart even a bit. I suddenly wondered if he was thinking the same thing about me.'
Lillianne thought about that all the way back to Pageant Corp Headquarters. He secretly glanced at Blaze Davies who was driving again.
'But, no! I am definitely different from her. I have always been his lover, though. The proof is, he likes all our dreams and moments together. He also gets easily aroused by me and was also jealous of seeing me with someone else, so I can be sure that it worked. I will never be the same as that b*tch.'
She tried to comfort herself again.
'I won't stop. I don't have enough time for that either, though.'
Her thoughts were interrupted when suddenly Blaze's cell phone rang. The man used his car's radio feature to pick it up. Her face was a little panicked when he realized it was from Evelyn's nanny who always picked her up from school.
"Yes?"
"H-Hello, Mr. Davies!"
It was a panicked voice from Mrs. Govert. Blaze and Lillianne immediately had a bad feeling about that.
"F-Forgive me for startling you, sir. I-I am also sorry for giving you bad news. S-Sir, Miss Evelyn suddenly disappeared from school. She went with someone unknown. I don't know where to look. I can't reach her phone either."
"W-What?"
***