Chapter 293
I thought about it and declined. I had already been to Lillian's place twice, and while I did long to see Ruby again, the situation felt complicated.
Lillian: [Aw, come on. It feels like it's been forever. Don't you miss me at all?]
Me: [Of course I do. Very much. But I've been promoted to the director's assistant, so it's not easy to get away.]
Lillian: [Wow, a promotion? That's amazing!]
Me: [Yeah, it's a long story. I'll tell you all about it when I see you. I have to get back to work now!]
Holly: [John, I've sent this week's progress report to your email. Please take a look when you have a chance.]
I opened my email and was immediately impressed by Holly's efficiency. In just two weeks, she had already finished half of the backlogged projects, generating a revenue of $18 million for the company. New business had also surpassed $5 million. WY Media was quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in Sevan City.
Everlasting New Media was also exceeding expectations. By leveraging various online platforms, they had amassed an audience of five million in just ten days! The videos were well-received, and Tony was swamped with work. They had even hired two intern directors on three-year contracts.
One particularly bright spot was a young woman named Lily Everly. In just ten days, she had managed to attract two million followers with a budget of only $45,000. Her natural charisma and engaging content made her the most popular personality on Everlasting New Media.
Mia was also doing a fantastic job managing the social media accounts for the other ventures. Sales of Sevan City red wine through the online store had doubled in the past ten days, thanks in part to her savvy marketing.
Frank's efforts with Sevan City beer were also paying off. By leveraging the Sevan City Wine Industry Association's network, the beer was now available in most major retailers and had even expanded to neighboring provinces. Daily consumption had reached a staggering one million bottles, and that number was still climbing.
Thanks to my strategic use of resources, particularly the incredibly cost-effective advertising platform, I was on track to receive a bonus of at least $3 million this month. A combination of online reach, strong offline distribution, partnerships with Nexus Enterprises, on-site promotions, and enticing offers like "buy one, get one free" and "win a luxury car" had propelled Sevan City beer to new heights of popularity.
Mia: [It's been five whole days. When are you coming back to the company? I miss you already!]
This woman was insatiable. We had just been intimate a few nights ago after work, and she was already craving more.
I typed: [You know I'm the director's assistant now. I can't just disappear whenever I want.]
Mia: [Oh, how I envy you. No real responsibilities, just coasting along.]I responded: [Don't forget who you're talking to.][Just kidding, just kidding,] she replied, her tone softening.
A moment later, a voice message popped up. "You know, sometimes I wish I had never started my own business. It's so much harder than I imagined."
"Once things settle down a bit, I'll make some time to come over. And when I do..." I let the sentence hang, a suggestive tone in my voice.
"You better make it up to me. Multiple times!" she purred.
She was a natural flirt, and I couldn't deny that her words had the desired effect.
I closed her message and saw one from Lucy.
Lucy: [Are we still on for this weekend?]
I sighed. The grand opening of her club, originally scheduled for Wednesday, had been postponed to the weekend because of me.
Me: [Absolutely. We're opening this weekend, no matter what.]
[Okay,] she replied. [Oh, and I found a great location near Liberty Square. What do you think?]
Me: [If you like it, just rent it.]
Lucy was always so understanding. She never pressured me or complained about my absence, but I could sense how much she missed me. Just like Marry, I had been neglecting her.
Then there was Rita. The thought of her filled me with a mixture of longing and heartache.
The Ruyi Cosmetics team was finally coming together, but their efforts to recruit top talent were proving fruitless. It was the only one of the four ventures that wasn't thriving, and it weighed heavily on my mind.
Ella Martinez was still proving to be a challenge. If only I could get her on board, so many of our problems would be solved.
I resolved to find a way to win her over within the next few days.
As for Steven, I wasn't worried. I had climbed the ladder, and I refused to live in fear of him any longer.
I opened Ella's Facebook profile and scanned her recent posts. One caught my eye. "Here's my schedule for next week, students. Don't miss out!"
She had classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Perfect. I would pay her a visit next Monday.
Just then, a message from Ruby popped up.
Ruby: [John, are you coming to The Allen Family today?]
My heart skipped a beat. It was the first time she had ever reached out to me directly. Did she miss me?
My feelings for Ruby were complicated. I knew she was Lillian's aunt and deserved my respect, but I couldn't see her as an authority figure. She felt more like a friend, a confidante.
I had tried to keep our interactions platonic, but there was an undeniable spark between us. We had even shared a kiss, a passionate and unforgettable kiss.
It was all so confusing.
[Ruby, I can't make it today,] I replied, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.
[Oh, okay. Emily asked me to check if you were coming.]
I could hear the disappointment in her voice, even through the text message.
[But I'm free this weekend. Maybe I could come over and give you that foot massage I promised?]
A moment later, a smiling emoji appeared on my screen. [Okay!]
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Ms. Charlotte poked her head in. [John, Ms. Foster would like to see you in her office.]
My brow furrowed. What could she possibly want at this hour?
I made my way to the deputy general manager's office and closed the door behind me. Linda dismissed Ms. Charlotte and pulled out a pack of slim cigarettes from her desk drawer. I immediately moved to light one for her.
She smiled. "You know, you can light your own. It's a women's brand, but the taste is quite nice."
I paused, caught off guard. She seemed to be in a good mood today, her demeanor surprisingly relaxed. "Thank you, Ms. Foster," I said, taking a cigarette for myself.
It had a delicate vanilla scent. Linda watched me with an amused smile, her gaze lingering for a moment too long. "So, how was dinner with Ms. Jones last night?"
"It was lovely, thank you."
"Living the good life, I see."
"I owe it all to you."
"Such a charmer," she said, taking a long drag from her cigarette. "I heard you ran into Ms. Smith and her ex-husband at the restaurant last night. Or should I say, her fiancé?"
My muscles tensed. How did she know about that? And the way she emphasized the word "fiancé" sent a shiver down my spine.
"It was just a coincidence."
"Quite a coincidence. I also heard that you had a bit of a disagreement with her fiancé. And that she gave you quite a dressing down in front of everyone."
I took a drag from my own cigarette, letting the smoke fill my lungs. So, this was why she had summoned me. To gloat.
I met her gaze, noticing the intoxicating scent that clung to her. If it weren't for her sharp edges and cunning nature, she would be a truly captivating woman.
She was just as striking as Katherine, but with a dangerous allure that most men wouldn't dare to approach.
Today, she was wearing a sheer chiffon blouse, unbuttoned just low enough to reveal a hint of lacy lingerie and the swell of her cleavage.
She was incredibly sexy.
"What's wrong, John? Feeling a little uncomfortable?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement.
I shook my head, forcing a sigh. "Ms. Foster, can we please not talk about this? It's not exactly a pleasant memory."
"Feeling a little sorry for yourself?"
"With all due respect, yes. I don't think it's fair for you to bring it up like this."
"Oh, John," she said, her voice laced with mock sympathy. "You're lucky to be standing here right now. A man of his stature could crush you like an insect if he wanted to."
She paused, her expression softening slightly. "But I have to admit, you've got guts. And loyalty. I admire that."
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