Chapter 23: The third encounter

The night before the important meeting had a bright full moon. The hectic day was over, and Nana came out for some fresh air.

She was incredibly nervous about tomorrow. This would be the biggest development in her life by far. She couldn’t help but shudder a little, which she wasn’t able to tell if it was because of the cold breeze or her nervousness.

She looked at the moon in the sky. It was truly so beautiful. She closed her eyes and prayed.

I hope tomorrow goes all well. Please don’t let me make any mistakes.

She opened her eyes.

I really wish the cousin is also as friendly as Chen Jianyu, Nana thought.

—

On the other side, the man was also looking at the moon from his large windows in his office.

He was not the type of person to admire nature’s beauty. But today he didn’t know why he couldn’t help but notice it. It was like some invisible force is compelling him to do it.

Somehow it gave him a feeling that tomorrow wouldn’t be any ordinary day.

—

The next day, Chen Jianyu came to pick Nana up.

His eyes twitched when he saw Nana coming out. In the end, he couldn’t help but ask her.

“Nana…what is with this big bag? We are only going for a meeting. Why are you prepared like you are going for a war?”

Nana said, “This bag is my resume and also my experience. You will know once we get there. Now let’s hurry up, please. I don’t want to get late and ruin my first impression.”

They quickly got in his car and reached the office some thirty minutes later.

As soon as they got in, all the employees present there widened their eyes in shock.

Such beauty! And with our boss’s cousin!

They started whispering. “Hey hey, who is that girl?”

“She came with young master Chen Jianyu.”

“I don’t know. It’s the first time I have seen her.”

One gasped in realization. “Oh my God! Is she a young master’s girlfriend? Will she be the next Madam Chen?”

“Stupid, how can that be? Don’t you know that Mr. Chen Jianyu was rumored to be with the young miss of the Tang family, Tang Suyin?”

“But then there has been no news of them for the past two years. Maybe they broke up? And now she is the new girlfriend?”

“Whatever it may be but you have to admit she is one goddess. No wonder they are together. Any man would want to be.”, a male employee got in a total fan mode. His girlfriend beside him gave him a tight elbow hit in the stomach.

“Ouch!”

“Praising some other girl in front of your girlfriend? You gave got guts I must say.”, the girlfriend looked at Nana in complete jealousy.

“Ah no no dear. You are the prettiest in my eyes.”, he tried to calm her.

Over there, Nana was a bit uncomfortable. She could feel the strong gazes on her like she was some kind of a specimen.

“Let’s go”, Jianyu said.

“Okay.” Nana quickly wanted to get out of those piercing stares.

Just then he got a call. It was Mother Chen.

“Nana, I will have to take this call. You go to the left. There is the elevator. It will directly take you to his office. You wait for me there.”

“Oh-okay.”

He left to take the call and Nana went in the direction as told.

She found the elevator as she reached there. But it was already closing to go up.

She started running and said, “Wait! Wait for me! I’m coming too.” She quickly put her hand in between the doors to stop it. Thank God! I made it!

She entered the elevator failing to notice a certain someone staring at her.

The elevator started going up and after a second Nana finally realized that there was someone with her as well.

She turned to look at that person to apologize for stopping the elevator for her.

“I’m sorry you had to-“

And she froze. She widened her eyes in disbelief.

Him!? The man I bumped into twice! What is he doing here?

It suddenly got awkward.

“Ah..Um..*cough cough*, I-I’m sorry you had to stop for me. Hehe”, she nervously laughed.

Silence.

What is with me and these awkward silences? She wanted to cry.

The man said nothing. But after a short pause, he said, “Didn’t you say you were going to give me compensation for my shirt? Or have you conveniently forgotten?”

She gulped. He still remembers. Everything. She had a tiny hope somewhere that maybe he would have long forgotten it but apparently, he has not.

“Well…you see…Aha! You suddenly disappeared. I was going to discuss it but after my friend came, I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Before he could say anything, she quickly tried to divert the topic.

“So, do you work here?”

The man raised his eyebrows.

“Why?”

“Ha? Nothing. You are going to the top floor so that means you work under the CEO right?”

“Probably”

Is he not sure where he works?

“I just wanted to know how he is as a boss. Today is a big day for me where I have to meet him now.”

The man narrowed his eyes.

“Is that so?”