"Excuse me, Miss! You need to have an appointment before you enter" the receptionist politely smiles. Evelyn who is striding inside without any permission is now being stopped by a receptionist. She is the daughter of the owner of this company, why would she need an appointment to meet her mother? She says nothing and follows what the woman tells her.

"Hello, I am here to meet Mrs. Leng Xinyi," she says.

"Do you have an appointment, Miss….?" The woman asks her in a sarcastic tone and Evelyn knew she is mocking her.

"Evelyn. No, I don't have an appointment. I am here to meet my mother so I don't think I need an appointment for that?" she answers giving her the mean bitchy look that she often uses. She isn't intimidating but she can be when she is being treated badly.

The woman scoffs in disbelief.

"Oh? I am her daughter-in-law then" she challenges, sneering at her. "If you don't have an appointment, make one. Do not use such lame tricks to enter inside, lady."

"Why don't you ring her and confirm it from her only? If what I said is true, then you will have to face consequences. What do you say?" she smirks, challenging the bitch standing in front of her.

The woman, named Xu Yuren, gets a little intimidated by her. She doesn't believe her, so she is confident that she is lying. She presses the button of the telephone that is placed on the shiny mahogany reception desk. "Ma'am, there's this girl who claims to be your daughter and says she wants to meet you" she informs her, looking at Evelyn who is minding her own business by checking out the layout of the interior. The hall smells of luxury and everywhere she looks, she finds jewels showcased around the corners. Couples, children are busy observing the jewelry with great enthusiasm and made her smile. She once used to drool over the pieces of jewelry that her mother used to make investing all her hard work. She watched her mother making them, with utmost precision and accuracy.

"I knew you were some fake idiot. Madam says her daughter doesn't live here so you better get out before I call the security" she sneers, showing her victory.

"Oh, yea? Well then, looks like I have to call her" she reaches to her denim shorts back pocket and pulls out her phone. She hasn't dialed her mother for months; she wanted to give her a surprise but it failed just because of this stupid pimp.

Within few seconds, her mother picks up her call and giving a side smirk to the woman she starts her conversation. "Hey, Mom. Can you ask your worker..her name..Xu Yuren, the receptionist to make me come to you? She doesn't allow me to enter" says she like an innocent child.

"…What? She was telling the truth? Hang on, I'll tell her right away to let you come!..." her mother's voice fills her ears, and a victory smile curves her mouth. "She will call you, be prepared to pick up the call," she tells Yuren, giving her a lascivious wink.

Xu Yuren stands there, her lips purse together. 'Is she telling the truth? Am I going to lose my job?' the more she thinks, the more nervous she gets. The sudden ring of the telephone startles her, making her gasp. She hurriedly picks the call and before she can say anything, Leng Xinyi's voice blares through the phone, "Why didn't you told me her name? She is my daughter, Evelyn! Let her go! Understand?"

She got scared after hearing the CEO's scolding and now she is regretting why did she tell those things to her daughter. She slowly looks up to meet Evelyn's eyes and says in a guilty tone, "I-I am sorry. I shouldn't have talked to you that way. Please forgive me and you may go…" she bows down to her dare not look up.

Evelyn sighs. Seeing the pitiful woman in such conditions, she let go of her and head towards to CEO room. She has some memory of her room and she will be glad if the location is still the same. Her sneakers tapping on the glass marble floor and her eyes looking sideways, observing. The building is made of glass, everywhere you look, you will find your reflection staring back at you. Even the floors do that thing as well.

Entering inside the elevator, she presses the floor button, 24th floor. The elevator door starts closing, and her reflection stands right in front of her eyes. Auburn hair kept in a ponytail, white sweatshirt, and denim shorts, long exposed legs, and a hint of her shoes. Her brown eyes stare at her reflection which she thinks looks cool and sexy.

"Should have applied a little more lip tint" she mumbles, leaning closer to have a better view of her face. She waits until she reaches the 24th floor which is taking ages. She is on the 17th floor now, still seven floors to go!

**

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Come in!" Shi Lian yells without looking who is it. She is so busy with the new collection that she cannot even have the time to have lunch. She ponders it must be Ruxi but when there's no sound of her heels, she guesses it must be some staff. She did not bother to look up from her laptop. Her eyes are transfixed at its screen for the past hours.

"Hello there," a voice, male, deep, and unfamiliar speaks. As she never heard this person's voice before, she needed to see who he is. She looks up, tearing her eyeballs from the laptop screen, she found a man standing with a smirk on his handsome face, peering at her. She has never seen this man before in her life. Jet black hair that reaches down his neck, few strands of hair fall in front of his eyebrows, covering a portion of his forehead. Strong and chiseled jaws, high defined cheekbones complementing it. Eyes that are the shade of autumn leaves, nose straight and sharp, thin lips, and a perfectly built body. Even though his body is layered with a black shirt and suit, one can surely guess that he workout a lot. He is handsome, so refined yet a hint of mischieve, this man is something!

Shi Lian stares at him, for how long she doesn't know. She is observing him like how she observes an art piece and this man is surely a piece of art. He is looking at her, he is still smirking, and damn her she is having butterflies in her stomach!

"You done?" says he in his deep voice. His voice startles her, making her come back to reality. Embarrassed, she looks away, dare not to make eye contact with him.

"Wh-what?" she stammers. He is hot isn't he? Her subconscious suggests with an evil grin. Shi Lian pushes away those thoughts cursing at her horny subconscious.

"Nevermind, you are the new Chairman, right?" he says waving his hand in the air.

"Yes, and may I know who you are, Sir?" she asks, closing her laptop.

"I am JJ. You must have heard of me. It would be a shame if you haven't Shi Lian" he asserts playfully. And then it hit her that who he is. He was coming today and he is here already? Right in front of her. The CEO is back, the money monster is back!

"Oh! The CEO, ah, yes, of course, I heard about you. It's pleasure to meet you" she smiles, stretching her hand forward for a formal handshake. She thought he must be in his thirties or something but this man looks so young! 'His age must be around mine' she wonders as her hand stays in the position alone.

"Pleasure to meet you, Shi Lian" he accepts her handshake, gripping her palm, a smile playing on his face. Damn! This man is hella attractive!

"Are you the replacement or the Chairman for life?" he asks, taking his seat on one of the seats placed beside him.

"Chairman for life, I guess" she half laughs. She is not sure about it as well. Actually, she never thought of it before but now that this question has arisen, she is wondering does she have to be the Chairman for the rest of her life? Does she want to live like that?

"Such a young Chairman, interesting" he smirks again. 'Why is he always smirking like that?' she ponders.

"You look young as well. I thought you must be in your thirties or something when I heard about you. I haven't seen any pictures of yours back then" she expresses, a wee bit of blush crosses her face.

"I am. I just crossed thirty last month" he says, cocking his head, grinning.

'No way he is in his thirties! How can someone look this handsome and young at such an age? No no, he must be joking.' Such thoughts roam around Shi Lian's mind making her frown.

"Hard to believe, right?" he is seated comfortably on the chair, his legs one on the other.

"Yeah" she accepts shyly.