"Oh my God! Hahahahaha!" Liam fell off the couch from how hard he was laughing. Who would have thought that Desmond would also go through that kind of trouble? "Wait. Is it that Zaria girl, the cunning fox you talked about before?"

"Shut up." The last thing Desmond wanted to hear right now was Zaria's name.

"No, seriously, after all these years, you really don't know how to make a woman happy? You even earned a slap for getting her presents." Liam eyed his friend's palm-printed cheek. The girl was so vicious… even though a whole day had passed and Desmond had been applying ice packs, one could still guess what had happened. He wanted to burst into a fresh bout of laughter when he recalled how flabbergasted everyone had been when they saw the CEO parading around his freshly slapped face.

However, he was too shocked to laugh. Such a gutsy girl existed? No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't believe this outcome.

Desmond couldn't believe it either. "How would I have known? All the women I dated in the past asked for jewelry, cars and mansions in the name of our relationship, and they were always happy to get them. How would I have known that there is one who thinks I'm a jerk for wanting to give her the same gifts?"

Liam held his chin with an eyebrow cocked in thought. "Well, I do know that women are not the same. Perhaps she thought that by giving her expensive gifts, you were implying that she was with you for your wealth.

His expression darkened. That woman was surely not with him for his wealth, she had been with him for F&P Media and that relationship was long over. Besides, why would he go out of his way to learn how to please a woman? It had always been the vice versa for him; countless women would do anything to please him, and that was not even the main point. The main point was, he was not trying to get Zaria to be his girlfriend so she could think whatever she wanted.

As though reading his friend's mind, Liam shook his head. "Don't even think of dismissing this matter. You better apologize to Zaria."

"Apologize?" Desmond cringed at the thought of it. Since when did he need to do that and why would he make an exception for Zaria?

"Didn't you say that she was the most suitable candidate for an executive assistant?" he pointed out.

Yeah, that. Desmond Sighed. Among all the portfolios he had gone through, he had to admit that Zaria was indeed an irreplaceable candidate. If she decided to give up on the job, he didn't think he would ever be satisfied with any other.

"She cannot give up." He laughed victoriously when he remembered the only reason why she had said yes in the first place. "Besides, if she really does disregard everything and decide to quit, the worst that could happen is that you will be stuck being my EA for a while longer.

"What the heck?!" Liam was stumped. How did he get shot down even while simply being a passerby and minding his own business? When he saw his friend's smug look, he knew that the latter was doing it on purpose.

___

Phoenix Apartments.

Zaria was just about to go out and meet with Ryan at the hospital when someone stood in her way.

She was sure she didn't recognize this man so she couldn't comprehend his behaviour. "If you'll excuse me."

"Miss Williams, hello." Liam took off his sunglasses and looked at the woman before him like she was a deity. She must be. After all, she was the only woman with guts so strong that she could slap Desmond soon after threatening him.

"Do I know you?" She asked.

"Eh? You had me send a message on your behalf but now you claim not to know me? My heart is broken." He placed a hand over the left side of his chest.

She cocked a brow. Pass a message? She then recalled that the only message she had sent through someone else recently was the threat to Desmond. So the man before her was… "Liam Preston?"

"Phew! I'm glad you finally remembered me." He looked relieved.

"How may I help you?" No matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't guess why a tycoon like Liam Preston was standing before her. How did he get to this part of the city to begin with? Did he lose his way while trying to go somewhere else?

Liam noticed her quizzical scrutiny and knew that she must be wary of Desmond and everyone close to him. Urgh.. that troublesome man.

He thought through his words before saying, "I'm here to apologize to you on behalf of Desmond."

"Since when can people apologize on behalf of each other?" She was irked. Of course, that arrogant man would never bring himself to do such a thing. She in fact suspected that Liam was lying about it.

her suspicion was not wrong. Desmond didn't send such a message but Liam knew that if he did not use his friend's name, Zaria would not accept the apology. But seeing that the lady was not easy to convince, he was at a loss. He decided to change his tactics. "By the way, I went through your information. You are so hardworking and smart, no wonder everyone says that you are Mr. Williams' golden EA."

"What's your point?" Zaria was sure that he was not merely complimenting her.

Liam smiled happily. "I feel like I'm the luckiest man on earth. Even though you will not be my assistant, the fact that we will be working in the same company is an honor to me."

Zaria was helpless. There wasn't anyone who didn't like being complimented, but, "I was initially intending to…"

"Please don't." Liam suddenly pleaded with urgence. "If you change your mind and don't come for the interview on Monday, I will have to continue occupying two roles. It's been hard on me…"

"Aren't there hundreds of candidates, including those that submit their applications despite being rejected countless times?" She mimicked Desmond's arrogant tone through the second part.

"They're not half as good as you! It was already hard enough before you appeared but when you did, it will be even harder since his standards for an EA must have doubled."

Zaria was speechless. It was her fault now? She was still torn in between the need to fulfill her part of the deal and the fear that Desmond would revenge for that slap. Now that Liam was looking at her so pitifully, she could no longer bring herself to say no. "Fine, see you on Monday."

"Really?" Liam's eyes shone. "You said yes. You cannot go back on your word!"

"Yes, I did. Can I go now?" She rubbed her temples.

Liam got out of her way and punched the air from the joy he felt after achieving his victory.

That idiot should learn from him. Coaxing a girl wasn't that hard, women were rational and soft-hearted after all. It was only when faced with jerks like his best friend that they became difficult to deal with.

He smiled and made a call to brag about his success, as Zaria headed for the exit.

He walked towards the parking lot as he talked and when he left the premises, he was surprised to see her waiting outside for a cab. Before he could stop himself, he rolled down his window. "Where are you going?"

"To Grand View Hospital." She responded without thinking too much of it.

Liam thought about it. This was a future employee of Preston and Fort Group so there was no harm in dropping his future subordinate off. "What a coincidence. I'm going there too. Why don't I drop you off?"

Zaria wondered why a man like Liam would want to go to Grand View Hospital. Was he unwell? No, the main point was, didn't most tycoons have personal doctors?

Besides, Grand View Hospital was said to have been built by an heiress who wanted to use her inheritance for charity, so all the hospital services were free. Surely, Liam didn't need free medical services, right?

'Perhaps he wants to be an investor or sponsor?' She thought.

Since she didn't seem to get any cab at this time, she decided to agree to the ride. He was her future boss after all.

Liam was amused when she settled in the backseat. However, he said nothing about it and drove off.

His eyes caught her figure in the backseat through the mirror and he couldn't help peeking a little more. She was dressed up in a simple jeans and pink t-shirt, and had her hair in a neat ponytail. She didn't have any makeup on, just a tiny bit of lip gloss, but she was still captivating.

What a beauty. No wonder Desmond was going crazy.