As always, Anton Yeong arrived early at the office. Work starts at nine in the morning for most of his employees, but he came every seven or seven-thirty.
"Sir, would you like me to wait in the parking area or would you like me to drop you off in the office entrance?" Asked Minsuh, his personal driver.
"I'll be at the office today, Minsuh. Please go home and attend to mother's needs," Anton replied while getting some last-minute work done on his laptop. He realized they were about to pull out the driveway.
After closing his laptop, he saw Xia Yanmei getting off from a taxi. He noticed she wore the same coat, but underneath it was female trouser.
The moment he saw her enter the office building, he immediately squinted and went to open his laptop again. His fingers speedily made its way to the office's security system and made some modifications.
"Sir, we are here," said Minsuh.
"Thank you. I will call you in the evening if I need a driver," he said before stepping out of his black Mercedes.
Entering the office, the security opened the glass doors for him. "Good Morning, Mr. Yeong."
The concierge who was a hundred meters away did not miss his powerful presence and greeted him the same as he walked towards the elevators.
Only the woman up ahead did not seem to notice him at all. He cleared his throat to catch her awareness, but still, she did not even turn to his direction. Instead, she walked passed him, calling out for assistance, "Security, there is something wrong with the revelators."
'How dare this woman ignore me,' He told himself in silence as the corner of his eyes crinkled.
Xia Yanmei had been pressing on the elevator buttons for minutes, but nothing happened. She figured they were not functioning at all.
She thought about taking the stairs, but she did not bring any extra clothes with her. She will surely sweat, going up to the 20th floor.
After asking for assistance, she hurriedly walked back to same spot and bumped into a man with a very, very firm chest.
'Oooh! Armani,' she thought. 'He smells really nice.'
She looked up to find out who it was and realized it was her other boss, Anton Yeong. "Oh, my gosh! I'm sorry. Boss - Mr. Yeong. Good Morning…Did I - did I hurt you?"
"How could someone like you hurt me?" His only words.
She laughed at his sarcasm and poked his chest with her finger saying, "Well, obviously.." She then simulated to show her biceps before adding, "You are pretty strong! Of course, how could this frail body of mine hurt you."
Anton ignored her remark and pressed on his private lift. It opened freely, and he heard her say, "How unfair."
He walked inside and held down his elevator, waiting.
Nothing happened. There was no reaction from Yanmei either.
He put his hands inside his pockets and waited again.
Yanmei was curious about what he was waiting for but she only pouted her lips and said to him, "Bye, Mr. Yeong."
'Stupid,' He thought. He shook his head before saying, "I did not wait this long if I had no intention of letting you ride with me."
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Yeong. My apologies. Thank you for letting me aboard your golden elevator," said Yanmei as she hurriedly went inside.
'Impressive,' she thought. It really was made of titanium-gold, stainless steel.
Yanmei quickly pressed on the 20th floor and stood in silence the entire time. She smiled from time to time when their eyes met from the wall's reflection.
When the doors opened for her, she stepped outside without delay and turned to appreciate Anton's generosity, "Thank you for the ride, Mr. Yeong. Rest assured, I will not disturb you on your private lift moving forward."
She smiled professionally and bowed her head before taking a leave.
The next two days, the same thing happened again. She ended up riding with Anton Yeong, using his private lift.
On the third day, Anton asked, "I thought you said, this would not happen again?'
She laughed at him without saying a word. Once the door opened, she rushed outside while thanking him altogether.
Yanmei did not understand how the elevators would fail early in the morning when her staff confirmed that it was always working for them.
One of the security guards told her, "Ms. Yanmei. We don't understand ourselves. It only does not work each time you arrive."
On the fourth day, the same thing happened again and like before, Anton Yeong arrived at the office lobby. When she saw him, her eyes went round and her jaws nearly dropped.
This time, however, she came prepared. Instead of riding with Anton Yeong, she took the stairs knowing she had an extra blouse with her that day. She never liked coming late to work and had always made it a habit to arrive earlier in the office, but as of recently, it may not be such a good idea.
That day, Yanmei already had an official assistant. Her name was Yeona. She was five years younger than her yet, despite being young, she was a sophisticated thinker and Yanmei loved that about her. They instantly clicked and decided to go shopping together after work.
It was already late when Yanmei finished her presentation for Anton and Yeona waited for her. They hurriedly fixed themselves before taking the elevator down.
"Oh, Yoena. Your mascara smudged!" said Yanmei.
"Oh, no - "
"Here, let me help you clear that," Yanmei offered, taking out a tissue from her bag.
With her back facing the elevator doors, she removed the stain on Yeona's lower eye. Just as she was done, the sound of the lift rang, suggesting they were already at the ground floor.
"There, all pretty now," said Yanmei with a smile.
"Thank you, Ms. Yan - Mr. Yeong! Good evening," Yeona cut herself off, seeing Anton Yeong staring at them from outside the lift.
"Good evening, Mr. Yeong," said Yanmei, after she quickly turned to greet her boss.
Anton Yeong saw Xia Yanmei being intimate with a woman using the company elevator. It was no wonder she would rather take the stairs than to take the private lift with him.
He merely nodded at them and walked away with dismay written all over his face. Since it was outside the office hours, it was technically none of his business. He preferred not to confront Yanmei.
Since then, Yanmei had not had any trouble with the elevator, regardless of what time she arrived at the office.