"She's quite attractive," Chris commented once their secretaries were out of sight.
"She's not someone to toy with, Chris," Matthew warned, heading straight for his office's mini-bar. Chris followed suit, grabbing two wine glasses and a bottle of Pinot Noir.
"Well, I'm just stating the truth," Chris said as he sipped from the glass Matthew handed him. "You're getting closer to your secretary, Matt. Everyone in the company thinks so."
"Hmmn," Matthew hummed, savoring the fine wine.
"Auntie called me," his younger cousin said. "She told me about your plans of settling down soon."
Christopher Smith, Henry Smith's younger brother, was one of his mother's favorite nephews. Chris had grown up with them because his parents died a few months after his birth. Chris was essentially the little brother that Matthew never had, and he also acted as his mother's spy, reporting important happenings in Matthew's life.
One such happening was when he hired Laura Jones.
Chris was ecstatic. It was the first time Matthew had hired a female secretary. All of the CEO's past secretaries had been males.
Another happening was when Laura broke the two-month rule.
Once again, Chris was quick to report it to his mother. It was the first time that a secretary under Matthew had stayed in the company for more than sixty days.
That's how Matthew's mother insisted on meeting Laura. Their first meeting went well—too well, in fact. The two just clicked. His mother would always pester Laura about the CEO's schedule, appetite, and even sleeping patterns. Sometimes, they even went out to eat without Matthew's knowledge.
"I said I was thinking about settling down, not planning it," Matthew sighed. The pressure to settle down and have a child was too much, and he was tempted by the idea of hiring someone to carry his heir. Laura suddenly crossed his mind. His secretary was kind-hearted and nurturing. She always smiled at everyone and loved taking care of people.
Laura was an ideal candidate. Moreover, Matthew trusted her implicitly. He could vividly imagine Laura's gentle smile as she cradled a bundle of joy in her arms.
Shaking his head at the thought, Matthew dismissed it. Laura was just a friend, nothing more and nothing less.
"Bro, Auntie and Uncle aren't getting any younger," Chris interjected. "Give them the joy of being grandparents... or even great-grandparents... before it's too late."
Matthew swirled his glass, contemplating Chris's words. "I'm seriously considering it, Chris. Sometimes, when I see Henry with his kids, I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy. He's only a few months older than me, yet he has found something that only a few people in this world discover."
Chris chuckled. "Love... Are you finding it hard to admit that Henry has found love?"
Rolling his eyes, Matthew retorted, "What about you, huh? I overheard Joe complaining about trying to win the heart of a certain 'chef' for you."
Chris sighed. "Come on, Matt. You know how difficult it is to get on Chloe's good side."
"Whose fault is it that you're on her worst side?" Matthew teased. "Who's the idiot who groped Chloe's ass at a club?"
"I was drunk, Matt," Chris pouted. "I didn't know what I was doing. And who could resist that butt?"
"Still, being drunk isn't a good excuse."
"But I apologized the next day when I was sober!" Chris defended.
Matthew snorted. "Yeah, by showing up on her doorstep with white roses, to which she was allergic."
It was quite a comical story. Chris had encountered Chloe Roux, the renowned Michelin-level chef, at a club in California. In his drunken stupor, Chris approached Chloe and groped her. In return, Chris received a well-deserved uppercut and went home with a bruise on his cheek. Joe, who found the situation highly amusing, suggested that Chris apologize with a bouquet of white roses as a symbol of remorse.
Matthew couldn't help but think that Chris was the epitome of bad luck. Unbeknownst to them, Chloe had a specific allergy to certain roses, white roses in particular. When Chris showed up at the chef's doorstep with the flowers, Chloe accepted them without realizing their color. The moment Chloe caught a whiff of the bouquet, she started sneezing uncontrollably. Chris returned home that day with white rose petals scattered in his hair, courtesy of the bouquet hitting him multiple times.
"That lady refuses to acknowledge my existence," Chris pouted. "Even to this day, she still doesn't want to see me."
Matthew chuckled at his cousin's frustration. "Don't worry, Chris. Chloe is a good woman. Trust me, one of these days things will change."
"Let's raise our glasses, bro," Chris proposed. "Here's to me seeking forgiveness and to you hoping for a baby."
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is your pilot speaking. We have just initiated our descent into Toronto, Canada. The weather forecast predicts rain for the upcoming week. Local time is eight am. We will be touching down shortly. Thank you for choosing our airline, and we look forward to serving you again in the future."
Finally, the day arrived for Laura and her boss to embark on their business trip to Canada. They would be spending four days in the country, collaborating with Jack Ryan to finalize all the necessary arrangements. Their itinerary included meetings with potential investors and conducting surveys of the island, located in the southeastern region of the mainland.
However, they had learned that a small population currently resided on the island. This prompted discussions between the Ryan and Schneider families regarding the relocation of the locals. Matthew advocated for allowing the residents to stay on the island while they developed a portion of it, thereby creating employment opportunities for the locals.
"What's our first agenda today, Laura?" Matthew, seated to her right, inquired.
Laura pulled out her iPad and checked the schedule. "Our first task is to have breakfast with CEO Ryan at the Continental Hotel. Afterward, we'll be presenting the project to potential investors. Mr. Schneider, you have the afternoon free. We'll be heading to the island for the next few days."
The Schneider family had recently constructed a vacation house on the island. Initially, they had intended it to be a private retreat, but due to the promising opportunities in Canada, they decided to transform it into an island resort, featuring amenities such as spas, diving spots, and island-hopping tours.
As soon as the plane touched down, Laura and Matthew swiftly organized their documents and made their way to the awaiting car.
"Matthew!" A booming voice echoed through the room. Laura watched as her boss winced. Standing before them was CEO Ryan, a man whose photos she had seen in countless magazines. Despite never meeting him in person, Laura recognized his tall stature, which even surpassed that of Mr. Schneider, who was already a giant in her eyes. CEO Ryan sported a black coat and sunglasses, with an earring adorning his left ear. Laura raised an eyebrow at the accessory, considering it a relic from his rumored rebellious years. The magazine photos had not done justice to Jack Ryan's impressive appearance. He truly resembled a Greek god in the flesh.
Laura pondered, *Are rich people generally tall? Perhaps their dairy intake contributes to their height.*
"Jackson!" Matthew exclaimed, embracing the Canadian man.
"Oh, come on, Matt," Jack winced, "Quit using my full name. It makes me sound ancient."
To Laura's knowledge, Matthew and Jack were close friends who had studied abroad together.
"Oh," Jack remarked, noticing Laura behind Matthew, "And who is this little puppy?"
Laura blushed, while Matthew groaned. Jack smirked.
"She's my secretary, Laura Jones," Matthew introduced, gesturing towards her. "Laura, meet Mr. Ryan."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Ryan," the secretary greeted, extending her right hand.
"No," Jack interjected, reaching out and lightly kissing Laura's extended hand. "The pleasure is mine, Ms. Jones."
Laura felt her cheeks grow warmer, while Matthew groaned, "Stop flirting with my secretary, you oaf!"
Ignoring his friend's comment, Jack continued, "I'll triple your salary, Ms. Jones, if you come work for me."
Laura chuckled, unaware of CEO Ryan's playful nature.
"I'm serious," Jack insisted.
Laura paused, glancing at Matthew, who stared at her intently.
"Thank you for the generous offer, Mr. Ryan," she responded, bowing slightly, "but I'm content working with Mr. Schneider."
Matthew smirked. "Ha."