As the early morning chill turned the moisture in the air into frost, the entire city seemed to slip into autumn. The streets remained bustling with crowds and cars, untouched by the cold's attempts to bring stillness. Ada weaved through the throngs, her steps quicker than usual. Despite her gray wool coat, the biting autumn wind found its way through, pressing cold against her skin. She instinctively tightened her collar, but the unease that weighed on her heart today was far heavier than the cold.
Her phone suddenly buzzed, its familiar ringtone cutting through the city's noise. Ada fumbled through her bag, hurriedly pulling out her phone. A glance at the caller ID revealed it was her colleague and close friend, Vicky. She frowned slightly before answering quickly.
"Vicky, I'm almost there, just ten more minutes," Ada said, her tone laced with a hint of tension as she picked up her pace.
"Ada, you better hurry!" Vicky's voice was urgent, the sounds of a bustling office in the background. "The board meeting is about to start, and someone important is making an appearance—apparently, the new vice Chairman has already arrived. Plus, there are some major personnel changes, something to do with a shake-up in the higher-ups. You don't want to be late for this."
Ada's steps faltered for a moment, her heart racing. "New vice Chairman? "
"Yeah, so hurry up. This level of board meeting isn't something to be taken lightly," Vicky's tone carried a trace of anxiety, clearly more serious than usual.
Starlight PR Group was the top PR firm in Jianghai City, and Eve, the group's second daughter, though working at a subsidiary in another city, remained a prominent figure at the headquarters.
"I understand, I'm on my way," Ada took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, though a sense of unease lingered. Vicky didn't say anything more and hung up the phone.
Clutching the coffee cup in her hand, Ada quickened her pace, heading hastily towards the company building. As soon as she entered the lobby, she noticed the area outside the conference room, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, was already crowded with people. She frowned. The usually busy office now resembled a theater, with almost everyone from different departments gathered there, whispering, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.
"Ada! Over here!" A familiar voice called out from her left. Ada turned and saw Vicky standing at the front of the crowd, waving her over.
Ada walked quickly over and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"
"Come and see for yourself!" Vicky's face was full of excitement, her voice lowered, but her eagerness was unmistakable. "Eve is even more beautiful than in the photos! You've never seen her before, right? She's stunning in person!"
Hearing Eve's name, Ada's curiosity was piqued as she followed Vicky closer to the glass, peering into the conference room through the crowd.
Her gaze naturally fell on the woman seated at the long table, directly to the left of the center—Eve. At that moment, Eve sat there, her slender fingers lightly intertwined, exuding a grace that seemed completely out of place with the tense atmosphere around her. She wore a well-fitted black acetate blouse, buttoned neatly just below her collarbone, revealing just enough skin to highlight her sharp collarbones, giving off a subtle hint of sensuality. Her short hair was half-tied into a neat bun, accentuating her defined jawline. With her high-bridged nose and slightly deep-set eyes, she emitted an air of unapproachability.
Ada was so captivated by Eve's model-like features that she didn't snap out of it until Eve noticed her staring. When their eyes met, Ada quickly averted her gaze, her heart pounding as the coffee in her hand grew cold. She could faintly hear Vicky speaking beside her.
"Now that Eve is back, I bet Kyle and Leo will be laying low for a while," Vicky whispered next to her, her eyes still fixed on the conference room, her expression complicated. "The headquarters has been caught in a tug-of-war between those two brothers, but now with Eve parachuting back in, it's going to be a three-way struggle. Do you think they'll join forces against her?"
Ada, still reeling from the brief moment of distraction, only regained her composure after hearing Vicky's words. She frowned slightly, contemplating the complex power struggle within the family business.
"I don't know…" Ada replied softly, with a hint of helplessness in her tone. "I'm not interested in getting involved with them."
Vicky pursed her lips, "It's not something you can avoid just because you're not interested. Sooner or later, you'll get pulled into it."
Ada didn't respond, her thoughts drifting. She really didn't want to get involved in these power struggles, but she knew things wouldn't be that simple. She recalled how, over the years, she had worked under Leo, successfully managing several major brand campaigns and fashion shows. Yet, despite her efforts, the credit never went to her.
Her direct supervisor, Tara, would almost always steal the credit for Ada's work. Kyle had offered her a spot on his team multiple times, extending an olive branch, but Ada had turned him down each time. She knew it wasn't the right time yet.
"Are you really not considering joining Kyle's team? You might get more opportunities over there and avoid that backstabbing witch," Vicky asked in a low voice.
"Forget it. At least I have you here. Besides… you know me," Ada sighed, unwilling to dwell on it further.
At that moment, the doors to the conference room opened, and the senior executives began to leave. Eve was the first to stand up, her movements graceful and efficient, her long legs perfectly accentuated by her tailored black trousers. She walked towards the door, and as the distance closed, Ada once again found herself drawn to Eve's cold, commanding presence.
Eve's gaze casually swept over the employees standing outside, her eyes cool and distant. As she approached the door, her eyes seemed to meet Ada's again, this time with a barely perceptible scrutiny. Ada's heart raced once more, and she almost didn't dare meet her gaze, quickly looking away in a fluster.
"Let's go," Vicky nudged her gently, breaking the brief silence.
Ada nodded, still a bit shaken, and hurried after Vicky.
As Eve left the conference room, she couldn't help but recall the fleeting moment of eye contact with the woman outside. She didn't know her name, only remembered the way the woman had quickly averted her eyes in a fluster. The brief exchange left her slightly intrigued, even amused, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Vice Chairman, your office is this way," her secretary, Cora, said, pulling her back to the present.
Eve composed herself, nodding as she continued toward her new office. After exchanging a few brief instructions with Cora, she watched her leave to fetch coffee, along with carrying out Eve's other request: keeping an eye on the internal dynamics of the company.
Alone in her new office, Eve's expression gradually returned to its usual calm. She knew that the battles ahead would be anything but peaceful. Just then, her phone rang. It was Regan calling. Her eyes flickered slightly as she let a faint smile cross her lips and answered.
"Dad," she greeted calmly.
On the other end, His voice was warm, laced with fatherly concern. "How's the new office? Do you like it, my dear?"
Eve's lips curved into a barely perceptible smirk. Outwardly, she maintained her obedient daughter persona, her tone indifferent. "It's fine. Just as I imagined."
She knew full well that this call wasn't just to check on her comfort. Her father, sharp and calculating, wouldn't concern himself with such trivial matters at such a critical time. He was fishing for information, trying to gauge her plans.
Eve was acutely aware that her father hadn't allowed her to parachute into headquarters purely because of her abilities—though she had certainly brought great success to the family business. But she knew there was more to it than that. He wanted her return to ease the tension between Kyle and Leo while using her presence to spur both sons into greater competition.
She knew that in her father's eyes, she was never truly meant to be the heir. She was a pawn, a tool to maintain balance between Kyle and Leo. The rivalry between the two brothers had been simmering for years, but her father saw them both as still lacking the maturity he required. By bringing Eve into the fold, he hoped to stoke the flames of competition between his sons, forcing them to rise to the challenge so he could eventually choose the more capable heir.
Outwardly, it seemed that Eve's return had created a three-way competition, a balanced, fair contest with no favoritism. But Eve saw through her father's strategy. He was using her as a threat to motivate his sons, ensuring they would both try harder.
She knew all of this, but she had no intention of revealing her hand. Eve understood that the only way to break free from her father's control was to slowly accumulate power and influence within the company on her own terms.
So, she smiled at her father's words, masking the storm of thoughts in her heart. "It's good to be back, Dad. I'm ready to help the family in any way I can."
As the conversation ended and Eve hung up, her eyes were filled with a sharp, calculating gleam. She turned toward the large windows behind her, the vast city skyline stretched out beneath her.
In her heart, she was determined to shatter her father's carefully crafted plans. She wouldn't settle for being a pawn in his game.
After Secretary Cora left the office, she walked straight to the tea room. On the way, she passed by Leo's department and discreetly signaled to Vicky at her desk. Vicky immediately understood, pretending to be casual as she stood up, looking around to confirm that no one was paying attention to her, and then quietly followed Cora's footsteps. The two of them walked one after the other to the restroom around the corner, quickly slipping into one of the compartment.
As soon as the door closed, Cora and Vicky couldn't wait to kiss each other passionately.
"Darling, you finally made it! We can finally end this long-distance relationship!" Vicky gasped between kisses, her voice general manager filled with excitement and satisfaction from their long-awaited reunion.
Cora smiled slightly, gently pushing her back a bit, and said teasingly, "Don't rush to get all lovey! Let me ask you, did Leo, the vice general manager, say anything after the meeting?"
Vicky pouted, recalling Leo's sullen face when he came out of the meeting room. "What else could he say? He looked so grim, like he was about to explode. You should have seen him; he couldn't even look anyone in the eye. He must have been caught off guard."
Cora scoffed lightly, a hint of coldness at the corners of her mouth. "No one knew the lady was coming back this time, not even me; I only got the news the day before. It probably caught them by surprise, and even if those two brothers have any tricks up their sleeves, they won't come up with anything right away."
Vicky nodded, letting out a soft sigh. "Yeah, Leo is best at plotting behind the scenes, but he probably has to hold back for a while this time."
Cora then glanced at her watch. "I can't chat with you any longer; I still need to make coffee. See you tonight." With that, she gave Vicky a light kiss on the cheek, pushed the stall door open, and left the restroom.
Vicky stood in the stall, watching Cora's departing figure, and reached up to touch her cheek where she had been kissed, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "Well… I'll be waiting for you at home," she murmured to herself, her eyes revealing a lingering sense of desire.
After preparing the coffee, Cora returned to the office and gently knocked before walking in. She handed the coffee to Eve while reporting, "Vice chairman, there's a business event tomorrow night, and Kyle will be there too. That client is crucial; it concerns your impression and influence before the board, so you might need to prepare in advance."
Eve nodded slightly, her expression unreadable, but her eyes revealed a hint of contemplation. "I understand."
Just as Cora was about to leave, Eve suddenly called out to her, "By the way, I saw a girl outside the meeting room with long hair wearing a gray wool coat, holding a cup of coffee. What's her name?"
Cora thought for a moment before answering, "Oh, you must be talking about Ada from Leo's department; she's a key player in planning."
Eve raised an eyebrow slightly. "Key player? I've never heard of her. Isn't Tara always in charge of Leo's department?"
Cora chuckled softly and explained, "Tara is Leo's lover and has always taken credit for Ada's work due to their relationship. Ada has been with the company for almost three years, handling several major projects, but she's never been promoted."
A flicker of interest crossed Eve's eyes as she murmured, "To endure this long, she's indeed not simple." Though her tone remained indifferent, she had already started paying more attention to Ada.
She set down her coffee cup and added in an unchanged tone, "By the way, get ready to accompany me to the racetrack this afternoon."
Cora immediately understood and nodded slightly before exiting the office.