Emma narrowed her eyes and shot a sharp glance at Leon. "I see you didn't quite understand, but never mind. Let me be the one to leave." She said, striding toward the door and brushing past him, who looked utterly frustrated with the whole situation.
"I really didn't stalk you!" He raised his voice, making sure she could hear him as she rushed away. "Ahh…" He brushed the back of his hair, exasperated. "What should I do?"
"Is everything okay, sir?" A young man, likely around his age, appeared from behind and spoke as he approached, clearly concerned after hearing Leon's voice moments earlier.
Leon turned to him, eyeing him from head to toe. "Who are you?"
"I'm Cian, Cian Aldridge." the man replied, offering a polite smile. "I introduced myself at the airport earlier, sir. I'm your assistant, starting today. If there's anything you need or any questions you have, feel free to ask."
"Oh," Leon nodded with an impressed expression. "What a unique family name. Are you from this world?" he suddenly asked, causing confusion to flash in Cian's eyes.
"Sorry, sir? Do you mean, 'Am I a local here?'" Cian asked, trying to understand better.
Leon, realising his mistake, nodded quickly. "Yup, that's what I mean."
"Oh, no, sir. I'm not from here. I'm from the next city," Cian replied, offering a faint smile, feeling a bit relieved that his boss didn't seem as intimidating as his previous one.
"Oh, okay..." Leon nodded again after hearing the answer. "So, Cian, right? Can you find me a book on how to woo a woman in this world? I never realised all my methods were kind of creepy here."
"Sorry, sir?" Cian blinked in confusion once again, clearly puzzled. Leon's repeated mention of 'this world' was starting to make him wonder if there was something he wasn't getting about his boss's strange choice of words.
"Ah, never mind," Leon said, tapping his assistant's shoulder before heading down the hallway toward his office.
"Sir, your office is this way..." Cian quickly halted Leon's steps as he noticed him walking in the wrong direction. "We've already changed the entire layout of the room, hoping it suits your preferences, Mr. Gray. As CEO, we wanted to make sure it's perfect for you."
The sharp clatter of a file hitting the floor made both men turn abruptly. Standing frozen in place, Emma stared at them, her face a mix of disbelief and panic.
Her lips trembled as her wide eyes darted between them. "CEO?" she murmured, her voice barely audible. "Did—did you just say he's the CEO of this company?" She blinked, as if trying to convince herself she'd misheard.
Leon took a cautious step forward, his expression softening as if to calm her down, but Emma immediately raised her hand to stop him. "Wait… wait!" she blurted, her voice trembling. Her gaze darted to the floor in sheer panic. 'Damn it! Why does this have to happen now?!' she cursed inwardly, her mind spiralling. They were supposed to secure the investment, and now she feared she might have ruined everything.
'Brain! Please work!' Emma stared blankly, her mind scrambling to find a way out of this mess. If the investment fell through because she had called the CEO a stalker and a creepy man, it would be the end of her. She could already picture the fallout—losing her job and her dignity all in one go.
"No, it won't affect the investment. My personal matters never interfere with my work." Leon's calm voice sliced through the tension, pulling Emma out of her panicked thoughts.
She blinked, startled, as his words sank in. The sweat gathering at her temples suddenly felt unnecessary—though her heart still pounded like it was in a marathon. "Sorry?" she managed to squeak.
"I mean, I'm not that petty," Leon said, his tone easy but firm. "I know you're worried I'll pull the investment because of what happened earlier. But no, I won't. My decisions are based on business, not personal misunderstandings. If your company presents a solid proposal, why would I cancel the investment?"
His smile deepened, and just as Emma thought she could relax, she caught a subtle smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "So yup, don't worry. Carry on and enjoy your day—and Happy New Year," he added smoothly before turning and heading toward his office.
Emma stood frozen, her mind replaying his words while her cheeks flushed. That smirk. "No, no, no," she muttered, shaking her head vigorously. "I'm sure I saw him smirk." Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.
It all started so simply—she had been ready to leave but realised she'd rushed out without her handbag. Turning back had felt like a minor inconvenience at the time, but now? It felt like fate was playing some cruel joke.
"All the hints were there, but why couldn't my so-called smart brain work when I needed it?" she murmured through gritted teeth, frustration mounting. "Shit!"
With one last exhale, she squared her shoulders, turned on her heel, and strode into the meeting room to retrieve her bag, muttering a quiet prayer for no further disasters.
"Oh my gosh! What the—" Emma yelped, jumping back as she turned to leave the meeting room once again. Her heart felt like it might leap out of her chest.
How many times had she been startled since arriving in Pawis? She'd lost count. But this time, it was the man who had been with Leon Gray earlier, standing there completely unbothered, as if scaring her half to death was just another part of his job description.
Biting her lips, she tilted her head slightly and mouthed, "Like boss, like employee…" Then, clutching her bag tightly, she looked straight at the man in front of her. "Yes, may I help you?"
"Mr. Gray asked me to inform you that dinner is at eight tonight, at Avante Bella." He gave her a polite nod before walking briskly down the hallway, disappearing without waiting for a response.
Emma stood frozen for a moment, the words sinking in. Then, throwing her hands in the air, she yelled, "I knew it!"