The early morning sunlight streamed through the glass windows of the luxurious apartment, casting a soft golden glow that outlined everything it touched. At 6:00 AM sharp, Jiang Ting was already awake, his steps steady as he headed into his private gym.
"You have 30 minutes to prepare. We leave at 7 o'clock," Jiang Ting's tone was cold and precise, leaving no room for delay.
Astra lay in bed, listening to the sound of the shower running. She took a deep breath, the bitterness and frustration still roiling inside her. She worried about what new challenges Jiang Ting had planned for her today. Quickly, she pulled herself together, dressed in professional attire, and prepared to face this unknown battle.
Jiang Ting returned from his run, dressed in workout clothes, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. While relishing the surge of energy, he opened his tablet, quickly scanning the latest market updates:
Asian market opening figures U.S. stock futures trends European bond market dynamics New economic policies and industry analysis reports
His gaze was cold and sharp, capturing every piece of information that could influence the group's decisions.
At the dining table, a simple healthy breakfast: eggs, whole wheat bread, and black coffee. Jiang Ting flipped through his planner, meticulously checking the day's schedule.
"Astra, remember today's key points."
9:00 AM: Morning executive meeting for reports on the five business sectors 11:00 AM: Negotiation with European fund managers on investment cooperation 1:30 PM: Project review meeting to assess the new North American investment plan 3:00 PM: Risk control meeting to discuss the impact of currency fluctuations on the investment portfolio
Astra nodded, quickly jotting down the details in her notebook. Her expression remained calm, but something felt off. Jiang Ting had previously mentioned using her energy to predict market trends, but now he hadn't brought it up, not even subtly probing the topic. What kind of man is he really? she wondered.
At 8:00 AM, the black Maybach smoothly pulled up in front of the Ying Group skyscraper. Astra followed Jiang Ting into the elevator until the indicator light flashed 31.
"Ding!" The elevator doors opened, and Astra froze.
The CEO's Office: The Heart of a Financial Empire
This didn't resemble a traditional CEO's office. Instead, it was like the command center of a top-tier trading floor. The entire floor was occupied by Jiang Ting's core team. Screens displayed a constant stream of data on stocks, foreign exchange, and bonds. The air buzzed with a palpable sense of efficiency and urgency.
Department heads were already waiting, each holding thick stacks of documents, their expressions stern. Jiang Ting glanced over the group and walked steadily to his seat. He turned to face Daniel, head of the North American Real Estate Division, Milano Li from the Forex Trading Division, Andy Huang from the Bond Investment Division, and Julie An, General Manager of the Asia-Pacific Hotel Business.
Suddenly, Jiang Ting extended his left hand toward Astra and said, "Let me introduce you to the group's energy consultant, Astra."
"What?" Astra was stunned. "The one we spent 30 million to hire."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Jiang Ting dared to introduce her like this in public? In the metaphysical and energy circles, she had always operated under anonymity. How was he going to justify to the board spending 30 million on a "nobody" consultant from the energy field?
At the same time, her perception of Jiang Ting shifted. Other conglomerates, like Green Forest Group and Jiang Hai Group, had their own feng shui masters, but these arrangements were always kept secret, akin to keeping a mistress — everyone did it, but no one admitted it openly. Yet Jiang Ting announced it publicly. Astra felt a flicker of admiration for his transparency but also a pang of worry. What was his true intention? Was he planning to use her to battle other grand masters? She recalled a recent incident where a feng shui master from Green Forest Group had mysteriously disappeared after a failed metaphysical duel. Unease settled over her.
For the first time, Astra considered accessing Jiang Ting's Akashic records. Her soul had the ability to retrieve information about anyone's past lives and current existence. Because of this, she adhered strictly to the rules, never peeking into others' records to avoid interfering with karmic destinies.
The introduction ended, and the meeting commenced. The heads of the North American Real Estate Division, Forex Trading Division, Bond Investment Division, and Hotel Business Division reported one by one, their voices steady and detailed.
Throughout the process, Jiang Ting remained cold and focused, fully immersed in work. He didn't look at Astra again or seek her input, as if her introduction had been nothing but a meaningless interlude.
Astra sat off to the side, feeling like an unnecessary shadow. An inexplicable sense of embarrassment and humiliation crept over her. The other department heads sensed something amiss, occasionally casting sidelong glances at her, their eyes filled with confusion and dissatisfaction.
"Why spend 30 million on an energy consultant just to have her sit there doing nothing?"
"What kind of arrangement is this?"
A subtle tension filled the room. Astra's hands clenched around her notebook, her fingertips turning white. Her phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced at it, a slight frown crossing her face, but she quickly composed herself.
Finally, the meeting ended, and the department heads dispersed. In the hallway, whispered discussions prickled Astra's mind like needles.