The soft chime of Grace Wu's phone echoed faintly in the office. She glanced at the screen without urgency.
Rocky Chan (4 Missed Calls)
Grace set the phone aside. Let him wonder.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, painting faint stripes across her desk. Outside, the hum of the corporate floor droned on—a familiar rhythm of typing, murmured calls, and the occasional clack of heels against tile.
Grace's fingers hovered over the keyboard, but her focus drifted. The past year's memories replayed behind her eyes—each misstep, each betrayal, sharp and vivid.
Anna Feng had already started weaving her web. Grace could see the signs—the way Anna lingered too long near Rocky's office, the seemingly innocent favors she asked, and Rocky's easy smiles in return.
A slow exhale escaped Grace's lips.
In the old timeline, Grace had been blind to Anna's intentions, brushing them off as trivial. She had paid the price for that ignorance.
Not again.
The faint creak of the door broke her thoughts.
"Busy?"
Grace looked up, schooling her expression into polite indifference. Anna stood at the entrance, one hand delicately gripping the frame as if she hadn't just casually walked into Grace's office uninvited.
"I manage," Grace replied coolly.
Anna's red-painted lips curved into a faint smile.
"Rocky's looking for you," Anna said lightly, stepping further inside. Her eyes scanned the neatly stacked papers on Grace's desk.
"I noticed," Grace replied, not bothering to explain.
Anna chuckled softly, moving to the chair opposite her desk. She sank into it, crossing her legs with deliberate ease.
"You're always so serious, Grace," Anna remarked. "I don't know how you keep up with him."
The subtle jab wasn't lost on Grace.
"I'm good at my job," Grace replied, clasping her hands together on the desk. "That's all Rocky expects."
Anna tilted her head, the soft bounce of her curls framing her face perfectly—too perfectly.
"It's not just about being good at your job," Anna said, her gaze drifting toward the window. "You know how Rocky is. He values… closeness."
Grace's lips curled faintly. There it was.
"I prefer professionalism," Grace replied evenly.
Anna's eyes flicked back to her, amusement glinting.
"Of course," Anna murmured. "But professionalism can only get you so far. Sometimes, you need to be flexible."
Grace leaned forward slightly, holding Anna's gaze with quiet intensity.
"I don't bend that easily," Grace said softly. "But you already know that."
Anna's smile twitched, just barely, before she rose from the chair.
"I suppose we all have our limits," Anna mused, brushing invisible lint from her sleeve. "Still, you should call Rocky back. He'll appreciate it."
Grace didn't respond, watching as Anna turned toward the door.
"Oh, and Grace," Anna added, glancing back with that same effortless smile. "Let me know if you ever need help lightening the load. I'm always happy to assist."
Grace's eyes didn't waver.
"I'll keep that in mind," she replied.
Anna lingered for half a second longer before disappearing down the hall.
The soft click of the door left behind a silence that felt heavier than before.
Grace exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple.
Anna was testing the waters, prodding gently to see how much resistance she would meet. Not much, if Grace kept quiet like last time.
Her phone buzzed again.
Rocky: Where are you? Meeting's over.
Grace stared at the message for a long moment, fingers hovering over the screen.
I was tied up with work. Let me know if anything urgent comes up.
She hit send and set the phone down.
No apologies. No unnecessary explanations.
Rocky would expect her to follow up, but Grace had no intention of lingering in his orbit today.
She gathered the remaining documents from her desk, sliding them neatly into her bag. There was somewhere else she needed to be.
By the time Grace arrived at the café near the Li Holdings branch, the afternoon rush had begun to settle. She slipped into a corner seat, glancing briefly at the menu before placing her order.
The bell above the entrance chimed, and her eyes flicked up just in time to see Lilly Li step inside.
Grace straightened, raising a hand slightly.
Lilly spotted her instantly, her lips curving in faint recognition as she approached.
"Grace Wu," Lilly greeted smoothly, sliding into the seat across from her. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon."
Grace smiled lightly.
"I thought it was time to reconnect," Grace replied.
Lilly arched a brow.
"Business or personal?"
Grace's fingers tapped softly against the table.
"A bit of both."
Lilly's gaze sharpened, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Interesting," Lilly said, settling back into her seat. "You don't usually mix the two."
Grace met Lilly's gaze evenly.
"I'm learning to adapt."
Lilly smirked.
"I like that," she replied. "So, what can I do for you, Grace?"
Grace leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice just enough to draw Lilly's full attention.
"I want in at Li Holdings," Grace said without hesitation. "I'm ready to step away from Chan Holdings. When the opportunity comes, I'd like to be part of your team."
Lilly studied her for a long, silent moment, eyes unreadable.
Finally, she smiled.
"Smart move," Lilly replied softly.
Grace's lips curved faintly.
This time, she wouldn't wait for the storm to arrive.