"Richard DP Company"
"Dohe, we're here. Please come down."
"No," Dohe whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm scared."
Lisa's tone softened, shifting from its earlier sharpness to concern. "Dohe," she said gently, "look at me. Don't worry, I won't leave you. I'll stay by your side, okay?"
"Okay," Dohe replied, giving a slight nod.
Dohe stepped out of the car and walked into the hall. Lisa watched her go, then drove off.
As she drove, Lisa replayed the events in her mind, piecing together the information she had received from the company. A realization dawned on her.
Something about the company's invitation felt wrong. Why would they invite her to this event? Could it be that Vena would be there?
Lisa made a U-turn and sped back towards the hall where she had dropped off Dohe. She pulled out her phone and called Dohe.
"Hello?" Dohe answered.
"Dohe," Lisa said urgently, "don't you think something is off about this event? Don't you think Vena might be there, and that's why they invited you?"
"What do you mean?" Dohe asked, her voice filled with confusion. "Please explain."
"It's been a while since the DP company has held an event like this," Lisa began. "And the founder of the company just died last month. Now, all of a sudden, they're planning this big event. They've invited all the major companies, and they're inviting us to a program we've never even attended before."
"You're right," Dohe said, her voice filled with worry. "You're making a good point."
"And," Lisa continued, "what if Area's company is planning to use this event to boost their sales and undermine our company?"
"What?!" Dohe exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm.
Lisa reached the hall and found Dohe. She quickly pulled her into the car and drove to the Richard DP Company.
"We're here," Lisa said to Dohe, who was frozen in her seat.
"I can't go in," Dohe said, her voice barely a whisper. "What if I don't win any award? What if Vena insults me? What if I don't pass the sales voting?"
"Don't worry," Lisa reassured her. "You won't know until you try."
Dohe took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. As she entered the hall, all eyes turned to her. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Isn't that Dohe?" someone murmured.
"What's she doing here?" another voice wondered.
"Is she going to stay for the competition?"
Dohe could hear the whispers, and her heart sank. "They don't even care that I'm here," she thought to herself. "I should just leave."
But then she remembered Lisa's words: "You won't know until you try."
Dohe straightened her shoulders and walked forward, ignoring the stares and whispers.
Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice. "Well, well, well," it sneered. "Look who's here."
Dohe turned to see Vena, her rival, standing nearby. Vena was wearing a black and white gown that shimmered in the light.
"What are you doing here?" Vena asked, her eyes narrowed.
"I don't have time for this," Dohe said, trying to keep her voice steady. She turned to walk away.
"Running away again, as always," Vena called after her. "You don't belong here. Go back to where you came from."
Dohe's eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She knew Vena was trying to provoke her, but she wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
As she blinked back the tears, someone gently wiped them away. Dohe looked up and saw a handsome young man with black eyes and black hair. His scent was warm and inviting, like a crackling fire.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said, his voice gentle. "I thought you would have dealt with those people by now, not crying."
Dohe stared at the young man, surprised by his words. He seemed to have a way with words, and she wondered where they met.