Friday, in the morning.

Zaria received an intercom message from her intern assistant. "Miss Sparks is here to see you."

Her eyebrows furrowed. Miss Sparks… Natalie Sparks? Why would she be here for her? She carefully asked, "Did she specifically ask for me?"

"Yes. Should I let her in?" The intern responded nervously.

"Let her in." Zaria sighed. There was only one reason for Desmond's fiancée to look for her and that reason was Desmond. Could it be that the woman had misunderstood something and was here to start a fiancée vs. mistress scandal? But she was not Desmond's paramour, okay?!

Angry with that man for bringing trouble and hate wherever he went, she waited for whatever fate was about to bring her.

Her assistant's cubicle was on the same floor, so it wasn't long before Zaria heard the soft but firm and confident clank of high heels. A knock resounded on her door and a woman in a royal blue one-piece business dress walked in. Her long brown hair was let loose, and although she was not trying to show it off, it was certain that the red lipstick she had applied might be more expensive than Zaria's entire closet. More than that, she looked so beautiful and noble.

Zaria was irresistibly beautiful, but in the face of Natalie, she thought of herself as pale in comparison. Of course, how could a commoner like her compare to an elite who was born to be a queen?

And she had almost started to think that Desmond was interested in her. Why would he be interested in her when he had such a beautiful and intelligent fiancée? She stopped herself from thinking about the numerous achievements that had Natalie's name before them on business magazines.

"Are you here to see Mr. Fort? He is…"

"I'm certain I know the difference between the CEO and his executive assistant, Miss Williams." The woman interrupted before Zaria could state where Desmond was.

Her response made Zaria tense up slightly. "Okay, you are here to see me then... How may I be of help?"

The slaps and yelling she was preparing to counter did not arrive. Instead, the woman smiled politely. "May I have a seat?"

"Of Course! Forgive my manners." Zaria was so intimidated that she had forgotten to offer the guest a seat. It was only now that she noticed the assistant behind Natalie. She looked like she was here on business…?

Natalie made herself comfortable and opened her palm to the young woman beside her, who immediately handed over a white envelope.

"I would like to offer you a job." Spoke Natalie. "I can help you terminate your contract with Preston and Fort Group. I know about the ten-year terms and the six-month advance salary. I will help you pay it back along with the cancellation fees."

Zaria was still in shock when she heard her conclude, "You just need to read and sign this."

She was confused. She was not here to yell, slap, or call her names and offer her money so she would stay away from her fiancé. Was she offering her a job instead?

She was inarticulate. "Miss Sparks…"

"Miss Williams, if you need to add any other terms, feel free to let me know." Natalie did not let her say no.

Zaria felt her mind explode. "That's not the thing. The thing is…"

"That the Sparks family's hotel chains cannot compare to Preston and Fort Group? While the latter is indeed a larger company, Sparks Hotel chains have been in business for decades and they keep improving. Besides, you will be the CEO's secretary." Natalie said in one breath.

"I…"

Zaria was yet to respond when the door between Desmond's office and hers opened. The man walked over to them with a complex expression and stood beside Zaria as though he was protecting her.

"Are you seriously scouting my assistant while I'm right here? That's so gutsy of you, Nat."

Natalie was displeased about being interrupted. "So what? If it's a talent, I can scout even Leo Qin's daughter, let alone your executive assistant."

"I do not allow it." He ignored her exaggeration.

Even Zaria couldn't help but think that Natalie had a humorous side of her. Who would think about scouting Leo Qin's daughter? The latter was still a toddler, and even if she was old enough, her father—who was said to dote on her to the heavens—would never allow it.

"I do not answer to you." Natalie looked at Desmond unflinchingly and continued attempting to negotiate with Zaria.

They looked like a king and his queen. In fact, one could say they were comparable to Olphire's popular power couple—Shera and Leo. But Zaria couldn't help but think that this pair was kinda odd…

Something was strange about their interaction, but Zaria couldn't figure it out. Though she had to admit that the fact that she thought of them as a match made in heaven made her a bit sad…

She jolted from her thoughts. What nonsense was she thinking? This was her boss's personal matter. She didn't have the right to have opinions about it. Besides, she should be happy for her boss, but why wasn't she?

She didn't hear much of the conversation between the couple in the room until Desmond brought her up. "Right. My little assistant was wondering whether you would be displeased if I used pet names on her."

Natalie looked surprised by his words then glanced at Zaria. In the next moment, she let out a soft scoff at Desmond. "Whatever helps you sleep peacefully at night." She stood up and faced Zaria. "Think about my offer. It won't be valid for very long."

Zaria waited until Natalie and her assistant had left before she turned to glower at her boss. "Was that necessary?"

The man grinned, happy about heaven-knows-what. "You were worried that she would be unhappy so I asked. See, she doesn't mind."

"Sir, go to your office." She was tired of thinking about them. Natalie probably didn't mind her man having rumors of flirtations surrounding him because she was confident in her charm.

The man didn't leave, and instead, he leaned against her desk from the side.

"I want to work here today. Do you have any problem with that?"

"It's your company. You can do whatever you want." She waved her hands to indicate just how tired she was of putting up with this man's constant dramatics.

She hoped that he would leave, but she was wrong. He pulled her off her chair and settled down. "Then I'll take your seat."

She shut her eyes to prevent herself from exploding in the anger whose source she didn't comprehend. "Where am I supposed to sit?"

"On my lap." He looked up at her and grinned mischievously, finding her chair more comfortable than his own even though he was of much better quality.

He swung to the side slightly. "Or you can be the CEO for the day." As he spoke, he ripped off his tie and muttered, "So comfortable."

She held in her anger and shook her head. "I am not interested in taking your place for even a minute. If you find this chair comfortable, please take it with you and sit on it in your office. Thanks."

The man laughed at her counterattack and offered her another option. "If you don't want my seat or my lap, you can stand all day."

Zaria shook her head when she thought about occupying the CEO's seat. That was so wrong…

She then glanced at his lap and shook her head even more furiously. "Did I offend you in my past life?"

"Maybe you did." The man drawled. "And in the present life, I want nothing but to punish you." He suddenly tugged her arm and she tripped and landed on his lap. He secured his arms around her before she could regain her balance.

She struggled out of his arms in vain, and when she was just about to give up, she felt something rising beneath her. Her eyes widened and she jabbed him furiously when she realized what it was. "You jerk!"

___

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the company.

Natalie was about to enter her car when she ran into Liam, who was on his way to the elevator.

"Ah, Liam. I was just about to give you a call." She spoke with a smile when she saw him.

"What do you need?" He was not particularly close to her—at least not as close as she was to Desmond—so they usually kept their conversation polite and straight to the point.

"I need something that Desmond would never give me."

"What's that?" He was curious.

"Zaria's number." The woman spoke like it meant nothing then added, "I still think I can be successful if I keep trying."

Liam could not comprehend what the woman was thinking, but he gave her Zaria's private number anyway. Natalie was not one to make friends easily. It didn't matter why she asked for Zaria's phone number, but if she was going to help get her away from Desmond, it would be for the best.