Emerson closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm herself.

It hurts. So bad.

'Nothing can hurt you more than your own thoughts Emerson, others don't have the power to do it. '

Grandpa Peter's words rang in her mind. She wanted to run in his warm embrace.

After a few moments, she calmed herself.

She looked at her savior. He definitely looked too familiar but couldn't pinpoint.

"Thank you. " She said with a polite smile.

The man shook his head and looked at her with a sad smile.

"You don't remember, do you? "

"Pardon? "

She was confused and Adrien to looked at them with same look.

Does she know him or knew him. An old friend perhaps?

The boy again gave her a pained smile.

"It's ok. Wanna go for lunch? "

It angered Adrien. But he didn't knew why.

Why won't she? He has that golden boy look.

He scowled. But snapped out of it by Em's answer.

" I am really sorry. But only 30 min are left and I have to do something else to do. I really apologize for it. "

She declined in the most polite way possible.

Adrien sighed in relief.

"It's ok. Next time maybe."

"Yeah. But no promises. Sorry again. "

Emerson was about to turn towards but the man suddenly asked her looking at her in disbelief

"Is that a wedding band. Are you married? This young? Who is he? "

Adrien and Em froze for a moment but composed themselves. Adrien saw the look on the blondie's face. He looked like someone kicked his pup.

Emerson nodded.

"Yes. But you probably don't know him. And sorry but I have something else to do. Please excuse me. " She excused herself politely and turned towards Adrien.

Adrien acted like he wasn't eavesdropping.

"Thank you Mr Stone. It means a lot. And sorry for the inconvenience in the beginning." She softly stated.

The boy was out of the room by then. Adrien only have a curt nod.

She turned towards her seat, removed blazer and put it on the chair. She went out of the room and came back in 5 minutes, probably using the restroom.

She sat on her chair, removed her laptop to do something on it for 10 minutes. She then ate a chocolate bar, drank some water and rested her head on the table.

Adrien was staring at her the whole time. He noticed how she ate at the house only once in the 2 weeks, when he insulted her food and how she slept very . How she was never there when he woke up even when he was up at 5:30 . How he only saw her eat full meals 4 times , 2 times at the wedding, dinner she made once (which was too good ) and once at the family dinner. How she never liked using footwear she wore outside, inside the house. And how she would know he is starting.

"It's really considered rude, but it feels more creepy. When someone stares. "

Her soft voice startled him internally annd his heart started thumping loudly. He noticed no one was in the room. He had his schedule on hold for the hours of program so his secretary didn't disturb him.

"You lied. " He ignored her previous statement.

"Did not. "

"Oh yes? " He asked sarcastically.

"Knowledge of management is necessary , even in medical science. " She stated softly, her eyes on the table where she kept her removed glasses.

Adrien understood. It was Law and Management she meant.

He was surprised.

She even has the winner title of Interstate Essay competition for innovative management and marketing, which I too got but not I freshman but senior year. Is she really that smart?

"I didn't know you were CEO of or even related to SM" She stated softly and before Adrien could snap her for acting innocent and stating bullshit, the candidates started entering and he averted his eyes, jaw clenched.

Everyone was back from their break. But Adrien smirked internally noticing the boy's face was still long , looking gloomy as ever. Why he was happy with it was beyond his reach.

"So let's start with you people's doubt one by one. " Adrien was again in his CEO mode.

The first candidate asked, "You said that the base of any business should be strong. The founder of any business should know what he is doing. He should foresee the future. But how is that true. Not everyone can predict future. "

Adrien leaned his elbows on the table with his fingers intervened.

" Not about everyone. No can predict the future. The business man doesn't depend on predicting future. It is the worst strategy and common misconception. A good business man will paln his model, fundamentals and strategy for a plain path. But he would have his mind and body ready with a plan for obstacles. An easy example, a fruit sellar is also a business man. Before starting selling, he would save or loan some money to buy fruits. In his mind, he would think about an easy path. He will buy fruits with the saved or borrowed money, sell them at higher price . Earn profit. Continue the cycle if the money he used was saved. If it was borrowed, he would return some money with profit, use some, save some, buy fruits with some and sell them. Butt a good business man, or fruit sellar will buy it from the best quality farm with a good bargain, would sell them at higher price and the cycle will continue. But when a new fruit sellar would rise and try to overpower him, he would know how to handle the situation. He would try to keep the product like what he would want if he pays the same price, he would know how to woo the people, how to impress them and increase his sells. It's not same with everyone. Creativity of mind changes with types of people.

It cannot be changed. Some or born with good business instincts , some work hard to achieve it, where as it is completely not someone's forte. "

He explained calmly.

Some questions passed but Em was silent. She only took note of important points.

After half an hour, a girl asked a silly question trying to flirt with him causing Emerson to perk up her attention.

"What did you do to become billionaire Mr Stone? " She asked giggling and twirling her ginger curl in perfectly manicured nails. Which looked like witch's nails according to. Adrien.

He leaned back on the chair, his face cold.

"A true business man never shares his secret. "

"Oh, then why this program if you won't share? " She asked giggling but the innuendo didn't go unnoticed by Adrien. He glanced at Emerson who's face was neutral and eyes on the New York skyline.

He thought she zoned out which wasn't true and decided to play a little.

"Ms.Leone . You are junior still recommended, an awardee of Interstate competition in freshman year and straight A according to your reports, how do think I became a billionaire, the most successful one? "

Emerson didn't look fazed or startled. She tilted her head at him then looked back at the skyline. She then took a breath and turned to him again.

"Everyone's success story is different. People who worked hard at gain power and money, they are termed successful and the children who inherited their parent's hard work on silver platter too, are termed successful. "

Adrien didn't know where she was going.

"It wasn't the answer to my question"

"You are none of them " She tilted her head towards the skyline again and continued.

"Stone Multinational was found by your grandfather, who worked hard from a young age to build this empire from scratch. He made it a successful company. Your father, probably idolized him and worked hard, to expand it throughout the country. When you were probably an early teen, this empire was a small kingdom but still successful. You too probably started idolizing both of them and worked harder to make that million dollar kingdom to billion dollar kingdom in the country. When this was successful, you started expanding it in Asia first. Probably because the raw material in cheap price for manufacturing and for service sector, western services in Asia are more preferred in elites there. When the base at Asia was successful, you took it to Africa, which even though as a developing continent, had a great wildlife lover's attraction . You added your services there. Then you went in Europe. It's a place where people like royalty too much. The services which were given in Africa and Asia normally, were given in Europe with a touch of royalty. Tourism in Europe is very well developed and people tend to like it. Opening wineries in Italy and providing them in France was one great achievement for you. It skyrocketed your profit. Private islands and beaches for family and couples was a great idea. Giving homey feeling in Greece attracted customers more to enjoy what it felt like living in Greece and not just touring it. You also opened one of the biggest waterpark in Brazil for kids. Parents loved the idea. Then you started investment in smaller companies in whom you saw potential. They helped you. With all those ideas, you made the million dollar company in a multi billion multinational company. Now you are just running it and not expanding. But the reason you are none of the above people is because you turned an already millionaire company into multi billionaire company but you didn't get it in silver platter . It's no secret that you started working from the age of 19 , where other heirs partied and enjoyed. Even if you became the CEO at the age of 24 when you completed your masters degree, you got it 'cause you deserved it. Board members wouldn't have voted you if so. And even before becoming the CEO you planned strategies as COO and marketing head. It's just really weird that the media shared your positions in company and your age at that time. But your hard work, creativity, strategy and your will power, determination and ambitiousness was what made you come here. It is what made you successful and what made me idolize and respect you. "

She took a deep breath when finished.