Chapter 2 Meeting at 10 : 30 pm

"Why did you arrive so late, Blair?" Evelyn's voice cut into her thoughts as she tucked away her cell phone.

"Yeah, I was a little late today. For some reason, my eyes just refused to open up this morning," Blair said with a cheeky grin.

"Well, now the boss will make sure your eyes are wide open," Evelyn said sternly.

Evelyn had been a good friend since they met four years ago. She was in her late twenties, with bright brown eyes and dark hair styled in soft curls around her face. Her smile was perfect. When they met on that first day, they clicked instantly. They shared much more than just a great sense of humor; their personalities meshed seamlessly. Blair often talked about her latest cake creations while Evelyn listened with a soft expression. They shared similar tastes in music and movies, although Blair preferred indie over pop or hip-hop. They shared a love for books equally; Evelyn had to share stories about her family's love for reading even though she hadn't read much herself.

"Why? What's going on? Where is the boss?" Blair inquired, feeling a sense of concern.

"In her office," Evelyn replied, gesturing with her eyes. Blair looked over at the glass door and saw her boss arguing heatedly with William. She was wearing a tight black pencil skirt, complemented by black silk stockings and matching high heels, along with an extravagant crimson blouse with diamond embellishments that sparkled across its surface. As their eyes met through the reflective surface of the door, Blair could see irritation etched on her face.

Blair felt a chill in her stomach while watching the scene. It was unusual for the boss to lecture William, an employee she so admired, early in the day. She quickly placed her stuff on her desk and limped into her office cautiously so as not to get scolded this morning.

On entering the office, she felt that the air was heavy with tension. William seemed visibly flustered and filled with remorse. Behind her desk, Ms. Dorothy, the boss, looked disappointed and frustrated.

"How could you be so careless? Your mistake has cost us a major client in Singapore, resulting in billions of dollars in losses," Ms. Dorothy yelled at him.

The knot formed in Blair's gut, as she thought some things over in her head. William was really talented and hardworking employee; if he got scolded then it means his mistake is really big. It was really unusual for him to make a mistake. Blair wondered what he had done to make Ms. Dorothy angry.

"I understand, but,"

"I don't want to hear any excuses, William! This was an important account, and you were in charge of it. And now we have lost not only a very valuable client but also a good sum of money." Ms. Dorothy's voice thundered, and involuntarily, Blair cringed.

Ms. Dorothy motioned for William to leave and turned her attention towards Blair, looking at her in disdain. "Why on earth are you just standing there like an utter moron!"

Blair sat quietly, smiling sheepishly as she said, "'Sorry."

"It's not about apologies," Ms. Dorothy exclaimed. "You were supposed to be here at 7:30 am. You're late for your shift!"

"Oh, right…" Blair mumbled, scratching at the back of her neck while still smiling to herself, scanning her watch. She was gazing at the time on the watch and she suddenly realized it was already 8:45 am. She panicked as she tried to rush up with something to explain her being late. "I....I must have overslept," she stammered as she lied, her smile dropping from her face.

Ms. Dorothy crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her gaze. "Sleeping in? That is not a reason. We need to be quite punctual here, and it messes the whole team off when you keep coming late."

Blair nodded again, overwhelmed by guilt, "I understand that, and I am really sorry. It is not going to happen again."

Ms. Dorothy let out a frustrated sigh, Blair could tell she didn't believing her. "This won't happen again? Do you think I'm an idiot? Do you know Ms. Chairman is coming today? Get everything ready right now!"

"Yes, boss, I am almost ready," Blair replied, and Ms. Dorothy rolled her eyes.

"Call the media and make sure they are lined up in the hall," Ms.Dorothy ordered.

"Is there anything else you need me to do, boss?" Blair asked, hoping to divert her attention away from her annoyance.

She let out another sigh of frustration, showing her dissatisfaction with Blair's previous answer. "Of course," she responded abruptly. "Make sure that the decorations are perfect, the refreshments are set up properly, and that everything is prepared according to Ms. Chairman's preferences."

"I will make sure it is done," Blair replied coolly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Quicker," Ms. Dorothy snarled, storming out of her office once again and slamming the door so hard that the glass in it quivered. Blair let out a sigh and ran her hand across her face, realizing that today was her birthday. With every stride, her heels echoed through the marble floor, heading to the elevator. Convinced to prove that she was fit enough for this responsibility despite all Ms. Dorothy said, Blair sped off in her quest to take charge of the arrangements. It was getting harder by the minute, but Blair felt she must overcome it all. She wouldn't fail.

"Is Kaylee here yet?" Blair asked Evelyn as she stepped out of the office. After all, Kaylee was supposed to oversee today's preparations as the new CEO's personal secretary.

"Yes, she's here, but she's currently with the boss, inspecting the arrangements in the hall downstairs," Evelyn replied, hurrying toward the main entrance to greet the press.

After a quick glimpse at her back, Blair went into the hall, feeling a little curious about everything's progression.

At the entrance, Kaylee and the boss were in the middle of a heated conversation. Blair couldn't help but feel envious as she saw Kaylee and Ms. Dorothy get along with each other so seamlessly. She couldn't help but compare herself to Kaylee, who effortlessly commanded the boss's approval. Blair shook her head as she walked toward them, forcing the negative thoughts away.

"I hoped you disappeared, Kaylee," Blair muttered, not knowing whether it was from her envy or pure rage. She had always wanted to be the one standing by the boss's side, aiding and backing her up.

"Hey, Kaylee," Blair said, faking a smile. "How's everything?"

Kaylee turned, brightening the lines of her face. "Almost ready! Just a few last-minute adjustments and we'll be set for Ms. Charlotte's arrival."

Blair nodded, hoping that she didn't show any nervousness of her own. "Do you need help? I can help with the decorations or refreshments."

"That would be great," Kaylee said, looking over Ms. Dorothy. "She's getting a bit stressed and could use another set of hands."

Blair felt a wave of relief. Maybe this was her chance to prove herself. She moved forward with everyone towards refreshment table and quickly took note of what she needed to prepare.

"Do you know what Ms. Charlotte likes?" Blair asked, as casually as she could.

Kaylee shrugged. She was more focused on pastries. "She likes everything perfect. Presentation is more important than anything. If it does not look good enough, then she will criticize."

Blair's stomach twisted at the thought. She had her own pressures looming, and the idea of failing in front of the new CEO was daunting. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she could handle it.

As they tried to accomplish something, the tension in the air was visibly palpable. Employees were running around the place, and the faint sound of cameras clicking outside grew louder as the press began to gather.

Blair could see Evelyn already fielding questions from the reporters, her bright smile cutting across the chaos.

"Let's make sure that everything is set before they start streaming in," Kaylee said, pulling Blair back to reality.

"Right, let's finish up," Blair said, her face back to the task at hand. She needed today to be memorable-not only for Ms. Charlotte, but for herself as well. It was her time to shine under all this pressure. They just put the finishing touches in place as Ms. Dorothy emerged from her office, still looking a little tight but marginally composed.

"Is everything ready?" she called out across the room with an authoritative scan.

"Almost done, boss," Kaylee replied, straightening up.

Blair felt her heart race as Ms. Dorothy approached them. "Make sure it's perfect," she said, her voice low but firm. "We can't afford any mistakes today."

Blair nodded, determination flooding her. She was not going to let Ms. Dorothy down-or herself. With the last minutes ticking by, she felt a weight settle over her, expecting that all should go perfectly well. Yet inside her, she knew she was more than able to do this. Today had to be perfect.

At exactly 11 o'clock, Ethan Lopez walked into the corridor. All cameras switched their attention to him. He was the only child of the company's president, Ms. Charlotte Lopez, and the sole heir of Lopez Food Company, having recently graduated from a University in Australia.

Drowned amidst all those people, no one paid attention to the sound of his footsteps. He had a beautiful, elusive glamour: thin body, dark richly waving light brown hair and pale bright blue eyes obscured behind thick-lensed glasses. An aura of mystery and of fascination. Dressed in black tuxedo with a gray tie, he radiated casual sophistication. His tan enhanced his appearance, giving him an unmistakable air of cool distinction. He was going along the aisle of the hall where people sat on red velvet chairs arranged in rows and smiling sweetly at every face he came across.

Blair could not help but feel his life was a fairy-tale. Suddenly Masson's message appeared on the phone screen and she jerked her eyes open from dream land. She touched the screen to read the message:

'Opulent Heights' 'Luxor Lodgings Hotel' 'Meeting' '10:30 pm'