The next day, Jake was awakened by the sharp ringing of his phone alarm.
The eting was scheduled for 9:30 AM on the seventh floor of the Aven Building.
Jake always approached work with passion and dedication. Even without his mother-in-law’s test, he would strive tirelessly for his future.
This was closely tied to his upbringing. Having grown up alone and without support, he learned early on to rely on himself rather than others.
After carefully grooming himself, he put on a brand-new suit. Mia had impeccable taste—the two suits she picked highlighted Jake’s different styles of handsoness naturally.
Every ti he wore them, he took ticulous care of them, not just because of their price but also because they were a gift from Mia.
The hotel was only a ten-minute walk from the Aven Building, and a company car would arrive at 9:00 AM to pick them up. After finishing breakfast, Jake waited downstairs early for Manager Mina.
While waiting, Jake pulled out the client materials he had already morized. The leaders of both companies would naturally spearhead this collaboration, but the specifics would be negotiated by Manager Mina. Both were large corporations, and neither wanted to lose out.
The representative from Aven was a deputy director from the product departnt, a middle-aged man nad Engston. In his photo, he had a plump face, a shiny bald head, and looked every bit the greasy middle-aged man often portrayed in TV dramas.
Jake was sowhat worried. Setting aside Manager Mina’s professional status, her striking physical allure alone could easily attract unwanted attention from n. However, he later realized his concerns were unnecessary.
"Click, click, click..." Soon, the sound of high heels tapping against the marble floor echoed from the staircase.
At that mont, the hotel lobby was fairly crowded, mostly with business travelers like Jake.
Initially focused on reviewing the client details, Jake was distracted when a commotion broke out among a small crowd near the elevator.
A stunning, confident, and unapproachable-looking mature woman strode briskly toward the exit, followed closely by her assistant, who carried a docunt bag.
Standing nearly 1.7 ters tall, she wore expensive glossy black stilettos with heels about seven to eight centiters high, making her already slender fra appear even more statuesque. The rhythmic tapping of her heels against the floor seed to reverberate in the hearts of the n around her, their gazes burning with desire.
The temperature in Sahara was slightly higher than in Savannah. The woman’s snow-white legs were clad in sheer white stockings so thin they seed to lt into her flawless skin. Every detail was visible—the rosy hue of her knees, the tautness of her calves, the fullness of her thighs.
A black fitted leather skirt, along with the hem of her blouse, tightly hugged her perfectly rounded hips. Her upper half was adorned with a sophisticated black-and-white striped long-sleeved blouse, and her enviable cleavage was nothing short of breathtaking. The monochro ensemble added an air of elegance to the otherwise dull hotel lobby.
Her well-maintained, flaxen hair cascaded down her back, so lustrous it seed to glow faintly. Her exquisite face was adorned with delicate makeup—soft pink eyeshadow paired naturally with cute yet seductive under-eye highlights. Her arched brows, straight nose, and thin, moist lips ca together on her jade-like face like a masterpiece, so beautiful it almost seed unreal.
The faint green veins on the arches of her feet were neither harsh nor unsightly but instead accentuated her playful charm.
Her delicate feet supported her graceful figure as she walked, her earrings swaying slightly. She ignored the lustful stares around her and made her way out.
It was Manager Mina.
Jake couldn’t help but admire her charisma and quickly stood up.
Mina seed to notice Jake and adjusted her path slightly, walking straight past him with a cold, "Let’s go."
Jake was taken aback. This was a far cry from the Manager Mina he’d seen the night before. He shook his head helplessly, exchanging a knowing glance with the assistant trailing behind Mina, then followed.
The Aven company car arrived right on ti, picking up the three of them and delivering them to the company. Under the guidance of a staff mber, they were led to the seventh-floor conference room.
The spacious room seated only Manager Mina, Jake, and the assistant. The receptionist left after saying, "Please wait a mont. Director Engston will be here shortly."
The assistant arranged the contract docunts neatly on Manager Mina’s desk before quietly taking a seat in the back. Jake sat to the right.
Ti passed minute by minute, but there was no sign of Director Engston—only the occasional staff mber refilling their tea.
Jake grew slightly impatient, shifting restlessly in his seat.
"Don’t be impatient. This is a common tactic. Just wait." Mina’s expression remained unreadable as she sat perfectly still.
This small interaction made Jake realize the gap between himself and Manager Mina. Shigella truly had no shortage of talent.
Jake wasn’t sure if Sahara was hotter than Savannah or if the air conditioning was inadequate, but as the wait dragged on, his irritation grew, even making it hard to breathe.
anwhile, Manager Mina remained composed, her sharp eyeliner betraying no trace of tension.
Even the assistant behind them had started wiping sweat from her forehead with a tissue.
Just as Jake was about to lose his patience and head to the restroom to cool off, a portly, balding middle-aged man in a suit waddled in, followed by a seductive-looking secretary.
His face was bloated with oily fat, his eyes small but sharp. However, his gaze quickly settled on Manager Mina’s curvaceous figure.
The sight of her sexy, mature body made Director Engston’s beady eyes gleam, though he hid it well.
"My apologies, traffic was terrible. I couldn’t make it on ti. My sincerest regrets." He nodded repeatedly, feigning remorse.
He walked over to Manager Mina and extended his pudgy right hand. "Hello, hello. I’m Engston."
Mina didn’t even move. "Shigella. Mina."
Engston awkwardly retracted his hand, cursing inwardly, "Damn bitch, I’ll get you in bed sooner or later. Who do you think you’re fooling? Acting all high and mighty with ."
Jake didn’t let his disdain for Engston show on his face, though he felt particularly contemptuous inside. His forr boss had been the sa kind of person.
While Jake couldn’t eavesdrop on n’s thoughts, the flashily dressed secretary beside Engston beca his target for this mission.
Before coming, Manager Mina had instructed him to follow her lead and not speak unnecessarily unless there were special circumstances. He was to observe and learn.
Jake knew he still had much to learn and wouldn’t casually reveal his attitude.
The secretary’s cheap perfu could be slled from a mile away. Compared to Manager Mina, even the assistant girl behind her was far more appealing.
"Enough with the pleasantries. Let’s get to the point," Mina said coldly.
"Alright. I’ve long heard of Shigella’s Manager Mina. Seeing you today, your reputation is well deserved. A top talent at Shigella—have you ever considered joining Aven for developnt?"
Engston dared to be so brazen not just because of his arrogant personality but also because he relied on his uncle, the second-in-command at Aven Group. Engston was his nephew.
Unfortunately, he didn’t know about the relationship between Manager Mina and Shigella’s CEO, Yana. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to set his sights on her even with ten tis the courage.
"I appreciate the offer, Director Engston. But rather than changing jobs, I’d prefer to secure the commission from this project."
Engston reclined in his chair without a care, his beady eyes lecherously fixed on Mina—her ample chest, fair skin, and enchanting face completely overshadowed the secretary beside her.
Shifting his gaze slightly, he noticed her slender legs tightly pressed together. The seasoned lecher instantly spotted the ultra-thin stockings clinging to them, his lustful gaze practically oozing desire.
Mina had long heard of Engston’s reputation at Aven—a lecherous old man who flaunted his uncle’s influence to bully others in the company. She already had no goodwill toward him.
Now, seeing his disgusting, perverted stare, she felt bile rise in her throat.
Suppressing her discomfort, she signaled her assistant to hand Engston a copy of the contract. The secretary across from them did the sa.
Mina also gave Jake a copy, instructing him to study it carefully while she reviewed it herself.
Engston, however, didn’t even glance at the docunts, keeping his eyes glued to Mina.
Ten minutes passed before Mina closed the file.
Engston imdiately asked, "So? Satisfied with the profit split?"
The collaboration between their companies was already known to upper managent. This negotiation was ant to establish long-term cooperation and future profit distribution.
The two companies were evenly matched in strength, and Aven Group wasn’t without alternatives besides Shigella.
"Director Engston must be joking. Last year’s split was 70-30. Now you’re raising it to 60-40? That’s quite the overreach." Mina remained composed, not letting the increased percentage affect her expression.
"Tis change. Your company’s products have also risen in price."
"That’s hardly comparable. Director Engston seems intent on making things difficult."
"Manager Mina, you flatter . We’re both just employees. Why be so serious? How about we find a nice private room to discuss this further?"
"Disgusting." Jake gritted his teeth silently. If not for the company’s sake, he would’ve already snapped back.
The flirtatious secretary across from him gazed adoringly at Engston. "Another woman bowing to money. But..." Jake instantly cleared his mind of all thoughts, focusing entirely on the secretary.
The exchange between Manager Mina and Engston grew heated, the two locked in a fierce battle of words.
Amid the chaos, Jake seized the opportunity to pry into the secretary’s secrets.
Reviews
All reviews (0)