22 Lady Chairwoman

[ Chapter 22 ]

Monday started with the sun peeking through the velvet royal gold curtains of the extensive and lavish room. The bedroom was designed tastefully showing the fine taste of its owner. From the sheets to the wall, the chandelier on the ceiling to carpet on the floor, the design and everything was an elegant combination between silvery white and tasteful golden accents.

A combination of high quality silk and cotton furs in the bed, golden insets in the white wall and ceiling, expensive furnitures arranged in taste, glowing under the soft light from the show stopping gold chandelier, illuminating nothing short of luxury and creamy royal feel.

The alarm went off breaking the peaceful silence and cozy atmosphere. Cassandra purred like a royal cat at the sound as she slowly woke up from her extremely comfortable slumber despite getting some resistance from her sleepy soul.

Her eyes opened and she stifled a yawn. Her hand unconsciously reached out the side of her bed and what follows was the soft sigh coming out from her slightly parted lips. It's been like an age since the last time she woke up with someone on her side, giving her the warm she yearned. She's used to it, but still, the feeling was quite saddening.

Cassandra didn't why but she felt quite alone, she had a dream last night but she couldn't remember the vague dream. She then turned to the side, looking at the small photograph atop the nightstand, it's the photo of her dearest, she had it placed next to her in case sometimes the intense feeling of yearning comes to her.

It's the photo of a small family of three, on the photo, a porcelain doll like little girl of three years old could be seen facing the camera with her angelic cute face. Her eyes were small and she was smiling, as she's warmly embraced by a man who shared the little girl's emerald green eyes and exquisite brown hair.

The man was handsome, extremely charming even. The most appealing of him though was his gentle and warm eyes, as he had the vibes of a loving and doting lover. Any woman would melted by such a charming smile. He's not the kind of devilish handsome as he's more the type of perfect gentleman any mother would love to wed their daughter with.

One could see how dearly he loved the little girl in his arm by the way he smiled and the way he embraced her. While one of his hands was on the little girl, his other hand could be seen on the slim waist of a young beautiful woman. Standing by his side, the woman had her head at the man's shoulder and her eyes were dripping with love.

"Nicholas."

Cassandra called the name of love. Her misty eyes looked at the side with yearning, her lips trembling with longing, her heart beating with sadness, at the fate that was heartless to them.

She wasn't always this emotional but sometimes the feeling would just come at her. She's a strong woman who wouldn't let herself drown in sadness, but sometimes the feeling of longing was just saddening. She had long moved on with her life, forgetting him while moving forward for the sake of their daughter and herself, but once in a while when no one was around, she had to nurse her own wound in silence.

She loved him, but she wouldn't let herself passing her life living in the past. She moved forward, with the love of her daughter as her greatest source of support and happiness. She wasn't against the idea of finding another man but her heart beats to no man. No man could attract her and make her experience the same feeling she had with Nicholas.

That's why she hadn't been with another man since his passing. She reached the stage where she put no importance to such a feeling, as she could live her own life without a man by her side, she could find her own happiness in the form of her mate relationship with her daughter, her relationship with her family and her close friends. For her, that's enough.

Just then, a fleeting memory of a man's devious beauty passed through her mind making her frown with deep creases between her well maintained brows. The only man she had been with aside Nicholas. Cassandra bit her lip at the memory of him, of them, of the searing passion of the night. Shaking her head, she brushed the thought of him in the back of her mind. The man was just another chapter in her life. The night is something worth to remember but that's all.

After taking some time dealing with her feelings, Cassandra got up from her bed with her messy night gown, the gown was crumpled and folded up her flawless thighs that glistened from the light of the sun.

Her magnificent hair was disheveled and was sticking all over the place but it didn't diminish her beauty one bit. Instead, it only added to her silent allure.

Cassandra got up, fixed her bed and then went to the bathroom to freshen up. Fully awakened, her eyes were now clear and radiant with life. She then proceeded to bathe and showered herself clean.

She went to her wardrobe and chose her attire for today. Dragging her legs toward her vanity, she sat on the vanity seat and dried her hair with a hairdryer. Finished, she slipped herself to her attire and she was now wearing a white shirt with one unbuttoned button tucked into her black pencil skirt two inches above her knees, showing a respectable deal of her long magnificent legs.

Cassandra then put on her expensive Blaze Milano blue blouse and her Louboutin Alminette three inches black high heels. Her long platinum blond hair was falling loose over her narrow waist. Her make up was light and soft.

Standing up, she turned around and looked at herself in the full length mirror. Her vision was sophisticated and professional. She's definitely a gorgeous woman in and out, no matter how she dressed her natural extreme attractive charm was something that couldn't be hidden.

Attracting a lot of unwanted attention was like her nature and there's nothing she could do about it, she's used to it. Thankfully, she had that noble and unapproachable aura that one could only look up at her from afar. She reached the top where no man could afford to disrespect her.

Cassandra stepped out of her room and descended down the stairs walking her way towards the dining hall. On the dining table, the food was already served tastefully, Aveline was already settled in her seat with grace, giving her the sweet smile which made Cassandra's heart warm.

The breakfast session was passed in a harmonious atmosphere. Aveline and Cassandra exchanged small talks about their respective business, about their schedule for today and so on. Aveline was enthusiastic exchanging business talks with Cassandra as getting some pointers from an experienced businesswoman was very helpful to Aveline.

Cassandra looked at her watch and bid her goodbye at Aveline once they were finished. She grabbed her things and went out to make her way into the designated car.

In front of the house, a middle aged woman wearing white shirt was already standing next to the glamorous and full black Bentley Continental GT. Anna, was her long serving chauffeur.

"Good morning madam," Anna smiled softly as she greeted Cassandra, she then opened the passenger door.

Cassandra returned her greeting with a soft smile before entering the black sedan. Once Anna was sat in the driver seat, the engine started and the car began to drive toward her workplace.

Whilst she's on the passenger seat looking at the passing greenery of eastern Imperial, glancing above, she saw that the sun was covered by the dark clouds. She remembered that it's still sunny when she woke up but now, it isn't.

Cassandra thought that today's weather was just like her life as a woman, not her life as a whole but her love life. Blissful and passionate during the first half of her life but bleak afterwards. Her gaze looked at the gloomy sky absentmindedly. She wasn't emotional about it though as there's no point to live in the past. She had long moved on. She's now capable of getting her own happiness through all she had, loving daughter, caring family, compassionate close friends, accomplishing and successful career.

After a while of driving and crossing roads and highways for a good thirty minutes, Cassandra finally arrived at the grand hotel she had built, Almandine Hotel.

Almandine International, a seven-star hotel that was founded fifteen years ago by a self-made billionaire, a renowned businesswoman Cassandra Qin. Famously known for her intelligence, level headed, iron-willed, and her strong character. She's quite scheming in her style of doing business making the business world call her the "Lady."

Cassandra Qin was admired and respected for her accomplishment in building such a strong brand in the hospitality industry for a quite short period of time, about fifteen years.

Fifteen years ago, Cassandra was just a pampered daughter of the prominent Qin household, she's born with silver plate and her whole life was sheltered by her wealthy family. At the beginning, she's underestimated by the rest of the business world, no one put an importance on such a pampered young lady as a business player.

Her life turned to a complete turn fifteen years ago, she had experienced the lowest point in her life and those days were like a living hell. Had it not been for her daughter, she would have committed suicide in those days as she failed to cope with her sadness.

It took a year for her to deal with her sorrow and began to move on in life, for the sake of her daughter and herself. Broken and widowed. She tried to overcome her sadness and sorrow by filling her life with business. With the complete help of her father on acquisitioning an under performed five star hotel. She filled her life with work and business to the brim in order to numb her pain through exhaustion. She worked non stop for about five years before she could finally manage to move on in her life.

The fate had its own lines, her absolute dedication and devotion in her business, her tenaciousness and her perseverance earned her the success and the top where she stood right now. Her daughter and her family, especially her mother who took a complete care of her little Aveline when she's not around, their support contributed a tremendous deal to her career and helped her move on with her life.

Almandine International was built by her blood and sweat. To Cassandra, it wasn't an overstatement to say that it was like her own second daughter. Cassandra was a passionate person as a businesswoman.

Arriving at Almandine International, Anna stopped the car at the front of the hotel, Cassandra grabbed her things on one hand and got out of the black sedan. Graceful and elegant, she had a quite intimidating and regal presence. With her back straight, she strutted into the building.

When Cassandra stepped into the building, all employees turned to look at her with respect and they greeted, "Good morning, Chairwoman."

"Morning," Cassandra put a light smile on her flawless countenance and nodded lightly at them.

Cassandra wasn't a cold woman incapable of feeling. She's a woman who knew when to be cold and when to be friendly. She was a woman with great work etiquette, she would appreciate where its due. She respected her employees for their work dedication.

The employees looked at their chairwoman with utmost respect and admiration. Cassandra not only was insanely gorgeous and graceful but she also was a very strong and accomplished woman. Cassandra was always sophisticated, oozing with her unique charisma, making people want nothing but worship her.

Female employees fangirling her whilst male employees worshiping her ethereal beauty. Though Cassandra's natural allure could attract women and men alike, no employees have the thought of disrespecting thought of her in their mind, Cassandra was the perfection in their eyes and they don't want to blemish her perfectness.

"Morning, Ms Qin." Cassandra's secretary, Jacqueline Han, greeted Cassandra as she stood next to the elevator dutifully waiting for her, the latter then reached out for the things that Cassandra was holding.

"Morning, Jacqueline," Cassandra replied as she handed her things to her secretary. After that, they stepped into the elevator exclusive for executives.

The elevator ride was smooth and silent.

Cassandra peeked at her secretary who was standing beside her scrolling into her tab checking Cassandra's schedule and business. She looked completely focused.

Jacqueline was a quite good looking woman with serious personality, a career oriented woman and a perfectionist. Extremely competent, efficient and effective in her work. Twenty six years old single woman. Her hair was short falling down her shoulders and wearing professional dresses was like her second nature after breathing. The amount of time Cassandra saw Jacqueline in casual dress could be counted with her fingers.

Cassandra was very fond of Jacqueline. For her, a woman with passion in her career was very attractive. Jacqueline's dedication and determination was what she liked most about the latter. To be the direct secretary of renowned businesswoman Cassandra's caliber, it's truly a great accomplishment, as one had to be extremely capable. Jacqueline rightly deserved the successful career she has right now.

"Ms Qin, your meeting with Manager Fang and his team will be at ten AM today. There are urgent documents about the project that need your approval by this afternoon, I had it already arranged in your desk. You also have a business lunch appointment with Mr James at Starfont restaurant. I will be your chauffeur as I also have an appointment with his secretary." Jacqueline continued to list all of Cassandra's schedule and responsibilities for today and tomorrow.

"Alright," Cassandra nodded at the same time they arrived at the highest floor.

Walking out, Cassandra said, "Do make sure to clear your schedule tomorrow night as we have dinner with the representative of William Holdings."

"Noted," Jacqueline responded with such efficiency.

Cassandra entered the Chairwoman room and sat behind her desk. She immediately switched to work mode by wearing her round glasses. Turning on her computer she started to work. She then proceeded with the urgent documents Jacqueline had mentioned. Finished, she moved on reviewing all the documents piled up on her desk.

She made sure that all of the documents are checked before signing her name on it and piled it on a separate wrack. There were also another pile of documents that she rejected or documents that needed revisions.

Cassandra was studying the market trend when suddenly, her telephone that was functioning as the internal channel which all the calls would be from her employees rang. After the fourth ring, she answered and the other line reached, "It's Jacqueline."

Cassandra answered, still has her eyes on the monitor. "Yes."

"Ms Qin, there's a delivery for you." Jacqueline said, relaying a message from the receptionist on the ground floor.

"Is it something personal or business?" Cassandra asked, stopping her focus on her business, to which the other line answered, "It's personal delivery."

Cassandra frowned her perfectly structured brows at the answer. She didn't like it when she got a personal gift or something in her workplace. Usually, she would reject it right away without looking at what it's as she's used to receive a lot of gifts in her younger days.

"What is it?"

Jacqueline was silent from the other line for a brief moment before answering, "It's a bouquet of flowers."

[ Additional Fact ]

Cassandra : Shining Upon Men

Origin: a female personal name, the usual English form of the Greek Kassandra meaning "shining upon men," from the elements kekasmai "to excel, to shine" and aner, genetive of "man" (it has also been translated to "she who fills men with love")

Dynamic Born Leader Persevering Tenacious Disciplined Successful Determined Courageous Ambitious