Chapter 1: Pick Up Sister-in-law

Her full name was Becky Scarlett, and she was almost thirty years old. Everyone called her Miss Scarlett because she was the personal assistant of the CEO of the company. And her daily job was to handle the work that her boss did not want to handle.

"Miss Scarlett, here is today's schedule."

"Okay, I see." Becky responded.

"Miss Scarlett, the representatives of Shinhwa Group have just contacted our technicians. They hope we will agree to the exchange…"

"Okay, I will immediately say to my boss. He will reply quickly." Becky straightened up swiftly, turned away from them, and stalked off to the CEO's lavish office without looking back.

The phone rang again immediately.

"Wait! Miss Scarlett, they want to talk with you."

"Hello, we are Sophronia Group…" Becky slightly frowned, and she used an educated, cultivated, professional speech to talk to the person on the other end of the phone line.

She was used to this frequency of work. She could work round the clock, and she just needed fifteen minutes preparing many documents for the meeting.

After talking with the representative of Shinhwa Group, her expression did not change. She poured coffee into cups, took a sip, then went straight to the CEO's lavish office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," The boss announced.

Becky went inside the CEO's lavish office. The man did not reveal any expression. He looked up coldly, suddenly gazing at Becky with a pair of calm and deep eyes. The moment she met his look, she broke out in a cold sweat, as if her heart had stopped beating.

He was Elias Sophronia, who was sitting on the chair by the window in all of his glory. Elias was wearing an expensive suit that was tailored to perfection. He was tall, blond, and muscular, and he had a pair of blue eyes that glowed with high intelligence. He was so good-looking, with a sharp nose and jaw. Elias focused his gaze on her until she stared back at him. Unfortunately, she just took out a sheaf of papers and leafed through them. As she spoke, her gaze remained fixed on the documents in her hand.

"Sir, you have a meeting at 5 o'clock this afternoon, which can coincide with a signing ceremony for the Shinhwa Group…"

Despite his disappointment, Elias managed a professional smile. He put the document of products on the desk, and he whisked her up short.

"Gunplay Group and Shinhwa Group merged two months ago. Therefore, we need to keep up appearances for these two bosses."

"I see," She kept her eyes down on the reading list, and drew a tick on the schedule, "I proposed to put the meeting back one hour, sir. However, you will not have much time for relaxation…"

"Don't worry, I got it." He replied, "Go do your job."

He had no problem on this matter, because work was the highest on his list of priorities. He was also the type of person who would deal with projects and tasks in terms of priority and urgency.

After discussing, Elias accepted the changes she proposed. She bounced out of the room. Before leaving, she did not forget to make her bow to her boss.

The board of managers officially informed all staff in the company, putting the meeting back one hour. More than half of the employees were tired of meetings, frustrated that their rest time was being whittled away. However, she did not mind. She was staring miserably at the computer screen and preparing the agenda, contents and materials for the meetings of the Board of management.

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At three o'clock, Becky got a sudden stomach ache. She was busy with a day full of work from morning to now, so she had eaten nothing since breakfast. Her lips pursed, and her eyebrows furrowed. For a long, long time she cried without making a sound, and her stomach felt sicker and sicker. She opened a drawer, took out a box of sandwiches, and placed it on the table. While she was holding a sandwich up to her mouth, the telephone was buzzing on her table.

"Yes, sir… Everything is alright. The documents were well-prepared. Okay, I'll handle it! Don't worry, sir!"

Becky hung up. She put her glasses off, one hand put the sandwich back into the box and shoved it in a drawer. Then she pressed her free hand to the side of her face, rubbing her fingertips against her temple. About five minutes later, she suddenly stood up and went somewhere.

"Miss Scarlett, where are you going?" The co-worker asked.

"Help the boss do a few things." Miss Scarlett shrugged, forcing a faint smile, and said. She looked tired and sluggish.

About four o'clock, Becky waited at the Dulles International Airport, half hoping that she would not show up. She was afraid she would not be in time for tonight's party. She should have brought her boss home first. If it was too late, she would make a phone call and send a driver to come and pick her boss up. There was a lot of work to do in the morning tomorrow, so her boss should not drink too much.

Thirty minutes later.

"Becky!!"

Becky stopped chasing the mice in her head. She raised her hands, smiled sweetly, and said, "Good afternoon, Miss Sophronia!"

A girl pursed her lips. Jessica Sophronia, who was Elias Sophronia's younger sister. Although Jessica received a cordial welcome, she gave a dissatisfied smile.

"Why did my brother ask you to pick me up?" Jessica had a query, putting her arm around Becky before she could answer, "Actually, I have already told him you don't need to pick me up. I am so sorry to bother you."

"Oh, it's okay. It's okay, Jess, yeah." Becky smiled teasingly, "Thanks to you, my busy schedule leaves little time for leisure. I should say thanks to you who has helped me, Jess."

"You're welcome, Becky! My brother has always comforted and made concessions to me since I was a child." Miss Sophronia was such a supercilious and proud person, but she would be well-behaved and wheedle out of Becky a little whenever they met, "I am going to visit my parents. Will you go home with me?"

Their parents always encouraged Jessica and Elias to bring Becky home.

"Sorry, but it's not today. I can only take you home." Becky stretched out her arm to take the suitcase. She took a good grasp of the handle and pulled. Then, they came out of the airport and went to their car in the parking lot.

"Mr. Elias was still waiting for me to come and pick him up." Becky explained.

"Why should you care? Just ask the driver to come and pick him up." Jessica's eyebrows pulled together, "You don't look too well. Let's take a rest. About my brother, ignore him, okay? Just ignore him."

Becky shook her head instead of saying "no," smiled gently and answered, "Work matters differ from private matters. That is my duty."

"Becky!!" She heard Jessica's voice, loud and angry, "No matter what you work as the personal assistant to my brother, you are also my sister-in-law. Not only I but my brother also cares and worries about you, Becky!"

Becky kept a fixed smile on her face, as if a ripple of laughter lessened the tension. She shunted the conversation towards more pleasant topics. "Why don't you come to see your brother? Elias often talks about you."

Jessica snapped, "I don't want to see him."

Becky laughed at Jessica's unwilling expression. It seemed to please her. She never thought the day would come when Elias's younger sister was looking down on him.

A few months ago, after quarreling over such a trifle with her elder brother, Jessica refused to meet with him. Up till now, every time Becky mentioned his name, Jessica became angry and excited as she spoke.

"Becky, your husband is so disappointing on so many levels. He is really excessive, do you know that? He lives in married bliss doesn't mean interfering in my personal life and my marital status."

Becky's hands were clamped hard onto the steering wheel. Strained nerves made her feel bad. Actually, she was trapped in a joyless marriage.