44 Introduction

"Little less bitter? Seriously? Pffttt…..!" Laughed Leon Jiu when they were inside the elevator.

"Did I sound cool?" Turning to face the two men, Lina asked excitedly.

"Absolutely Young Miss!" Derek nodded with admiration and Leon just rolled his eyes.

"It sounded like some cliched dialog from a daily soap." Leon said while shaking his head.

"Errrr..!" Lina made a wrong answer buzzer sound.

"Wrong. It's from a novel that I read, but in that the leading lady shoves an entire birthday cake into her rival's face. But that would have been inappropriate for work, so I did not do that." She answered in full seriousness.

'So you would shove a cake in her face if you were off work?' Leon just imagined that scenario and laughed.

The elevator dinged indicating that they had reached their floor. They walked with the boxes to her office with everyone staring at them.

After closing the door, Lina saw Leon's stunned face as he turned around to observe her office.

"Just place them on the table here."  She pointed to the sofa table there.

'Was there a couch and table here yesterday?' He thought to himself.

"What happened here? Did we walk into the wrong room?" Leon handed his boxes  to Derek and continued looking around.

"Like my improvements?" Lina was happy to see his awestruck face.

The room that was vacant and bland just yesterday had completely transformed now. The walls were painted lilac and the curtains were now thick and indigo blue that blocked the light wholly. 

The small desk was replaced with a black mahogany table and there was also a new, better and more comfortable looking chair.

Looking around, there was even a mini fridge which was the same model as the one at home, courtesy of Wade and a closet that she would soon fill with back up clothes in case she spoiled hers by accident.

"When did you get the time to do all this?" He asked.

"Oh I didn't do all this. I had a lil help. Does it look good?" Lina asked both of them.

Leon nodded with understanding. 'VP Luo must have helped her!'

Derek as usual had eyes filled with admiration and awe.

"Young Miss' choice is great as usual." 

"It feels so comfortable and soothing in here." Agreed Leon.

"That's the magic of my aroma diffuser, there." She pointed at a pot like thing behind her desk.

Lina looked at her watch and saw that it was 9:15 now.

"All the employees must have arrived. Let's go meet them. Derek please carry three boxes for me." She requested and he immediately picked them up.

"Come on Leon." She gestured at him to follow and they walked out again.

"Derek, place those boxes on that table there." She pointed at a large table there and stepped forward.

By now she already had the attention of all the employees on the floor. Leon left Lina and walked to his desk.

"What's going on?" Asked his neighbor, Julia and Leon just shook his head and pointed at Lina.

Julia saw Lina step forward and look at all of them.

"Hi guy! Some of you must've seen me yesterday and are wondering who I am. So I thought that I would introduce myself. My name is Lina Yang and I'm the new Marketing consultant for Obsidia." She spoke with a clear voice

"For the time being." Came a voice from behind her. 

Lina turned and saw Stuart Bai walking in with a frown.

"Good morning to you too, Director Bai. Looking good today." Lina smiled, more like she smirked at him.

As he came closer, their height difference became even more evident. Today Lina had worn heels to match her outfit and hence she looked taller than she normally was.

Stuart was already annoyed and her height pissed him off even more.

"Don't get cocky with me, child!" Stuart snarled at her and Lina raised her hands in defeat.

"Ok, back to where I was before I was so rudely interrupted." She received a glare from Stuart for that jab at him and she chuckled.

"Oh yes, I'm Lina and I'm sure I'll be here for a VERY long time, so let's work hard together." She stressed the ' very' just to piss Stuart off and it worked.

She smiled at everyone present and heard someone clap for her. Turning back she saw Derek eagerly cheering her on.

'How can he be so cute!' Lina smiled and waved at him.

Leon rolled his eyes and he too clapped which made everyone else follow.

"Thank you. As an introduction present, I've brought cupcakes for everyone. Please have one before you get back to work." She pointed to the table.

Deciding to let them talk and eat in peace, Lina started walking to her room with Derek following her.

"Can I also have one?" Ask a silent voice that made Lina stop in her tracks.

Director Bai's ears were red with embarrassment when he realised that he had just said those words out loud. Thankfully all the employees were busy discussing about Lina and thus no one heard him, except Lina and Derek.

"No you can't." Lina answered straight away and saw how Stuart looked disheartened at her harsh rejection.

'Wow I can see his puppy ears drooping.' She controlled her laughter and spoke once again.

"Director Bai, can you come to my office for a second. I have something that I would like to discuss." She said seriously and saw him nod and follow after her.

Derek opened the door for her and they all went in.

Seeing the room which looked better than his, Stuart was shocked.

"I know it looks nice but that's not what I want to talk about." She interrupted him before he could question her about the room.

"What do you want?" He sat on the couch and glared at her.

"Oh don't sulk!" She said to Stuart and then looked at Derek. He immediately handed a box to Lina, who in turn gave it to Stuart.

"What's this now?" He asked impatiently while opening it.

Inside were a couple of Lina's signature cupcakes, it looked the same as the ones that the employees were eating outside.

Stuart just looked at her in confusion.

"Don't give me that look. I heard you have diabetes, why would I give you those cupcakes that are loaded with sugar? These are my non fat and non sugar version. Try it." She said as she and Derek too ate one.

"Non fat, non sugar and non taste. I don't want this!" He rejected her cupcake.

"Hmmm… " Came the sound of Derek lost in his world relishing the cupcake.

Lina just smirked at Stuart and ate hers with the same look.

Seeing the two youngsters eating right in front of him, whet his appetite.

'A cupcake is a cupcake!' He steeled himself and took a bite of the dessert in his hand. Soon one bite became two and it followed till all that was left was the cupcake liner.

Waking up from his trance, he stared at the empty paper and looked up to see Lina and Derek staring at him.

"If you don't like my cupcake then I'll just have to give it to someone else." Lina's hand inched to the box that had two more cupcakes inside. 

Stuart immediately closed the box and held it to his chest, he saw the sparkle in Derek's eyes fade when he clinged to the box.

"You've already given it to me. Don't be stingy!" He glared at her and walked out at a quick pace.

When he left, Lina and Derek burst into peals of laughter.

"He is so adorable!" Squealed Lina.

"Miss I think I should leave now."  Derek said looking at his watch and Lina nodded her head.

He left after informing her that he would bring her lunch at the same time as yesterday 

After he left, she sat down on her chair behind the desk and closed her eyes.

-----

Her before noon siesta was disturbed by her ringing phone.

"Hello?" She drawled in a sleepy and hoarse voice.

"Boss? Did I call you too early?" She heard the confused voice of her Asst Benji.

"No. What's up?" Rubbing her eyes, she sat up.

"The consignment is ready earlier than expected and Mr. Hitoshi is all prepared. He will be arriving with his team on Saturday." Benji spoke and sent her the mails with all the details.

"Hmm.. Coordinate with Wade's assistant and get them a nice place to stay. When do you plan on coming?" She inquired.

'How long will I have to do all the work here?' Said Lina as she yawned.

"As soon as I finish the task that you've given me. I'll be there by next Saturday most probably." He guessed.

"Fine! Just make it quick, I miss you!!!" She whined and knew that he would be rolling his eyes over there.

"Yes Yes. How can my boss survive without me? I'm gonna hang up now." He said before the call ended.

Shaking her head she put on her glasses and looked through the mails he sent.

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