1 His Own Reason

"Re-do all this proposals!" roared a certain CEO to his subordinates. His subordinates seemed to piss him off as he was rarely angry like what he did today. His brows were knitted tightly as his frightening gaze wandered to everyone present in the room. If his gaze could kill, they probably had died for countless times.

After his anger broke free, the room temperature plummeted to a very low degree, it was akin to a frozen hell, making everyone shivered in fright.

The subordinates who was frightened by their boss could only lower their heads. Sweat profusely leaked on their foreheads because they were too nervous, as if they were prisoners waiting for capital punishment. They could only replied meekly, "Yes Boss."

They were bewildered by their boss' mood swing. In the first hour of the meeting, he was in a good mood. His smile reached both his ears and he greeted them out of the blue. But, after that friendly smile, bottomless abyss seemed to suck them in and send them to their own doom.

Did he experience a pre-menstruation pain? But it was simply impossible because their boss was a man. Did he experienced a break up? But it also impossible because their boss was a cursed single. So how could his mood suddenly changed? His mood swing was just too extreme. But they only knew that their boss' mood changed after he received a phone call. Who is the dialer? What had he talked about that he look so menacing? whether reasons or the dialer, they were completely clueless.

The CEO further said, "Meeting adjourned." Without any other words, he walked out of the meeting room and went to his office. He tried to soothe his anger as he took a deep breath.

As soon as he went into his office, he sat on his leather chair, rummaging his desk's drawer. He took out a red rose patterned hand bag and a white fabric. He took a needle, embroidery hoop and a bundle of golden thread out of the bag. Then, he skillfully adjusted the white fabric on the embroidery hoop before he begin to embroider.

His movements was swift and beautiful. He was like a professional with years of experience. The needle pierced through the fabric neatly, following the sketch he drew on the fabric.

An hour later, a golden tulip flower was noticeable on the fabric. It was so neat and tidy, like the handwork of grannies. The threads were fully sewn in consistent thickness. Moreover, none of it strayed from the sketch.

Feeling his mood had gradually improved, the CEO stopped his embroidery and put everything back to the drawer. He took a deep breath to adjust his mood further. He was about to continue to work on his paper before his secretary knocked his door. "I'm sorry boss. CEO of Liu International wish to meet you."

He frowned in annoyance, "Liu International? What for? If it's about the collaboration they proposed, just send him out." Liu International had proposed for a collaboration many times but William keep rejecting their proposal. Many fellow businessmen said he was stupid to reject that proposal because the estimated profit from the project was high. But, he didn't budge because he had his own reason to reject it.

"Yes boss." The secretary went out of the room and walked to the lobby where the CEO of Liu International was waiting.

"I'm sorry Mr. Liu. Our president is currently unable to meet you personally because of his packed schedule." excused the secretary politely as he bowed slightly out of hospitality.

Liu Tang, the CEO of Liu International awared of this rejection. He just gently nodded with understanding expression plastered on his face, "Ok. I'll contact him later." Liu Tang walked out of the room. As he turned back, his polite and gentle smile replaced by malices rage that reflected in his eyes.

...

Imperial University

A woman was standing under willow tree near the dean office. She had just went to the dean office asking for a semester break.

The woman looked so beautiful as if she just came out of painting. Her countenance was exquisite, surpassing even the most beautiful actress in the country.

She had brown eyes that full of vitality. Her eyebrows were neat and perfectly arched despite having no time to take care of it. Her long lashes beautified her smiling eyes. Her pointed nose was perfectly magnifying her beauty and her cherry lips was so kissable. Paired with fair skin and long black wavy hair, this woman would surely steal everyone's breath.

She wore a simple dress yet she looked so expensive and mesmerizing.

Many students that passed couldn't bear to shift their gaze from her. Male students were bewitched by her beauty that they felt it was impossible to forget her face in their life while female students were envy of her stunningly beauty.

She was aware of those gazes but she paid no heed. She just stood indifferently as she had gotten used to gazes that full of lust and envy. She just played her phone before a familiar voice called her.

"Baby..." called a man in navy blue suit from a far. He walked to the woman leisurely with hands in his pocket. He smiled to the woman as he tucked a strand hair to her ears.

"Hi." she smiled shyly as she looked down, unable to see his handsome face. She really like this gesture of his. It was simple but comforted her greatly.

"Let's go!" said the man. He hold her hand as they walked to his car.

The woman smiled gleefully. She looked at their intertwined hands. She felt happy and content. How she wished time to stop at this very moment.

They were seated in the car. They didn't talk and kept silent. The woman looked at the man attentively. She felt something wrong since his arrival earlier, but she didn't ask anything. Because she couldn't endure seeing her boyfriend's restless expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Tang what is wrong?" The woman was sensitive towards her boyfriend's expressions. Even smile always plastered on his face, she could discern every emotion beneath it.

"Nothing wrong. It is just about the upcoming collaboration." replied the man. He was Liu Tang, the CEO of Liu International, one of the top companies in Z Country. He and the woman had been in a relationship for almost a month. They started dating several days afer they met for the first time in the cafe near her campus.

"Oh." the woman could only utter one word. She didn't probe further if her boyfriend didn't want to elaborate it. Sometimes, she felt inexplicable distance between her and Liu Tang. But, what was clear to her was that Liu Tang was the one who tried to keep distance in their relationship. Every answer of his was tactful, as if he was talking to his business partner. The only different thing was his tone that was softer compared to his usual cold and flat tone when he spoke to his business partners.

'Why doesn't he tell me his problems? It isn't like i have never help him running the business. Why does it seem like he keep his distance from me? Does he love me? No... He definitely love me. Probably he just has some unspeakable problems and secrets or he just had not getting used to our relationship.' thought the woman, trying to comfort herself from the uneasiness that started to sprout.