Company Gathering

Mr James Smith gestured to Paul Lee to come to him while he held Rose's shoulder.

"Rose, this is Paul Lee. He will be your personal assistant." Mr James Smith introduced the two of them.

"Hello. Nice to meet you." he greeted politely and bowed his head slightly while Rose smiled.

"Nice to meet you too." Rose greeted him out of formality though she as a little bit curious why did her father assigned a man as her personal assistant instead of a lady.

"Anyway Rose, we will have our company gathering later this evening and you must attend it. Dad will announce to all of the employees that you are the new CEO and I am going to retire." Mr James Smith sighed heavily and his face solemn.

"I'm getting old. Since your late brother's death, your mother and I are quite lonely. You know that Selena is going to bring David back to France." He stammered and looked distant at the moment. Rose could feel the pain that her father had, but she really had no idea how to console them. What should I do to ease their pain? She sighed internally.

"Dad, I'll do my best for our company. You don't have to be worried. I suggest you and mom go for a vacation." She held her father's hands, firmed yet gentle. "Anyway, Mr Lee here can help me with the company." She uttered with confidence while glanced appreciatively at Paul Lee who stood at the side. Paul Lee nodded his head, smiled.

"I know you can do your best, just like how you manage your gallery." Mr James patted gently on her shoulder. "Go, Mr Lee will bring you to your office. I go back first. Your mother is alone at home." With the said note, he turned and walked away. Rose looked at her father's lonely back though his steps still firm but she knew he was tired. She drew a deep breath and turned back to Paul Lee.

"Please lead the way, Mr Lee." She then gestured him to take the lead to her new office.

Once she stepped into the office, she felt oddly familiar with the office though she had never stepped into it before. Was she? She frowned. She went to the exclusive table and the leather seat, befitting her status as a new CEO of the company and put down her briefcase and Hermes handbag on the table. She took off her blazer and casually hung it on the hook.

Paul who stood at the side stunned. He blinked his eyes numerous times before looked away. He didn't know why was it watching someone took off a blazer looked elegant yet seductive in a way. It could be due to the clothe were made of chiffon that clearly outlined her body. From the back, it was obvious that she had a slender waist and she had the right amount of curves that made her appeared elegant and sophisticated and – seductive.

"Anyway…" Rose turned around and caught sight of him looking at her in a peculiar way. She cleared her throat and arched her left brow in an attractive way. Paul was completely stunned with the sudden assault of appealing sight of his lady boss. He had never thought his lady boss was indeed an attractive and seductive because no one had told him about her. Or was it they also have no idea, just like him?

Hearing a soft voice that calling his name snapped him back to the reality in front of him. His face instantly turned crimson. His fists clenched in embarrassment. Rose smirked looking at him in embarrassment. Oh well, she always received that kind of look from the men. Men. Huh. Men will always be men. She scoffed.

"I need you to give me three-months reports by tomorrow and –" she paused, furrowed her brows together. "Did you went to the business meeting with my late brother, by chance?" she asked next.

"No ma'am. That day he supposedly went with Miss Kate. But Miss Kate couldn't make it in the last minute. So, he went alone." Paul answered her truthfully.

"Miss Kate? Is she the secretary?" She asked further and sat on her chair, eyeing him closely.

"No ma'am. She's one of the executive directors. In-charge of finance to be exact." Rose raised her brows and nodded her head slightly.

"Then, can you tell me why did my father assigned you as a personal assistant instead of a appointing a woman?"

"I think you can ask Mr James himself ma'am. I have no say to this." Rose smirked. Have no say? Alright, fine.

"Fine then. I need you to get me all the details of our employees. I need it before end of the day. That is all for now. You may go to do your work." She quickly dismissed him and leaned against the chair. Paul bowed his head and walked out the office to do her bidding.

Why did it feel so familiar to be here? Her gut told that there was something about this room. But what was it? She switched on her Surface Book 2. She went into company's board of directors lists and began to study one and each of them.

Miss Kate… She was surprised when she read her details. Katherine Tom. A forty-years old lady. Wow! Stayed single for forty years definitely something. She kept on reading the rest until it was time for her to go back and get ready for the event that evening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heavenly Spring Resort.

The board of directors and employees of Smith Corporation arrived one after another. Some of them came in group and some preferred to come alone. The atmosphere was so lively and the chattering was so overwhelmed.

There were reporters as well.

"I've heard our new CEO is actually a young girl." A male employee said to his friends.

"Yeah, that's what I've heard." Another male employee responded him.

"What a young girl can do for a big company like Smith?" a lady in black dress hissed. The rest looked askance at her. "What? She's young. So what can a young girl like her do? I'm just afraid that she will squandered away the money." She refuted.

"Maybe and maybe not." Another one chimed in.

"Well, we can ask Paul. He is her personal assistant hired by our previous CEO." A lady in pink muttered while spinning her wine glass.

It was then the place was hushed as everyone looked towards the entrance. There, a young lady clad in black trumpet dress that accentuated her figure just nicely with a pair of diamante heels stood elegantly. She wore only a pair of humble looking earrings with her hair swept to the side to complete the look. But, she was not alone. A dashing man appeared next to her that made the entire crowd to be stunned. Who didn't recognize the man? Everyone began to whispered to each other. Jude Townshend? What did he do here? Most importantly, what was his relationship to Rose Smith?

A hand on her slender waist while another in slid into a pocket, he gently guiding the young lady into the crowd. Rose plastered her sweet and encouraging smile on her face while greeted everyone that present until she approached her father and gave him a warm hug before she turned to her mother and hugged her like a pampered girl she was. Mrs Smith gently patted her back before she turned to Jude who stood next to her darling girl, gave him a motherly smile.

"Welcome Jude." Mr James Smith gave him a fatherly pat on his shoulder that caused a wave of bewilderment to the crowd present. "Please help me to watch over her." That was what he said to him that thrilled Jude to the core. Oh why not? The father had already flashed the green light, now the only thing that matter was Rose's readiness to accept him.

Mr James Smith together with his wife went to the mini stage that was set in the middle of the resort, clinking his wine glass with a spoon that attracted the attention of the crowd.

"Good evening my friends and my beloved employees. We gather here to celebrate my daughter, Rose Smith, becoming the next CEO of Smith's Corporation. I sincerely hope that all of you will give your utmost cooperation for our company to move forward and beyond." He paused awhile, eyeing every single one of his employees, board of directors, the shareholders before his eyes landed on his darling daughter. He gestured Rose to come forward to the stage in which she complied. Rose stood gloriously next to her father though deep inside her, she was nervous to the core. She clenched her wine glass until her gazed met Jude's encouraging gazed. She took a deep breath and slowly let go her anxiety and began to relax her nerves.

"It's time for me to step down as a CEO and let the youngsters to help steering the company into a brighter prospects. I believe most of you know Rose is the sole owner of the Queenie Majestic Gallery. Based on her capability to manage such a successful business at the young age, I believe she will help us to become even better than Townshend's in no time." He winked at Jude that Jude chuckled in response.