CHAPTER 1: The CEO
Third Person's Point of View
Halston Empire is a well-known company group in the world. They are the number one business company in the country. The Halston's own hotels, resorts, airlines, and entertainment companies, hospitals, law firms, restaurants, schools, clothing brands, and app developing companies. It has branches all over the world. They can even buy your life and that's how rich they are.
They have a saying that "Don't mess with the Halston's or you will meet hell."
Halston Empire was established year 1936 or 85 years ago by Leone Ronan Halston. He introduced his whole empire to the whole world and his empire became the top one successful company in the whole business industry.
They had a big connection with famous and powerful people including the presidents of some countries and even the royalties.
•••
Chelsea's POV
I'm here at Halston Corp and I'm waiting for my cousin here inside of the meeting room office. She is late! We have been waiting for half an hour.
"The CEO is coming, Ms. Halston." Madie, her secretary, informed me.
"Thankfully, the b***h has arrived" I said, and Madie just chuckled and shook her head, then I saw my cousin enter the door.
"Wow, Ms. Halston is so hot!"
"She is pretty"
"She is so charismatic"
"I hope I can be like her"
"The Halston's are all pretty"
"I suppose it runs on their blood."
I heard the employees whispering. What did the employees see in her? I just shake my head.
"Erie, you're late," I whispered at her.
(Pronounce as Iri)
"Stop calling me some stupid nickname of yours." She spat and rolled her eyes.
"It cannot be changed that you are 30 minutes late."
"I'm not late, I'm just on time. I called a meeting 30 mins earlier because I hate late people." I just shake my head. She is unbelievable.
"Does anybody of you have an idea why I called a meeting?" She questioned them and none of them answered. "Anybody? You can take a guess."
Someone raises her right hand.
"Spill"
"Ahem, our profit this year is lower than we achieved last year?"
"Name? Position on this company"
"Athena Seon staff of the programming department"
"Where is the head of the programming department?"
"Ms. Halston, it's me." Mr. Clay raised his hands in
"You are fired! Leave this building in an instant." Avery is now raging, "Athena Seon, you are now promoted as a head staff member."
"Thank you, Ms. Halston," She bowed, and she took a seat.
"Everyone in this room will not be receiving their salary this month if you didn't find a solution to make the profit higher than last year! You can leave now!!" All of the employees froze and were shocked. I know they wanted to protest, but they can't.
"LEAVE THIS ROOM NOW!!!!"
They all rushed outside and this devil is mad.
"Aren't you being too much?" I asked her and she massaged her scalp.
"I don't care"
"Aisshh Ave, when are you going to change?"
"Never" She leaves me here in the meeting room.
Soon, you will find your counterpart Avery.
•••
Avery's Pov
"Ms. Halston, you have a lunch meeting with the CEO of WCO." Madie informed me.
"What the hell he wants?"
"He wants to talk about something private, that's all he said."
"Okay, prepare the car. We are going out of the company. "
My driver, Bobby, opened the car door for me. About 30 minutes later, I arrived at the restaurant and saw Mr. Weaver with a companion.
"Good day, Ms. Halston." He said, bowing.
"There is nothing good about this day, Mr. Weaver." When I took a seat, I didn't bother to bow either, because Halston's never lower themselves. "So, what private matter do you want to talk about?"
"This is my son, Kade Weaver or Kade," The name Kade bowed and he smiled, "I want you to marry him."
"Why should I?"
The nerve to order me
"Simple! Both of you will make a good couple and you will also attract more investors. You will be titled "The Power Couple". Both of you are compatible with each other and also for the merging of our company." He explained, the audacity of this old man.
"Who the hell are you to tell me to marry your son? Who are you to waste my time for this bullshit? Who are you to tell me that we are compatible when you didn't even know me? What? Are you judging me based on my appearance? Listen, old man, we're not on the same level; just because you're our business partner doesn't mean you can use that card to marry your pathetic, spoiled, idiotic son."
"This will be the first and last time you're going to waste my time. If you ever try to waste my time again, I'm going to kill you." I walked out of the restaurant and got inside my car, then I sighed. I heard my phone ring and I answered it without looking at the screen.
On The Phone
Unknown: Hello! Sweetie,
Avery: Hey Dad,
Dad: Can you go here to the mansion?
Avery: Why? I'm busy
Dad: You can do that later. We just have something to say. Be here at 6 o'clock. We are waiting for you.
Call Ended
He didn't wait for my response anymore he already ended the call. It looks like I'm going home.
"Bobby to the mansion." He nodded.
•••
Alexa's POV
I'm here at the rooftop of HT University watching the people walking around. I took some photos of them because I just want to.
I received a text from my friend Sam asking me where am I and the class will be about to start. I leave the rooftop and I proceeded to our room then I sat beside Sam.
"Where did you go?" She asked me.
"Rooftop. I took some photos."
"You like taking photos but your course is medicine."
"It's just a hobby, Bear"
"But you good at it. Try to make some money using those."
"If I get fired at my job."
Our professor entered our room, that's why Sam didn't have a chance to reply. He discussing something but I'm just looking outside the window.
"Ms. Smith!" He called my attention and I looked at him lazily. "Where I am huh?"
"At the front." I answered
"So why are you looking outside of your professor are here in the front!" He raises his voice.
"People outside is much more interesting than listening to your boring lesson" Oohs can be heard in the classroom.
"So why are you still here if you didn't find my lesson interesting?"
"To accompany my friend, I don't want her seat alone in your boring class."
"Did you know that this uninteresting class is your major?"
"I'm 101% aware of that."
"You will fail this class if you didn't listen and take notes the lesson. I can also fail you for not paying attention and rudely talking back to your professor " He tried to threatened me but it's not going to affect me.
I feel Sam hold my arm to stop me but I pulled away from my arms then I stood up.
"How sure are you that I'm going to fail this nonsense class of yours? I don't need to take a note or listen to you because I already know what you are discussing you can even give me an exam to prove you that." I licked my lips and continue.
"Not paying attention in the class is not good enough reason to fail me, this school had a grading system which is 40% for projects, 35% exams, 25% written works. I didn't talk back rudely, I just answered your question because you asked me. I don't want to be rude so I answered your question honestly I didn't say any bad words or words that can offend you. You can't fail me Mr. Lee." I bowed and I take a seat.
"Ms. Smith, we can make a bet that I can fail you in this class using the grading system." He said proudly then I stood up again and my classmates just watching us.
"Let's make a deal! You can test me now without studying if I answer your questions correctly, you will automatically give us an A+ in your subject and if I fail I will hold back another year." All our classmates gasped and some of them look at me like I'm losing my sanity.
"Okay deal! I can ask you anything right?" He confirmed
"Yes anything, but before you test me I want you to sign a contract for evidence that you agree with my deal." I make a contract in the back of my notebook and I signed it. I come to the front to hand in the contract.
"So if we breach the contract the punishment will be compensating 100 million won? You had a lot of money kid" I took a photo of him while signing the contract
"Okay, Ms. Smith here is the contract".
"I accepted it You can ask now Prof"
I know he is planning to ask me something that is not related to the medicine course.
"If the class ended that is the end of this test. First question, list of the President of South Korea"
Just what I expected, he knows that I'm American and Thai.
"Syngman Rhee (1948-60), Yun Po-Sŏn (1960-62), Park Chung-Hee (1963-79), Choi Kyu-Hah (1979-80), Chun Doo-Hwan (1980-88), Roh Tae-Woo (1988-93), Kim Young-Sam (1993-98), Kim Dae-Jung (1998-2003), Roh Moo-Hyun (2003-08), Lee Myung-Bak (2008-13), Park Geun-Hye (2013-17), Moon Jae-In (2017- )" He is stunned maybe he can't believe that a foreigner knows the list of the president and the year they became president. He cleared his throat.
"Ahem, very well Ms. Smith next question is ahmm" he is now thinking a harder question.
"Just make sure prof that you also know the answer to your question" I warned him and he become nervous.
"I want you to answers all the math questions on the board. If you didn't finish it on time you lose" He said and handed me the paper that has the questions. I started answering, I only had 27 minutes before time and he give me 30 advanced math problems. Time has flown so fast and my classmates just watching us.
"7 minutes Ms. Smith" He informed me. The board now is full of my solutions. I even grab the board that has wheels on it then I boxed my last answer.
"I'm done, you can check my answer now," I said and I gave back the paper that has the questions. I still have 5 mins left but I'm already finished and he can't believe that I finish 30 advance questions in a short amount of time. He checked my answer and I saw panicked in his eyes. He heaves a sighed then he massage his scalp.
"Sam, Let's go now! We don't need to attend this class anymore, we already had A+" I grabbed her wrist " Thank you for the grade Sir"
I waved my hand and I leave the room with Sam, even our classmates leave the room.
"Thanks, man!" A guy high five me.
"Yeah, you are a lifesaver," Another guy said. I looked at them with confusion because I didn't know them. "Oh sorry, you might didn't know us. I am Jake Rosen-Hower and that's Jason Darvin" He pointed to the other guy.
"I'm Alexa this is my best friend Sammy" They offered a handshake and I accepted it.
"So, where are you now going?" Jason asked
"Cafeteria to eat. Do you want to join us? " I offered
"Sure why not? So it may mean that we are now friends?" Jake asked
"Yes of course, from now on guys we are friends," I said and they suddenly hugged me and Sam. We are shocked but we hugged back.
"Sorry about that, we are just happy and we love warm hugs," Jason said while scratching his nape.
"It's fine, we also love Olaf" Sam teased and we walked to the cafeteria.
•••
Avery's Pov
I arrive at our family mansion. I'm not staying here cause there is no use in living here if they are always not here so it is much better to live alone in my penthouse.
I got down the car and I entered our mansion, all the maids and butlers line up and they greeted me but I just ignored them.
"Lady Halston, your father wants your presence at the dining hall." Mr. Brooke our butler said and he guide me. I saw my parents sitting in front of the dining table and even Chelsea unnie is there. They noticed me and they all stood up.
(A/N: A little trivia: 언니 (unnie) means older sister (younger female speaking to and older female) If you are a woman and another woman is older than you, the word to call them by is 언니 (unnie))
"Hello, sweetie, good to see you" My mom said and my parents gave me quick hug but I didn't bother to hug them back.
"Hello to you Mom and Dad"
"Hello to you too Erie," Chel said mockingly and I just rolled my eyes. I sat in the chair on the left side of my Dad's.
"Why did you ask my presence here?"
"Sweetie, we just want to tell you something." Dad wiped his side lips.
"Okay spill" I started eating.
"My daughter, you are already 24 right?" My mom asked and I know they plotting something.
"Can you guys get to the point?" I'm now getting annoyed.
"We want you to get married. After all, you are now at the right age to have a family and also we want to see our grandchild"
"Mom, I don't want to I'm still young. I don't even like someone." I lost my appetite.
"Sweetie we want you to have a family. We want to see you having someone to take care of you when we are gone."
"Dad and Mom, you are still young and healthy. I'm also a busy person, I don't have time to play around."
"First, we are going to lessen your work, Chelsea will be the one helping you with some paperwork. Second, we will find someone to have a blind date with you. Lastly, you will be granting our wish whether you like it or not." Mom said firmly.
"Bu-" She cut me off.
"No buts end of discussion." I can't argue with my parents.
"But why my cousin is here?"
"She will be the one who is going to help you with your company and she will find someone for you. Be thankful for her cause she is willing to do it for you, without her you might die alone." Dad said while laughing and Mom smacked him.
"Don't worry Erie, You will be fine" Chel teased me. "I'm going to find you, someone".
After dinner, I went home to my penthouse. I opened it and my dogs Spart and Kade welcomed me, I patted their heads before I proceeded to my bedroom. I didn't bother to change because I'm mentally exhausted.
"This is such a long day..." I heave a sigh.