The King's Heiress

Chapter 9

As soon as we arrived on the 58th floor, I went directly to the conference room where back-to-back meetings were scheduled for the day. Mrs. Smith had already briefed me in the elevator, so I had no trouble keeping up. While listening to various reports, my gaze fell on the cup of coffee beside me. Subconsciously, I picked it up, took a sip, and immediately made a face as the overly sweet taste hit my tongue.

"How can they drink something this sweet?" I muttered under my breath, still grimacing. Lost in thought, I barely registered the giggles around the room. When I looked up, the giggles turned into full-blown laughter. Confused, I turned to Mrs. Smith, who was also suppressing a laugh behind her hand.

Dumbfounded, I raised an eyebrow at her. She handed me a tissue box, gesturing towards my mouth. I tilted my head in confusion until she whispered, "Yours."

Realization struck me, and I muttered, "s**t!" under my breath. I quickly turned away to wipe my mouth, only to find the current speaker standing behind me, biting her lips to suppress her laughter.

Regaining my composure, I faced them. "Alright, ladies, that's enough. Forgive your boss for only discovering black coffee and foamed coffee today," I said, which elicited a few more chuckles before they cleared their throats and refocused.

You might wonder—why only women? It’s because I trust women with important matters. As a man, I know firsthand how unreliable men can be. Growing up under a strong woman’s care only solidified this belief. That’s why all key positions in my company are held by female employees.

The meetings continued one after another, and by the time I finally had a chance to retreat to my office, it was already 3 PM. Sitting in my chair, I found myself lost in thought once again. I couldn't stop thinking about her. My mind was flooded with questions—when would I see her again? How should I approach her? Could we be friends, even though I wanted something more?

A knock on the door pulled me back to reality. My secretary entered. "Sir, you have a dinner gathering at 6:30 PM," she reminded me.

I nodded, and she left. Somehow, I got back to work, losing track of time until my secretary called to remind me again. Sighing, I grabbed my jacket from the office closet. Since I often stayed overnight, I kept a full wardrobe here.

Soon, I was in the garage, where Tom was already waiting. Tonight’s dinner was with some business associates my father knew. Mrs. Lee had mentioned that they would be introducing a real estate company paired with an architectural firm.

"Pretty wise," I thought. "Owning land and handling the architectural side—killing two birds with one stone."

We arrived at the Royal Hotel, one of my investments. As I walked in, employees bowed their heads in greeting. I proceeded directly to the best VIP room. The attendant knocked before opening the door for me. Inside, I saw familiar faces and one unfamiliar one. I greeted them all, shaking hands before taking my seat. Once the food arrived, introductions began. The last introduction was Mr. Miller.

"Miller... Miller… I feel like I’ve heard that name before," I thought. I was about to brush it off when the door opened, and in walked a girl with bobbed hair, carrying another dish.

And there it was.

"Right. The witch who cast the i***t spell on me," I muttered to myself. I found myself staring at the older man. He looked to be in his sixties. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but then I noticed the similarities—the brown eyes, the face shape, the aura. It suddenly made sense.

Mr. Walter, the one who introduced him, mentioned that Mr. Miller owned a small company with a solid reputation. "He’s an honest and simple man. That’s why he never climbed higher—he never chased power. I convinced him to step forward because his only daughter will inherit everything," he explained.

"A daughter? Only one child?" I asked, intrigued.

Before he could answer, Mr. Miller excused himself to use the restroom.

I turned to Mr. Walter. "What kind of person is Mr. Miller? What’s his company’s reputation like?"

He smiled. "A good man, Mr. Anderson. His company may be small, but its reputation is strong enough to deserve your attention. He’s an honest businessman, which is why he hasn’t risen higher. His only child, a daughter, will take over one day—if she ever settles down."

"Only child?" I repeated.

Mr. Miller returned just then, catching us mid-conversation. "Are you guys talking about me?" he asked, confused.

We both answered yes. He nodded, then took a sip of his wine. "She’s my only child, but she’s more like a son," he said proudly. "She studied business and is now planning to enter the architectural field as well. She wants to inherit my work and take it further."

"What’s her name?" I asked without thinking. Both men looked at me, wide-eyed.

"Why does Mr. Anderson want to know?" Mr. Miller asked, amused. "Are you searching for a bride? Even if you are, and even if I say yes, I doubt she’d agree. She’s stubborn and fixated on her goals."

"Just curious," I said, smirking. "But if I were searching for a bride, her stubbornness alone would qualify her."

The men chuckled, and we soon wrapped up the evening. As everyone left one by one, I stopped Mr. Miller before he could get into his car. He looked at me curiously, then smiled knowingly.

"Kei Miller, Mr. Anderson. Seventeen years old, graduating soon from MIT as the top student in the business department," he said, winking.

I was momentarily stunned before chuckling, covering my mouth with my fist. He laughed at my reaction.

Opening his car door for him, I said, "Looking forward to meeting her, sir."

As he settled in, the window rolled down. "It might take years, Mr. Anderson. She’s a nerd who loves to study. I haven’t seen her since she entered college. Now she’s planning another degree and aiming for a Ph.D."

He chuckled and saluted me.

"Willing to wait," I replied.

Since she’s the only one I want—and the only one I ever will.

His car drove off, leaving behind a faint trail of smoke.