MIDNIGHT FLOWER

CHAPTER 4: MEETING THE CHAIRMAN'S SON

"Where are you going?" She quickly turned to Ashley when she grab her arm.

“I just saw Shau over by the bar.”

They looked in the direction Jenny was pointing, but the crowd was thick, and Shau was partially obscured. “Are you sure?"

"I’m certain.”

"Should I slap him for you?"

"Ash—"

"You need to avoid him." She looked at Ashley with confusion. "You have to make sure that you won't be crawling back to his arms tonight."

Jenny carefully navigated through the crowd, her eyes scanning for a place where she could briefly conceal herself, like Ashley told her. She spotted a quiet corner near some large potted plants and slipped into it, her pulse pounding in her ears.

From her vantage point, she could see Shau occasionally glancing around the room, but his attention was focused elsewhere. Jenny held her breath, with a mix of wanting to show herself and wanting to hide.

She watched as Shau finished his conversation and started moving through the crowd. Later, he turned in the opposite direction, continuing his evening without spotting her.

Jenny remained hidden for a few more minutes, her anxiety gradually subsiding and as she watched Shau from a distance, memories of their intimate moments began to surface, vivid and intense.

She remembered the first night they spent together, the electricity in the air as they stood in a hotel room, the city lights twinkling through the large windows. They had started with soft kisses, gentle and exploratory, but soon the desire between them became undeniable. Shau had pulled her close, his hands sliding down herback, and when their lips met again, it was with a hunger that sent shivers down her spine. The way he had looked at her, with a mixture of admiration and raw need, had made her feel like she was the only woman in the world, as though she thought.

As they moved to the bed, she could still recall the way his touch set her skin ablaze, how every kiss, every caress, had driven them both to the edge. The passion between them had been overwhelming, and as they finally came together, it felt like the world had melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in each other.

Jenny slowly emerged from her hiding spot and made her way back to Ashley after making sure that Shau is no longer in sight.

Ashley was chatting with a few new acquaintances when Jenny reappeared. Her niece gave her a curious look. “You okay? Did you meet and slapped him left and right?”

Jenny forced a smile, trying to mask her earlier panic. “No, I just hid myself from him and I’m fine. Just needed a quick breather. Let’s enjoy the rest of the event.”

Ashley nodded, accepting Jenny’s explanation without further questioning. They continued to mingle, and Jenny managed to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening, even if the encounter with Shau had left her a bit shaken.

As the event wound down and the crowd began to thin, Jenny felt like the event was incomplete. She had managed to avoid a potentially awkward encounter with Shau but she somehow still miss him.

As they left the venue, Jenny glanced back one last time, but Shau was no longer in sight. She took a deep breath, letting go of the tension from the evening.

Together, they left the event, as she continued to navigate her path forward.

Office Floor, Morning

The office was already buzzing with activity when Jenny stepped through the glass doors. The steady hum of keyboards, the ringing of phones, and the low murmur of conversations filled the air. It was just another typical morning, but Jenny felt the pressure mounting as soon as she walked in.

She made a beeline for her desk, setting her bag down and immediately powering up her computer. The screen flickered to life, displaying a barrage of unread emails and urgent notifications. With a sigh, Jenny rolled up her sleeves and dove in, knowing that today was going to be one of those days where she barely had time to breathe.

The first email she opened was from Mr. Duavis, the department head, marked “Urgent.” Mr. Duavis needed the final report on the latest project by noon—something Jenny hadn’t even started revising yet.

“Great,” Jenny muttered under her breath, quickly opening the report file and scanning through it. She started making the necessary adjustments, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she double-checked figures and polished up the language.

No sooner had she begun, her phone buzzed. A message from Gemma popped up on the screen. “Hey, Jen, can you take a look at the client presentation slides? I need a second opinion before the meeting at 10.”

Jenny quickly glanced at the clock—8:45 AM. She had a little over an hour to finish Mr. Duavis' report and review Gemma's presentation. “Sure, send it over,” she typed back, though her mind was already calculating how to juggle the tasks.

As soon as she sent the reply, another email notification appeared. It was from Marjorie, asking for her input on the latest marketing campaign strategies. The deadline for that was this afternoon as well. Jenny groaned inwardly, her to-do list growing by the minute.

She quickly scanned the report she was working on, making sure everything was accurate before sending it off to Mr. Duavis for review. With that task temporarily out of the way, she opened the presentation slides Gemma had sent over. The content was solid, but Jenny spotted a few areas where the design could be improved for better impact.

Kier made a peeked in her cubicle when he noticed she's almost rubbing her forehead. "Need some massage?"

"My head is already spinning," she replied, trying to keep her voice calm.

The minutes ticked by as Jenny juggled her tasks, switching between the report, presentation and the marketing strategies. She barely had time to sip her coffee, which was growing cold on her desk.

The emails kept coming, each one adding to her workload. Jenny felt the weight of the morning pressing down on her, but she pushed through, determined to get everything done. Her fingers ached from typing, and her eyes strained from staring at the screen for hours on end.

As the clock approached noon, Jenny finally managed to send off the marketing strategies to Marjorie, her feedback to Gemma about the slides, and the report that Mr. Duavis needed. She could feel her energy waning, but she couldn’t afford to slow down.

It was only when she looked up from her screen for a brief moment that she realized how chaotic the morning had been. Papers were scattered across her desk, her coffee cup was still half full and cold, and she hadn’t even had a chance to take a proper break.

Office Hallway, early---Afternoon

Jenny was walking down the hallway, her mind preoccupied with the tasks awaiting her at her desk. She was carrying a stack of files, focused on mentally organizing her workload for the day.

As she rounded a corner, she suddenly collided with someone. The files in her hands tumbled to the floor, papers scattering everywhere. She gasped, startled, as she bent down to gather them.

“Sorry about that,” a deep, familiar voice said and the scent that gave her dejavu.

Jenny froze, her heart skipping a beat. With hesitation, she looked up, her eyes meeting the face she had been trying so hard to avoid—Shau.

The surprise of seeing Shau in the office, after their near encounters and the event last night, made her question if her mind was playing tricks on her. How she wish!

But the reality of the situation hit her as she quickly noted the impeccable suit, the confident stance, and the way he carried himself. It was unmistakably Shau.

"Oh, no! What happened?" Kier appeared in the hallway and help her to gather the papers on the floor.

Shau, however, was focused on his phone talking to investors when she looked up, not paying much attention to her. He barely glanced at Jenny, clearly not recognizing her in the brief, chaotic moment.

She turned her head back on gathering the papers to avoid an eye contact with him when Shau ended the call and turned to them.

"Are you alright?" His voice making her heart crambling.

"Yes, Mr. Zhang. We'll take care of this. Sorry about this."

Jenny felt like she can't move anymore hearing Kier calling him Mr. Zhang.

Shau just nodded. Jenny’s breath caught in her throat as she watched him walk away, her mind racing. It wasn’t a hallucination—Shau was really here, in the office. And then the pieces clicked together in her mind: Shau wasn’t just any random guy; he was the chairman’s son!

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Shau Zhang, the man she had been chasing emotionally and physically, was the heir to the company’s leadership.

Panic surged through her. She had to get out of sight before Shau turned back or someone else noticed her reaction.

Kier jostle her waist. "You are blushing. You can tell me now that you are startled with Mr. Zhang's charm!"

Heart pounding, Jenny quickly scrambled to pick up her papers, her hands trembling. Every word that Kier says doesn't even sink her mind.

Just as she was gathering the last of the files, she noticed Shau pausing to greet another executive a little further down the hallway. Not wasting another second, Jenny grabbed her things and bolted back to her desk.

Her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The reality of the situation settled in—Shau, the man she had been so entangled with, was now her boss’s son.

Her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions: shock, fear, and a lingering sense of betrayal. How could she not have known? And what was she going to do now?

She felt a wave of relief that he hadn’t recognized her, but the panic was still bubbling under the surface.

Jenny knew she had to keep a low profile until she figured out her next move. The last thing she wanted was for Shau to see her and connect the dots.

Kier was laughing at her. He could really see her reaction earlier as he put the stack of papers to her desk. "Don't worry. Everyone gets the same reaction the first time they saw Mr. Zhang."

Jenny’s mind was still reeling. She had to stay calm, stay hidden, and most importantly, stay out of Shau’s sight until she could process everything.

Office Cafeteria

The office cafeteria was buzzing with the usual lunchtime chatter. Jenny and Kier sat at a small table by the window, picking at their salads as they caught up on each other's lives. The sunlight streamed through the glass, giving the room a warm, inviting glow.

Kier took a sip of her iced tea, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. “By the way, any update on your chinese? Have you heard from him at all?”

Jenny felt a lump form in her throat. She hesitated, her fork hovering over her plate as she tried to find the right words. The memories of Shau, and the recent shocking discovery that he was the chairman’s son, were still fresh in her mind. But Kier didn’t know any of that. To him, Shau was just “that guy” who had disappeared without a trace.

She forced a casual smile, trying to keep her voice steady. “No, nothing new. He’s been completely silent. I guess he’s just… really not interested anymore.”

Kier frowned sympathetically, his brows knitting together. “That’s awful. I don’t get why people do that. I mean, if he wasn’t interested anymore, the least he could’ve done was tell you instead of just vanishing like that.”

Jenny nodded, feeling a pang of discomfort as she listened to Kier. She wished she could tell him everything—about Shau, about the awkward encounters, about the realization she had in the hallway—but she couldn’t. Not yet. The situation was too complicated, and she wasn’t even sure how to process it herself.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” Jenny replied, pushing her salad around on her plate. “But I guess it’s for the best. I don’t want to waste my time on someone who can’t even communicate.”

“You’re right. You deserve someone who values you and treats you with respect. If he can’t even do that, then he’s not worth your time.”

Jenny appreciated the gesture, but her mind was still tangled in a web of confusion. She had no idea how she was going to navigate the fact that Shau was now part of her professional world, especially with Kier being so unaware of who he really was.

“Thanks, Kier,” Jenny said softly, offering a small smile. “I just need to focus on myself right now, and everything else will fall into place.”

“Exactly. And I also told you before. That kind who just always want to meet you at late evenings and always hide you from people were just only after for their urges.”

She sigh.

As they finished their lunch, Jenny’s thoughts drifted back to Shau. She wondered how long she could keep this secret, and how she was going to handle the inevitable moment of bumping Shau in the workplace anytime.

Office Floor

The office was humming with the usual activity, the sound of keyboards clacking and phones ringing filling the air. Jenny sat at her desk, focused on her work, when she heard the voice of Mr. Duavis, the department head, echoing across the floor.

“Everyone, can I have your attention, please?” His tone firm but pleasant. The employees gradually paused their tasks, turning to listen. Jenny glanced up, curious but unaware of what was about to be said.

“I just wanted to inform you all that we’ll be having a meeting before going home later with the chairman’s son, Shau Zhang. He’s eager to get to know everyone and discuss some upcoming changes. Attendance is mandatory.”

Jenny’s heart plummeted at the mention of Shau’s name. She felt the blood drain from her face, her hands gripping the edge of her desk as panic set in. Shau was going to be at the meeting—face to face with her, surrounded by their colleagues. The thought of him seeing her, of realizing she worked at his company, was too much to bear.

Kier look at her and wink at her teasing her as Mr. Duavis mentioned Shau Zhang.

Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a way to avoid the meeting. She wasn’t ready to see him, not after everything that had happened between them.

She glanced around, her eyes darting from her computer screen to the clock on the wall. The meeting was in just a few hours, and she had to think fast.

As Mr. Duavis finished her announcement and the office returned to its usual buzz, Jenny leaned over to her closest coworker, “Kier,” she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady, “do you think there’s any way I could skip this meeting? I’m swamped with work, and I really need to catch up.”

Kier raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. “Skip the meeting? Are you crazy? It’s with the chairman’s son! Why would you want to miss that? You're afraid to fall again?”

Jenny bit her lip, struggling to come up with a plausible excuse.

"Mr. Duavis said it’s mandatory. Besides, it’s probably just going to be introductions and general stuff. You’ll be fine.”

Jenny forced a smile, her mind still spinning. There is no getting out of this meeting. But the thought of facing Shau, of seeing him in the flesh after everything, was terrifying. She needed to figure something out, and fast.

As she sat back in her chair, trying to steady her breathing, an idea began to form in her mind. Maybe she could feign illness, or find some urgent task that required her immediate attention during the meeting. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it was better than sitting in that conference room, waiting for Shau to recognize her.

Whatever she decided, she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t let Shau see her—not yet. Not until she was ready to face him, on her own terms.

Jenny’s Desk, Just Before the Meeting

Jenny sat at her desk, her nerves fraying as the clock inched closer to the start of the meeting. She could barely focus, her mind consumed with the thought of seeing Shau again—this time, not in a casual setting, but in a formal business environment. Her heart pounded, and her stomach churned with anxiety.

As the meeting time drew nearer, the dread intensified. She couldn’t face him, not after everything that had happened between them. The thought of sitting in the same room, pretending nothing had ever transpired, was unbearable.

In a moment of desperation, Jenny decided she couldn’t go through with it. She stood up from her desk, pressing a hand to her stomach, and made her way over to Mr. Duavis who was busy preparing for the meeting.

“Mr. Duavis,” Jenny began, her voice low and strained. “I’m really sorry, but I think I might need to sit this meeting out. My stomach’s been acting up all morning, and I’m not sure I can make it through the meeting without feeling worse.”

Mr. Duavis looked up, concern immediately clouding her face. “Oh no, you don’t look well at all.”

Jenny nodded weakly. “I think it’s just something I ate, but I should probably step out and get some fresh air. I’m really sorry to miss the meeting.”

Mr. Duavis' expression softened, and she nodded sympathetically. “Don’t worry about it, Jenny. Your health comes first. Go take care of yourself—we’ll fill you in on what you missed.”

Relieved, Jenny murmured a quick thanks and grabbed her bag. She made her way out of the office, moving slowly, as if every step caused discomfort. Once she was out of sight of her colleagues, she quickened her pace, desperate to get outside and away from the impending confrontation.

Finally, she pushed open the door out of the building and stepped into the crisp air. The cool breeze offered some relief, and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She spotted a quiet bench nearby, perfect for collecting her thoughts.

As she headed toward the bench, she kept her eyes on the ground, lost in her own whirlwind of emotions. But just as she reached the bench, she collided with someone coming from the opposite direction.

Startled, Jenny looked up, her apology dying on her lips as she found herself face-to-face with---Shau.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Their eyes locked, and the world around them faded into the background. Jenny’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the recognition flicker in Shau’s eyes, followed by a complex mix of emotions she couldn’t quite read.

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