Troublesome Love with My Wicked President

Chapter 7 Just... A Resemblance

Chapter 7 Just... A Resemblance

In the large conference room, every department was well-prepared for this meeting. Despite feeling a bit tense when meeting with the meticulous chairman, Lucas, it was certain that if any department failed to gather information and prepare adequately, they would be bombarded with questions by Lucas until they were at a loss. Ultimately, they would be reprimanded by Lucas and asked to summarize their work again until he was completely satisfied.

Especially when it came to work related to numbers, whether it be sales figures, statistics, or accounting, there was no room for even the slightest error.

For Lucas,

There must be zero mistakes!

The grueling meeting started at 1 PM and by 4 PM it was still not over. Many department members began to sweat, contrasting with the cold air conditioning in the room, but not as much as the heat inside each person's heart.

Lucas hardly noticed that in the wide conference room, where all the managers and assistants from each department were present, Maria was sitting nervously behind her manager. She was acting as an assistant to prepare for this presentation. In fact, Maria had almost entirely prepared everything herself, while the manager's role was what people commonly referred to as 'showing face.' That's why Maria was brought in as an assistant, so if there was an emergency that the manager couldn't answer, Maria could step in to help.

And as expected, things unfolded as anticipated.

When Lucas listened to the presentation from the administrative accounting manager, he bombarded her with questions until she was at a loss. She stammered through her answers nervously, even though she had prepared thoroughly. But when it came time to face Lucas's probing questions, she was stunned. Her hands shook slightly as she fumbled with the papers in front of her. Fortunately, Maria was behind her, whispering answers to her.

However, Lucas immediately noticed the whispering going on behind him.

"I don't think you need to answer my questions anymore," Lucas said in a calm yet cutting voice, causing the atmosphere in the conference room to fall silent, as everyone knew that when Lucas spoke like this, he was very displeased.

"Chairman, I can explain the origin of these numbers," the manager persisted in trying to answer the questions.

"When I tell you to stop talking, it means you should stop. Why repeat yourself?" His voice remained even, but the underlying authority was undeniable.

"Chairman,"

"I'll have the person behind you, who is feeding you the script, speak instead."

The manager was left speechless before turning to look at Maria, who was smiling awkwardly behind her.

-I really can't stand power-hungry people like this- Maria thought, but inside she was boiling with anger at his endless fussiness. Even though she believed she had prepared quite well and her manager had answered quite well, this annoying boss just kept asking question after question.

Maria forced a smile through gritted teeth, trying to maintain her composure. Her fingers curled slightly into her notepad as she fought the urge to sigh. Even though her heart was on fire, all she could do was smile.

"What did I ask? You... that person, what's your name?"

"Ma-Maria," Maria answered softly, her voice almost catching in her throat as she forced herself to meet his gaze, but Lucas was taken aback. Why did this woman's voice sound so much like the girl from last night? Or could it be...!!

"You!"

Maria looked up before adjusting her glasses nervously.

"Yes??"

-So similar, but not quite - Lucas thought.

Especially with Maria looking so dowdy with those thick glasses an unflattering loose blouse, who would recognize her as the sexy woman from last night?

Impossible!

He glanced at Maria briefly before looking down at the documents. Even though he admitted to himself that this woman did resemble her, he didn't dare pay much attention because he knew all eyes were on him.

-Could she really be her? Similar? No! How could she be similar? This woman looks plain, with thick glasses, and wearing baggy clothes. Her outfit is... well... it just makes me think of the fiery girl from last night-

"Well, then, I will explain the origin of the management's budget figures, where we assessed and found that the budget for 2021 and 2022 should be increased as follows..."

Maria explained confidently and at length for almost ten minutes.

Unlike Lucas, who sat still because his mind was wandering far away... thinking of that girl.

While Maria finished explaining, Lucas was still staring at the documents in front of him. She frowned when she saw he didn't ask her anything further.

"Sir, what do you think?"

"......"

"Sir, may I ask if you..."

"......"

A murmur of voices began because everyone assumed Lucas was displeased, which was why he was silent. But no, he was silent because he hadn't listened to a single word Maria had said.

The silence in the awkward situation caused many people to glance at each other, unsure of how to react. If Lucas remained dissatisfied with the report like this, who knew how long the meeting would drag on?

Lucas stayed silent for a while until he realized that all eyes were on him.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat, feeling a bit awkward but maintaining his composure.

"Let's call it a day for now. Tomorrow, the remaining departments that haven't presented yet will continue. Oh, and all departments should be better prepared. Don't just throw random numbers around. Anything that you think doesn't clearly explain its origin, report it to me again." He stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and walked out, followed by his secretary who gathered his notebook and documents.

"He wasn't listening at all, so how could he say our department is throwing random numbers around?" Maria muttered softly, watching Lucas leave in frustration. He was the one who asked her to explain, yet in the end, he didn't listen to a word she said.

When the meeting ended in confusion, everyone let out a sigh of relief that another day was over. Meanwhile, the remaining departments looked visibly worried about having to report again in tomorrow's meeting.

"Phew, what a relief," the manager said, walking wearily ahead of Maria. "Thanks, Mar. Next time, take more detailed notes so I don't end up embarrassed like today, okay?"

"Huh... oh, yes, yes," Maria replied, confused. She thought she had prepared thoroughly, but she didn't expect that power-hungry president to ask for more details than she had prepared.

After work, Maria walked over to complain to Annie, her dear friend, while waiting to go home together.

"The meeting ended quickly today. How was it? Were you excited?" Annie asked with concern while packing up to go home.

"Oh my... it was a nightmare, I tell you. There's another meeting tomorrow. Today was so awkward. That person, nothing's good enough, everything's wrong. His ideas have to be number one. I prepared everything perfectly, prepared here, asked there, prepared there, asked here. Oh, I just want to scream. And there's more, you know. When I whispered the answers to the manager, he called me to speak instead. And guess what? When I got up to speak, he wasn't even listening! Isn't that infuriating... there's more..."

" Maria"

"Don't interrupt, I'm not finished yet," Maria quickly raised her hand to stop her.

" Maria"

"Listen to me first. There's more to it. That stuck-up chairman, once he realized he wasn't listening to what I was saying, quickly wrapped up the meeting to save face."

" Maria stop talking. Look behind you," Annie said through clenched teeth, speaking softly while gesturing for Maria to turn around.

Maria froze, her mouth hanging open.

She was so caught up in venting that she didn't realize Annie, her dear friend, had been calling her name several times.

But now she understood the awkward look on her friend's face as she stared at her.

Behind her must be...

Maria slowly turned around and immediately bowed her head, catching sight of the shiny black leather shoes of the person in front of her. She knew then...

It must be that stuck-up chairman!! The one she had just been gossiping about.

"I ended the meeting early because I thought you all might be stressed and tired, not because I wasn't listening to you. So stop spreading your nonsensical thoughts without thinking,"

The calm, reprimanding voice paused in front of Maria for a moment before walking away, leaving Maria nearly sinking to her knees.

"I called your name several times just now," Annie patted her friend's shoulder gently.

"Why didn't you warn me sooner? Ugh... am I going to get my salary docked for gossiping about the chairman right under his nose?" Maria looked like she was about to cry.

"Probably not."

"Ugh, why am I having such rotten luck lately?" Maria turned to Annie for comfort, who could only hug her back and gently pat her back to console her.

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