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1492 Words
Gabriel Liu gave her a strange look, “Other people who encounter such an opportunity are still begging for it. Why don't you want to go?”
Beg for it? The man who was as cold as ice clearly exuded a message from head to toe, “Don't get close to people”. Who would be foolish enough to go and get into trouble?
After dawdling at the door of the president's office for a while, she turned around and saw that Gabriel Liu's gaze contained exploration, before knocking on the door with a stiff upper hand.
“Come in!”
The voice, again, lacked warmth. Claire took a deep breath before stepping inside, calling out respectfully, “President.”
“Uh-huh.” Shawn answered casually without raising his head, still buried in his paperwork.
Claire saw that he had no intention of speaking and her foot shrank back a little, “If there's nothing else for the president, I'll be out first.”
“There is something.”
Two concise words popped out from inside those thin lips, again no emotions could be heard.
Claire stood in front of the door of the Weitian Group's president's office with apprehension in her heart. She took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Shawn's voice came through the door panel, calm and strong.
She pushed the door open, only to see Shawn sitting behind his desk, his eyes like a torch. “President, you wanted to see me?”
Shawn sized her up and handed her a file. “Here's a contract for you to read.”
Claire took the document, only to see the words “Personal Assistant Agreement” written in large letters. Her mind tightened with uncertainty.
“I need a personal assistant to take care of my day-to-day affairs,” Shawn explained, a hint of unquestioning determination in his tone.
An uneasiness welled up in Claire's mind, and she asked hesitantly, “Why me?”
Shawn stood up and walked over to her, his figure standing taller against the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Because of your ability and loyalty, I believe you're up to the task.”
Claire felt a pressure she had never felt before, knowing the importance of the job and realizing that it would be a great challenge for her career.
“I ...... need time to think about it.” Her voice held a hint of trembling.
Shawn nodded in understanding. “No problem, but remember, this opportunity won't wait.”
Claire took the contract and left the office with a heavy heart. She knew that this decision would change the course of her life.
Claire clutched the unexpected contract as her mind rippled.
She returned to her seat as the curious stares of her coworkers pierced her back like needles. She knew that this contract was more than just a job.
“Claire, Assistant Liu wants you to go.” On the intercom, Ms. Zhang's voice carried a hint of unusual eagerness.
Claire walked into Gabriel Liu's office, and he was unusually gentle. “Claire, the president speaks highly of your work, and there's a special assignment for you.”
Her heart tightened, and an unsettling premonition enveloped her mind like a fog. “What assignment?”
“Become the president's personal assistant, this is a wonderful opportunity for you.”
Gabriel Liu's voice was calm, but Claire's heart could not be calmed.
She clenched her fists and said firmly, “I don't think I'm suitable for this job.”
Gabriel Liu seemed to have expected this and smiled slightly.
“Claire, this is more than just a job, you will have access to the company's top secrets, which will be very beneficial to your career development.”
Claire's mind was at war with the heavens, she knew she needed the job, but she knew better than anyone what it meant to be Shawn's personal assistant.
“I ...... need to think about it.” Her voice was small but firm.
Gabriel Liu nodded and handed her a business card. “This is the president's private number, and he's willing to wait for your decision.”
Claire took the business card, feeling heavy. She returned to her seat for a long time. The idea of becoming Shawn's mistress haunted her like a viper.
She decided to find Shawn and talk it over in person. Outside the president's office, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Shawn's voice remained calm.
Claire walked in and was directed, “President, I don't want to be your mistress.”
Shawn looked at her, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes.
“That's good Claire, I appreciate your bluntness like that. Sit down and let's talk.”
Claire sat down and Shawn handed her a new contract. “This is my revised contract, you will be working as my personal assistant and will be responsible for my day-to-day duties and nothing else.”
Claire breathed a sigh of relief as she read the contract carefully, the terms were clear and nothing was out of place.
“I accept.” She held out her hand and shook Shawn's, signaling a new beginning.
Claire's mood was as if she'd been caught in a sudden whirlwind.
She stood in front of her office window, clutching the gold card Shawn had given her, a card that symbolized a life she'd never imagined.
The ringing of the phone cut through her contemplation, and it was Shawn's cold, direct voice: “Claire, meet me in the underground garage after work, and don't go away.
Otherwise ...... there will be consequences!”
Claire's heart tightened as she tried to ask for clarification, but the caller had already hung up.
She looked at the light rain outside the window, her heart filled with doubt and uneasiness.
There was a knock on the office door and Julia poked her head in with concern on her face, “Claire, you don't look too good, is something wrong?”
Claire forced a smile and downplayed the events of the phone call.
Julia, however, could see what was on her mind at a glance, “Is it something to do with Dean? I saw him with Lauren yesterday.”
Claire's heart lurched, she took a deep breath and said calmly, “Dean and I are over. I don't want to talk about him anymore.”
Julia was indignant, “You're just going to let them off the hook? Let's go, I'll accompany you to Dean and Lauren today and set the record straight!”
Claire shook her head, her heart was already numb, “Forget it, Julia, there are some things that can't be answered by pursuing them.”
It was time for her shift to end. Claire stood in the rain, contemplating whether she should go see Shawn or not.
She knew how far away the man's world was from hers. But eventually, she made her way to the underground garage.
Shawn's car was parked around the corner, and he sat in it, looking at Claire in the rain with a glint of complexity in his eyes.
He opened the car door and waved her in, “Come on up.”
Claire hesitated but got in the car. Shawn started the car and drove out of the garage.
“Where do you want to go?” Claire asked, an imperceptible tremor in her voice.
“To a place where we can have a quiet conversation,” Shawn replied, keeping his gaze fixed ahead.
The car weaved through the streets of London, eventually stopping in front of a classically styled café. Shawn led Claire inside and found a quiet corner to sit in.
“How's it going here?” He asked, a rare hint of gentleness in his tone.
Claire looked around and nodded, “It's great, thank you, Shawn.”
Shawn smiled slightly, it was the first time Claire had ever seen him smile, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of something different in her heart.
“Call me Shawn.” He said, then beckoned for a waiter, “What would you like to drink?”
Claire thought for a moment and said, “Latte.”
Shawn nodded and said to the waiter, “Two lattes.”
Both were silent as they waited for their coffee. Claire's mind was filled with confusion as she wondered what exactly Shawn wanted to talk about.
Shawn seemed to read her mind as he whispered, “Claire, I know you have doubts about me, but I promise I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do.”
Claire looked up into Shawn's eyes and there was a sincerity there that she had never seen before.
“Thank you, Shawn ...... Shawn,”
She finally said his name, and it felt like a threshold had been crossed.
- Writer
