Chapter 15

“Louise!” Monique Xander shouted in desperation the moment she saw Louise Lou as if she was her lifesaver. Louise looked up in shock and turned in the voice’s direction to see Monique standing two meters away from her. Monique looked like a pitiful rendition of Cinderella in her oversized grey sweater and skinny jeans while carrying two large paper bags. There seemed to be coffee cups in the bags. “Monique! Why are you here?” Louise’s lips curved upward for an excited smile when she realized that it was Monique who was calling her. She then walked over. “Louise, I’m right here!” Monique lifted the corners of her mouth to form a bright smile. She wanted to wave but both her arms were occupied with the bags filled with coffee. Worried that Louise did not see her, she tiptoed. Her arms were getting numb from carrying the 20 cups of coffee all the way there. Louise had light makeup on her slim face that day. She looked capable and composed with her hair pulled to the back. Her white long-sleeved fit blouse matching with a black skirt complimented her curvy figure. Her peacock green five-centimeters tall stilettos made her legs look even more slender and long. Monique thought that she looked sultry walking through the crowd as if she was beaming with radiance. The two of them greeted each other excitedly. Monique then explained her situation and Louise was more than happy to assist her. “Here, let me help you,” said Louise cordially as she extended an arm. Monique was already more than grateful for Louise’s help in leading the way so she was unwilling to let her carry the bags. Louise gave up when Monique insisted. “Your manager is cruel, how could he ask you to take all of this by yourself?” Louise felt unjust on her behalf. She led Monique across one corridor after another as she talked. Monique was amazed by the interior’s unique style. It was simple yet extravagant and it looked extraordinarily luxurious. She walked into a lift. The men inside were dressed in suit and leather, looking smart and capable. A woman beside her was wearing a beige bodycon dress with a pair of gold gilded heels as seen in fashion magazines. She looked elegant and graceful. Monique then looked at herself in the reflection in the lift. She was barefaced, wearing an oversized sweater with skinny jeans while carrying 20 cups of coffee. She did not get to change her clothes because the order was urgent so she was dressed exactly how she would to clean the café. She lowered her head subconsciously, feeling like an ugly duckling in the crowd. She finally reached her destination, the general manager’s office as the order was to be delivered there. She placed the coffees down and expressed a thousand thanks to Louise before urging her to get back to the reception because she felt bad for taking up her time. Louise had things to do so she left. Monique heaved a long sigh of relief after distributing the coffees. She was grateful that the coffees were delivered in perfect condition. “Can you deliver four of these to the chairman secretary’s office? It’s right at the corner,” asked a middle-aged man in his forties. “No problem,” replied Monique with a smile. Monique wanted to leave as soon as she was done with the delivery. She took two cups in one hand and walked over with her head low. A figure ran out from around the corner all of a sudden. The coffees in Monique’s hand fell and spilled all over her and the floor as she tried to dodge. Mandy Jane, the secretary walked over when she heard the noise. Blood was draining from her dainty face as she stared at the spilled coffee on the floor. “The chairman is returning after the meeting very soon, he can’t see this!” Mandy adjusted her glasses and looked at Monique with a cool expression. She started quivering subconsciously the moment she thought of the iciness in the chairman’s jet black eyes on his strikingly handsome face. It was a disaster!. Monique was shocked to the bone. She recovered from her surprise hurriedly and placed the coffees in her other hand down to clean up the mess. Both Monique and Jane lowered themselves to a crouch as they were cleaning the floor with tissue papers. Monique had no time to worry about her body being drenched in coffee. Monique’s loose clothing was drooping to the floor as she crouched, she was clearly frantic. Jane wanted to help Monique in cleaning up the mess but she could not bring herself to do it as she was a clean freak. She could only whine from the side. “Why are you so careless? Clean it up, hurry!” “Sorry! I’m sorry!” Monique apologized sincerely as she cleaned. She should have checked her luck before heading out that day. How unlucky!!! “Chairman!” Jane took a courteous bow when she noticed that the chairman returned. Although he maintained a cool and indifferent expression on his handsome face and his dark deep eyes lacked concern, there was an intimidating aura. The silence in the air was like the calm before a storm. Henry Moore’s expression darkened when he glanced at the spilled coffee on the floor. The chairman was a neat freak. He could not even tolerate a strand of hair, what’s more puddles of coffee on the floor. “Well… The delivery girl from the café...spilled coffee. I’ll ask her to clean it up right now.” Jane explained carefully. One wrong act would set off the ticking bomb. Monique heard Jane speak in a respectful and cautious tone as soon as she felt a chill down her spine and shivered. Monique shifted her vision upward from the bottom of the man’s trouser. His bespoke tailored black trouser was perfectly straight as if it was cut-off with a knife, his muscular chest was peeping through his white dress shirt. He emitted an elegant and superior aura with his habitually-pursed chiseled thin lips. His aquiline nose and flawless contour looked like they were expertly carved, his deep dark eyes were emitting a sharp sternness like an eagle in the darkness of the night. His domineering aura was akin to that of a king’s. He was not to be looked straight in the eye! ‘It’s him! The man who Little Nomi called daddy!’ Monique trembled with shock, her eyes popped with surprise. “I’ll clean it up at once.” Monique’s voice trembled slightly from the anxiety. She sounded brittle because of her weakened voice. He threw her a light glance like a majestic emperor looking down upon a poor peasant and walked into his office apathetically while avoiding the puddle. ‘It’s her!’ He could see her fair, slender neck emerging from her loose collar from where he stood. She had no makeup on, her dark brown eyes were glistening and her fair, delicate face had a natural blush from anxiety like a ripe succulent peach. Despite her information papers insinuating her as an immoral woman, she looked so pure and innocent, so innocent that he had a desire to stain them. He even had an urge to tease her when he saw her crouching there, anxious and alarmed. That was totally unlike him!! Everyone present heaved a huge sigh of relief when Henry left. It was odd that he did not get angry, but they were relieved that the storm did not fall upon them. Then, Jane grabbed a cup of coffee and walked into his office. “Call her in.” Henry’s voice was deep and magnetic like a cello but emotionless. “Her?” Jane understood the chairman’s words without explanation as she had been working for him for a long time. He could only mean the delivery girl as there were no outsiders except for her. She seemed to be the woman the chairman asked her to find out about. Jane stared at Monique with a strange expression the moment she stepped out of the chairman’s office. The chairman never allowed women to enter his office without reason, especially those who were not associated with him. Jane has even stopped countless rich and wealthy ladies who came up with numerous excuses from entering the chairman’s office. Why would the chairman request to meet the delivery girl then? She was dressed exceptionally modest! “The chairman requested for you to enter his office…” said Jane with disbelief while pointing at Monique who was still cleaning the spill. Why would the chairman want to see a delivery girl like her?