Chapter 9 A Great Gift

For the past three years, as Tiana had never paid attention to news about Austin, was unaware that he had yet to marry his mistress, Rose.

Josh sneered coldly and remarked, "Since Taylor is getting engaged to a secretary's daughter, I'll have to prepare a magnificent gift for them anyhow."

"What would you like to give, Mr. Reed?" David asked respectfully.

"What should I give? How would I know what I should give?" Josh rebutted and glanced towards Tiana before he instructed, "I'll leave this to you. Go pick a gift."

"I... I know nothing about gifts, Mr. Reed. Please task someone else with this," Tiana immediately rejected, for she was unwilling to pick a gift for the scumbag Austin and his wretched mistress.

"Well, you could always learn," Josh rebutted. His favourite pastime was to torment Tiana.

Tiana was already 27 years old now and yet she did not dress herself up or apply any makeup and neither does she have a boyfriend.

Thus, Josh felt a strange sense of repulsion towards Tiana ever since he first met her.

If it wasn't for Ethan's sake, he would never accept a woman like her as his assistant.

On the first day of work, he already warned her he disliked women who wore glasses and had instructed her to wear contact lenses when she was at work.

However, she defied him and continued to disgust him with her old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses every single day.

"Well, since you ignored my instructions, then you can't blame me for this. I couldn't ignore the favour that Ethan had asked of me but I could certainly torture you, couldn't I?" he thought.

When Josh saw how awkward Tiana was, he felt extremely pleased and continued, "I'll leave everything to you then". If Austin is dissatisfied with the gift, I'll fire you right away.

"Yes," Tiana agreed reluctantly and let out a silent sigh.

Josh was due to meet some clients at noon and took Tiana along with him.

As usual, Josh would drink and fool around after he was done with business.

As Josh was an infamous playboy, he and the clients were served by the top girls in the club in a private room.

After a few drinks, the men gradually groped and fondle the girls beside them.

Deciding not to be an eyesore, Tiana quickly got up and informed, "Mr. Reed, I'll wait for you outside."

"Run along then, don't stay too far, so I can't get hold of you," Josh threatened.

"I won't. I'll wait for you by the door," Tiana promised, and lowered her head as she made her way out.

Seeing that, someone asked Josh, "Mr.Reed, why would you get such an ugly lady to be your assistant? Don't you find her an eyesore?"

"Of course I do. The sight of her face never keeps me standing," Josh agreed maliciously.

All the men in the private room roared with laughter and Tiana hastened her pace and went out of the room quickly.

As Josh had forbidden her from straying too far, she stood on standby in the corridor outside the private room.

There was a group of people crowded around a man walking over. When Tiana saw the spirited middle-aged man surrounded by people, she instantly lowered her head and stared at her toes.

Steve Cook was about to leave with his group, but suddenly, as if he could sense that something was amiss, turned around.

He looked at Tiana, who kept her head down.

Tiana was his daughter after all. Though she was dressed in old-style, he recognized her at once. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He said something to his secretary and walked towards Tiana in stride, "Tiana, when did you return?".

Tiana raised her head and stared at Steve indifferently before she replied, "Do you have business with me, Mr. Cook?"

Steve gazed at his daughter lovingly and was not the least affected by Tiana's attitude towards him, "Where have you been? Daddy has been searching for you during the past three years. Why haven't you called me?".

"Daddy? My father passed away a long time ago," Tiana retorted icily.

"Tiana," Steve pleaded, ``Although he was a respectable secretary in the eyes of the public, he could never put on airs and be fierce to his daughter, "You haven't eaten, have you? Let's go and have a meal."

"That's not necessary. Mr. Cook, your sweet wife and loving daughter are waiting for you at home, just accompany them." Tiana Rebuked.

"Tiana," Steve called out and reached over to grab hold of his daughter's hand. "Let's have a meal together," he begged.

"Let go of me!" Tiana yelled and tried to shake off his hand.

However, Steve held her hand so tightly that she couldn't get released at all. "Mr. Cook, I won't go easy on you if you keep this up."

"Tiana!" Steve try to make her calm.

"What are you guys playing at?" a voice interrupted.