1 Chapter One

"Ma'am, your meeting with Mr. Smith has been canceled again, and he has requested it to be rescheduled for next Wednesday at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Since your meeting with Mr. Smith has been canceled, you won't have any more appointments this afternoon. In other words, you're free for the rest of the day. However, the conference room is waiting for your arrival. After the conference, you'll have a lunch meeting with Mr. Bolivian at Mildert's Taste." My secretary, Cindy, read my schedule in one go.

My forehead creased when I heard about Mr. Smith's cancellation. This wasn't the first time he had canceled our meeting, only to reschedule it repeatedly. Nonetheless, I continued walking, sipping my Starbucks coffee that I had bought earlier on my way to the office.

"Anything else?" I asked as I entered the elevator, pressing the button for the conference room floor.

Cindy scrolled down on her tablet, probably checking for any other appointments for the day. "That's it for the day—just the conference meeting and the lunch meeting with Mr. Bolivian," she replied, lowering her tablet.

I nodded at her and waited for the elevator doors to open. Cindy had been my secretary for almost seven years, yet there were still some quirks about her that I couldn't quite understand. One of those quirks was her habit of leading the way when we walked together.

As we entered the conference room, everyone stood up, and Cindy took her seat beside me after I nodded in acknowledgment. Every first week of the month, I held a meeting to review the company's sales performance, whether it had increased or decreased in the past month.

"Start the report," I instructed, focusing my attention on the projector screen displaying graphs and percentages of the previous month's sales.

"The sales in the marketing branch suddenly decreased by 15% in just two weeks, but it went up again in the next two weeks, and now the percentage of our income is at 90%," the head of marketing reported, displaying the results on the screen.

I found this abrupt decline in sales troubling. While fluctuations were normal, a 15% drop in just two weeks was unusual. I leaned forward and asked, "What happened during those two weeks? I find it hard to accept such a significant decrease in our sales. We've never experienced a drop of 15% before, even when we faced challenges. I won't overlook this, but I'll consider it a warning. Make sure none of you here in my company is a traitor, because you know how much I despise betrayal."

The room fell silent as my words sank in. I could see the fear in their eyes, which was the desired effect. However, I continued, "Nevertheless, it's commendable that you managed to recover what was lost in those two weeks. Meeting adjourned."

I picked up my bag and made my way towards the elevator. I had my own private elevator that led directly to my office, one floor above the rooftop. My office was spacious, elegantly designed with a mix of black and gold, and boasted a breathtaking view of San Francisco, California City.

My office had its own library, a bedroom, a restroom, and a kitchen, which I noted I needed to restock. The decor was tasteful, with a balance between femininity and professionalism.

As I sat at my desk, my gaze fell upon a family photo hanging on the wall. It brought a bitter smile to my face as I reminisced about my parents, who had tragically died in an accident when I was just 17. Their deaths left me with their wealth, but it also exposed the true nature of our relatives, who had abandoned us in our time of need. They only resurfaced when they realized they wouldn't inherit anything. I was left alone, my house ransacked, and my inheritance stolen.

I had worked as a waitress until I turned 18, then met with our family attorney, Mr. Alken, who helped me manage my parents' wealth. He had kept the news of my inheritance quiet to protect me from the vultures circling. Eventually, I earned my degree and took control of my father's business empire.

My life was filled with hard work, but I almost lost it all due to a disastrous relationship with my ex. Thanks to Mr. Alken, we managed to salvage the company, and it had since thrived in the competitive California business world.

Thinking about my past and the betrayal I had faced left a bitter taste in my mouth. It also reminded me of how far I had come. But the memories weighed heavily on my mind, giving me a headache.

"Cindy, prepare the jet. I'm heading to Paris after the lunch meeting," I informed her through the intercom.

"Of course, ma'am," she replied promptly, her face beaming with happiness. I could tell she had something in mind regarding my trip, but I brushed it off.

Opening my email, I began sorting through messages, but one particular email made my eyes roll. It was another attempt to propose a partnership with unfavorable terms—a 25% share of my company's shares in exchange for precious stone processing, a business that would cripple my empire.

I tossed the contract into the trash. I wouldn't entertain such propositions that could jeopardize my company. I was used to facing these challenges, but I had no intention of succumbing to them.

A soft knock interrupted my work, and I called for the person to enter.

"Come in," I said, removing my eyeglasses.

"Ma'am, we need to head to your lunch meeting," Cindy informed me, glancing at her watch. I realized that I had been working for far longer than I thought.

I shut down my laptop, grabbed my bag, and followed Cindy to the elevator. Before leaving, I took an extra security measure by activating a metal door that covered my office and Cindy's, ensuring our privacy while we were away.

We arrived at Mildert's Taste, an upscale restaurant where I had a lunch meeting with Mr. Bolivian, a potential business partner. Despite my dislike for extravagance, I was here to discuss a possible partnership.

"A reservation for Ms. Xyle, for a lunch meeting with Mr. Bolivian," Cindy informed the waiter.

After ordering and signing the contract, Mr. Bolivian and I exchanged pleasantries and bid each other goodbye. It was business as usual. Now, we were heading to the airport, and Cindy informed me that my jet was ready.

I hadn't packed, as I always kept essentials on the jet for impromptu trips. The most crucial item was my laptop.

"Cindy, you know the drill. Watch over the company for me, or better yet, take a two-week break. Everyone else in the company deserves it. Distribute their salaries for the month, and here's yours," I said, handing her an envelope filled with cash. She was taken aback by my gesture, as I rarely allowed my employees such luxuries.

"Thank you, ma'am. Have a safe journey, and enjoy your vacation," Cindy replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Don't even think about it, Cindy," I warned, rolling my eyes. She shrugged, and I ignored her as I boarded the jet.

Once inside, I settled in, retrieved my laptop, and continued working. It seemed that my vacation would involve a lot of work.