I had publicly humiliating my stepsister at the gala, and I know for a fact that I'm not going to get at least a week of peace.
That aside, I decided to focus on my meeting with Lu Jinghao.
The man had somehow changed the location and picked a discreet café, of course the coffee would cost more than an average person's rent.
I pushed open the glass door, my heels clicking on the marble floor.
My outfit for the day consisted of a grey silk blouse tucked into fine high waisted black trousers. I had on a matching blazer slung over my shoulders and scarlet lipstick, the kind that screamed danger.
'Host your confidence level is overflowing, let's not even talk about your sexiness. You might give these men a cardiac arrest.'
I smirked at Nova's remarks. He sure knew how to get on my good side.
I spotted Lu Jinghao instantly. He was seated by the window, with the light cutting sexy lines on his handsome face.
He didn't bother looking up as I approached, but the tapping of his fingers against his espresso let me know that he was aware of my arrival.
"Mr. Lu," I greeted, sliding into the chair opposite him.
"Miss Jiang," he replied, finally glancing up.
"Hmm...I am surprised you are on time."
"Of course," I replied, taking off my blazer.
"I learnt a lesson or two from our first meeting."
His lips twitched, barely, but I still caught it.
'Major Alert host! Your Prince charming is attempting to smile! What a historical event!'
I sipped the cup of cappuccino that had just been brought as I leaned back. "So... I'm assuming this is about business?"
He nodded. "Indeed, I don't just offer propositions unless I mean them."
"Good. Because I don't offer my services unless they are bought with a good paycheck."
That statement got me a full smirk.
Lord have Mercy! He was handsome when he did that. The kind of handsome that didn't have to ask for attention, but instead it commands it, the same way thunder commands the sky.
He folded his hands. "Just like how you have freedom with the company collaboration, then I am offering you complete creative freedom."
"And what's the catch?"
"I expect mind blowing results."
"Results?" I tilted my head. "You sound like someone who is not aware of the word process."
"In my world, I prefer outcomes."
'You might want to be careful host. That translates to a control freak with a heavy taste in vocabulary.'
I hid a smile behind my cup. "The outcomes you expect, that I can give. But... I don't come cheap Mr. Lu."
"Neither do I miss Jiang," he replied without missing a beat, and I couldn't quite tell whether he meant business or something else entirely.
Before I could respond back, a familiar annoying voice interrupted.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't the country's latest sensation..."
Of course. Fucked up Jiang Ning.
She stood by our table, donning an outfit that tried to scream 'I am fine', for someone who was clearly not fine.
Her eyes were sharp, but her smile was even sharper.
"Mr Lu," she purred coquettishly, "I never expect to see you here, that too with her."
I felt annoyed for some reason but I didn't dwell on it that much.
I chuckled as I crossed my legs, tilting my head innocently.
"Sister you should try coffee sometime, it really helps with bitterness."
Her smile froze for a moment.
"Still humorous, I see. Tell me, Rui, do you ever get tired of pretending that you are above it all?"
"Oh darling I don't have to pretend to be what I actually am." I replied sweetly.
Lu Jinghao didn't say a word. He just watched us, like a man quietly watching a match.
"Careful sister," Jiang Ning murmured, voice low. "The higher you climb, the harder and easier you fall."
"And I will be eagerly waiting for your fall."
"Aww, how sweet. In that case, I can't let you down. I'll send you a card from the top."
Her nostrils flared In anger, but she turned with a tight smile. "Enjoy your coffee," she said to Jinghao, before strutting out like a runway model fueled by self delusion with a sprinkle of rage.
'Heh host, her emotional stability is at 15%. Expect her to retaliate.'
How lovely, I thought.
Lu Jinghao set his cup down in amusement.
"You two really have an interesting… history."
"You could say that," I chuckled lightly. "She is my stepsister. My father remarried her mother after my mother..."
"She used to call me her assistant until I finally out designed her. Well, I always had..."
His eyes flicked, assessing me keenly. "What about now?"
"Now she calls me Phantom," I said with a smile. "The best out of all names she has ever called me."
He chuckled under his breath, seeming surprised. "You really aren't what I expected."
"I am flattered." I teased. "What did you expect? A tortured artist who spends her night crying with a bottle of wine at hand?"
"Maybe," he admitted. "But you are different. You are sharp and dangerous."
'Flirting detected.'
I leaned forward, my expression something I couldn't even explain. "And you like dangerous things, Mr. Lu?"
His eyes held mine in the same position. "Only when they are worth the risk."
The air between us thickened, an electric kind, partly romantic. The kind of atmosphere that could either burn or build us, depending on who looked away first.
Before I could look away, the bell above the café door jingled again.
"Rui!"
Huang Zeming's familiar voice cut through the tension, the same way sunlight does to the clouds.
He looked casual as always, with that charming grin, until he spotted Lu Jinghao.
His eyes flickered a bit before he straightened his posture.
"Jinghao! You are here too."
"Huang Zeming," I finally spoke, cutting through the awkward atmosphere. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"I was in the area," he said smoothly, sliding into the empty chair beside me. Acting all bossy.
"I saw your figure from outside. You know I couldn't pass the chance to check on my favourite scandal survivor."
Lu Jinghao now wore an annoyed expression. Seems like to him nothing was worth relaxing when Zeming was around.
It still baffles me how these two are friends but anyway, none of my business.
"Well," Zeming spoke, his voice light, "try not to overwork her Jinghao. People would riot if she goes missing."
" She wouldn't do anything she doesn't want to. Also, don't you have a company to run Zeming?"
Lu Jinghao replied casually, as if the conversation didn't include him.
The two really were something! The tension wasn't that big but I could still pick it.
Two men sharing the table with me. One calm, the other charming, both circling each other in cryptic conversations.
'Host the Testosterone levels are rising. I suggest you leave the table.'
I cleared my throat, attracting their attention.
"You both talk like I'm not here."
"My Apologies," Lu Jinghao said immediately.
Huang Zeming grinned. "Relax hun. We are just making sure you're in good hands."
"Oh, trust me," I said sweetly, "I can very much handle my own hands."
Zeming laughed; Jinghao didn't. Of course. Typical him.
When Zeming finally left, I exhaled, turning back to Lu Jinghao.
"You don't seem to like your friend." I said.
"He is noisy," he replied. "Everybody around knows it takes energy to deal with him."
"Funny," I said, standing and putting on my blazer.
"People say the same about you."
He followed my movements and stood too. "What about you? What do you say?"
I met his gaze, finding it hard to maintain it but still doing so nonetheless.
"Hmm...I say you are intriguing. But being intriguing won't pay the bills."
He smiled faintly in reply. "Then I suppose I will have to cash in extra."
'Host your emotional firewall is weakening. His charm is really working on you.'
I smirked, clearly amused. "Careful now Mr Lu. You are starting to act like you enjoy my company."
"Matter of fact, I do," he said.
The way he said it, so calm, 'matter of fact', like he wasn't flirting, hit me harder than any declaration could.
I didn't say a word but turned to leave.
Despite this, I knew my hurried steps were betraying me and he could see it...
He was watching from behind.
I could feel his intense gaze, but a girl has got to act a bit tough.