A Graduation Gift

"Don't worry, I'm here. I'll do everything in my power to help you," he whispered softly into her ears.
His embrace was warm, melting away the ice Cassandra felt both physically and mentally from the whole ordeal. Cassandra
looked up into his eyes, lost in the tenderness he was giving.
Across town, Ivy had a bright smile on her face. "Here is the document you asked,"
she said, handing over the flash drive she obtained from Adrian to Clark, and Clark's face lit up with excitement.
"Ivy, I cannot believe you took this risk for us. I don't know what to say."
He seemed truly touched by the gesture. Ivy gave a sigh of relief, her uneasy heart finally feeling more settled.
"No, don't worry about it. You know I'd do anything for you."
It should make hay while the sun shines. Ivy hurriedly expressed her attitude toward him.
"Did you get Joel to help you out? Did he get caught?" Clark inquired.
Joel was working in the Tang Group and Clark knew that it was a very convenient connection to have.
Ivy hesitated for a second. It hadn't been Joel who helped her but she wasn't about to tell Clark that it was Adrian who had
stepped in and stole it from Lionel.
"He was careful and I don't believe anyone saw him."
Technically, she wasn't lying and what Clark didn't know would not kill him.
And he was none the wiser, as she expected.
"Joel probably won't go far in the Tang Group and when it all comes to an end, he'll be a great fit for the Dawn Star Group. I'll tell
Arthur to find a proper position. And he won't be bullied like he was over at the Tang Group."
Ivy was a little taken aback that Clark so easily offered her brother a job.
It wouldn't be long before the Tang Group fell and Dawn Star Group would rise to replace them. If Joel managed to weasel his
way in, it wouldn't put all her efforts over the past few years to waste.

"Thank you, Clark! That's so sweet." Ivy faked her sweetest voice.
She was trying to turn on the charm, moving ever closer to him. But he barely noticed, transfixed by the flash drive he now held
in his hands.
In fact, her futile attempts to flirt had not gotten past him. He sneered silently. He would never lay a finger on Ivy. She was
nothing to him but a chess piece in his big game and when her usefulness was exhausted, he would cast her aside without a
second thought.
"It's getting late. You should go home. I'll call you when everything is handled."
He wanted to get her out as soon as possible. Ivy's heart sank, disappointed he hadn't insinuated that she stayed over with him.
She didn't understand why Clark seemed to have no interest in her, no matter how hard she tried. It was ridiculous.
Ivy quietly glanced down at her perfect frame. Any man would feel so lucky, but why did the one man she wanted not even take a
second glance at her?
It wasn't like he was above a little office romance. Just the other day, he'd made love to Amanda right in her office. So what was
she doing wrong?
"Ivy, I've got somewhere to be. I'll call my driver to get you home," Clark pressed lightly.
He sat down at his desk and began to tap away on the keyboard. It was clear Ivy had overstayed her welcome.
Composing herself after the disappointment, Ivy cracked an understanding smile.
"Don't worry. I can find my own way home. Take care."
She knew she'd have to be patient to gain the affections of such a wealthy bachelor. He was not as ignorant as Lionel nor as wild
as Adrian. He was the perfect balance, marriage material.
So Ivy left the room quietly.
As the door closed behind her, a faint smile crept onto the corner of Clark's lips. He inserted the USB drive into his laptop and
opened up the much-anticipated document.

His mouth gaped open. The document showed him everything he needed to bring Tang Group down, and more importantly, turn
the Tang family against Rufus. It would be impossible for him to ever win back their trust.
'Next step? Cut off any chance of escaping the onslaught, ' Clark thought to himself.
'When you've got nothing left to help you, what will you do? Would you be able to come after me? I can't wait to see you try,
Rufus.
When I've taken everything from you, will people still think you're better than me? The winner takes all and this round is mine.'
Clark took a deep breath and peered at his watch. Calculating the time difference, he decided to call Charlie and update him.
A low voice greeted him after a few rings, a little impatience coming through the line.
"We're all waiting for you back at headquarters, Clark. When will you be back?"
The old man felt like a broken record. Despite being asked a hundred times to show up in person, Clark always insisted on
videoconferencing every time.
"Mr. Ke, I assure you, it is not my fault this time. I'm about to propose and it really means a lot to me that I get this right."
Clark couldn't help but crack a mischievous smile. He looked out at the dark sky outside, narrowing his eyes to see the distance,
like a predator looking for its prey.
"Propose? Who are you proposing to?"
Charlie couldn't believe his ears. What on earth was Clark going on about?
"Didn't you hear, Uncle Charlie. I thought for sure Amanda would have told you. I'm madly in love with Amanda and I want to ask
her to marry me!"
The wicked smile on his lips lingered and the malice in his eyes could freeze anyone he looked at.