Standing before Love

After visiting the Hart Group, Elsie became especially serious about the Sunny Bay Project. She often worked overtime and late into the night, garnering countless praises.

On the other hand, after Myra’s demotion, she became Elsie’s assistant.

Myra knew that this was Sean’s way of making her life difficult while punishing her along the way. Eve was furious but Myra accepted it calmly.

“Photocopy these documents for me. Rearrange the data and hand them to me when you’re done. And Myra, do you even know how to prepare a cup of coffee? Don’t you know that you should add some sugar? Please bear in mind that you are just an assistant now; stop acting like a team leader! Be quick on your feet and carry out tasks efficiently. You are always so slow. Are you planning on accepting your salary for doing nothing?”

Myra accepted the folders from Elsie while tightening her grip, keeping quiet as she made her way to the photocopying machine.

Tilly approached her and commented indignantly, “Miss Stark, you were the designer who designed the Sunny Bay Project. Why is Elsie the one reaping the benefits now?”

Myra looked down as she muttered, “Tilly, don’t make such comments in the future anymore.”

“But Miss Stark…” Tilly pouted. “You are truly talented. Even if you aren’t in the Chase Group, you would flourish anyway else. Why do you want to stay as her subordinate and let her bully you? Could it be just for the sake of the Sunny Bay Project?”

“Something like that,” Myra answered vaguely.

Right now, the Sunny Bay Project is the only thing driving my empty life forward. Eve told me that this project is extremely important for the Chase Group, which has just started in the real estate business. I am just trying to make up for the guilt I feel in my heart.

The photocopy machine spitted out A4 papers with the pungent scent of ink, while Myra let her mind wander as she stared at the documents.

There was a meeting with the Hart Group in the afternoon. By noon, Elsie changed into a set of alluring Chanel workwear and applied seductive and thick makeup. In the end, Myra drove her to the Hart Group when it was time for the meeting.

Elsie knew from the beginning that Myra drove a white BMW Z4. Nevertheless, she snorted in disdain when she entered the car. “I wonder which man you slept with in exchange for the car,” she commented quietly.

From her point of view, Myra was just a working class person who had just graduated two years ago, so she could not possibly afford the car.

Myra pretended as though she hadn’t heard her.

Elsie came to a sudden halt when they arrived at the elevator entrance of the Hart Group’s tower. “Myra, you do not have to attend the meeting today with the Hart Group. Just wait for me at a random café outside. I will give you a call once I have discussed the matter with the Hart Group.”

Myra was stumped when she heard that. “M-Miss Foster, I am also involved in the Sunny Bay Project—”

“That is in the past and you are not needed in the future.” Elsie said distractedly as she checked her makeup in the reflection of the shut elevator doors. She smiled in satisfaction before she murmured, “Myra, you are just an assistant now. It is best that you do not embarrass yourself in front of the Hart Group with your status. We do not want the Hart Group assuming that the Chase Group is not taking the project seriously.”

Myra clenched her fists tightly at her sides but she maintained a blank expression. “However, if the design draft requires editing—”

“As your superior, do you think that I can’t even handle that?” Elsie cut Myra off while staring at her contemptuously.

The elevator arrived at the first floor and Elsie entered, her hips swaying sensually. She then shut the elevator doors without hesitating.

Myra looked at the elevator doors shutting gradually, her heart sinking.

Sean really knows how to torture me. He clearly knows that Elsie is treating me like an enemy, but he has arranged for me to work under her as her assistant.

Myra smiled bitterly and she turned around to leave.

Somewhere upstairs, Elsie checked her makeup before walking out of the elevator wantonly.

The person in charge and designer from the Hay Group had arrived. After hearing what Logan had to say, Elsie did not take those two from the Hay Group seriously at all.

“Mr. Clark, when will Director Hart’s meeting end?”

Elsie came to a stop in front of Leo. She did not even hide her gloating smile, and she acted as if the Sunny Bay Project was a done deal and that it belonged to her.

Leo was Tony’s trusted right-hand man, so she wanted to get closer with him.

Leo was just about to answer but he realized that Elsie arrived alone from the Chase Group. He instantly forgot about her question; instead, he asked her in surprise, “Miss Foster, why isn’t Miss Stark here today?”

Elsie answered nonchalantly, “Oh—her? She has other projects now, so she couldn’t make it. In the future, she will not be able to participate in the Sunny Bay Project anymore.”

Leo looked especially shocked and he murmured, “Please give me a moment. I’ll head in to ask Director Hart when the meeting can start.”

As soon as he said that, Leo rushed into the large conference room in a hurry, not bothering to wait for Elsie’s reply.

The meeting just ended in the conference room and the group of elites made their way out.

Tony was still sitting at the head of the table. He had lit up a cigarette but he wasn’t smoking; instead, he let the cigarette burn gradually. The swirling smoke blurred his handsome face and it was even more difficult to guess his mysterious and unpredictable facial expression.

That night, I received a stranger’s phone call because I deliberately gave Myra my own phone number that morning. I couldn’t help but answer the call because I thought that it was her. Who would have expected a strange woman over the line when I picked up?

When he heard the woman calling for ‘Shawn’ and he recalled Myra asking for the latter’s number, Tony pieced everything together straight away. She had asked for Shawn’s phone number on her friend’s behalf.

My jealousy vanished instantaneously but I hate the feeling where she can easily control my emotions. Besides, she mentioned that she and Sean shared a harmonious relationship as husband and wife, and that they are quite happy together…

He scowled while stubbing his cigarette in the ashtray. Tony stood up and the sunlight shone on his tall figure. It was clearly a warm and bright color, but he was emitting an unmistakably cold and distant aura. Leo, who had just entered the conference room, had to act even more cautiously. “Director Hart, Miss Foster from the Chase Group mentioned that Miss Stark will not be participating in the Sunny Bay Project in the future.”

Tony’s brows knitted tightly together when he heard that and he pressed his lips together unhappily. “Why?”

“Uh… it seems that Miss Stark has other projects to handle now, so she can’t make it.”

“She can’t make it?” Tony recalled her blatant resistance against himself and his expression darkened further. He suddenly let out a low chuckle. “Do they think that without her presence, they’d be able to procure the Sunny Bay Project based on her design while sending a blockhead to replace her?”

Leo’s heart skipped a beat because he knew that these were signs of Tony losing his cool. True enough, Tony then barked frostily, “Tell the Chase Group that their design draft did not improve at all, and it’s nothing compared to the Hay Group. The Chase Group’s designer, Miss Stark, is also extremely irresponsible and the Hart Group does not need to work with this type of company.”

Leo acknowledged quietly before leaving the conference room.

Tony’s facial features were backlit, making his expression seem especially guarded as his face was shrouded in shadow.

Smack! Elsie slammed the design draft hard against the office desk.

Her actions attracted a large group of colleagues immediately.

“Myra, the company has nurtured you but is this the way you repay the company? You should vent your frustrations toward me if you are unhappy with me! You know how important the Sunny Bay Project is to our company. Aren’t you harming the company by doing this?” Elsie’s voice was sharp and it was laced with fury. Initially, I thought that I’d finally be able to meet Director Hart, whom I have not met for the past few days, and I was planning to perform well today. Who would have expected that not only did I not meet Director Hart, I was even ridiculed by his assistant.