Liyana steps into her office at Celeste, the high-end fashion subsidiary she built from the ground up. The large windows allow a flood of natural light, illuminating the clean, modern lines of the minimalist decor. Her office exudes power and elegance, with sleek marble floors and contemporary furniture that mirrors her calculated, sophisticated personality.
She's dressed to match the mood of the day—a tailored black blazer over a deep emerald-green silk blouse, tucked neatly into high-waisted trousers. The outfit is both professional and feminine, with the blouse's slight sheen catching the light as she moves. Her heels click sharply against the polished floor, each step echoing her authority. She wears minimal jewelry—a pair of gold hoop earrings and a delicate watch that glints faintly as she adjusts her hair in the mirror, tying it back into a neat low bun, with a few strands left loose to frame her face.
Liyana stands in front of her desk, scrolling through her tablet, her mind racing with plans for the next phase of Celeste's expansion. Today, she needs to finalize the signing of West Plaza, the prime real estate space she's been eyeing for Celeste's flagship store. She's focused—business first. But as she picks up her phone, it rings, and the name on the screen makes her pause. Mira, her secretary, has an update.
"Miss Xu," Mira's voice comes through the phone, "The signing for West Plaza is scheduled for this afternoon. Are you ready to finalize the deal?"
Liyana taps her fingers on the desk, thinking for a moment. "Yes, I'll be there. Let me know when it's all set up."
She sets the phone down and adjusts her blouse, taking a deep breath before heading out of her office. As she walks through the hallways of the Celeste building, she can't shake the feeling that today will be a turning point. She's about to finalize a key location for Celeste, but her thoughts inevitably drift to Damien and the engagement rumors. She can't afford to let distractions affect her business, so she forces herself to push the thoughts aside for now.
Upon arriving at the signing meeting room, Liyana enters and freezes momentarily. There, standing beside the West Plaza contract, is Ruoxi—Damien's business partner. Ruoxi's presence catches Liyana off guard, but she hides her surprise with a composed smile as they make eye contact.
Ruoxi smiles warmly. "Liyana, I wasn't expecting to see you here today," she says, her voice smooth, carrying an easygoing yet professional tone.
Liyana steps forward, extending her hand. "Ruoxi, I didn't know you were involved in this deal."
Ruoxi shakes her hand firmly. "Well, Damien thought it would be good to have me present for the final discussions," she explains. "I'm just here to finalize the contract with you."
Liyana raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "I see. We'll be signing the final papers soon. It's good to meet you, though, after all the business dealings."
They sit down together at the large conference table, and the signing process begins, with Liyana reviewing the terms and conditions. As the paperwork is being sorted, the two women start talking casually, building a rapport. It doesn't take long for the conversation to shift from business to more personal territory.
Ruoxi seems to notice the subtle shifts in Liyana's demeanor, and she leans forward, her expression becoming more focused. "You know," she says, glancing over at Liyana, "Damien… he's a bit of an enigma."
Liyana's heart skips a beat at the mention of Damien. "What do you mean?" she asks, keeping her voice neutral.
Ruoxi smiles knowingly. "I've been around him long enough to pick up on the small things. You know, the way he smiles when your name comes up in conversation, or how his entire attitude shifts when anything to do with you is mentioned." She tilts her head, studying Liyana. "It's almost like he's trying to keep a lid on something, but he can't. It's in the little details. Like how he loses his cool when anyone even hints at anything about you."
Liyana's pulse quickens, her composure faltering for a brief second. She leans back in her chair, trying to digest what Ruoxi has said. "That's…" she trails off, unsure of what to make of Ruoxi's words.
Ruoxi shrugs. "Maybe it's nothing, but I've seen enough of him to know when something's not just business. I don't know if you realize it, but he's different with you."
The conversation lingers in the air as the two women continue to chat about the business side of the West Plaza signing, but Liyana can't shake the weight of Ruoxi's observation. Could it be true? Did Damien really feel something for her? And if so, what did it mean?
Ruoxi seems to sense Liyana's inner turmoil and shifts back to a more neutral tone. "Anyway, business is business. Let's get this signed, shall we?" She picks up the contract and slides it over to Liyana with a knowing smile.
Liyana nods, focusing back on the task at hand. She picks up the pen, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts, and signs the contract for the West Plaza. There's no turning back now. The deal is done.
After the meeting, Liyana heads back to her office, her mind still occupied with what Ruoxi had said. But she forces herself to focus on the next step of her day. Celeste needs her attention, and that's where her energy is needed. She can't afford distractions, not even when it comes to Damien.
Liyana stood in the center of the spacious office, the weight of the day's decisions and responsibilities pressing down on her. The West Plaza contract was finally signed, marking a major milestone for Celeste's expansion. She looked over at her team, her voice steady but filled with the resolve that had earned her respect as a leader.
"Great work, everyone," she said, her eyes scanning the room of focused, diligent employees. "The next steps are crucial. We have to focus on the interior designs and finalize everything for the launch. Let's start planning the design themes and the final layout. We'll need to ensure the branding reflects our vision of exclusivity and elegance."
There were nods of agreement from her staff as they made their notes, the hum of their efficiency resonating in the air. Liyana watched them for a moment, appreciating their dedication, but also feeling the unrelenting pressure of the hours ahead. It was always like this. The work never stopped. The wheels of ambition never ceased turning.
"Alright, you all are free to go home for the night," she said with a quiet but commanding tone, her voice cutting through the chatter. "We'll continue the work tomorrow. But tonight, you've earned your rest."
The staff members gathered their things, offering polite goodbyes as they left for the night. Liyana stood by the large window of her office, staring at the city lights below, lost in thought. It was already late. She glanced at her desk, where piles of paperwork waited for her attention.
She sighed, realizing that she couldn't leave just yet. The deadlines for Celeste's launch were fast approaching, and she had to ensure everything was aligned perfectly. She'd been juggling her personal and professional lives for too long now, but today, the weight of both seemed to collide.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Damien. She unlocked the screen to see his text:
"Are we still on for tonight?"
Liyana bit her lip, her heart skipping a beat. Of course, she had forgotten. Tonight had been the night they were supposed to meet. But with everything going on, she couldn't afford the distraction. She was already behind schedule, and she couldn't bring herself to face him with the weight of their engagement hanging in the air, still unresolved in her mind.
Liyana quickly typed a response, her fingers flying over the keys:
"I'm sorry, Damien. I won't be able to meet you tonight. There's still too much to finish here. I'll make it up to you soon."
She hit send before she could second-guess herself, setting the phone down with a quiet sigh.
Her eyes wandered to the documents strewn across her desk, the contracts and proposals that needed her immediate attention. She couldn't afford to be distracted by anything else right now. She had a business to run, a reputation to maintain.
The room around her seemed to grow even quieter as she sank into her chair, her fingers quickly flipping through the papers. The air felt dense with anticipation. With every stroke of her pen, Liyana couldn't shake the feeling that the events surrounding her—her engagement, the constant demands of the business world, and the ever-present pull of her feelings toward Damien—were growing more complex.
And yet, all she could do now was focus on the task at hand. There would be time for everything else later. For tonight, she had made a choice, and it was a decision that was hers to make.