The delicate sound of the piano drifted lodiously through the elegant white hotel lobby...
Alice Robinson was imrsed in the beautiful music of the piano, unaware that at this very mont a tall man in an ink-black suit, exuding an air of indifference from head to toe, had just stepped out of the hotel elevator.
The hotel’s general manager followed obsequiously at the indifferent man’s side, saying respectfully, "General Laurence, this is the latest design for the hotel lobby. It’s mainly in a classic, simple European style... Many guests say they like the elegant environnt here, and the occupancy rate has risen by thirty percent compared to before."
Claud Laurence, owner of sixty percent of the five-star hotels in Paris, with properties under his na that enjoyed great renown in many countries. His precise vision and astute business mind had long been the talk of the industry, but he kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public, so he was little known to the outside world.
"Mm."
"General Laurence, let show you the specially designed honeymoon suites in the hotel..."
The general manager walked ahead, pointing out the way, respectfully welcoming his own boss.
Claud Laurence’s steps, however, paused slightly at that mont.
His gaze unintentionally fell on the beautiful woman at the piano in the hotel lobby.
Her profile... looked strangely familiar to him.
Claud Laurence’s eyes couldn’t help but narrow slightly.
The hotel general manager asked nervously, "General Laurence, is there so problem sowhere...?"
The secretary following at Claud Laurence’s side also hadn’t figured out why his boss had suddenly stopped.
Claud suddenly spoke. "Who is she?"
Only then did the general manager notice that his boss’s gaze had landed on the employee seated at the piano. He instantly let out a sigh of relief and said, "The people from HR told her surna is Robinson. She’s a newly hired pianist. She looks good and plays well, eting our recruitnt standards, so we hired her."
Claud Laurence said nothing more, rely inclined his head slightly.
On the way toward the other elevator, Claud passed right by Alice Robinson, who was still playing the piano.
His eyes naturally fell on that beautiful face focused intently on the keys.
That face was breathtaking.
Alice wasn’t sure if she had sensed soone’s gaze. While playing, she lifted her eyes to glance ahead.
Unintentionally, her gaze collided with another.
Alice froze for a second. She rembered the manager had reminded her not to let her eyes wander while playing, to avoid making guests uncomfortable, so she quickly lowered her head, not even having ti to see the face of the person who had just t her eyes.
Her slight panic, however, fell squarely into Claud Laurence’s eyes.
For once, the corner of his mouth curved faintly as he stepped into the elevator.
At ten in the evening, Alice rose from the piano. She was just about to get off work when she inadvertently caught sight of, on the sofa not far directly in front of her, a man in an ink-black suit sitting there. He looked distinguished, emanating an aura of nobility.
A handso man always warrants a second glance from a woman; Alice was no exception.
She had only looked at him out of a basic instinctive attraction to the opposite sex, never expecting that his eyes would happen to be on her as well.
Alice was a little taken aback, because there was sothing vaguely familiar in the way this man was looking at her...
However, there weren’t that many handso and wealthy n in the world, but thanks to her privileged upbringing she had seen quite a few. So even though there was a sense of familiarity, she didn’t feel much curiosity toward this stranger. She calmly shifted her gaze away, picked up her bag, and headed to the office to clock out.
Yet, as she walked toward the ti clock room, a man in a black suit—who had just been standing behind that handso man and looked like his assistant or bodyguard—ca over to her.
"Miss Robinson, hello."
Alice’s steps halted. "Uh, hello."
The man said respectfully, "The gentleman sitting over there is my boss. He’s been listening to you play the piano... He said your playing is as beautiful as you are, and he wonders if he might have the honor of getting to know you."
"I’m sorry, it’s not convenient." Although the man did look remarkably outstanding, she had never been willing to accept this kind of approach.
The subordinate said nothing more, rely stepped aside politely to let Alice pass.
Alice didn’t spare Claud Laurence a single glance and walked straight toward the ti clock room.
As Alice headed for the ti clock room, the assistant walked back to Claud. "General Laurence."
Claud held a glass of red wine, his gaze resting coolly on Alice’s slender figure as she walked away.
"She turned down."
Claud responded with a soft "Mm," and said nothing.
The assistant asked, "Should I ask HR for her background information and phone number?"
Claud shook his head. "No need."
"Then..."
Claud took a sip of red wine and only said, "Xiaoyan, push back the inspection schedule. I want to stay here for a few nights."
"Yes, General Laurence." The secretary, who had been standing quietly behind Claud, nodded slightly.
At ten-thirty that night, Alice dragged her exhausted body back to the apartnt.
Aunt PA hadn’t gone to bed yet and had made her a sweet soup as a late-night snack.
Alice went into the room to take a look at the sleeping Rachel. Only after she felt reassured did she co out to drink the sweet soup.
Seeing how tired Alice looked as she drank, Aunt PA couldn’t help saying, "Miss, why don’t we move back to the main house..."
Alice’s hand, holding the bowl, paused for a mont. She didn’t look up, only said, "I don’t want to go back."
"Actually, Mr. Robinson rarely returns to the main house in a year. Even if he does, we can have Assistant Antony inform us in advance..."
Alice gently set the bowl down and said calmly to Aunt PA, "Aunt PA, moving out of the family ho wasn’t entirely about avoiding him... I want to find a job, to train myself, to learn how to stand on my own in this society, so that I’ll never have to rely on anyone again."
"But you really don’t need to work yourself this hard. Even thirty percent of the Robinson family assets would be enough to cover your expenses for life..."
Alice shook her head. "I can’t ask him for that money... If I did, the Robinson family would be completely divided. Unless things reach the most difficult point, I don’t want to see the family assets split up."
"Miss, I understand how you feel... but it hurts my heart to see you working so hard."
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