At that mont, upon hearing what Cora just said, Oliver then give a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce both of you," he said, his tone casual but carrying the weight of soone who had just realized the tension in the air. Then, with a gesture of his hand, he pointed at the woman standing beside him. "This is Lisa, my secretary. She’s the one handling my company matters. Rember I told you about it? But it seems both of you haven’t had the chance to et each other properly just yet. Anyway, this is Lisa, my secretary."
The mont those words left his mouth, Cora eyes turned to face Lisa fully. Her eyes swept over her carefully, from head to toe, as if she were trying to read her entire story in a single glance. Lisa’s presence was striking. She had an elegance that was hard to ignore, her beauty wasn’t loud or desperate, but quiet, refined, and deliberate. Everything about her from the way she stood with her shoulders straight, to the soft confidence in her gaze spoke of soone who knew exactly who she was.
Cora felt a slight jolt in her chest. ’So this is his secretary?’ she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. Without needing anyone to explain, she could tell Lisa was extrely beautiful elegant in a way that made her look like she belonged in glossy magazines, not just behind a desk. And the realization hit her harder than she expected: Oliver would be seeing this face almost every single day. This stunning, graceful woman would be in his office, in his etings, close to him in ways Cora couldn’t quite define.
Her mind spun as she rembered all the tis Oliver had insisted to her that he didn’t have anybody in his life. That his heart was empty, waiting for the right one. Cora’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
’How can I believe that now, when he’s surrounded by soone like this every day?’
At that mont a strange mix of jealousy and disbelief swirled inside her. Her thoughts betrayed her as she struggled to keep her face neutral. She didn’t want Oliver to notice how unsettled she was.
So at that mont, she forced a small smile, one that barely reached her eyes, and said slowly, "Oh... so this is your secretary."
Oliver, oblivious to the storm inside her, nodded his head firmly. "Yes," he replied without hesitation. "Is there any issue with that?"
Imdiately, Cora shook her head quickly, her voice coming out faster than she intended. "No, no, no, no problem with it at all. I’m just surprised, though."
At that mont, before Oliver could even say anything, Lisa leaned forward slightly with a bright smile on her face and spoke directly to Cora. Her tone carried both respect and sincerity as she said,
"Miss Cora, it’s truly a pleasure eting you today for the very first ti. Honestly, I’ve heard so much about you from Mr.Oliver, my boss. He has spoken countless tis about how remarkable you are. And seeing you now, I must say, everything he described fits perfectly. Your beauty, your elegance... it’s even more than what I imagined. I feel very grateful to be eting you today."
Her words ca out smoothly, polite and flattering, but there was no hint of exaggeration. With a graceful gesture, she extended her right hand toward Cora, signaling a handshake.
Cora, though still slightly guarded, accepted it without hesitation. Their hands t in a firm yet refined grip. But as their palms parted, Cora’s eyes lingered on Lisa. She found herself studying every detail of her, the delicate features, the way she carried herself with quiet confidence, the elegance in her smile. Sothing about her presence unsettled Cora even more.
So this is the woman who works by Oliver’s side every day? she thought. The idea of Oliver being surrounded by such beauty daily felt almost unreal to her. No matter how much she tried to brush it off, there was a tug of disbelief inside her.
Breaking the silence, Cora forced a playful smile and said in a tone that was half curious, half teasing, "Well then, I only hope Oliver hasn’t been telling you too many bad things about . I really hope he hasn’t gone around spoiling my na and characters."
The mont the words left her mouth, Lisa burst out in a light, genuine laugh. She quickly shook her head and replied warmly, "Oh no, not at all. In fact, quite the opposite. Everything your boss has ever told about you has only been praise. He always described you as a strong, commanding, and dominant woman. And now that I’ve t you in person, I can see for myself that he was right."
Her eyes glowed with admiration as she added, "I’m truly grateful to know that such a powerful, dominant woman like you still exists. Honestly, it gives joy and hope. That is exactly why I’m so happy to et you today, Miss Cora."
At that mont, Lisa continued with a soft but determined smile, her voice carrying a mix of admiration and longing.
" I was hoping and praying that one day i would be as close to my boss, Mr.Oliver, just like you Miss.Cora always by his side, trusted, and valued." Her words sounded innocent, but they carried a weight that struck Cora deeply.
However Lisa words made Cora felt an unexpected tightness in her chest, sothing that made her heart sink. Then she forced a small, reluctant smile, though it barely reached her eyes. Outwardly, she managed to say that it all depended on Oliver, that Lisa just needed to work very, very hard, and perhaps, one day, she would get there. She said it kindly, even with encouragent, but inside her mind was a storm.
Inwardly, Cora was screaming, ’No. That is never going to be possible. I’ll make sure of it.’ Her thoughts raced with suspicion. She didn’t trust Lisa one bit. The idea of Lisa getting close to Oliver filled her with unease, a quiet fury that she masked behind her calm expression.
Lisa, seemingly unaware of the turmoil she had stirred, nodded her head respectfully. She bowed slightly to both Oliver and Cora, then said with a polite smile.
"I will be taking my leave now, since everything I had ca to do was already done." She added.
"I would give both of you privacy to yourself now." Without lingering another mont, she turned and walked out, her figure moving gracefully toward the exit.
But as Lisa left, Cora’s eyes followed her, unwilling to let go of her gaze. She watched every step, every movent, as though Lisa’s presence had left a shadow that clung to the room. She didn’t even realize how intently she was staring until Oliver’s voice cut through her thoughts.
"Why are you still staring at her like that?" Oliver asked, his tone casual but edged with curiosity. "Is sothing wrong? Are you suspecting anything, or what?"
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