Half a month later, the plane sliced through the clouds and touched down at the airport.
Upon reaching the hotel, Emily freshened up and hailed a cab to the Scott Group.
She intended to engage in a thorough discussion with the head of the Scott Group regarding the previous project and, furthermore, to explore potential opportunities. After all, she was keen to avoid continuing as Derek's secretary if possible.
The car swiftly pulled up in front of the Scott Group, prompting Emily to touch up her makeup before confidently entering.
She made her way to the reception desk and inquired in a soft tone, "I'm here to discuss a business contract with Eric."
"May I ask if you have an appointment?" The receptionist began, but abruptly halted upon seeing Emily. Why did this woman seem so familiar?
Before the receptionist could ponder further, Eric approached and greeted, "Ms. Parker, you're here bright and early."
"Early bird catches the worm," Emily replied, stepping forward. She took the lead with Eric following closely, his demeanor respectful.
The receptionist was taken aback. Eric had been an integral part of Mr. Scott's team for over a decade, viewed by many as Mr. Scott's right-hand man. When representatives from other companies encountered Eric, they treated him with utmost deference.
Yet, here he was, showing deference to a woman. It was quite astonishing.
Eric escorted Emily straight to the top floor and ushered her into the lounge. "Ms. Parker, please have a seat while I fetch Mr. Scott."
As Emily settled into the comfortable surroundings, she took a sip of her coffee, finding it just to her liking.
Seated by the window, she watched as the city gradually came to life with the rising sun casting a golden hue across the skyline. The glass-clad skyscrapers gleamed in the sunlight, adorning the city with a majestic aura.
The door to the lounge clicked softly and creaked open. Emily placed her coffee cup down and stood up, offering a slight smile. "Mr. Scott, good morning."
Derek gazed at her silently. She sat by the window, the morning light accentuating her features. Stray strands of hair framed her face, with a couple playfully dancing around her lips. He felt a sudden urge to brush them away, but hesitated, fearing he might startle her.
"Ms. Parker, good morning," Derek finally spoke, taking a seat on the couch. "Let's discuss the new partnership."
Emily was inexplicably relieved.
Derek's eyes had just darkened for a split second as he stared at her face. She was genuinely concerned that he might do something to her again...
She sat down calmly opposite Derek. "This is the preliminary proposal, Mr. Scott. Please take a look at it."
Derek flipped through the proposal quickly, reading it in less than a few seconds.
His voice was light as he said, "Ms. Parker, you are indeed excellent. I'm satisfied that you've produced such a perfect proposal in just a few days."
Emily's eyebrows raised slightly. "May I ask, Mr. Scott, did you really finish reading the proposal ?"
Derek nodded bashfully. "Of course."
"And may I ask what programming language was used to write the simulation system for this scenario simulation?" Emily inquired with pursed lips.
Derek placed the file on the coffee table and leaned forward, his thin lips resembling knives, but his voice low and gentle. "Is this question important?"
As he spoke, his breath sprayed on Emily's face, making her face burning hot.
Emily stepped back, trying to maintain her composure. "Mr. Scott, you claimed satisfaction with the program without even knowing the basic programming language. Does that mean you're not fully committed to this project?"
Derek smirked. "The initial investment in the first phase of research and development for this project reached three billion dollars. Does that sound like lack of commitment to you?"
Emily pursed her lips.
"Ms. Parker, I've been quite obvious. Don't you understand?"
Emily was taken aback. "Obvious about what?"
Derek looked at her with humor in his eyes. "I'm pursuing you, Ms. Parker. Can't you feel it?"
Emily froze on the couch. Though she had suspected it for a while, she was still shocked to hear the words so plainly from him.
She opened her mouth, unable to utter a word. The air grew quiet, and she felt Derek leaning towards her slightly, his long, slender fingers brushing the hair hanging down by her ear. The atmosphere inexplicably warmed...
"Mr. Scott!" Emily stepped back again. "Please don't joke about this."
Derek leaned forward, his body tense with anticipation. His gaze fixated on the woman before him as he spoke in measured tones, "Since you've chosen to work with the Scott Group, I assume you've done your research on me, correct?"
Emily didn't deny it. "There have been reports about your divorce online. Can I ask if they're accurate?"
"You could say that," Derek's voice softened with emotion. "While we're not officially divorced, my wife and I have been separated for four years. What do you make of that?"
Emily didn't wish to pry into the affairs of others' relationships. She pursed her lips before continuing, "So, your daughter hasn't seen her mother in four years either?"
Derek met her gaze, momentarily at a loss for words. He struggled to articulate the complexities of his situation—the pain and the separation spanning four long years. But he couldn't bring himself to lie, not to Emily. Yet, revealing the truth seemed impossible at that moment.
As Emily locked eyes with Derek, she initially found his gaze intimidating, like cold steel. However, as she looked deeper, his eyes resembled a tranquil lake, hiding untold depths. They drew her in like magnets.
Slowly, Derek closed the distance between them, his slender fingers grazing her face. Emily's breath caught in her throat, her body tensing involuntarily. She attempted to push him away, but her efforts were feeble.
In the midst of her hesitation, Derek's lips met hers, his once cold touch igniting with fiery passion. His kisses, possessive and intense, left her gasping for air, her senses overwhelmed.
In the blink of an eye, the conversation had escalated into an unexpected intimacy.
Emily suddenly thought of his wife and his daughter. It hit Emily like a bucket of cold water, jolting her back to reality. In a swift motion, she kicked Derek in the stomach, breaking away from his grasp.
"Mr. Scott, control yourself!" Emily's voice was icy, her resolve unyielding. "I won't hesitate to file a sexual harassment complaint if this happens again."
With that, she stormed out of the break room, grappling with the sudden turn of events.
How had she allowed herself to be drawn into such a situation? Derek was a married man—a father.
She must have been crazy to let that man kiss her for so long...