A Heaven-sent Sweet Child Falls Asking for Hugs-Chapter 23: Ninth Uncle, I Want One of Your Secretaries
On her first day as the president’s new assistant, Vivian Quincy was stared at like an animal in a zoo. It was mortifying, but she put up with it to avoid being harassed by her demonic boss.
Her new colleagues in the department apparently couldn’t take it anymore. One whispered, "It’s not even that cold today. Has she never worked in an office before?"
Another replied, "How should I know? Looks like she hasn’t. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be dressed so dowdily."
"I never thought the president was into this type. I guess it just proves she must be really capable, or he wouldn’t have made her his assistant. Still, that outfit is really... something else."
The Secretary-General also felt Vivian Quincy’s attire was hurting the department’s professional image. He walked up to her and said, "During your lunch break, go to the finance department and pick up two uniforms. From now on, you’ll wear the company-issued attire to work."
"Okay," Vivian Quincy replied with an obedient nod.
The Secretary-General handed her a stack of documents. "Organize these and deliver them to the president’s office when he returns from his meeting."
"Okay." Vivian Quincy was very agreeable. When she saw Jasper Ford and Caden Chandler emerge from the conference room, she quickly organized the files and hurried to deliver them while Caden was still present.
Jasper Ford’s gaze was immediately drawn to Vivian Quincy’s attire. He rested his chin on his hands, sizing her up with amusement before saying to Caden Chandler, "You can leave. Close the door on your way out."
A bad feeling washed over Vivian Quincy. After setting down the documents, she said nothing, trying her best to be invisible as she discreetly tried to follow Caden out the door.
"Stop," Jasper Ford’s voice was cold.
Vivian pretended not to hear and quickened her pace. But Caden, who was ahead of her, turned back. "The president told you to stop." Then, he stepped out and shut the office door with a decisive CLICK!
"Come here," Jasper Ford commanded.
Vivian froze, caught between staying put and obeying. His sharp gaze made her so uncomfortable that she had no choice but to brace herself and walk over. "Is there anything else you need, President?"
Jasper Ford didn’t speak, his sharp eyes raking over her outfit with a smirk. "Nice fashion sense."
"Thank you for the compliment, President," Vivian replied evenly, though her defiant expression showed she was anything but pleased. She wasn’t an idiot; she knew he was mocking her.
The man leaned back in his chair with a devilish smirk. ’How have I never noticed how interesting this woman is?’ With a pale hand, he patted the empty space beside him, beckoning her closer.
Vivian Quincy didn’t move from her spot.
A flicker of displeasure crossed Jasper’s handsome face, and the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
Vivian was so frightened she hardly dared to breathe. ’A boss like this is terrifying!’ Biting her lip, she forced herself to take two difficult steps forward, her voice trembling. "President, this is an office. Please, show some decorum!"
The man paid her no mind, instead hooking a finger under her sleeve. Startled, Vivian instinctively tried to back away, her heart leaping into her throat.
"Where on earth did you dig up an outfit this ugly?" he scoffed.
Vivian’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She then heard the man chuckle. "You’re the first person in this company to achieve this level of ugliness."
He smoothly retracted his hand and commanded, "Change out of it."
"Change?" Vivian stared at him, bewildered.
Jasper Ford retorted, "What? Are you waiting for me to help you? Didn’t the company issue you a uniform? Who are you trying to blind by wearing something so hideous to work? Even the cleaning staff dresses better than you."
Vivian Quincy was left speechless.
Her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. The outfit she wore today was, admittedly, a bit ugly. Everyone had laughed at her when she came into the office. ’But I had a good reason for dressing like this!’
Afraid of angering Jasper, Vivian quickly took off the "unbeatably ugly" jacket that violated company dress code. Jasper’s eyes remained cold, clearly unsatisfied. Vivian then took off another layer, which was also ugly. He was still not pleased. Finally, she had stripped down to a single, tight-fitting white base layer.
Vivian noticed the change in Jasper’s gaze and hastily grabbed a folder, clutching it to her chest.
Jasper paused at the sight, taking a few seconds to process it. He put down his fountain pen and asked with renewed interest, "Playing hard to get?"
"I’m not," Vivian said, shaking her head.
Jasper stated coldly, "If I wanted to do something, it wouldn’t matter how many layers you’re wearing."
Vivian silently cursed him in her head. ’Demon!’
Jasper suddenly gripped her chin. "Were you cursing me?"
"No, absolutely not!" Vivian shook her head frantically, terrified. ’Is he even human? How could he tell?!’
"Now get out and do your job. And don’t even think about leaving the company premises during work hours without my permission," he warned.
Vivian nodded again and again. Escaping the president’s office felt like being reborn. She went to find the Secretary-General to complete her orientation.
Just before lunch, Hayden Kaye sent her a text, but Vivian didn’t reply. When the workday ended, Hayden went directly to the Imperium Group’s warehouse to wait for her. It was only then that he learned she had been transferred to another department. The warehouse supervisor didn’t know where she’d gone, so Hayden went to find Caden Chandler to ask.
Caden didn’t dare tell him the truth, so he simply claimed not to know.
Hayden didn’t believe him. "If you don’t tell me, I’ll go find Ninth Uncle. I’ll be sure to tell him you were being uncooperative."
Caden wanted to cry but had no tears to shed. He forced a smile. "It’s no use going to the president. Master Kaye, if you have the time, perhaps you should be at home helping your father with his business."
But Hayden, who never gave up until he got what he wanted, refused to leave. He searched through nearly the entire Imperium Group building but couldn’t find Vivian. He started to panic, terrified she would leave him without a word, just like she had six years ago. In his fear, he went straight to the 77th floor to find Jasper Ford, only to unexpectedly find Vivian there!
Vivian was astonished to see Hayden and shot up from her seat.
Hayden’s brow furrowed. Without asking a single question, he walked straight into Jasper Ford’s office and closed the door behind him.
"Ninth Uncle!" he exclaimed.
Jasper looked up from his work. "Is there something you need?"
Hayden glanced out the window, his expression complex. From this angle, he had a clear view of Vivian’s desk. He didn’t understand why Caden had lied to him, but his gut told him that his Ninth Uncle might know something.
’If Ninth Uncle finds out about Vivian’s past, he’ll never let me be with her!’
"I’ve come to ask you for one of your people, Ninth Uncle." Hayden, who had only come to find Vivian, suddenly changed his approach.
Jasper’s expression darkened slightly. He set down the file in his hand. "Who do you want?"
Hayden mustered his courage. "One of your secretaries."
"You can have Caden. Is he enough?" Jasper shot back.
Caden, who was standing nearby to hand over a file, flinched.
Hayden shook his head and pointed to Vivian outside the office. "I want her."
The single sentence plunged the already quiet office into absolute silence. Jasper stopped what he was doing, his deep, indolent eyes lazily following the direction Hayden was pointing. "Pick someone else," he said.
"Ninth Uncle, she’s the one I want," Hayden insisted, his tone firm.
Jasper’s fingers tapped a slow, deliberate rhythm on the desk. His voice was laced with a cool amusement. "No."
"Why not? You have so many people here, Ninth Uncle. Why won’t you spare me a single secretary? What’s so special about her? Why are you so determined to keep her?" Hayden demanded.
