"Immediately prepare the data of all office employees with contracts that are about to expire at the end of this year, Joana. The data should be ready by the time I get to the office, probably in an hour due to the situation outside. Thank you." Oriaga put his phone back after ending the call.The three were in the car, still halfway to the mansion. As Zayn was driving was deliberately slowed down to keep up with the clearing of the surrounding snow piles.Zayn deliberately set the music to make the atmosphere in the car less quiet because since the pair of humans sat in the passenger seat, they were united in silence as if there was a cold war."Sir. Do we have to return home after taking Miss Amanda to the mansion?" Zayn asked as he glanced at the overhead mirrors, confirming the situation behind him."No, no. It's too time-consuming. I have a few changes of clothes in the office.""Alright.""Do you want to buy anything before arriving at the mansion?"The question had not been rea
"Amanda, I'll take you home." Jeff still tried even though the blue-eyed woman still refused."I'm fine, and it's just a mild hangover. I can still drive. Stay here, Jeff. If you leave your birthday party, what about everyone else? They want to have fun with you." Amanda hoped Jeff would understand her wishes.They stood in the corner of the ballroom. Renting a large room at a famous hotel in the city for his birthday was no hardship, as Jeff was born the only son of a wealthy man and was poised to inherit the family business."But—""Jeff, calm down. I'll call you when I get home."The man grunted; he looked disappointed, but there wasn't much he could do. "I have to give in?""Of course, I appreciate you. So, stay here. I'm fine." Amanda smiled. She touched Jeff's arm, the smell of alcohol wafting from her lips. "I'm going home now. Have fun."Amanda left the man and went out the door guarded by two burly men, and Jeff was undoubtedly annoyed. His attempt failed again.Jeff liked Am
This luxurious mansion in the northern corner of the city is one of the best mansions with a view of nature that is a feast for the eyes. Standing on the edge of a cliff and looking out at the blue ocean or walking along the coastline, waiting for the sun to set in the evening, is the highlight.Oriaga Niel has owned the three-story mansion for the past three years, but she rarely visits the estate in the north if she doesn't need peace.After an hour and a half of Oriaga driving his car alone without a personal driver or bodyguard, he had called someone. He ordered them to delete the CCTV footage of the area around the elevator and basement at the time the man had mentioned.Oriaga did not want to look like a 'perpetrator' if Amanda had lost the effects of her hangover. Oriaga realized that his current actions could cause problems that disrupted his business.While the woman didn't say much, Amanda was trapped by a problematic situation. She had intended to call her family, but Oriag
"You kidnapped someone, sir?" Zayn had never been one to limit his words, and he had been Oriaga's confidant for a long time. The man came to the mansion at midnight after taking care of the CCTV at the hotel, as Oriaga had ordered earlier.Oriaga thought for a moment, then shook his head. He wanted to deny it. "I don't think so, but you have other duties.""Tell me."Oriaga threw away the cigarette butt and stepped on it, and they were standing in the courtyard of the mansion or right next to the man's car. He held out a car key to Zayn."What do you mean?""Bring that woman's car here. I don't know where she parked it. You can do it yourself, or if you find it difficult, then take Dean with you."Zayn nodded, and he accepted the car keys. "You cleared the name, and I had seen the CCTV footage, so I asked about kidnapping.""I've known her for a long time.""Ah, alright. I'm leaving now, sir." Zayn hurriedly entered his vehicle before leaving the place, while Oriaga chose to sit on t
"Ah, so the family business went downhill seven years ago. A karma that is hard to avoid." Oriaga smiled wryly, and he sat on the sofa and raised a pair of legs on the table, a laptop on his lap.He had ordered someone to look up the details of Amanda Claire Griscouv, a brunette with bluish irises in her eyes.Oriaga was still in Paris after attending a Fashion Week as the CEO of the fashion and jewelry brand 'Gregorious,' a brand Oriaga co-owned with her grandmother that went global four years ago, competing with other big brands."She wanted to be a clothing designer but instead worked as a secretary in a medium-sized company. Can't her parents afford to pay for their daughter's education to become a designer?" Oriaga chuckled. She was busy, assuming.Amanda was no stranger to Oriaga's life, and they had been close friends while studying at the same university in London. However, Amanda's family's attitude towards Oriaga was quite painful. The man received too many insults and press
"Thank you for accepting me as a guest at your place. Sorry for disturbing your rest, Mr. Oriaga." Elia left after observing Oriaga for a while. The man was silent primarily and turned his attention to the laptop screen.Oriaga felt grateful for having a laptop beside him, and he was tired of responding to the model for discussing something less attractive."No problem, my time is tight." Oriaga escorted Elia to the main door."Ah, yes. I have a contract with a fashion magazine in Amsterdam. It would be great to visit there, and you can accept an invitation to dinner with me.""Really? When are you coming to Amsterdam?""In two months." Elia smiled. She walked out after Oriaga opened the door. "I'll go now." She looked at the left side and found someone installing a camera at the end of the hallway, then looked back at Oriaga. "Eum, I wanted to say goodbye beforehand.""What does that mean?"Suddenly, Elia pulled Oriaga's hand and hugged him. The camera managed to get a picture of the
"Amanda. I heard from Samantha that you tried to sell your car on a trading site. Is that true?" Jeff suddenly appeared in front of Amanda's desk, surprising the woman. She blinked before erasing the tension in her."It is.""Why do you want to sell it?" Jeff was curious.Amanda was still working; she had several reports to complete to the CEO, and Jeff's appearance at this hour was disturbing.However, of course, Amanda couldn't do anything more. She was dealing with the company's owner, so even though Jeff acted out of line, Amanda tried to keep her attitude.The woman got up and looked around. Everyone was busy behind their cubicles, while Jeff seemed to disregard the situation. The CEO's office was right across from Amanda's cubicle."Because I want to sell it." She sat back down with a flat expression."You need money?""Everyone needs money. Am I wrong?" Amanda was starting to get fed up with Jeff's questions."No, I mean, you need it because of an emergency?""We can talk about
"How about it, Amanda? Would you allow me to buy your car?" Jeff was still curious and kept pressing Amanda, and he came back to her after his work was done.Amanda was silent as she looked down, exhaling as she glanced at the car beside her. It was still a handy vehicle, but Amanda's family's economic hardship was getting increasingly urgent, so giving up something when she had earned it with her sweat—would be pretty tricky."How?" Jeff asked again.Amanda looked at him. "I'll think about it some more, Jeff. Maybe tomorrow I'll give you a decision. Now I have to go home.""Alright, I'm waiting for your answer."The woman nodded, and she quickly disappeared behind the car door. She had time to wave before driving the car from the office basement.***Oriaga had just arrived home after visiting one of the 'Gregorious' boutiques in the corner of the city to check on the progress of the launch of several new dresses since last month. He always wanted to be the first to see the progress