"Emma, you must be exhausted from all your work. Don't you get enough rest at night? You don't seem yourself today. If you're not feeling well, you should take a break first, or it'll take a toll on your health."
Emilia Clark looked at Emma Johnson with concern written all over her face. Emma felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She gave Emilia a dry smile but said nothing. How could she possibly tell her that her current state was all because of what Liam had done to her last night? Though it wasn't as intense as before, her lower back still ached, and her body felt like it had been put through a wringer.
I can't let that man seduce me anymore. I always let him have his way without thinking, and the next day he's full of energy while I'm completely drained.
This is ridiculous.
Emma took a few well-prepared planning documents to the Strategic Planning Department. She had a meeting with them to discuss the specific implementation plan. Perhaps because of her status as the president's wife, no one raised any objections. They even showered her plan with praise.
Such a meeting, filled with flattery and empty words, left Emma feeling quite helpless.
During a break, Emma went to the restroom. Just as she was about to push the door open to leave, she heard two women talking about her.
"I heard from someone in the Strategic Planning Department that the president has given the launch of the Milan Fashion House winter collection to our president's wife this time. They say she used to be the editor-in-chief of a famous fashion magazine, but it's still no easy task to pull off a press conference like this."
A strange woman's voice.
"Exactly. I heard she's also in charge of the planning this time. The president really trusts her to hand over such an important event. Well, it's the advantage of being close to the boss. They also say she's got her cousin lined up as the image spokesperson for the press conference. There should be news about that in the next couple of days."
Another woman sighed.
"I don't know what the president is thinking. Remember how big that scandal was before? There were even photos. Sure, the blogger finally admitted to setting her up on purpose. But if she's really so innocent, why do rumors keep swirling around her?"
"So what if you have doubts? Our president dotes on his wife. I doubt he'd care even if she really was cheating. Who can blame him when she's so beautiful?"
"What do you think makes her so different from us? How did she become the CEO's wife and the winner in life?"
"It's just a different fate. Look at yourself in the mirror. If you had that kind of beauty, maybe the president would like you too."
The two women had gossiped enough. The sound of their high heels faded away outside. Emma waited until she was sure they were gone before finally pushing the door open and stepping out.
She walked to the sink and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was speechless.
If she had married Liam because of her beauty, then it would have been an easy marriage to get into. It was just a mutually beneficial contract marriage, one that would end sooner or later.
But no matter what they thought of her, Emma was determined to do a good job with this winter collection press conference. Otherwise, she was afraid there would be even more gossip in the company, and the comments would only get worse.
Who put her in this enviable position?
There was no other way.
Back in the meeting room, Emma continued the meeting with the Strategic Planning Department. She didn't let the comments she'd overheard in the restroom get to her.
During the meeting, everyone discussed the guest performers. Emma thought of a famous Italian band, the Aurora Band. The band was very popular in China and held a concert there at least once a year. If she could invite them to this press conference, it would add a lot of prestige to the winter collection event.
Everyone thought it was a great idea, but it was a famous band after all. They were afraid it wouldn't be easy to get them.
Emma had already thought of that. So this time, she planned to go to Italy herself to invite the band.
When she returned to Liam's office, Emma told him about her idea. To her surprise, Liam didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked at her with a thoughtful expression, as if he were trying to see into her heart.
This confused Emma.
"You're going to Italy yourself?"
Liam finally spoke slowly. Emma nodded firmly.
"In just four days, I can convince them to come and perform."
Emma assured Liam.
She didn't know what Liam was thinking. For a moment, his eyes even turned cold, like the ice and snow of the Arctic, brewing a storm that was about to break. But it disappeared quickly, making Emma feel like what she had seen was just an illusion.
"Alright. I'll book a flight to Italy for tomorrow morning."
Liam finally nodded to Emma. As Emma turned around to make him some coffee, Liam's eyes followed her. He wondered how the world could have such a coincidence, or if Emma was just too good an actress. He had just received news this morning that Elijah Clark would be taking Mayor Vincent Reed to Italy to have an operation done by his mentor. Of course, that was just the official story.
The real news, intercepted by the organization, was that Elijah's return to Italy this time was to sign an arms trade contract as a representative of the Black Feather criminal group. To get this information, he had even sacrificed an undercover member of the organization. The organization had also sent people to sabotage their arms contract this time, in order to prevent a terrorist attack.
But he never expected that Emma would propose going to Italy at this very moment. He was afraid she was planning to meet Elijah in secret.
A myriad of complicated thoughts ran through Liam's mind. For the sake of national security, he called Alexander Wilson and asked him to go to Italy to keep an eye on Emma at all times.
"If you find that Emma might appear with Elijah at the scene of the arms contract signing, I don't care what means you use, stop her from appearing."
Liam ordered Alexander on the phone.
"I understand, Captain. I'll keep a close watch."
Alexander used his old title of respect for Liam on the phone and assured him seriously. Even after he hung up the phone, Liam still found it hard to calm down.