Since Harry's arrival, SL Group's business in A Country was seeing significant growth in all aspects, which earned the admiration of the staff.
Twenty minutes later, the meeting was over and Lola irritably sat alone in the conference room.
After a while, she slowly calmed down. "Whatever!" she thought. "Come what may, I am not afraid!"
She gathered up the folders on the table and walked out.
When she was just out of the door, she saw Harry holding the arm of Julie, who seemed to have sprained her ankle in high heels.
She sneered upon seeing them. One who had watched a soap opera would know that this woman was very likely intentional.
Pretending not to see the two people, Lola went straight past them.
She overheard Julie's coquettish voice. "Boss Si, my foot really hurts..."
Lola smiled with sarcasm, which was noticed by Harry.
"Lola, send Miss Tan to the hospital." With that, he shoved Julie into Lola's arms.
Being bumped into, Lola took a step back. The two women clung to each other, frozen in shock.
Looking at Harry, who was ready to leave, Lola took Julie's wrist and walked a few steps to stop the man.
Glaring into his cold eyes, Lola pulled Julie forward and pushed her back into his arms.
"Boss Si, I would rather let you be the hero!" Julie threw her arms around the man's waist as if she would fall down.
"He is awesome!" thought Julie, "He could make a good bedmate! But the bite on his lips is so obvious!"
As a strong smell of perfume assailed Harry's nostrils, he was annoyed. "Lola! Stop there!"
"Why do I have to listen to you?" Lola thought. She trotted to the elevator and pressed the button without hesitation.
Seeing that Lola went away and Harry wore a ghastly expression, Julie quickly stood to her feet. "My ankle seems to be okay. Boss Si, I will not bother you!"
Years of business experience had molded her a shrewd business women who knew her way around people. It was an essential skill.
Holding the folder, Julie also hastened to leave.
Clenching his fists in pants pockets, Harry wondered whether he had shown too much mercy to Lola.
In less than ten minutes, the fact that Harry had bite mark on his lips swept through the company.
Of course, the question of who did it had become the focus of intense discussion.
After Lola returned to her office, she patted on her chest to ease her racing heartbeat, thinking that she had definitely pissed Harry off again just now.
She had to stay away from him for the next few days.
Lola took a look at the clock and was ready to get off work. Thinking of the call from Thomas yesterday, she dropped her work ahead of time.
When she just picked up her stuff, her phone rang—it was Thomas.
"I'm off work now, ready to go. Where are you?" She grabbed her handbag, carried it over her shoulder, and turned off all the lights.
She walked down the hallway to the elevator. When she saw Leo was still working, she waved goodbye to him.
Leo nodded and he was almost off work!
Lola put her cell phone into her handbag and walked towards the roadside. She walked faster when she saw the limo and the license plate number Thomas had told her.
The chauffeur had already got out of the car and respectfully opened the rear door.
"Thank you!" Lola said politely, and stepped into the lengthened Lincoln. Thomas could not hide his delight upon seeing Lola.
"What do you want to have for dinner?" His warm voice sounded around Lola.
Lola smiled at him. "Anything will do."
Thomas returned Lola's bright smile and said to the chauffeur, "Make a reservation at Xanadu Cafe."
The chauffeur nodded and made a phone call to Xanadu Cafe.
"How is your work in here?" Looking at the little woman by his side, Thomas was beside himself with joy.
"Well, couldn't be better. I have come to A Country for more than three years." She answered him, while a figure with a cold face arose in her mind.
Thomas lamented the fleeting time. "In the blink of an eye, we have known each other for over four years. How time flies!" He thought of the first time he saw her—on a hot summer day, when she was wearing a big red down jacket. Even so, she had a radiant and innocent smile on her face at the time.
Now, she had become more mature, elegant and calm.
No matter how Lola changed, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Yeah. A couple of days ago, I saw you in the news, visiting quite a lot of countries. Flying here and there every day, you must be tired, uh?" As the president, Thomas was a focus in daily news. And basically, Lola saw him on the screen.
Thomas took a deep look at Lola, who turned her head away after they gaze met.
"I won't be so tired if you could accompany me wherever I go."
Hearing his sudden confession, Lola was at a loss. She gave him a blank look. "President Herren..."
"Don't call me president. You can call me by my name."
It was very quiet inside of the limo. The chauffeur kept his mind on driving, pretending to have heard nothing from the back seat.
Lola felt a little embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "Are we going to a tea house?" Xanadu Café, what an elegant name.
Hearing her words, Thomas reluctantly tore his gaze away, with a bitter smile.
"Sort of. It's a hybrid of tea and meals." Thomas knew that, in all probability, Harry had come to A Country because of her.
About ten minutes later, the limo slowly stopped in a parking lot and the two people got out of the car.
At Xanadu Café.
A pearwood signboard on the bamboo door read: Xanadu Café.
The greeter, who was dressed in a green cheongsam, welcomed them with respect the moment she saw Thomas.
Then she walked them to the courtyard along the cobblestone path. On both sides were two big glass houses that were filled with green plants and tea.
At the end of the glass houses was a stone arch bridge decorated with retro lanterns. Below the bridge was a meandering stream.
The bridge was adjacent to a two-story retro building, next to which were countless cabins.
The greeter led them to an innermost cabin named "Plum Blossom." She opened the door and they walked in, one after the other.
On the shelf at the doorway were all kinds of bone china ornaments with plum blossom elements as well as various famous teas.
Inside was a long stone table with plum blossom patterns. Several sets of tableware were neatly arranged there.
Next to the dinning table was a smaller stone table, on which there were a verawood tea tray and Jingdezhen porcelain cups with plum blossom patterns.