A Graduation Gift

As darkness fell outside, a wisp of white smoke floated upward beside a french window in the presidential suite.
"I want her reputation ruined to the extent that the Tang family has to get rid of her. Understand?"
A woman in a wine-red robe was talking on the phone, exhaling smoke with her fluttering full red lips. Her curvy figure was
silhouetted by the dark light and the white smoke.
She was the one who chatted excitedly with Lionel in the office during the day. In G City, their relationship was known to all.
Everyone knew she was Lionel's girlfriend, Ivy.
Ivy hung up the phone, and the cigarette was still burning between her tapering fingers. She stared into the distance fixedly, and
her full red lips curled in an evil grin.
The sound of running water in the bathroom suddenly stopped. The beauty stubbed out her cigarette and twirled around with a
charming smile dancing on her pretty face.
The man walking out of the bathroom only wore a towel covering the lower part of his body. Lionel shook the drops of water that
clung to his hair. The air was thick with cigarette smoke which made him frown.
Lionel walked to the woman. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and whispered, "Ivy, please...quit smoking."
Ivy gave a snort and avoided Lionel's kiss.
"Why do you still come to me when your dear wife has come back?"
Ivy asked, green with jealousy. She would never forget Lionel's words from earlier: "She is my wife!"
"Are you jealous?" I just did that to warn Rufus. No one can take my woman even if I am not interested in her. You are the only
one I love. You know that,"
Lionel chuckled.
"It's surprising that your father gave that bastard so much control in the company,"
Ivy squinted her eyes as she mentioned Rufus.
"The situation is only temporary. The whole Tang Group belongs to me. My father is not a risk-taker,"

Lionel scoffed. He seemed confident of his prediction as if he knew some classified information.
Lionel's words reassured Ivy and her face relaxed. As long as Lionel didn't lose everything, her life of opulence would be
guaranteed.
"It's a beautiful night. We must not let those annoying things ruin it. Ivy, I love you..."
The next morning, at the conference room of Tang Group
"Cassandra is responsible for our new design project. I want every sector to assist her whenever she is in need,"
sitting in the centre of the conference table, Rufus ordered in a low voice with his eyes sluggishly scoured the room.
The managers of the Tang Group were shocked. It was too risky to leave a new entrant such a vital case.
Even Cassandra herself was surprised by his decision. Lionel objected before Cassandra could speak.
"Cassandra is a green hand. I don't think it's a good idea to have her in charge of such an important case. What if she screws it
up?"
It was Cassandra again. Lionel was sure there must be something going on between Rufus and her.
He defended Cassandra in personal matters and now he did the same when it came to office matters.
"Firstly, even though Cassandra had just joined the company, she is the Manager of the Architectural Design Department. I have
learnt that her works had won numerous international awards. She is definitely capable of handling the case. Any objection? Or
can anyone suggest a better candidate?"
His low and deep voice echoed across the room with his bitter mouth outlining the shadow of a smile. There was silence, and no
one said anything.
"Thank you, president, for giving me this chance. I will do my best,"
Cassandra announced to the silent room. She stood up and made a deep bow.
"I will appreciate all your assistance."

Her perfect confidence and courtesy proved how well-educated she was and left no space for anyone to object the decision.
Lionel gave Cassandra a look of contempt. 'What an arrogant woman!' Lionel thought to himself.
"Now that no one objects, I guess it's been finalised. That's all for today."
The pen swirling between his fingers stopped, he stood up and strode to the door. His assistant followed him immediately.
Cassandra packed her stuff with a joyful smile. She had been interested in the case but didn't try for it, since she had just joined
the company and felt it would be hard to win everyone's confidence.
She didn't expect Rufus would assign her the case at all, which could be a good chance for her to prove herself. Cassandra
didn't want to show off. What she wanted was just an opportunity to shine.
"I see you are pretty happy. Is it because you got the case or because Rufus favours you so much?"
Lionel scoffed as Cassandra was getting up to leave with her things.