Sweet Love

Yusef realizes Macy has been standing aside until he finishes the documents. He closes the folder and asks, "Have you met Miss Sue?"

It must be Yolanda Sue.

"We just met in the pantry" Macy answers honestly.

"She is in charge of assigning daily tasks for you. You are directly at my disposal. You later go and ask her for my schedule and come to a meeting with me. I'm going to talk about the South Sea Project with the managerial board. You will be responsible of taking the meeting moments."

"Alright."

Macy answers. Yusef grabs his suit and covers himself upon standing up. He walks out of the office.

Macy follows. But Yusef stops at the doorway suddenly. Macy doesn't react timely and bumps into Yusef's back.

"Sorry! Mr. Penn!"

Macy apologizes before she can have the chance to rub her forehead.

Yusef stares at her for a few seconds and touches her chin.

Macy gets nervous but she has to look at Yusef's deep bright eyes. She can't see his emotions.

"Macy Downey, remember. A good secretary doesn't only have one expression."

"I got it."

She certainly has no experience working as a secretary. To be more specific, she has worked at the Downey's after graduation. She is not good at business area and doesn't have other working experience. "At least, you have to smile at me." Yusef suddenly pinches her cheeks.

Macy doesn't know what to do. That man loosens his fingers and turns over to open the door.

Walking behind him, Macy thinks about what he said and practices smiling.

In the conference room, people have sat by the oval meeting table to its full. Only the position in the front middle is left.

All the presented staffs today are the managerial staff. Eliot is among them. He skims through the proposal for the South Sea Project, feeling a bit depressed.

Ever since he has met Macy Downey this morning, she has been lingering in his mind. He feels angry every time he thinks Yusef let her work at the Penn's.

The door to the conference room is opened; Yusef walks in with an aura of elite. All the people straighten their upper body and stop discussion upon his arrival.

Eliot has a glimpse at him. At the moment when he is about to withdraw his gaze, he accidentally finds a slender figure in his sight.

He turns his head and sees Yusef and Macy walking together inside. She is holding a note taking pad, and looks like a professional secretary.

He frowns and looks at the woman over and over again.

Is she working for Yusef as a secretary? He suddenly recalls the hickey on her neck at the villa.

Did Yusef asked her to work here, to make those sexual things "easier"?

Eliot can't control his rage and tabs his hands on the table and makes a loud "Bang!”" sound. People all look at him.

Yusef looks up at Eliot lightly as if he hadn't heard anything and sits on the empty chair.

Macy sees a chair by the wall on the side. It is in an appropriate distance from the meeting table, which allows her to hear what people say during the meeting and not to affect others. Macy takes the seat and turns her pad on.

Yusef presses the button on the microphone and says collectively, "We're having the meeting today to have a discussion about the South Sea developing project. I have discussed with Eliot in person that I am taking over this project. I'm here to announce you the news and hope to hear the suggestions from you."

Eliot rages before Yusef can finish. He says ironically, "Mr. Penn, I have some doubts if you can accomplish this project."

Making this statement in public is an open challenge to Yusef's competence. They have already settled the bet at the villa but apparently Eliot has changed his idea.

Yusef's back becomes straighter. His gaze is powerful and sharp and it lands on Eliot. He says solemnly, "Eliot, as you say so, can I see it as a surrender[“

Eliot despises and looks at Macy, sneering, "The decision-making abilities of Mr. Penn are diminishing compared to before. You even change your secretary. I want to ask what's the talent of this Miss Downey? How can she work here by being selected by you directly?"

Upon saying it, Eliot stands up and leans his weight on his arms on the table. He glares at Macy and says without mercy, "From my perspective, the Missy Macy Downey form the fallen Downey family has no competence other than her pretty face."

He looks at Yusef implying him to answer the question.

Eliot reveals Macy's history in front of so many people and that is insulting. He deliberately insults Macy in public.

However Macy can be tolerant to this situation, she blushes. She can't say a word but biting her lips.

Yusef purses his lips and his face darkens. "Eliot Penn, I don't have to get your permission to let someone work for me."

He refers to Eliot by 'Eliot Penn', meaning Yusef is short in patience.

Eliot feels nothing but anger. He doesn't see the emotion of Yusef. He goes on being sarcastic, "Mr. Penn, you are the one who understands the rule of the Penn's better than others. Our company is strongly opposed to connecting business with personal relationships. If you do so, how will all the colleagues of the company do? If someone like her who with no degrees and experience in business can be a CEO secretary, what will our company like in the future?"

Eliot almost stamps Macy into nothing but it is not enough for him, he goes on, "If you hire such a person in the company, I mean the South Sea Project can be at risk!"

"Enough!"

Yusef raises his voice and glares at Eliot sharply.

Seeing the rage of Yusef, Eliot then shuts his mouth.

"It is my idea and it's related to business, I don't have to get your approval."

Nobody dares to say a word after Yusef said so. After a while, Manager Chan from the project department says, "Mr. Penn, I think Mr. Eliot Penn has his point. If we hire people without examining their abilities, it will be difficult to persuade our colleagues into collaborating with them. If Miss Downey can show her abilities of making profits for the company, we will be happy to work with her."

Manager Chan is known to all as a yes-man. His suggestion is not offending either side.

He looks at Macy and proposes, "Shall we give Miss Downey an opportunity to prove herself? I think we all will be happy to see how good she is."00000