The Devil's Secretary

Chapter 158: Flowers

’’He is my cousin but he has never treated me anything less than his biological sister.’’ freewёbnoνel.com

Daisy nodded, ’’Must be. Apologies for my oversight. I just don’t know a lot.’’

Bah!

It would have been good if she did not speak. Secretary Han thought. Because now that she spoke, aren’t her words like confirmation that she had no idea about this person’s existence?

You are like my father’s sister? How come I don’t know my Aunt?

Caleb nodded at Daisy, pleased, and continued to observe everything as he leaned back on his chair.

Chen Lina took a deep breath to calm herself and within a moment, all her agitation disappeared when she spoke up again, ’’I have been very worried about the constant drop in stocks. It’s unbearable for me...’’

’Pak’

Secretary Chen, under Daisy’s motion, placed a tablet on the table for everyone to see.

’’It’s been over an hour since President ordered me to release this article, personally drafted by the company’s PR under her guidance and the stocks have stopped dropping soon after. If not rising, they are currently not doing bad either compared to the constant drop earlier,’’ he explained.

Everyone was so focused on the meeting and the shock that Daisy would be taking over her father’s position that they had not kept records of the recent updates regarding the situation. They quickly checked the situation before they spoke up again.

’’But there are other pending decisions as well. Many investors have pulled out their investments and President Chen has started several new projects. Without the funds, it would only be a loss to continue with them. It’s our unanimous thought...’’

’’The decision is yet to be taken for you all to express your unanimous thoughts on it,’’ Daisy interrupted the person who spoke.

Seeing how she had explained her circumstances initially, most of the people present in the meeting room thought that she was a sensible person and just a young girl who could be negotiated with. But her words just now established her authority yet again.

Some people were skeptical and wanted to see her way of working but some were displeased at her audacity, ’’Are you disrespecting us, Miss Chen? Even though your father has left his shares to you but don’t forget that our decision also counts. We also hold a certain percentage of shares, that, god forbid, if misused, can cause blunders in the company,’’ one of the directors stood up.

Daisy looked at him calmly, ’’Chen Corporations is not a sand castle that can come crumbling overnight. If you do, god forbid, misuse the shares in your hands then that will be a stain to your reputation only,’’ she trailed off slowly before continuing in the same tone that the man had adopted, ’’Then god forbid, no other company might want to hire you as an ordinary employee, let alone let you be a director after you breached trust with one of the greatest and prestigious international conglomerates.’’

’’Are you threatening me?" the man frowned under her cold gaze.

’’A threat? That was just my opinion. Rest is unto you,’’ Daisy leaned back on the chair, ’’For now, the entire focus should be on minimizing the losses and eliminating the negative news that is circulating. The meeting ends here. ’’

Daisy’s tone left no room for negotiations. Although many people had their opinions, but this time they were not as impulsive. Most of them decided to sit back and observe instead because they could see that the image that they had formed of their new CEO was inaccurate to many.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door before a man stepped inside and whispered something to Secretary Han.

Secretary Han nodded and soon the two people entered the meeting room with two bouquets in their hands, one big and one small.

Daisy had just placed little Angel down because the girl had gotten chaotic on her lap and at this moment, the little girl was wandering around the round table, seemingly observing everyone. And although the people in obvious conflicts with Daisy but they cannot help but be warm towards the little girl, especially the older directors. The only people who were sitting unmoved with an aloof face were Chen Lina, the Vice President, and a few other people whom Daisy shot down with her words.

And Secretary Han followed the little girl quietly while peeking at the delivery man who placed the two bouquets in front of Daisy and took her sign before leaving. Just like him, the rest of the people were also taking double peeks. One bouquet was so tall that it completely covered Daisy from everyone’s view. It was a huge bouquet filled with beautiful tulips of every color and in the middle of it, there was a lone pink camellia.

And the other one was a small, minuscule one. There were a few sunflowers but the main attractions were the strawberries in the middle. But they did not look like real strawberries only. With keen observation, one could see that those were more like mini cakes and strawberry-flavored chocolates along with the fruit too. There were variations.

The people could not help but look at each other. It seems that their CEO had a man who was considerate of her to this extent. Didn’t they say that she had a bad reputation and she was involved in illicit affairs before her marriage? It obviously seemed to them that she was just in a relationship.

Daisy was clueless about the thoughts of others. Since her face was hidden behind the flowers, nobody could see a faint redness that had crept onto her cheeks. If they had seen her face at that moment, their newly built perception of her would have changed in no time because Daisy resembled nothing less than a teenage girl who had received flowers from her lover.

But everyone’s doubts regarding Daisy’s relationship were confirmed when Angel ran back to her mother with her short legs the moment she spotted the bouquets, ’’Mommy.. nom nom... shawberries... Raeeeel...’’

They could not understand what she was saying but it was obvious that the little bouquet was customized for the little girl so the person who did it must be close to both the mother and daughter. They felt like they had been blindsided before. Rumours were after all rumours. Why would the elder daughter of Helian Chen need to land herself in illicit affairs?

’’I have a lot of things to attend to so I will take my leave. But I will see you soon, Daisy,’’ It was Vice President Chen Lina who got up to her feet first and left after saying those words to Daisy who did not bother showing her face from behind the bouquets, her face turning darker.

Taking it as a cue, the others left as well.

’’Mommy... Raeeel... Raeeel...’’ Angel reached out to the little bouquet which was meant for her.

Daisy plucked a small strawberry-like chocolate and handed it to her, ’’How do you know it’s from him?"

The little girl did not bother responding but faced a wall and started nibbling on the chocolate in her hand.

’’How adorable.’’

The voice made Daisy frown.

She gently pushed the flowers to the side and shifted on the swivel chair, turning to her left where she saw the COO who had yet to leave his place.

Feeling a gaze on him, Caleb turned to look at her, ’’Don’t mind me. I am just jealous of that lucky bastard for having such an intelligent daughter and an adorable granddaughter.’’

Daisy arched a brow, ’’Are you very close to my dad?"

’’You can say it like that,’’ the man sighed, "I was honestly surprised to hear that you were coming over to take over the position of the CEO.’’

’’Your father knew that you were probably not very happy with this setup so he never wanted you to be embroiled in the dirty politics of the company. If not for the variables, he would have continued to keep you away from here for as long as you wanted to stay away.’’

Daisy listened silently to the man’s words. Although she had already realized it but knowing and hearing that her father did make more effort, let her stay away and even let her do odd jobs not because he did not care for her but because he wanted her to live the life that she wanted, it warmed her heart.

Little Angel staggered back with her little arms extended for more ’strawberry’ things.

Caleb efficiently plucked two of them from the bouquet and handed one to her before popping another in his mouth, ’’If there is something then you can come to me for help,’’ he swung his jacket over his shoulder and walked out.

Daisy looked at his retreating back thoughtfully.

’’President, as you have read the information about him, it is true that he has been very close to Chairman,’’ With his glib tongue, and smooth transitional skills, Secretary Han had no issues in switching the titles, ’’Mr. Astor has been valued by him very much and if I am not wrong, they have been close friends since they were young.’’