Spotlight

ZHAN POV

The next morning we all assembled at thecompany's Miami branch, we took part in a series of activities ranging from team building exercises to competitive tasks. We also worked with the employees from that branch on most of them. As I looked around the bunch, everyone seemed to be present even the members of the board. Who were actively taking part; that was refreshing to witness.

After we were done with the business of the day, our boss called us back together in the foyer. I playfully bumped Biyu's shoulder

"I was ready to catch you if you passed out, no hangover?" I teased and she chuckled

"Gee thanks. No, I was stupid enough to take Gino as a substitute for you. He's as much of a bore as you are, he kept me sober the entire time." She said with a slight frown.

I chuckled

"Good for him, I'll have to send him a thank you card." I said.

"There's a corporate gathering at the Hilton Plaza this evening, anyone whose anyone in the business world will be there. So I expect you all to be as well." The boss said,

"So go get a fancy dress or tux and go there. Network, communicate, mingle and represent me well." He added and everyone laughed. He called the brief meeting to an end and everyone dispersed already starting to talk about the upcoming function.

Biyu turned to me with an excited look on her face

"Do you know what this means?" she asked and I shook my head at her

"Shopping! And I know just the place."

She said and took my hand dragging me out.

We took a cab to a mall and we went toMacy's, we shopped for outfits then we went to go get lunch together. We soon said our goodbyes to get ready.

When I got to my suite I took a quick shower, then worked on my hair, a rare thing for me. I dawned my white long sleeves and black pants; it's a semi formal wear while still on the conservative side.

I splashed a bit of my perfume and put on the locket Yibo gave me. I stood up to check my appearance on the long mirror. Satisfied I grabbed my wallet and headed down. I was at the entrance of the hotel about to catch a cab when a black stretch limo stopped in front of me.

I was shocked when Biyu stepped out of it. I went to her,

"Its official I love the boss man, look whathe got us!" she said and I looked at it awestruck

"No way." I said and I got in with her.

I greeted everyone in there "There were three of them to transport everyone."

Biyu added to me and I chuckled.

Apparently we were the last group to arrive because I recognized most of my colleagues when we entered the high-profile venue. Biyu and I stuck together for a while longer, but we split up to go do what we do best, market.

I chatted and networked with a couple ofinfluential people, I still wasn't used to everyone knowing my name even before I introduced myself. Some of them went to the extent of asking me about Yibo and why he wasn't here with me.

I was chatting with a woman from a local ad company when a sudden uproar began

"What's going on?" I asked her and shechuckled

"Danny Wang just arrived. He's your husband's cousin, is he not?" She asked and my mood immediately darkened, he couldn't leave me alone, could he? Just when I was beginning to enjoy myself, I followed her gaze to where he was ambushed by a couple of people.

"Yes, he is."

"He's quite a dish too, isn't he?" she saidmore to herself. I glared at him; poison is more like it I thought.

To my utter dismay he spotted me and escaped his group of admirers and started towards us. He uttered a pleasantgreeting that I didn't acknowledge, but the woman next to me stammered an introduction then abruptly excused herself.

"What are you doing here?" I quietly hissed,

"I don't think you were invited." I added and he chuckled

"I don't have to be invited sweet cheeks." He said arrogantly.

I took a deep breath I couldn't give him the satisfaction of getting under my nerves. His gaze slowly took in my appearance, enough to make me feel uncomfortable.

"You look rather ravishing tonight." He said and I glared at him

"Spare me the complements and tell me what you want." I shot at him.

"Quite the feisty one, aren't you?" Hesaid,

"If you must know, I noticed you are without a date, I came to your aid." He added shocking me.

He had to choose tonight of all nights to implement this sick plan of his? Of course he had, he wanted this whole thing to get as messy as possible.

He smiled at my expression

"Let me buy you a drink." He said leading me to the bar.

An hour lapsed then he pulled me aside again

"Time to leave." He said and I rose my eyebrows at him

"There are dozens of people here and it's a paparazzi jungle outside and you want us to be seen leaving together?" I bit out.

He smiled

"That's the whole point, now thoseheadlines won't make themselves will they?" he said.

I never thought I had it in me to genuinely hate someone, but I hated Danny Wang with a passion at that moment.

"After you." He motioned with his hand and I started walking away with him closely behind. As if on cue everyone looked at us and I could tell that they were already stirring up gossip.

I met Biyu's shocked gaze, with a look that clearly said 'what the hell are you doing with him?'

I slightly shook my head at her. I feltDanny's hand on the small of my back

"Get your filthy hand off me!" I quietlybarked and he chuckled but obliged.

We walked out into a frenzy of flashing light bulbs and paparazzi screaming both our names.

Security cleared the way for us, Danny opened the door to his silver Bentley and I got inside. He slid in with me and the cardrove away.

"Now that wasn't so bad was it?" He said and I didn't even reply, I just stared out the window at the passing buildings. I could feel my heart in my throat.

I didn't even fuss when he escorted me inside and left me at the door of my suite, he then went on to explain that his own suite was three doors after my own.

"Maybe we should fly back together in myjet." He suggested and my eyes flashed back to life

"Maybe not,that's enough controversy for one weekend." I snapped and he heldup his hands and walked away after bidding me goodnight.

I walked into my suite and locked the doorbehind me; I took off my shoes throwing them onto the couch along with my wallet.I took off my outfit and got into my pajamas, I began to remove my watch and the tears suddenly streaming down my face. I checked my phone and it had a couple of messages from Biyu.

Hey, I'm fine and back at the hotel. Don't worry.

I texted then switched my phone off.

I would've called her except I wasn't in the mood to answer the questions she obviously had for me, questions I didn't know how to answer.

I crawled into bed and cried myself to sleep, my life was slowly falling apart and there was nothing I could do about it. Not without the ones I love paying the price.The second and final day of our trip dragged on, and more so because everyone looked at me like I had a scarlet letter A on my forehead. I sighed inwardly, I guess I better start getting used to it, that's how everyone will look at me from now onwards. I fed Biyu the excuse that I wasn't feeling well and that I had no choice but to hitch a ride with the devil himself. She believed me because she knew I disliked Danny, but with the media speculation already surrounding the gesture, it would convince someone else otherwise.

When the day finally came to an end the boss gathered everyone up for a vote of thanks and to officially end our retreat. Everyone started to leave but he called my name

"Can I have a word?" he said, and Biyu and I exchanged confused glances then I followed him into an empty office. He took a seat at the head of the table and gestured for me to have a seat as well.

"You must be wondering why I asked to see you privately." He said with a calm tone and I just nodded, I had a feeling I wasn't going to like what he had to say.

"Zhan I value you as much as I value anyother employee of mine." He said,

"I wouldn't want to lose you because you're a huge asset in my company."

I kept quiet to let him finish

"Allow me to cross the line a little here Zhan, I don't like to meddle in people's personal lives and forgive me if I do so." He said,

"Your leaving with Danny Wang last night caused a bit of a stir and I don't want the company or myself to be implicated in anyway." He added then took a deep breath.

"I don't want to get on your husband's badside if this gets messy." He said

"Danny I don't have a problem with. But I don't want to tango with Wang Yibo, he could destroy me like that." He said snapping his finger.

He was among the many that feared andrespected Yibo to the bone and with good reason. Yibo is known for being as cutthroat as they come in some instances.

"If anything happened or were to happen,you'd be safe my dear because he loves you. With the rest of us its fair game, you might want to remind Danny of that fact." He said,

and I tried not to be offended. He obviously believed something occurred between Danny and I, and he was just trying to protect himself.

I nodded in understanding

"No harm will come to your name or the company Boss I give you my word." Ireassured the best way I could muster.

Even though I wasn't sure myself that Yibo wouldn't lash out of either one of us.Yes he loves me but people do crazy things out of a broken heart, I once held him at gunpoint thinking he cheated on me. What was he going to do when I confirmed my 'infidelity' to him?

He breathed out and a smile played on thecorners of his lips,

"Good, you may go. Have a safe trip backhome." He said and I acknowledged then stood up and walked out.