Long Industries.
It was a normal day at work. The sky outside was overcast, affecting the mood of the majority of the employees. Everything felt monotonous. Nothing was interesting at all. They wished that they could go home soon but the workday was far from over.
Then the people in the lobby noticed Assistant Cai Guang coming out of the elevator and standing by the main entrance. It looked like he was waiting for someone. The person must be a bigshot for President Long’s right-hand man himself to wait and welcome him or her. Only VIPs had the privilege of having Assistant Cai Guang welcome them personally before leading them to meet President Long Tengfei.
Moments later, three low-key luxury cars arrived and formed a line outside the company. Bodyguards in sharp tuxedo suits came out of the first and last cars before forming a protective barrier for whoever was about to come out of the car sandwiched in the middle.
First to come out of the backseat of the car was a young man in a stylish duffle coat. He was wearing a fedora and oversized sunglasses, both of which covered more than half of his face, so others couldn’t clearly see what he looked like. Then he turned sideways and reached his hand back inside the car.
A delicate hand in a black leather glove held his hand followed by a pointed, knee-high boot to the ground. Then a woman in an A-line dress coat stepped out of the car. The young man in a fedora and the bodyguards were treating her as if she was a precious but fragile treasure. They all seemed ready to catch her if she so much as swayed on her feet.
By this time, Assistant Cai Guang already came out of the company building to receive the mysterious VIP. Everyone inside the lobby craned their necks to peek at who was coming.
The mystery was soon revealed when the path opened up and everyone saw the beautiful face of the woman. She wasn’t wearing a face mask to conceal her appearance. Her breathtaking smile when Assistant Cai welcomed her made the people watching feel like a ray of sunshine was brightening up the grey day.
“Ohmahgahd! It’s Boss Iris! Kyaaaaaaah!”
“Where?! Boss Iris?!”
“Wuwuwu! It has been so long since she showed herself in public! I miss Boss Iris so much! Wuwuwu!”
These Black Stars were entry-level workers and didn’t have the long-time prejudice of the older employees against Iris Long. The older employees were the ones who repeatedly witnessed President Long’s youngest daughter causing an embarrassing ruckus in the company whenever she visited back then when she was still a rebellious teenager. She also insulted a lot of them when they tried to stop her or calm her down. This was why they held no affection for her.
Fortunately, their impression of their President Long’s youngest daughter already started to improve especially after she became the brand ambassador of Long Industries. Before her sudden withdrawal from the public, she often came to the company and interacted with the employees, both old and new. Seeing her much better personality, some of the older employees decided not to judge her based on her past behaviour and to keep an open mind to see if she had really changed for the better or if she was just acting because of her rising fame as a celebrity.
Compared to these older employees, the new hires didn’t care much about what happened in the company before they started working there. They would sometimes hear about Iris Long’s unreasonable behaviour and actions before but they didn’t think too much about it, especially since some of them were Black Stars. Those of them who were Black Stars fiercely defended their Boss Iris and wouldn’t allow their coworkers to defame her in front of them.
Now that their beloved Boss Iris was right in front of them, they wanted to run towards her and ask for her autographs and photos with her and also to see with their own eyes if she was now okay. All of them had been so worried when they heard that she was ill and in bed rest. They were about to run to her but their supervisor glared at them.
At first, they felt torn whether to stay at their stations or to ignore their supervisor and run towards their Boss Iris, but in the end, all of them chose their jobs (for now). They were just hired not too long ago after all. With sad faces full of regret, they could only watch their beloved goddess from afar.
Assistant Cai Guang led the beautiful Iris Long inside the company building. Her entourage of several bodyguards certainly made her more eye-catching. The Black Stars instantly recognized their Boss Iris’ Filipino assistant and best friend, Dom the Beauty King, when he removed his sunglasses and readjusted his fedora on top of his head.
“Kyaaaaaaaah!”
“Boss Iris, you’re so beautiful! The most beautiful ever!”
“We love you, Boss Iris! Are you okay now?!”
“Still gorgeous, Brother Dom!”
Despite their supervisor’s clear disapproval, the Black Stars were unable to control their excitement and delight from seeing their Boss Iris in the flesh. Iris stopped walking and looked over at them screaming for her. She smiled before heading towards their direction. Her action made them even more excited that they were literally bouncing on their feet and screaming as if their lives depended on it.
“Hello,” Iris greeted.
“Hi!” Dom greeted next.
“Boss Iris!”
“Dom, the Beauty King!”
“Kyaaaaaaaah!!!”
Iris: “I remember some of you from the last time I came here.”
The ones she was referring to felt so happy that she remembered them.
Iris: “As for you, I haven’t seen you before. Are you new?”
“Y-yes, Boss Iris! I only got hired last week.”
Iris: “Congratulations.”
“T-thank you!”
She chatted with her fans for a few minutes. She also signed autographs and took photos with them all while assuring her beloved fans that she now felt better.
“Sorry for worrying all of you and thank you for your concern.” Iris glanced at the disapproving supervisor. She raised an eyebrow before smiling at her fans.
She told them with a wink, “If you get into trouble with your superior because of me today, you’re welcome to apply at Orchidia Beauty. We’re still expanding and need a lot of manpower.”
