Liang Residence.
Jun Liang furrowed his brows as he read the newspaper in his hand. He lifted the cup of coffee near him and brought it to his mouth. The smell of his favorite brew immediately eased the lines on his forehead.
“Father!” Demi exclaimed when she saw her father in the dining room. “How come you are here?” She approached him and kissed her father’s cheeks.
“I have a meeting to attend to.” He answered, his eyes still glued to the newspaper in his hand. “I think you should join this meeting with me.”
“Oh… but I…”
“Demi… working as a secretary does not suit you.” His father eyed her. His stern gaze swept through her. “Your brother is about to take over the company and I am planning to make you his assistant before we decide which position suits you better.”
“But…”
“Stop listening to your uncle and old man Lee.” He interrupted his daughter. “Do not waste your time chasing a man who does not even recognize his grandfather.” He said as disgust flashed in his eyes.
“But… Zhou Jingren already had a meeting with Grandfather the other day.”
“Grandfather?” he lifted an eyebrow at his daughter. “You are calling him grandfather now?”
“He insisted that I call him grandfather,” Demi said as she started eating her breakfast. “I really like working with Old Man Lee… I think he is a great mentor and I am learning a lot of unfamiliar things from him.”
“Our company could provide you more knowledge. Why would you insist on working for him?” he asked. While his words were sharp and stern, Demi knew that this was the exact opposite of her father’s emotions towards her. Demi knew that behind this strict facade is a kind man who always indulged and love her. Of course, as the only daughter of Jun Liang, this was only reasonable.
“I think it’s an excellent way for me to learn new things. Father… you know how I grew up in our company. I need to learn new things and… get exposed to an unfamiliar environment.” She reasoned. As expected, her father’s face immediately softened.
“I hope that is really the reason why you agreed to become someone else’s secretary when you can always act as my secretary.”
“I hate traveling.” She pouted. “You are barely in this country. I can’t live a life like that.”
Jun Liang nodded. He finished his coffee. “I understand. However… you are not getting any younger. Your brother is working hard for the company. I want you to prepare yourself as well.”
“Father…” Demi rolled her eyes. “I am not planning to involve myself in the company. Once I turn twenty-five, I will have access to my trust fund and I am planning to use this to create some perfumes or makeups. I also want to work from home and stay with my future children.”
Her father immediately frowned at her words. “I don’t have any intention to question your plans. After all, this is your life and your trust fund is enough to support you even if you don’t get a job. I also get that I have spoiled you and treated you like a princess. But the world outside of our fortress is different. If you— “
“What’s so different about it?” she smiled. Growing up, Demi had been sheltered. She was special, more beautiful, smarter than her peers. However, she did not have any friends or have experience working with people.
A sigh escaped her father’s mouth. “We are living in a mad world, Demi.” He uttered. “Without experience, this world could eat you alive.” While Demi went to a prestigious girl’s school in Europe, her experience in business is lacking. Everything that she wanted was given to her without any questions. This led her to believe that the world owed her everything.
Her father knew this is wrong. But what was he supposed to do? He divorced his wife when Demi was still three. Since then, he barely stayed at home and concentrated on his business. Demi grew up around their servants that gave her everything that she wanted. The moment Jun realized that his only daughter grew up like this, it was already too late.
Demi was already eighteen, and it is almost impossible for him to change her ways. Not when he was practically absent her whole life.
“How was that charity that you were working with? Was that for abused women? Did you enjoy working with women who are not as privileged as you?” he asked. Because of his realization, he did his best to open the eyes of his daughter to the reality in this world. He asked her to join charities for children and rights groups that protect women.
He hoped that this was enough to make her daughter take her life seriously and finally invest in something that could help her future.
“They are great. I think… all of them were fabulous.” She smiled and took a sip at her juice. Seeing this, Jun sigh inwardly. A decision immediately sprouted in his mind.
“Alright. I think you should come and attend this meeting with me. This should help you sort out what you really want.”
“Hmmm…” she nodded and smiled.
Jun Liang responded with a smile. He could only hope that meeting someone like Lily Facci would change his daughter’s perspective about this world. He could only hope that it is not too late and his daughter will soon realize that her absence of motivation to work harder is going to make her suffer in the future.
After having their breakfast, both Jun Liang and his daughter immediately went to one of the known Oriental restaurants in Singapore to meet Lily. On the ride towards the meeting, Demi couldn’t stop talking about Isaac’s guidance and how her uncle had helped her a lot.
Of course, this was Demi’s way to entice her father before she asked for his permission to move houses. The thought of being pregnant soon made her beamed all the way to the meeting room.
“This way please,” an attendant immediately asked them to follow her the moment they arrive in the restaurant. With a smile on her face, Demi followed her father inside the cozy private room that they have booked in advance.
“Alright, this is a business tycoon from Europe,” his father uttered. “I want you to act with courtesy and respect. This woman’s future investment would secure the company for tens of years.” Her father said in an indistinct voice.
The soft sound of the door being opened caught their attention.
“Ah! Mr. Liang!” Lily’s voice almost made Demi flinched. She stood still and blinked her eyes, wondering if she was somehow dreaming. “It is nice to finally meet you!” Lily elegantly stood from her seat and shake the older man’s hands, a brilliant smile plastered all over her face.
“The pleasure is all mine!” his father answered. “I hope you didn’t mind, I brought my daughter with me. It would be very good if she learned a thing or two in our conversation about business.”
Lily turned her gaze towards Demi. Her lips curled upward into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Miss Liang…” her voice was soft — too soft. Demi immediately felt her face paled, losing its color.
“It is nice to see you again,” Lily uttered.
