Chapter 41 Bitter Coffee
Through the glass door of the CEO's office, Aidan had already seen her walking towards him with an elegance that reminded him of the model he had been with two nights ago.
The woman knocked lightly before entering, her eyes fixed on him. Aidan leaned back in his chair with a smile, his gaze resting on her.
He wasn't sure if she was the woman he was looking for, but he wasn't in a hurry to find out. At the press conference in five days, everything would become clear once she met Jack. He might mistake her, but Jack wouldn't, as that woman had been with Jack for a long time.
He had made up his mind about this last night, but he hadn't expected Alison to reject him in front of everyone today. Nevertheless, he was determined to get her to agree.
Did she not even want a chance to stand out? What a foolish woman, not even fighting for an opportunity that suited her.
"Have a seat," he said, pointing to the chair opposite his luxurious desk, his tone indifferent.
Alison sat down silently, unable to read Aidan's thoughts. She kept telling herself to stay calm because he might be the culprit from back then.
Her silence only made Aidan more suspicious.
At this moment, he wasn't in a rush. After all, he was experienced in business and skilled at reading people.
He calmly picked up the internal phone. "Two coffees, does Miss Fairchild take sugar?"
"No sugar." She liked her coffee bitter, feeling it was a metaphor for enduring hardships, appreciating its rich flavor and meaning.
After speaking, he put down the phone and casually drummed his fingers on the desk, as if chatting with an old friend.
They stared at each other in the strange atmosphere.
The coffee arrived, filling the office with its rich aroma.
Aidan gestured to the coffee in front of Alison. "Please."
Alison had calmed down. Whether Aidan was a beast or not, she had no way out and had to face him.
She picked up the small spoon in the coffee cup, habitually stirring the aromatic coffee, watching the brown liquid ripple like her confused heart.
She tried hard to shake off this confusion.
Aidan noticed her becoming more composed and calm.
It seemed she wasn't the person he was looking for.
But until she met Jack, he wouldn't do anything to her. If she wasn't the one, he decided he would start to conquer her.
He took a sip of his coffee and smiled. "Why did you reject me?"
Alison remembered what Manager McLean had said. Maybe Manager McLean would report to Aidan.
"Manager McLean said you wanted me to be a hostess. I thought it was just standing at the door like a vase, so I didn't like it and refused."
"I see." Aidan put down his coffee cup and suddenly leaned closer to Alison.
For a moment, she thought he was Jack and almost cried out. Her hand trembled slightly, spilling coffee on her fingers, snapping her back to reality.
The man in front of her wasn't Jack but possibly the one who had harmed Jack.
"Alison, since you know the real task isn't to be a hostess, give me your answer again." Aidan stared at her intently, trying to read something from her eyes.
But she showed no abnormality, except for the slight tremor when he leaned in and spilled some coffee.
Alison hated his presumptuous expression, assuming she would agree.
She wouldn't agree.
"Sorry, I don't think I'm suitable for that job. If you force me, I can leave YD during the probation period, and YD can also dismiss me." She hadn't signed a labor contract with YD and didn't want to feel looked down upon by Aidan Winston.
If it weren't for finding out the truth, she wouldn't want to deal with Aidan. She wasn't wealthy, but her flower shop could support her and her child.
Being independent was her strength, allowing her to say "no" to a man at any time.
Aidan felt defeated by Alison. In the past, when he looked at women like this, they would throw themselves at him, but Alison wasn't buying it.
He hadn't looked at a woman like this in a long time, and he didn't expect to fail so miserably.
He had to endure it. There had to be a way to make her agree.
For now, it didn't matter who took that position; he could transfer someone from another department. But now the nature of the situation had changed. Alison was challenging his authority at YD, and he couldn't afford to lose.
His male pride couldn't be compromised by her.
Aidan slowly sat back in his chair, trying to maintain a smile. "Alison, I understand. You can go now." He waved her off, not caring if she had finished her coffee.
It was the first time he had lost his composure in front of a woman, afraid that if he saw her again, he might lose his temper.
Alison gently put down her coffee cup, stood up, and left, her high heels clicking on the floor.
Aidan stared at her back, his curiosity thoroughly piqued.
As she walked out of the office and the glass door closed, Aidan exploded, sweeping the documents off his desk.
The secretary, who had been about to collect the cups, quickly closed the door and hurried away.
The CEO was terrifying. Could Alison have provoked him?
Claire Toronto thought it might be Alison and smiled.
She had noticed Aidan's different attitude towards Alison when she went to the procurement department, thinking she had a new rival. But seeing Aidan so angry because of Alison made her happy.
Suddenly, the sound of a cup shattering came.
Claire was about to turn back when the phone rang, displaying Aidan's private line.
Claire quickly answered the call.
"Come in and clean up. Don't talk about today, or face the consequences." Aidan hung up and walked into the lounge.
He didn't want to see the mess and had to think of a way to get Alison to agree.
It was difficult, but with the press conference approaching, he had to make it happen.
Alison had to face Jack.
She knew the press conference was in five days. After rejecting Aidan, the next two days were calm, making her think he had let her go, so she let her guard down.
On the third day, as soon as she started work, she got busy, diligently handling the tasks Manager McLean had given her. While inputting documents, someone appeared beside her.
The sudden accusation caught her off guard. "Alison, how could you be so selfish? Isn't it enough to pique the CEO's curiosity? Why did you refuse the job arrangement? Now the procurement department's performance bonus for this month is gone because of you."
What was going on?
Alison frowned. "Are you saying the entire procurement department's performance bonus for this month won't be issued?"
"Yes, because of you, Alison. How are you going to compensate us?" The woman crossed her arms and glared at her, ready to argue to the end.
Aidan was truly despicable. If it weren't for his annoying face and smile, and that arrogant attitude, she would have agreed long ago. Agreeing wouldn't have been a loss and could have been a good experience, but because it was forced by Aidan Winston, it felt different.
Alison hadn't expected her persistence to affect everyone.