Avery Bennett immediately fell silent. It seemed that Mr. Dylan Scott was Ivy Black’s ultimate idol, and Avery decided it was best to keep a low profile and not burst her bubble.
“Let’s go! If we hurry, we might not be too late!” Ivy exclaimed, grabbing Avery’s arm and pulling her into a brisk walk. Avery, noticing Ivy’s high heels, instinctively reached out to steady her.
“Go where?” Avery asked, confused as she was dragged along.
“To the entrance! Everyone’s gone to welcome the CEO. Haven’t you noticed? The entire office is empty! Let me tell you, every female employee from the first floor to the eighteenth has gathered at the entrance!”
“But the company didn’t send out any notice yesterday…” Avery muttered, still puzzled.
“Ugh, you’re driving me crazy!” Ivy’s chest heaved with frustration, but Avery remained clueless. “I’m not trying to upset you. Is my network down? That can’t be—I just sent that data sheet without any issues.”
“Do you even have a brain?!” Ivy snapped, her usually polished demeanor slipping.
“I…” Avery was still at a loss. Her mind was sharp—after all, she’d been awarded top scholarships every year.
“The CEO is visiting today. If he takes a liking to someone, their life could change overnight. Even if you don’t become Mrs. CEO, just a brief fling could bring you all sorts of perks—promotions, raises, maybe even luxury cars or jewelry. Rumor has it he’s incredibly generous with his lovers, casually gifting million-dollar cars and expensive jewelry. If he’s really impressed, he might even hand over a beachfront villa!” Ivy’s eyes sparkled as if she were already daydreaming about such a life.
Avery instinctively protested, “But I have Eli!”
“I know, but Eli only runs a small business. How can he compare to someone like that?”
“It’s not just about appearances…”
“I’m not saying you should become his mistress! But if the CEO notices you, it could be a game-changer. You could be promoted to a financial manager at one of the subsidiaries—wouldn’t that be better than slaving away as a junior assistant?”
Ivy rolled her eyes, not giving Avery a chance to argue before continuing, “And look at what you’re wearing! That drab suit of yours will just blend into the crowd.”
“It’s not a beauty pageant…” Avery mumbled, but seeing Ivy’s glare, she quickly shut her mouth.
“Let’s go. It’s better to show up than not!” Ivy sighed.
“But I still have an analysis sheet to finish… I need it for this afternoon!” Avery hesitated as she saw the sea of people already gathered at the entrance.
“Oh, come on! No matter how well you do your job, it won’t compare to catching the CEO’s attention. You’re in finance—don’t you understand opportunity cost?”
“But…” Avery didn’t get it. Wasn’t the opportunity cost of abandoning her work even higher?
“Look, you had the best chance, but you didn’t even bother with eyeliner, and you’re dressed like a thirty-year-old spinster. How are you supposed to stand out among all those glamorous women?”
“Well, since I’m not going to stand out anyway, I might as well go back to work. I don’t want to end up working late—Eli and I have dinner plans.” Before Ivy could react, Avery turned on her heel and made her escape.