A Graduation Gift

Cassandra's mind went blank. She blinked in confusion at the sudden hug. The young woman let go of her, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Don't you remember me? I'm Stella Mu. We went to high school together, remember?"

The woman's tone rose as she explained upon seeing Cassandra's bewildered expression.

Cassandra frowned and racked her brain for the name. Soon, a girl with pigtails who wore black-rimmed glasses materialized in her mind. Whenever that little girl grinned, her braces made an appearance.

"You are Stella Mu?"

Cassandra asked with hesitation. This young lady standing in front of her was so beautiful that it was hard to connect her to the girl with braces from her memory.

Stella beamed at her words, thrilled to hear that her friend remembered her. She reached out and touched Cassandra's hand ecstatically.

"Yeah, I'm Stella! Glad you remembered me! I didn't expect to meet you here at Tang Group. Gosh, we haven't seen each other for years. I haven't seen you since we graduated from high school. Where have you been?"

Stella talked on and on as if she never planned to stop. Cassandra realized that she hadn't changed a bit. Her friend was still as lively and talkative as before.

She was still surprised at meeting a childhood friend. "I went to Rome to study. Came back not so long ago. You are so beautiful, Stella."

Cassandra smiled at Stella, sighing pleasantly at the change in her friend.

"Oh," Stella blushed. "of course, you went abroad! I should have guessed. Why didn't you keep in touch? Have I ever told you that you were my idol in high school? You were so beautiful and scored so well in exams. I admired and envied you."

Stella's excitement at meeting an acquaintance from years ago still hadn't dimmed. She wanted to catch up on everything they had been up to in the past several years.

Cassandra was a bit embarrassed. She gave Stella a smile and lowered her head. Time is cruel and strange. She had gotten engaged that year when she finished high school. Then, she went to Rome after getting married, without telling anyone.

Time in Rome had seemed to slow down. Her days were not as smooth as she had hoped for. She had endured a lot of loneliness in the foreign land. But eventually, she had made friends, and now she had left her social circle in the country behind.

Stella Mu was the first friend she had met after coming back to G City.

for a long time. Cassandra learned that Stella was a fresh graduate and working in the marketing department of Tang Group. They might not be in the same division,

was active and lively, while Cassandra was calm and distant. Their personalities were in stark contrast to each other. However, it did not hinder them from becoming

Rufus still had not

day, Cassandra and Stella were meeting each other at a cafe. The inviting smell of

was troubling her friend. Cassandra seemed to be lost in

snapped back to reality upon hearing Stella. A worried expression surfaced on her pretty

he come back to G City yet? It had been so many days

boyfriend? You look so lost.

raised her eyebrows at Cassandra. Her friend was so aloof. She never talked about her personal life. They had been hanging out a lot in the last few days, but they merely swapped stories of their

was just thinking

the guilty tone in her voice were in direct contradiction to her

not tell Stella about her marriage. She had made an agreement with Lionel before she started working at Tang Group to

don't have a boyfriend. Neither do I. You know what? The new president is super handsome. I heard he's been away

steaming mug of coffee in front of

president she was referring to

would

spilled out of her mouth. She sounded incredibly desperate to her own ears. And how would Stella even know when

his secretary. But I'm friends with his assistant. Do you

twinkling shrewdly. She seemed to be

none of my business," Cassandra started, and then paused. "All right, time to go back to work. We

to look at her watch. Immediately, she shot up from her seat and walked out of the coffee

up with

piece of cake for you to get the man. Better win him

only embarrassed Cassandra further. She flushed a bright shade of red. Her wanting to win Rufus over was a ridiculous idea. Only Stella would consider

soon as they returned to the office building, they were informed that an emergency meeting was about to be held in the conference room.

about, but they still went back to their

Inside the Conference Room

meeting room. She moved to her seat, her arms loaded with various files. The moment she sat down, her eyes met Lionel's dark gaze