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.

in their conversation. They chatted 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, but at least now they were

calm and distant. Their

few days passed, and Rufus

Cassandra and Stella were meeting each other at a cafe. The inviting smell of coffee lingered

in a low voice. She wondered what was troubling her friend. Cassandra seemed to be lost in her

her pretty face. She had been thinking about Rufus lately. She missed him dearly.

back to G City yet?

look so lost. Do you miss

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

no. I was just

head and the guilty tone in her voice were in direct contradiction to her words.

Lionel before she started working at Tang Group to

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

of her. She took a sip and gossiped

new president she was referring to

When would he

the question spilled out of her mouth. She sounded incredibly desperate to her own ears. And how would Stella even know when he would be back? She hardly knew

know. I'm not his secretary. But I'm friends with

seemed to be laughing at

Cassandra started, and then paused. "All right,

her watch. Immediately, she shot up from her seat and walked out

left her seat and caught up with Cassandra, wearing a guileful

You know you are beautiful. It would be a piece of cake for you to

embarrassed Cassandra further. She flushed a bright shade of red. Her wanting to win Rufus over was a

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

them had any idea what the meeting was about, but they still went back to their workplaces

Inside the Conference Room

walked into the meeting room. She moved to her seat, her