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, but at least now they were in the same company.

a matter of days. Stella 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

passed, and Rufus still had not come back.

were meeting each other at a cafe. The inviting smell of coffee lingered in the air.

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

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

to G City yet? It had been so many days

boyfriend? You look so

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 childhood and

no. I was just thinking about my work,"

However, the demure shake of her head and the guilty tone in her voice were in direct contradiction to her words.

tell Stella about her marriage. She had made an agreement with Lionel before she started working at Tang Group to keep

do I. You know what? The new president is super handsome. I heard

mug of coffee in front of her. She took a sip and gossiped away obsessively.

president she was referring

When would he be

soon as the question spilled out of her mouth. She sounded incredibly desperate to her own ears. And how would

I'm friends with his assistant.

to be laughing at her, as

my business," Cassandra started, and then paused.

attempt to hide her feelings. Her eyes shifted down to look at her watch. Immediately, she shot up from her seat and

up with Cassandra, wearing a guileful smile on

are beautiful. It would be a piece of cake for you to get the man. Better win him over quickly. Then I would get promoted, thanks to

of red. Her wanting to win Rufus over was a ridiculous idea. Only Stella would consider it a possibility.

returned to the office building, they were informed that an emergency meeting was

the meeting was about, but they still went back to their workplaces and prepared for

Inside the Conference Room

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