A Graduation Gift

With a grumble, Arthur came in the door in frustration.

"What happened, Arthur?

Why do you look so upset?" Cloris asked, looking confused

The phone call he was on was simply too disappointing to him. There must have been something wrong.

Shooting a glance at Cloris, he opened his mouth as if he was about to say something but nothing came out.

It was Clark whom he was on the phone with. After he was told that Cassandra had gotten the Tang Group's tender from Horace, Arthur thought about what their next steps should be. If Cassandra helped the Tang Group, he had a strong feeling that Clark would lose this competition.

It just so happened that Arthur had dealt with Cassandra often in the past. From those experiences, he knew that Cassandra had the tendency to be extremely competitive and he had been defeated by her for several times already—he was rather scared of confronting her.

When Cassandra was still with Lionel, Arthur had to rack his brain about how to deal with her, doing all he could to get her into trouble. It was a great relief when he heard the news that the couple had gotten a divorce, and after Cassandra left the Tang Group, the company's business plummeted.

It was unbelievable that Horace had persuaded Cassandra to help the Tang Group. What could he do to prevent it?

Suddenly, Arthur thought of something when he noticed Cloris's presence. She was grabbing at him, concerned.

"Cloris, I think I'd better give up this bid,"

pretending to have made up his mind, he spoke firmly to Cloris.

"What? Why? Haven't you already poured so much time and effort in it?"

With eyes wide open, Cloris asked him in disbelief. Ever since she came back, Arthur had been talking about his competition with the Tang Group for a project. He had put numerous hours into it.

With a sigh, he continued, "Cloris, Cassandra is your sister.

Now that she's involved, I don't feel comfortable competing with her. I don't want this competition to influence your relationship. I want you two to get along."

He did a good job playing the part of the worried partner because Cloris believed him wholeheartedly.

"Arthur, what do you mean?" she asked, looking anxious already. "I don't understand. Why is Cassandra involved?"

His words puzzled her—why was everything about Cassandra?

"Cloris, someone just tipped me that Cassandra was helping the Tang Group revise the tender this time. And you know that when I went against your sister before, I lost. I don't want that to happen again.

I'd rather quit," he explained bitterly, irritating Cloris to the core.

to work on this project. You've invested so

that Cassandra was a part of the

Horace made the headline of every newspaper in G City. Everyone was talking about it. Why would

really don't want

had already anticipated this. The more

don't have to worry about it. Cassandra and

reputation,

sister would fail in whatever she was doing. Therefore, Cloris couldn't let Arthur

this bid! I'm here to support you, every step of the

only mean that he wasn't as competitive

"Cloris…

you sure you want me to compete with your sister?" he

rest of my life

buried her face in his

rushed over him as he stroked her

honest, I don't have any confidence in this bid since your sister is helping the Tang Group now. I'm

when she heard Arthur's worry.

to stop Cassandra from helping the

no circumstances could she allow Cassandra to win.

flash drive. She's probably revising it by now. I don't think

getting frustrated. But Cloris wasn't

case, she

she had done

her

"I've got a plan!"

smile crept into

"What have you got?"

running through his head, he could do nothing.

Cloris would come forward and defend him.

Arthur wanted to let Cloris take

self-destructive program in the new flash drive and swap it with Cassandra's. When the time comes, I'll start the program and the tender file will

wasn't the first time she had done such a thing so she

"But…

how can you switch them? You could get caught.

too risky…" Arthur asked in worry.

however, merely smiled. "Don't worry. I have a

need to coordinate with

smile wasn't as innocent as it used to be.