Meanwhile, the CEO’s secretary escorted Bianca to the reception room. As she entered, Bianca was taken aback by the luxurious decor.
The room featured tables and chairs made from rich mahogany with detailed carvings. The pure wool carpet felt like stepping on clouds.
A white porcelain tea set sat on a nearby table, showing its high quality.
“Miss Scott, please have a seat. The CEO will join you shortly after he finishes his work.” The secretary brewed a cup of tea for Bianca, who nodded politely. “Thank you.”
Bianca smiled back at the secretary, who couldn’t help but notice her. Bianca’s eyes sparkled, and her natural charm put people at ease. It wasn’t a forceful beauty but rather one that made others feel comfortable.
Bianca was the woman the CEO wanted to meet privately, and the secretary found herself curious about their connection. She knew she needed to be respectful to Bianca.
“Miss Scott, you’re very welcome. It’s my duty. I’ll be right outside, so if you need anything, just let me know.”
“Okay, thank you,” Bianca replied gratefully.
Once the CEO’s secretary left, Bianca felt slightly relieved, though her inner tension remained. She thought about how to bring up the topic of Cherish during her meeting with the CEO.
At the same time, Justin burst into Dave’s office.
Dave was on a phone call when Justin barged in without knocking, which earned him a frown from Dave.
Ignoring his reaction, Justin slammed his hand on Dave’s desk and stared at him wide-eyed. “Dave, do you really want to meet Bianca?”
Dave shot Justin a quick look and told the person on the other end of the line, “I’ll have to end this call now.”
After ending the call, Dave settled into his chair and looked at Justin calmly. “What’s got you so surprised?”
Justin realized he was even more anxious than Dave. “Weren’t you planning to keep your identity a secret from her? What, are you done pretending? Are you thinking about breaking up with her?”
Justin knew that Dave’s choice to hide his identity wasn’t just for his own sake but also to protect Bianca. Once Dave’s true identity was revealed, the future could become uncertain. If Lucas discovered that an unknown woman was bothering his grandson, he might take drastic steps to remove Bianca from the picture.
Unless Dave had grown tired of Bianca and didn’t want to take responsibility anymore, otherwise, Justin couldn’t understand his decision.
Turning his stares to Justin, Dave narrowed his eyes and flashed a mysterious smile.
Meanwhile, Bianca waited in nervous anticipation for about thirty minutes until the reception room door suddenly swung open.
The CEO’s secretary stood beside a man, guiding him respectfully. Bianca noticed a strong presence entering the room.
She quickly stood up, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Are you… Mr. Evans?”
Bianca looked closely at the man who walked in. He wore a nice suit, and every movement showed he was a skilled businessman. But he seemed a bit different from what she had imagined.
Trying not to jump to conclusions, Bianca reminded herself to stay humble and respectful.
The man nodded slightly and gave her a small smile as he sat down, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees.
“Miss Bianca Scott, right? What brings you to see me?”
When the man asked his straightforward question, Bianca decided to be honest. She took a deep breath and said, “Mr. Evans, I’ve heard you plan to buy Cherish. Is that true?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?” he replied.
Looking him in the eye, Bianca made her request clear. “I’d like you to think again about your decision.”
She noticed a brief flicker of something in his eyes. “Give me a reason,” he said.
Staying calm, Bianca explained, “Cherish might be a small brand for the Phoenix Alliance Group, but for my mother, Madison, it means everything. If Cherish is sold, it cuts off her connection to it. As her daughter, I want to keep the legacy of the brand she worked so hard to build.”
The man smiled slightly. “I know you’re Madison’s daughter, but do you understand what could happen to Cherish if we don’t go through with the purchase?”
Bianca watched him closely and thought he might be willing to listen because of her mother.
Even though she ran her own company, she had only recently picked up some business knowledge and didn’t want to show off in front of someone experienced.
In a gentle voice, she said, “I’d like to learn more about it.”
Leaning back in his chair, the man looked at her. “Cherish became successful because of your mother Madison’s unique design style, which helped it stand out in the luxury market. People are attracted to the brand and also to the famous designer, Graciel. But with Graciel in the hospital, Cherish has lost its main support. When a new brand loses its support, it can be devastating. The business world is like a battlefield. Competitors are waiting for a chance to take advantage and can quickly bring it down. Right now, Cherish is vulnerable.”
Bianca stared at the man, his words hitting her like a heavy weight on her heart.
As he explained, her heart sank again, feeling like she was falling into an endless void. Was there truly no way to save Cherish?
Has her mother’s hard work and dedication vanished into thin air?
Noticing her sadness, the man gave a small smile and said, “Actually, the reason we’re looking to buy Cherish is to keep it alive. The LMH Group has several luxury brands, and Cherish, in its current situation, is a problem for them. If we don’t intervene, Cherish will face two outcomes: it could merge with other LMH brands and lose its identity, or it could be sold to other companies for a low price, which would erase its remaining value.”
Frowning, Bianca looked up at him and asked, “Isn’t the Phoenix Alliance Group also trying to acquire Cherish for its brand value?”
The man scoffed. “Do you really think the Phoenix Alliance Group cares about such a small value?”
“Then why buy Cherish? If it’s in such bad shape that even the LMH Group won’t help, what do you want?” Bianca searched his eyes for answers.
He glanced briefly at the camera in the reception room, cleared his throat, and then gave her a warm smile. “I respect Madison and the legacy of Cherish. I really believe that one day, Madison will wake up. When that happens, it will mark a fresh start for Cherish-a time when it can shine again.”