Aurora arrived at the office, full of energy. She had a feeling that with how often she and Julian had been trying, it wouldn’t be long before she became pregnant. The thought of having his child filled her with joy.
“Good morning, President,” greeted most of the employees she passed. Aurora, in turn, responded warmly to their greetings, her demeanor as bright as spring sunshine.
“Ian, come to my office,” she said casually as she passed Ian’s desk.
Every time Ian got to be alone with Aurora, he felt an inexplicable sense of happiness, even anticipation. He quickly followed her to the top floor.
When he opened the door and saw the transparent glass floor beneath him, a wave of nervousness washed over him. Aurora noticed how he clung to the nearby wall, amused to see such a reaction from a grown man.
She curved her lips into a slight smile. “What’s wrong? Are you scared?”
“Uh, I’ve had a fear of heights since I was a kid, President. Sorry about that,” Ian admitted awkwardly. He had intended to present himself confidently in front of Aurora, but this was a psychological hurdle he couldn’t overcome.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. I was scared the first time too, but I was luckier than you,” Aurora said with a faint smile, though she didn’t elaborate. She had been lucky because Julian had carried her across the floor back then, and over time, her fear had faded.
“But if you’re afraid, President, why did you design the office like this?” Ian asked, genuinely curious. He couldn’t understand why she would choose such a design if she herself found it intimidating.
“Because of someone… He thought too highly of me,” Aurora said softly, her gaze distant. She knew Asher must have designed it with the assumption that she enjoyed standing high above to overlook everything below, forgetting that she was also a woman with fears.
“President, is this person you’re talking about Mr. Barnet?” Ian asked, noting the rare, gentle smile on Aurora’s face.
“No, it’s not him. But he’s someone very important to me. He’s the president of our headquarters. You’ll have the chance to meet him someday.”
Their conversation distracted Ian from his fear of the glass floor. Before he realized it, they had already arrived at Aurora’s office.
“When you come here in the future, don’t overthink it. Just try to distract yourself. After walking across a few times, you won’t be afraid anymore,” Aurora said with a reassuring smile.
It was only then that Ian realized he was inside her office. He understood that Aurora had deliberately engaged him in conversation to ease his fear and help him cross the floor without noticing.
Aurora, though outwardly cold, was genuinely kind at heart.
“Take a seat. Don’t just stand there,” Aurora said, sitting casually in her leather chair. She noticed Ian still standing awkwardly, looking unsure of where to place himself.
“Thank you, President. May I ask what you need from me?” Ian asked, his heartbeat quickening. Alone in the room with Aurora, he didn’t dare look at her directly.
“Ian, I’ve been observing you since school. You’ve always performed very well, and I admit I have a personal interest in you,” Aurora said, resting her chin on her hand. Despite her young appearance, there was a maturity about her that seemed beyond her years.
Ian looked at her, noting the contrast between her youthful face and the natural poise she carried. It was a quality he had never seen in anyone else.
“President, I’d be happy to help in any way I can,” he replied, careful not to misinterpret her words.
“You’re very capable, and your future is promising. As you know, I’m the heir to the Montgomery family, and one day, I’ll take over the Montgomery Group. I won’t be able to manage two companies at once.
Here at Sun, I need trusted and capable assistants. Mona won’t be staying here long-once the company is on track, she’ll return to headquarters. During this time, I need to promote two people.
The first requirement is that they must have the ability to manage Sun. The second is that they must be people I trust. Ian, can I trust you?”
Aurora’s sharp instincts for judging people never failed her. If Ian could be trained, he could become her right-hand man. As for her left hand, that would be Heather. She had admired Heather’s resilience and growth since her time at the Montgomery Group. The day Heather was dismissed, Aurora had already decided to bring her into her own company and make her an indispensable ally.
Ian was stunned. He hadn’t expected Aurora to say such things to him. His chest swelled with emotion-joy mixed with the thrill of being recognized by someone he deeply respected.
“Of course, you can trust me,” Ian blurted out, his enthusiasm evident. Realizing he might have sounded too eager, he tempered his tone. “I won’t let you down, President.”
“Good. I trust my judgment. Later, you and Heather will accompany me to meet a client. It’ll be a good opportunity for you to learn the process,” Aurora said.
Last night, Julian had told her he had a gift for her. Knowing her new company was now operational, he had introduced her to one of his friends. Today, they were meeting an important client. This was the company’s first major order, and it was crucial to secure it. Although Julian had already made the introduction, success wasn’t guaranteed-there were plenty of competitors vying for similar opportunities.
Ian was both surprised and flattered by how much Aurora valued him. “Of course, President. I’m ready anytime. But earlier, you mentioned ‘we.’ May I ask who else is coming?”
“She’ll be here any moment,” Aurora replied, just as a knock sounded at the door. Heather appeared in the doorway, her face still pale with fear.
“Manager-no, President, you were looking for me?” Heather stammered as she stepped into the office, still shaken from crossing the glass walkway.
“It seems my glass corridor has become a psychological challenge for everyone,” Aurora said, amused. Seeing Heather reminded her of her own reaction the first time she walked across it. Thankfully, no one else had witnessed her fear then.
“President, this office design is way too unique-it scared me half to death,” Heather said, patting her chest.
“Take a seat and rest for a moment. How was your first day yesterday?” Aurora asked, her tone warmer than before. She had softened over time, her sharpness now balanced with a gentle glow.
“I really like it here. Everyone is so friendly. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. To be honest, I thought this company belonged to one of your friends,” Heather said with a playful smile.
“I’m glad you like it here. Heather, I’ll be taking you and Ian to meet a client shortly. It’ll be a good learning experience on how to interact with clients. Here’s the client’s profile-take a look,” Aurora said, handing over the documents.
Sun’s operations were different from those of the headquarters. At headquarters, the focus had been on real estate and finance. Initially, Sun was also intended to be part of the financial system, but Aurora had changed her mind.
She transformed Sun into a beauty and fashion company, fulfilling her dream of designing clothes.