Yan Mei can count the number of times she has taken the main entrance to her office and that is, only three times. She always take her private elevator but for some reason she decided to use the main one today.

”Good morning, President Yan.” The employees stopped walking when they saw Yan Mei coming and greeted her.

”Good morning.” Yan Mei replied them.

The employees stiffened and broke into a smile when Yan Mei responded to their greeting. They whispered to themselves looking at Yan Mei’s back.

”She really responded to our greeting?!”

”Yeah, this is the first time that the president has responded to us.”

”She doesn’t really look cold today? Can it be because of the mysterious man in the rumors?”

”Is our president really in love?!”

Yan Mei had no idea of the chaos she has caused just because she replied to her employees.

”Good-morning… President Yan.”. A timid voice greeted Yan Mei when she passed through the last hall leading to her office.

Yan Mei stopped in her tracks. She turned towards the person who greeted her and strode slowly towards her.

She sniffed the air around the woman and frowned.

”What is that smell?” Yan Mei asked crossing her arms across her chest.

”Pre—sident Yan,….it must.. be my… perfume.” The woman shuttered nervously. Her palm started sweating.

”Hmm. What is the fifteenth rule in the employee’s manual?”. Yan Mei asked coldly scrutinizing the employee.

The woman busted into tears when she heard Yan Mei. She knew she has been caught.

”I-I I’m sorry President Yan…..I didn’t mean to smoke during working hours. I-“

”But you did and you lied too.” Yan Mei stated.

Tears ran on the woman’s cheeks as she sniffled, “I’m sorry… president Yan—–I my sister was admitted… at the….hospital and..I need money for surgery…”

Sobs racked through the woman’s making it difficult for her to speak. “She is all I have and I don’t have the money for the surgery. I-I feel like a failure. As an elder sister I can’t even look after her. That’s why I-I smoked. I need to calm down my stress. Please don’t—fire me. This job is all I have.”

The woman pleaded looking at Yan Mei with a pained eyes.

”What is the third rule in the employee’s manual?” Yan Mei asked with a straight face.

”Don’t—mix personal life affairs with work.”

Yan Mei nodded,”Good.”

Yan Mei said this and bypassed the woman.. Within three steps she stopped walking.

”What is the name of your sister and the hospital she is in?” Yan Mei asked without looking at the woman.

”Kim Chiu, Paradise Hospital.”. The woman replied sniffling.

”Hmm. Wipe your tears, you look ugly.”

With that being said, Yan Mei walked away.

The woman looked at Yan Mei’s back with a confused frown marred on her face.

’I’m I fired?’

She ignored the curious gazes people were shooting her and rushed towards the washroom.

The woman looked at herself in the mirror and a sad smile spilled from her lips.

Her mascara was smeared on her cheeks and she really looked ugly like Yan Mei said.

She broke into a hysterically laughter then tears.

”Don’t cry. You have to be strong for your sister.” She cheered herself up and washed her face.

After mentally convincing herself to be strong, she walked out of the washroom.

The moment she got of the washroom, her phone rang. She panicked when she saw it was from the hospital.

”Hello, did something happened to my sister?”. She asked the moment the call was connected.

”No, Miss Kim. Your sister’s hospital bills and surgery has been paid. We would be doing her surgery tomorrow.”

The woman broke into tears when she heard the nurse. No one has lend them a helping hand when she was growing up.

She worked hard to put herself into school while taking care of her sister. Fortunately, when she finished school, she landed a job here.

No one knows her despair when she found out her sister was sick and needed surgery. She wasn’t close to her working colleagues because she didn’t have the luxury of time to socialize.

The woman had heard of the rumors of how ruthless her boss is but never in her wildest dream did she think her boss would be the one to lend her a helping hand when she needs it the most.

She doesn’t know how or when but she promised to work hard to pay back Yan Mei one day.

*******

The appearance of Yan Mei back in the company had everyone tensed up. The employees had relaxed when Yan Mei wasn’t present but now that she was back everyone was in serious mode.

Su Bei debriefed Yan Mei on her schedule and their new projects coming along.

Yan Mei buried herself into piles of work while Su Bei picked up calls.

”Tired?” Su Bei asked, putting a cup of coffee on Yan Mei’s table.

Yan Mei groaned and rubbed the back of her neck.

”Hmm. The list you gave me for the position of vice president, no one fits the position.” Yan Mei sighed.

”What about a promotion?” Yan Mei asked her friend picking up the coffee.

”A promotion?” Su Bei asked raising her brows.

Yan Mei nodded, “You graduated on top of your class right?”

”Ah? Yes.” Su Bei replied awkwardly. She has a feeling she is about to get the shock of her life.

”You have worked by side for years, you know everything about business management. Why did you apply for an assistant position?”

Su Bei shrugged, “it was available at that time and I needed a job.”

Yan Mei nodded taking a sip of her coffee.

”Are you up for the position of Vice President?”

Su Bei widened her eyes, “Me? Vice President? Are you sure?”

”Yes.” Yan Mei replied smiling softly at Su Bei