The Apple of My Eye

"What's going on?" Autumn asked, "How could you be back to work so soon? I thought I told you to get some rest."

"I am ok." Isla forced a pale smile and replied, "Staying home would only make me feel worse. I feel much better here keeping my mind off things."

Autumn felt sorry for Isla. "Isla, you are..."

She wanted to tell her about Aron's plan. It might make Isla feel better. But Autumn changed her mind and decided to keep quiet.

Isla reacted with a gentle smile, "Autumn, I feel ok. The tasks here have piled up during my absence and I have to handle them one by one. Do you have anything else to talk to me about?"

"Nothing more. You can work on them as you wish." Autumn replied. After Isla left, Autumn kept herself busy with her own work that had also started to pile up on her desk.

Close to the end of the day, Ryan Zhou knocked on the office door: "Ye..... I mean... Manager Ye, someone here is looking for you."

"Who is it?" Autumn grumbled. Who would want to speak to her near closing time?

"It is me." Autumn immediately knew who the visitor was, judging from the poor Chinese he uttered. "Mr.Hoada, what a surprise to see you here!" She exclaimed.

Hoada Masahiro was one of Autumn's former clients. Although their business did not materialize, they still had high regard and respect for each other. He lived in Japan most of the time, so there had been no frequent communication between them. It indeed surprised Autumn to see him today.

said with beaming smile. He is

for her guest. "Mr. Hoada, what is

to take the chance to meet you when I learned that you work nearby." Hoada Masahiro

accepted his invitation, had she not just dealt with a mountain of

Masahiro switched to a wiser course after sensing Autumn's hesitancy. "I will be here in China for no more than two days. I intended to discuss something to make up for our discontinued business... Since you seem short of time, we don't have

careful consideration. Cloud Advertising Company hadn't been performing well due to that scandal she was involved in, thwarting cooperation from big companies.

a phone call." Autumn called her husband to tell him that she would be home a bit late. Charles asked where the dinner would be and hung

assuring her husband. She said to Hoada with a smile. "Now I will call to get a reservation at

against social practice...." Hoada Masahiro interrupted Autumn, "Though I come from another country, it's my honor to arrange the dinner. For a lady like you to

for the dinner. Isla was at the exit and pulled Autumn aside. She asked, "Autumn, are you sure about going out to dinner with this

what is wrong?" Autumn added, "He is my former client. If we can bring him

motive, judging from his glances at you." Isla had encountered something

are imagining things. Anyway, I have to go. You can get off work early if there is nothing else urgent

then left with

"Miss Ye, do

not....." Autumn