Bab 2: CHAPTER 2: FIRST ENCOUNTER...OR NOT

<p>A week later...<br/><br/>Ring! Ring!<br/><br/>A groggy Long Xia picked up the phone and put it on her ear carelessly.<br/><br/>"What?"<br/><br/>"Woman, it's 8:00 in the morning and you are asking me, what? Get your lazy ass out of bed and come to work.The manager today woke up on the wrong side of the bed. He's been shouting orders at us the whole morning...I overheard that there is an important guest at our hotel today. I heard he is a big shot. Do you know who it is?"<br/><br/>"No. My manager and assistant usually manage all that in my absence, so I don't know who it is."<br/><br/>"Okay. Now seriously, get out of bed." <br/><br/>Sha hang up. Long Xia got out of bed and prepared for work as a waitress in the prestigious Luvitus Hotel. She had been working there with her rich best friend, Yang Liu since this chain of hotels was opened to the masses a year ago.<br/><br/>...<br/><br/>Long Xia alighted the taxi and looked at the skyscraper of the hotel and a look of pride flashed across her eyes.As soon as she entered the building, Yang Liu dragged her friend aside. <br/><br/>" It's 8:26 and the guest will arrive at 8:30.You should lead by example. Hmph!"<br/><br/>"Okay ..whatever. So who is this guest of ours today?"<br/><br/>"His name is Zhao...."<br/><br/>Yang Liu was interrupted when the staff started rushing out to greet the very important guest.<br/><br/>"He's here. Let's go "<br/><br/>As per protocol of the hotel, any important guest would be greeted by all the staff as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle.Thus the staff had already lined up to greet him.<br/><br/>Several black cars arrived at the entrance.A pitch black Range Rover Evoque stood out the most and a bodyguard rushed to open the door.<br/><br/><br/>A man, no a male god, alighted the car in his glory leaving the staff, the passers-by and Long Xia in awe, shock and admiration. Zhao Haoran. Who didn't know him? ; unless you were living under a rock not to. He was the number one bachelor of Cui city admired and loved by all. He was the president of Zhao Corporate,one of the largest companies in the world. Unfortunately, Long Xia was among the ones who were living under a rock and she didn't know him well; but she had seen him in some magazines but forgot his name. As he walked towards the entrance, he stopped where Long Xia and Yang Liu were and turned to look at them. <br/><br/><br/>"You two... follow me."<br/><br/><br/>Yang Liu and Long Xia looked at one another and then followed this male god into the hotel. A waiter led them to a private room where another young, handsome man was waiting. Upon seeing him, Long Xia was stunned and her eyes widened slightly.<br/><br/>"Zhuo Li, what are you doing here?"<br/><br/><br/>" Someone dragged me out of bed and forced me to accompany him today." Zhuo Li scowled as he looked at his best mate, Zhao Haoran, who in turn ignored him.<br/><br/>Zhuo Li was also the best friend of Long Xia since they were teens.<br/><br/>"Yang Liu." Zhao Haoran called.<br/><br/>"Yes, elder cousin."<br/><br/>"Wait...wait." Long Xia interrupted. " You are his cousin? " <br/><br/>" Let's sit down first. Luo Qing, tell the waiter to serve us tea."<br/><br/>"Yes sir." Luo Qing, Zhao Haoran's secretary, left to relay the message.<br/><br/>The four sat down.<br/><br/>" Yes Xia , I am his cousin."Yang Liu answered her previous question.<br/><br/>Long Xia moved closer to her best friend's ear and whispered." You have such a hot and rich man as your cousin and you never told me?"<br/><br/>" Sorry."<br/><br/>" It's okay. We'll talk about this later."<br/><br/>The door opened and a waiter came in. He was surprised to see two of his fellow staff members seated together with the esteemed guests. He hurriedly served the tea and went out afterwards.<br/><br/>"You know, Zhuo Li, am no longer a Long."Long Xia commented all of a sudden forgetting she was in the presence of Zhao Haoran.<br/><br/>"What?!!"Zhuo Li and Yang Liu commented at the same time.<br/><br/>"My father disowned me...wait no..I technically disowned him. He wanted to marry me off to some rich Zhao family. I mean, I was used as a bargaining chip by my father for his collaboration with the Zhao's. Like what kind of father is he? He doesn't even know that I graduated in university with a bachelor of business administration. "<br/><br/>Umm...Xia, that man you said you were supposed to marry is a Zhao?" Yang Liu asked.<br/><br/>"Yes, there are two Zhao families in this City, right?? I think he wanted to marry me off to the one in the west side. The east side Zhao Family is too powerful for my father to get a marriage proposal from them. Although the west one is rich, the east one is verrrrry rich. I mean those guys are literally tycoons and reaching out to them is really hard. But I really have to thank you, Zhuo Li." <br/><br/>"Why?"<br/><br/>"You remember that day we went to a club at night, someone was trailing and he managed to snap a photo of us and sent it to my father. He technically thought that I was hooking up with someone and even called me a whore. He disowned me but at least my marriage was cancelled, even though I never saw my supposed husband's face."<br/><br/>"Actually your supposed husband is here."<br/><br/>"Where?"<br/><br/>Zhuo Li and Yang Liu both pointed at Zhao Haoran, the man who had been quiet the whole time. Long Xia looked at the grey eyed man in shock.<br/><br/>"You?...You are president Zhao of Zhao Corporate??"<br/><br/>Zhao Haoran looked at her and then answered.<br/><br/>"Yes."</p>