As soon as the smell of the cuisine reached Ria Zhang's nose, it made her stomach grumbled. The blood rushed to her face as she sneaked a look from her brother.
Stanley Co let out a small laugh before putting a spoonful of baked scallops on her plate.
"Eat a lot. You're getting thinner," he said.
Ria Zhang rolled her eyes. There were other women in Costa who were way thinner than her. For instance, there was Mira Cheng.
"Mira Cheng is thinner than me, mind you, brother."
"Mira is a fashion designer. She sometimes do modeling too," Stanley Co said, putting a lobster ball in his mouth before chewing it.
Ria Zhang raised her shoulders. "Can I do modeling too?"
The spoon Stanley Co was using stopped mid-air before he finally put it back on the plate.
Thin lines appeared on his forehead while his lips formed a thin line.
"Why do you really want to go to the modeling industry? Is it because of that man?"
Ria Zhang's eyebrows drew together. Man who? "Excuse me?"
"Didn't you convince Grandpa to let you manage CoTouchMe so that you can get close to that man?" Stanley Co shook his head.
And here he was, thinking that his sister was finally moving on. It seemed that it wast just a pretense.
Ria Zhang was still clueless of what her brother was saying. Well, one cannot blame her. She has no idea that prior to managing the CoTouchMe, she was just an heiress in strictest sense of a word.
"Look brother, I don't know what you're talking about. I just want to earn money," she shrugged. "But if you can recommend a job where I can earn money, then I will not go into modeling," she further added.
Ria Zhang thought that the modeling industry was the easiest way to get money.
Stanley Co tilted his head. Her sister wanted to earn money? He sighed upon remembering that their parents cut Sierra Co's allowance the day she ran away from home.
"Aren't you managing the CoTouchMe?"
Ria Zhang's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Exactly the reason why I am not earning money," she said.
Majority of the people in Costa City knew that Sierra Co was managing the CoTouchMe hence they boycotted the company. And most of the employees have already resigned.
"So what do you intend to do with CoTouchMe, then?" her brother asked.
"If I close it, will Grandpa be mad?" she asked back.
Stanley Co lean back on his chair. Would it hurt his sister if he told her that their grandpa knew the CoTouchMe would go bankrupt after Sierra Co took over?
CoTouchMe was primarily under Lisa Co, a cousin from the third branch of their clan. When Sierra Co asked for the company, their grandfather just gave it to her.
This was also the reason why Sierra Co earned the ire of the third branch. Although the third branch was well-compensated, it didn't prevent them from hating his sister.
"You can do anything you want. Grandpa will not get mad." Stanley Co said after a while.
Ria Zhang's eyes twinkled with delight. "For real?" she asked, clasping her hands near her chest.
Stanley Co nodded. As long as it's not about chasing a man, their grandfather would not mind.
Ria Zhang nodded repeatedly. Her mind was busy thinking of what to do with that company.
"Then, I will sell it," she said. Of course, it was just a cover up. She wouldn't really sell it.
Since she was into art, how about making it as an art gallery?
The CoTouchMe was a company specializing in grooming men and women. Other than that, she doesn't know anything about it.
Ria Zhang needed a lot of help. But she cannot ask from Sierra Co's family. She wanted to surprise them. It seemed that she would find help again from the dark web.
The CoTouchMe was located along the Costa Boulevard. The area was most coveted and was one of the priciest properties in the city. How about making it as a coffee shop and art gallery into one?
But first, she needed to let the whole Costa City know that Sierra Co has sold the company.
Ria Zhang smiled inwardly. She would name it 'Sweet Coast'. She nodded absentmindedly. That's right. It has a nice ring on it.
But she needed a manager. Need to get down to work, asap, she thought.
"If you want to work, you can come over the company on Monday," he said.
Shrugging her shoulders, Ria Zhang just grinned. "I'll think about it first."
All she needed was a jump off point. She has been working for somebody in her last life. There's no way she would do that in this life. She felt giddy just by thinking about it.
Sooner or later, she would rise up again in Costa City. And by that time, everyone would tremble when they utter the name 'Sierra Co'.
"Okay. Whatever you say," Stanley Co picked up his spoon and fork and resumed eating. He can support his sister financially even for the rest of their lives. She doesn't need a man to support her. Excluding him, of course.
He cannot wait to go back at the ancestral home and update the elders about this progress.
For sure, they would not believe it. But the harder they don't, the more satisfaction it would bring him.
A small smile appeared on Stanley Co's lips. Ria Zhang who lowered her head and concentrated on the baked scallops didn't see it.