Chương 1: The King’s Court
Grey's POV
As the grand, double doors of the conference room swung open, my bodyguards cleared the way for me like royal guards escorting a king. I strode into the room with the same confidence I always carried—the kind that made people stop and stare, whether they wanted to or not. My executives, all dressed in sharp suits, rose to their feet in unison. Their eyes were glued to me, the almighty Grey Wang. I could feel the tension in the room as I unbuttoned my custom-fitted,thousand-dollar jacket, savoring the control I had over every second.
I didn't just run Wang's Empire. I was Wang's Empire. In my world, precision wasn't just a preference—it was law. Punctuality was sacred, and excellence was non-negotiable. The clock in my head was merciless, and every second that ticked by felt like a challenge, daring someone to fail.
I gestured for the meeting to begin, my eyes scanning the room. Everyone was poised, ready—except for one thing that threw my perfectly curated world into chaos.
Just then,Blue, my personal assistant, approached, her expression uneasy. She leaned in close, her words low but sharp enough to cut through my calm."Jessica's not here," she whispered.
My heart skipped a beat. Jessica—the project leader wasn't here? The one person who kept this whole machine running smoothly had vanished on the most important day of the quarter. I checked my watch, my patience thinning like ice under a hot sun. My mind raced. Each second dragged out, mocking me.
Five minutes. Still no sign of her. My fingers tapped against the conference table.
Ten minutes.
My jaw clenched as I saw Mr. Joe, the CEO of JOE Hotels, glance at his phone, straightening his suit ,then rise from his seat."I'm afraid I have another meeting to attend, Mr. Wang," he said politely, though I could see the frustration simmering beneath his composed exterior. "Perhaps we can reschedule?"
"Of course Mr Joe," I said, my voice deceptively calm. "We'll be in touch."
He nodded once, then left without another word. The door closed behind him with a soft click, but it felt like the final nail in the coffin of this deal. I had just lost $600 million. Because of Jessica.
I seethed, barely able to keep my composure. My empire was built on precision, on punctuality—and here I was, losing a six-hundred-million-dollar contract because of a secretary. Fifteen minutes late.Fifteen minutes. What on earth could've kept her from showing up?
Just when I thought I'd explode, the doors burst open, and there she was—Jessica—disheveled, breathless, and looking like she'd been caught in a tornado. Her face was pale, and beads of sweat clung to her forehead. But I didn't care. Not anymore. My gaze narrowed as she stumbled into the room, her face flushed with panic.
"Jessica," I growled. "You're late. Do you have any idea what you have just done?"
Her eyes were wide. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Wang," she stammered, out of breath,as tears gathered in her eyeballs. "I had really bad menstrual cramps this morning. I couldn't even walk. It was unbearable... I tried—"
I didn't want to hear it. Her excuses were meaningless. I turned to Blue, cutting her off mid-sentence. "She needs to rest," I said coldly, unforgiving,my decision made in an instant.
Blue nodded, knowing what I meant without me having to explain further.
"As of this moment, consider it her permanent rest," I said. "Get me a new project leader by tomorrow."
Jessica's face paled, her hands trembling as she realized what had just happened. I didn't wait for her to say anything more. I stood, rage boiling beneath my calm exterior, and walked out of the conference room. My empire's future had just taken a hit, and I wasn't going to let this mistake go unanswered.
As I stormed through the lobby of the hotel, I could hear her behind me, trying to catch up. "Mr. Wang! Please, I'm sorry!" she cried, but my bodyguards were already in position, blocking her from getting any closer. Her words fell on deaf ears. I wasn't interested in excuses. This was my world, and in my world, there was no room for failure.
***
It was time for my customary inspection of the hotel. My steps were sharp, each one echoing through the pristine hallways. Wang's Empire wasn't just a hotel—it was a symbol of luxury, sophistication, and power. My power. It stretched far beyond just rooms and suites. There was the fashion line, the beauty sector, the VVIP lounge, and, of course, the restaurant. Every inch of it was a reflection of me. Everything had to be perfect, or heads would roll.
As I entered the restaurant, the savory aroma of fine dining filled the air. The chefs, all dressed in their immaculate white uniforms, lined up in a neat row, their faces a mixture of awe and fear. They knew the stakes. I didn't tolerate mediocrity.
I scanned them with my usual intensity, but one young chef caught my eye. His face was pale, his hands trembling slightly. He looked like he was about to pass out. I couldn't resist testing him.
With a flick of my hand, I brushed a speck of food off his cheek, my gloved fingers barely grazing his skin. His eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, I could almost hear his heart pounding in his chest.
"Fire him," I said coolly to Blue, who stood by my side. There was no hesitation, no second thoughts. I couldn't afford to keep nervous, weak employees in my empire. Weakness was contagious, and I wasn't about to let it spread.
We turned and walked out, leaving the poor chef behind. In Wang's Empire, there was only room for the strong. Perfection was the standard, and those who couldn't meet it were left behind. That's how I built this empire—by demanding the best and eliminating the rest.
***
Back in my office, I finally had a moment to breathe, though the frustration from earlier still simmered under the surface. I sat down at my desk, the familiar weight of power settling over me like a cloak. There were contracts to sign, decisions to make. The empire never stopped, and neither did I.
Just as I reached for the first file, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID—Mother. I sighed, already knowing where this conversation was headed.
"Hello, Mom," I said, keeping my tone neutral.
"Grey, do you know how long your blind date waited for you this morning?" she snapped without preamble. "Over an hour! You need to stop being so selfish. I'm trying to find the perfect girl for you, and you just drive them away."
I leaned back in my chair, rolling my eyes. My mother had been obsessed with marrying me off for years. She didn't understand that I was already married—to my empire. I didn't have time for distractions like love or marriage.
"Mother, I'm running a business. I don't have time for this," I replied, my voice flat.
"Grey, you can't marry your work! I want grandchildren. I want you to have a family," she insisted, her frustration palpable.
I sighed again. "I've made my choices, Mother. My empire comes first."
The conversation went back and forth like this, the same tired argument we'd had a hundred times. I wasn't interested in marriage, and she wasn't going to stop trying to convince me otherwise. But I wasn't going to let anyone—not even her—distract me from my goals.
After finally ending the call, I turned my attention back to the work on my desk. The endless contracts and reports were a welcome distraction from the chaos of the day. But before I could get too far, a soft knock on the door interrupted me.
I froze, my eyes narrowing as I stared at the heavy wooden door. Interruptions in my office were rare—and always unwelcome.
"Come in," I said, my voice sharp and commanding. Whoever it was, they better have a good reason for bothering me.
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