"Continue with the meeting," he commanded, his voice steady and stern. Everyone quickly composed their surprised expressions.

After Hansen Ruiz had left, Julia Bluen could finally work in peace.

「Half an hour later, Glades Horne arrived.」

Although the senior management at Cosmos had met Glades Horne, they were still unaware of his identity. Even the security guards didn't know. When his Rolls-Royce pulled up to the company's entrance, the security guard stopped him, requesting his ID for registration and inquiring who he was looking for and the purpose of his visit.

"Our young master..." Wade Coleman, sitting in the passenger seat, saw the security guard questioning them as if they were criminals and refusing to open the company gates to let them in. He couldn't help but want to scold them. This company was originally a subsidiary of Valence Group. Even if it weren't, when had their young master ever been stopped? And to be interrogated so thoroughly, as if they were robbers! If someone were to commit robbery in a Rolls-Royce, that would truly be a world-first.

Glades stopped Wade's scolding.

The security guard wasn't wrong. For the company's safety, for Julia's safety, what the security guard did was commendable.

Besides, Cosmos had once belonged to the Valence Group. Even though it had been spun off, its management system—a comprehensive system he himself had established—remained unchanged. All Valence Group enterprises, whether the parent company or its subsidiaries, were managed so strictly that not even a fly could get in.

Glades took out his phone and called Julia, asking her to contact the Administrative Department through the internal line. The Administrative Department would then instruct the security guards to open the company gates and let them in.

Glades remained unwilling to reveal his CEO identity.

He felt the people here should see Julia as their leader, not him.

In the General Manager's Office, Vice President Lee happened to have some matters to discuss with Julia. The two women were in discussion, with Vice President Lee doing most of the talking while Julia listened.

Julia didn't have a secretary. Glades also stopped the receptionist from announcing him or showing him the way. He walked upstairs himself, instructing his two bodyguards to wait downstairs.

After finishing her discussion with Julia, Vice President Lee stood up, intending to leave. Glancing at the clock, she then said to Julia, "Ms. Bluen, it's almost quitting time, just ten minutes left. How about we have dinner together?"

Julia smiled and replied, "I'm sorry. My husband said he's coming to pick me up for dinner. Perhaps another time."

Vice President Lee smiled back. "That's fine. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

Julia nodded. As Vice President Lee turned and walked towards the office door, upon opening it, she was startled to see Glades standing before the office like an imposing mountain. She froze for a moment, stunned by Glades's handsome features and powerful aura. After recovering, she smiled at Glades and said, "Ms. Bluen is waiting for you."

Glades didn't respond, merely stepping aside to let her pass. Only when her figure had completely vanished on the third floor did he stride into Julia's office.

Hearing his footsteps, Julia looked up and saw him arrive. She didn't greet him with her usual smile; instead, her oval face was taut, her displeasure radiating instantly.

Seeing her taut face, Glades's heart suddenly clenched, a faint ache within it.

Julia rose and walked around her desk. She took Glades's large hand, pulled him to the sofa, and pressed him down to sit. She glanced at the office door first to ensure it was closed. It's almost quitting time, so no one should come to disturb us now, she thought. Only then did she place her hands on either side of Glades on the sofa, effectively pinning him in a dominant, assertive posture.

Glades pursed his lips, his ink-dark eyes as unfathomable as the deep sea at night, steadily meeting her gaze.

"Let's have a good, proper talk," Julia said, emphasizing the words "good, proper."

Glades's handsome, sword-like brows twitched, but he remained silent, lips pressed together, his gaze fixed on her intently. Under his focused gaze, Julia felt as if she had been thrown into a deep pool, spinning with the strong whirlpool, so dizzy and disoriented she couldn't tell east from west. Her stern expression unknowingly softened, and a blush automatically crept onto her cheeks. Her skin was fair, so when she blushed, the rosy tint against her white skin made her even more captivating.

"Alright." Just as Julia began to feel a little uncomfortable and was about to retreat from her assertive encirclement, Glades's pursed lips parted slightly, and he uttered a single, simple yet forceful word.

"You understand me, don't you?"

"I do."

"Since you understand, why did you go back on your word?"

"I was worried you'd get tired."

"And you? Are you tired?"

"I'm not."

"Valence Group is so vast, with countless subsidiaries. You manage them all alone and don't get tired. Why would I?"

He fell silent, pursing his lips once more.

"Stop pursing your lips all the time, you look like I owe you tens of billions and haven't paid you back." The moment Julia saw him purse his lips again, she couldn't resist reaching out to pry his tightly closed lips apart. Every time they shared an intimate gesture, she would still blush.

Glades loved seeing her blush, especially since her blushes were because of him.

"I was wrong today." As Julia withdrew her fingers, her cheeks flushed, Glades sighed softly. He pulled her into his embrace, gently stroking her short hair, and apologized.

He knew her so well, yet he had still gone back on his word; it was no wonder she had put on a stern face when she saw him.

He cared about her too much, always worried she might overtire herself.

But she, even if he pampered her to the heavens, remained herself. She would never become spoiled due to his indulgence, nor would she change her self-reliant nature. Otherwise, she would have become a senior manager in the Bluen Family consortium and wouldn't have run off to Cosmos to be a mere accountant.

"It won't happen again," Julia murmured like a kitten, snuggling into his embrace and contentedly rubbing against his chest. "Do you know? In my heart, your image is as lofty as a deity's. You've always been a man whose word is his bond. I like people who are trustworthy. Even if you went back on your word for my sake, your image in my heart would still take a hit. Glades, I don't want the image I have of you in my heart to change."