h4Chapter 177: Chapter 177/h4

    At that moment, upon hearing what Cora just said, Oliver then give a smallugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

    "Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce both of you," he said, his tone casual but carrying the weight of someone who had just realized the tension in the air. Then, with a gesture of his hand, he pointed at the woman standing beside him. "This is Lisa, my secretary. She’s the one handling mypany matters. Remember I told you about it? But it seems both of you haven’t had the chance to meet each other properly just yet. Anyway, this is Lisa, my secretary."

    The moment those words left his mouth, Cora eyes turned to face Lisa fully. Her eyes swept over her carefully, from head to toe, as if she were trying to read her entire story in a single nce. Lisa’s presence was striking. She had an elegance that was hard to ignore, her beauty wasn’t loud or desperate, but quiet, refined, and deliberate. Everything about her from the way she stood with her shoulders straight, to the soft confidence in her gaze spoke of someone who knew exactly who she was.

    Cora felt a slight jolt in her chest. ’So this is his secretary?’ she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. Without needing anyone to exin, she could tell Lisa was extremely beautiful elegant in a way that made her look like she belonged in glossy magazines, not just behind a desk. And the realization hit her harder than she expected: Oliver would be seeing this face almost every single day. This stunning, graceful woman would be in his office, in his meetings, close to him in ways Cora couldn’t quite define.

    Her mind spun as she remembered all the times Oliver had insisted to her that he didn’t have anybody in his life. That his heart was empty, waiting for the right one. Cora’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

    ’How can I believe that now, when he’s surrounded by someone like this every day?’

    At that moment a strange mix of jealousy and disbelief swirled inside her. Her thoughts betrayed her as she struggled to keep her face neutral. She didn’t want Oliver to notice how unsettled she was.

    So at that moment, she forced a small smile, one that barely reached her eyes, and said slowly, "Oh... so this is your secretary."

    Oliver, oblivious to the storm inside her, nodded his head firmly. "Yes," he replied without hesitation. "Is there any issue with that?"

    Immediately, Cora shook her head quickly, her voiceing out faster than she intended. "No, no, no, no problem with it at all. I’m just surprised, though."

    At that moment, before Oliver could even say anything, Lisa leaned forward slightly with a bright smile on her face and spoke directly to Cora. Her tone carried both respect and sincerity as she said,

    "Miss Cora, it’s truly a pleasure meeting you today for the very first time. Honestly, I’ve heard so much about you from Mr.Oliver, my boss. He has spoken countless times about how remarkable you are. And seeing you now, I must say, everything he described fits perfectly. Your beauty, your elegance... it’s even more than what I imagined. I feel very grateful to be meeting you today."

    Her words came out smoothly, polite and ttering, but there was no hint of exaggeration. With a graceful gesture, she extended her right hand toward Cora, signaling a handshake.

    Cora, though still slightly guarded, epted it without hesitation. Their hands met in a firm yet refined grip. But as their palms parted, Cora’s eyes lingered on Lisa. She found herself studying every detail of her, the delicate features, the way she carried herself with quiet confidence, the elegance in her smile. Something about her presence unsettled Cora even more.

    So this is the woman who works by Oliver’s side every day? she thought. The idea of Oliver being surrounded by such beauty daily felt almost unreal to her. No matter how much she tried to brush it off, there was a tug of disbelief inside her.

    Breaking the silence, Cora forced a yful smile and said in a tone that was half curious, half teasing, "Well then, I only hope Oliver hasn’t been telling you too many bad things about me. I really hope he hasn’t gone around spoiling my name and characters."

    The moment the words left her mouth, Lisa burst out in a light, genuineugh. She quickly shook her head and replied warmly, "Oh no, not at all. In fact, quite the opposite. Everything your boss has ever told me about you has only been praise. He always described you as a strong,manding, and dominant woman. And now that I’ve met you in person, I can see for myself that he was right."

    Her eyes glowed with admiration as she added, "I’m truly grateful to know that such a powerful, dominant woman like you still exists. Honestly, it gives me joy and hope. That is exactly why I’m so happy to meet you today, Miss Cora."

    At that moment, Lisa continued with a soft but determined smile, her voice carrying a mix of admiration and longing.

    " I was hoping and praying that one day i would be as close to my boss, Mr.Oliver, just like you Miss.Cora always by his side, trusted, and valued." Her words sounded innocent, but they carried a weight that struck Cora deeply.

    However Lisa words made Cora felt an unexpected tightness in her chest, something that made her heart sink. Then she forced a small, reluctant smile, though it barely reached her eyes. Outwardly, she managed to say that it all depended on Oliver, that Lisa just needed to work very, very hard, and perhaps, one day, she would get there. She said it kindly, even with encouragement, but inside her mind was a storm.

    Inwardly, Cora was screaming, ’No. That is never going to be possible. I’ll make sure of it.’ Her thoughts raced with suspicion. She didn’t trust Lisa one bit. The idea of Lisa getting close to Oliver filled her with unease, a quiet fury that she masked behind her calm expression.

    Lisa, seemingly unaware of the turmoil she had stirred, nodded her head respectfully. She bowed slightly to both Oliver and Cora, then said with a polite smile.

    "I will be taking my leave now, since everything I had came to do was already done." She added.

    "I would give both of you privacy to yourself now." Without lingering another moment, she turned and walked out, her figure moving gracefully toward the exit.

    But as Lisa left, Cora’s eyes followed her, unwilling to let go of her gaze. She watched every step, every movement, as though Lisa’s presence had left a shadow that clung to the room. She didn’t even realize how intently she was staring until Oliver’s voice cut through her thoughts.

    "Why are you still staring at her like that?" Oliver asked, his tone casual but edged with curiosity. "Is something wrong? Are you suspecting anything, or what?"