CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 101: FIRST MEETING

Four years ago...

At the time, Victoria didn’t know Matthias personally. She only knew him through social media articles that went viral about him, often due to his perfectionist and hard-working nature. Furthermore, Matthias frequently modeled for business magazine photoshoots and conducted numerous interviews. Upon learning she had been chosen as the primary vendor to design the perfectionist CEO’s luxury residence, Victoria was extremely nervous and afraid of failure. Furthermore, having only been running her studio for a few years, she worried that the results would disappoint the perfectionist CEO.

Matthias invited Victoria to meet at a bar in the Emerald Hotel. Victoria was still unaccustomed to meeting clients in bars. She assumed that meeting clients in bars usually meant harassment. Victoria was mentally prepared to confront her client if he acted recklessly.

Upon arriving at the bar, Victoria nervously approached the perfectionist CEO, who looked even more handsome in person. Furthermore, the cold gaze he gave her made it difficult to swallow. She gripped her bag trembling as if she were facing a murderer.

"You’re finally here, Victoria. I’ve been waiting for you for the past five minutes," Matthias greeted, looking at the luxury watch on his left wrist.

Victoria lowered her head awkwardly. "Forgive me."

"Thankfully, I’m in a good mood today. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have forgiven you."

"I will be more careful."

Matthias extended his right hand. "I’m Matthias Emerson, CEO of T&H Group. I haven’t formally introduced myself yet."

"I’m Victoria Erianthe, founder of Star Wisdom Studio." Victoria nervously held the handsome CEO’s hand.

"You can call me Matthias if you want. Don’t call me Mr Matthias! I hate it!"

"Alright. I obey you. I want you to call me Victoria."

"By the way, I don’t want to waste any more time with you. I want to discuss business matters with you now."

"If I may ask, why did you ask me to meet you in a place like this?"

The corners of his lips lifted. "Because I enjoy drinking here. But don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. I’m very busy now."

Victoria still had her eyes averted as she took out her sketchbook. "Thank goodness, I thought you were the jerk type."

Matthias laughed awkwardly, folding his arms. "Why do you think I’m a jerk? Did someone talk bad about me to you?"

"Because usually when a man invites a woman to meet him at a bar, he’ll secretly harass her. Especially since you invited me to a fancy bar."

"Don’t worry, I’ve never been interested in anyone."

"What?" Victoria looked the perfectionist CEO over from head to toe. "You’re so handsome, smart, and perfect."

"Do I really look like that to you?" Matthias raised his head in front of the beautiful woman who made his heart flutter a little. "All women compliment me like that, but I feel like they’re all just trying to take advantage of me. Are you one of them too?"

"No. I’m different from them," Victoria replied with a confident look.

"This is the answer I really wanted. I know you’re not that type of woman."

Victoria gently pushed Matthias away. "Can we continue our discussion? So, what made you interested in choosing me? I haven’t been overly promotional about my studio."

Matthias returned to his seat politely. "You could say I’ve seen you before."

"Me?"

"I saw you while you were meeting with your client at a restaurant. You looked so professional explaining the meaning of your unique design. Besides, I’ve seen the entire contents of your sketchbook."

"Wait a minute! Since when have you seen my sketchbook?"

"You’ll know when you think about it more."

Victoria’s eyes widened. "Could it be that you were the one who found my missing sketchbook?"

Matthias nodded and smiled. "Luckily, I was the one who kept your book safe. Otherwise, someone else would have stolen it and plagiarized your work."

"Thank you, Matthias."

"I absolutely love all of your designs. Their unique characteristics and hidden meanings have made me so excited to have you design my house."

"But what if the results don’t meet expectations? Will you fire me?"

"I wouldn’t be like that. If I trust you, then I’ll treat you well. I’m so glad I met you. You’re the only woman I can trust."

"Even though it’s only the first time we’ve met, you already trust me so much."

"You might have to undergo some tests while you’re working with me. I want you to not betray me and leave me without any reason."

"Wouldn’t it be more likely that you would act like that?"

"Let’s wait and see."

Since discussing a collaboration with Matthias, Victoria had met with him almost every day. He was her only VIP client, and she even made a special schedule just for him. Because Matthias wanted to offer her such a generous reward, she naturally felt a little pressured. If the results didn’t meet the cold CEO’s expectations, it would be the end for her and her studio.

She had been working with Matthias for over a month, and she was getting used to his cold and arrogant demeanor. Now, when she wanted to meet Matthias in person at the CEO’s office in T&H Real Estate, her right hand trembled as she tried to knock on the door, hearing the CEO’s shouting voice from outside. She feared she would be scolded like that one day.

As Matthias invited her into the CEO’s office, Victoria didn’t dare raise her head openly. She clutched her bag, trembling as she faced the CEO’s cold, intimidating gaze, as he berated his employees.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Did I scold you?"

Victoria shook her head nervously. "Actually, I’m nervous."

"Why are you nervous?"

"Since I have been working with you for more than a month, I am worried that you will be very disappointed if the results do not meet your expectations."

"Have I been scolding you all this time?"

"No."

"Then, you have to do my next task. Next week I have to attend a party, you have to come with me."