At nine o'clock the next morning, Sophie arrived at the Crown & Cipher hotel. A doorman in a uniform embroidered with the C&C logo on the chest pulled open the heavy glass doors to the lobby. The ceiling soared high and wide, adorned with an exquisite chandelier that resembled a blooming lotus—dreamy and luxurious. The pure white marble floor gleamed with a delicate sheen. A faint fragrance filled the lobby, as if one were standing in a sea of flowers.
Sophie's eyes swept over the refined, opulent, and exorbitantly priced lobby, marveling, Rich people are incomprehensible. A room costs 2,316 pounds a night, and guests keep pouring in. Are there tons of freebies? Exquisite handicrafts? Luxury cosmetic kits? Maybe even complimentary gold? Sigh, I'll stick to my little apartment…
Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure at the entrance, dressed in a black three-piece suit, right hand casually tucked into his trouser pocket, striding forward in glossy black leather shoes. Everything about him screamed expensive and unaffordable.
Isn't that the arrogant guy from yesterday? As he drew closer, Sophie realized this was her fated chance to return the money. She quickly fished the 50-pound note from her small backpack, jogged into his path, and thrust out her right hand. "Sir, consider yesterday's mineral water my treat. Here's your 50 pounds back." She desperately wanted to slap the money onto his face, but today was her first day on the job. If a supervisor saw her, she'd lose it. Job first—everything else can wait.
Ned stared at Sophie, momentarily blank, unable to place her. Instinctively assuming she was trying to flirt, he ignored her and sidestepped to leave. Just then, Mr. Wang, who had just stepped out of the elevator and into the corridor, waved at him and hurried over. Ned raised his right hand in response, smiling as he walked toward him.
Sophie couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Hey, what's your problem? Are you trying to humiliate me? I'm returning your money—I don't want it. I work at a convenience store, not robbing people. Two bottles of water? My treat." She was getting angry. Does being handsome give him the right to ignore everyone? Does a bit of money make him blind? He clearly saw me and pretended not to.
At her words, Ned stopped. He studied Sophie carefully, and the memory of yesterday's less-than-pleasant convenience store scene slowly resurfaced. With a sneer, he said, "Hmph! Are girls these days all so shameless? You even tracked me down here, knowing I'd be at this hotel, just to hit on me."
Sophie's jaw dropped in disbelief, pointing at herself. "Me, thick-skinned?" She was fuming. First he'd pretended not to see her, and now that he finally did, this was the nonsense he came up with? "Your skin's way thicker than mine! Here's your 50 pounds. I paid for the mineral water yesterday—take it." With that, she angrily shoved the bill into the breast pocket of his suit jacket. As if I wanted to see you… deliberately hitting on you! Never again—never, ever—
Just then, Mr. Wang reached them and asked with concern, "Ned, what's going on?"
Seeing Sophie in a simple T-shirt, jeans, white sneakers, and a backpack—clearly not a guest who could afford to spend at Crown & Cipher—Mr. Wang's face hardened. He summoned security and, without room for argument, ordered, "Miss, leave immediately!"
"Hey, wait—I'm here to start work! Let go of me!" Sophie protested as the guard firmly grabbed her arm and dragged her ten meters outside the hotel lobby.
"Do not approach again. Next time we'll call the police and charge you with harassment," the guard warned. Having witnessed the entire interaction between the general manager and this girl, he was convinced Sophie had deliberately accosted Ned and even made physical contact with his chest. Nothing less than harassment.
"Sophie, why aren't you going inside? What are you waiting for out here?" A luxury MPV pulled up beside her. The door slid open, and Jonathan beamed at her.
"Chairman, good morning!" The guard snapped to attention, right hand over his heart, bowing ninety degrees to the man in the bespoke suit. "This young lady was harassing the general manager, so Mr. Wang had her removed." The guard's words sealed Sophie's "guilt."
Sophie was on the verge of tears. "Uncle Harrington, good morning! They've got it all wrong—I wasn't harassing anyone. I was just returning money." Looking up at Jonathan, she gathered her courage. "A manager came out just now, didn't ask questions, and had security throw me out. They even said I can't come near the hotel again."
Jonathan frowned, then stepped out of the car, buttoned his suit jacket, and patted Sophie's shoulder. "Come on, I'll take you in. Let's see who was rude enough to kick you out." Turning sternly to the guard, he added, "Look closely—this is my personally recruited secretary. Treat her with respect."
What a dramatic scene! "Yes, Chairman!" The security guard watched their retreating figures, smirking inwardly: This girl's got skills—first she snagged the chairman, and now she's eyeing his handsome young son? Trying to have it all, huh? His face twisted into a sleazy grin.
Jonathan escorted Sophie straight through the lobby and into the executive elevator, greeted the whole way with choruses of "Good morning, Chairman!" and a gauntlet of envious, disdainful, or probing stares. Sophie's head drooped lower and lower, terrified of meeting those naked gazes.
In the cramped elevator, she pinched her left hand with her right, eyes fixed on the floor. "Chairman… could I not be your secretary? I can do anything else—housekeeping, concierge, front desk… anything." Her voice shrank to a whisper until only their breathing filled the silence. Time seemed frozen as the elevator climbed uninterrupted to the 66th floor. Sophie fidgeted, picking at her nails in embarrassment.
When the doors finally opened, Jonathan led her into the chairman's office—a sprawling 600-square-meter expanse—and sat her on the sofa. "Sophie, relax. I'm your mother's best friend; you can trust me completely. I always intended for you to be my secretary here at Crown & Cipher. If you have any concerns, speak freely."
"And no matter where we are, call me Uncle Harrington. Don't copy the staff and call me 'Chairman.' I don't have many young people close to me—I'd like us to be closer."