GOLDEN GIRL

CHAPTER 47

Shay's POV

Along the drive to work, I plugged in one of my AirPods and dialed the number of a very important client from China. I had become closely acquainted with him during his last business trip to San Francisco. If I was going to handle our products in other international markets, starting with our closest foreign branch seemed like the first step.

He answered a minute later, and I quickly started with small talk—asking how he was doing and making sure he still remembered the good time he had in San Francisco, thanks to my help. He was originally my father's client, and since I was the only one in the family who spoke fluent Mandarin, Dad had asked me to stay close to him, show him around the city, and assist him however I could. He was still working on his English, after all.

Dad practically treated me like his personal interpreter during that time, but in hindsight, it had been beneficial. I had grown closer to the client than he had.

"你不是说你叔叔是新世界城市广场的吗?"
(Didn't you say your uncle owns New World City Plaza?)

"我们正在寻找将我们公司的产品放在那里的方法......我知道......谢谢......我会给你发电子邮件." (We are looking for ways to get our company's products in there... I know... Thank you... I'll email you.)

I ended the call, pulled out my AirPods, and slowly pulled into the parking lot. As soon as I stepped out of the car, my phone rang again—this time, it was Chase.

"Hey."

"I confirmed the duty-free stores in SFO for you."

I smiled to myself as I walked through the lobby and toward the nearby elevators. 

"Thank you."

"If you're really that thankful, then buy me dinner."

I chuckled. "I should buy you dinner twice. You've been a huge help. I think I'll stay friendly with CC Department Stores from now on."

"You have to bring us something good to stay close."

"I'll see. By the way, do you also have connections in China?"

"Uh, who do you think I am? I don't just have the title 'successful and handsome billionaire' for no reason. Do I have connections in China? Darling, I have connections all over Asia! Google that."

I rolled my eyes at his cocky tone. 

"Can you put some of our cosmetic products in the duty-free section of CC Department Store in China?"

He sighed. "Isn't a lot already there?"

"Not the high-priced brands, but the low-priced ones—the ones that haven't gained publicity."

"Will we gain a lot from it?"

"Yeah. Might as well expand my share."

"I'll think about it."

"Well, think fast. My sister is already working on something big with Jason, and I want our method to be better than theirs."

He chuckled again. 

"What's with all the competition? He already established a partnership with you guys, so that means we work together, not against each other."

"There's no way I'm working with Jason. Even if you're both offering something from the same company, I'd rather work with you. He can do whatever the hell he wants with Shelby."

"Why am I the better option?" he teased.

"Because I never dated you—so no hard feelings."

"Touché. I have to hang up; I have a meeting."

"Okay. Bye."

I ended the call and quickly walked toward the elevator just as the doors were about to close. 

"Hold the door, please!"

The doors slid open again, and I abruptly stopped in my tracks when I saw the two people already inside. My heart skipped a beat as Jason's eyes met mine. I quickly averted my gaze to Sylvia, who stood beside him with a confused expression.

"Aren't you getting in?" she asked.

"No," I replied quickly, right as the doors started to close again.

My hand instinctively pressed the button, and the doors reopened. This time, I looked directly at Jason. 

"On second thought... why not?"

I stepped inside, stood in front of them, and pressed the button for the 13th floor.

"So, um... we're just here to attend a meeting with Miss Shelby Falcon. We already met with the client she wanted us to meet, and we're just here to show her the finalized, signed document," Sylvia informed me loudly.

"Great," I replied without turning to face her.

"Oookay. Guys, seriously, I am not claustrophobic, but the awkwardness in here is starting to suffocate me!"

I slightly turned my head to the side and shot her a look before turning back around just as my phone started to ring. Glancing at the screen, I saw that it was Chase again. My eyes flicked to the side, wondering if Jason had noticed. What would he think if he knew I was now working separately with his own business partner?

Wait... why do I care?

I answered the call, keeping my expression neutral to show that I didn't care—because I really didn't. Jason being in the elevator with me wouldn't stop me from discussing another business project with his partner, which I was pretty sure he was unaware of.

"Yeah?"

"I told the international sales team to look over your products."

"Thank you, Evans. Remind me about that dinner soon."

"I sure will. I'll keep you updated if there are any new changes."

"Thanks."

He ended the call, and I turned off my phone. When the elevator doors opened on the thirteenth floor, I stepped out without a backward glance.

He could ask Chase all the questions he wanted. I just needed to focus on my job and promise myself to carefully avoid Jason next time—especially if I didn't want my feelings for him to slip out the next time we ran into each other.