Chapter 2
Only four years had passed. He could now acquire Zenith Group, a company worth billions?
Had the world lost its mind, or had she?
Audrey had no room to think. She hurried to Camila’s side, stood straight, and put on her work face.
Phoenix strode over and cast a cold glance at them.
All three secretaries in the CEO’s office were attractive.
Especially Mitchell.
He spoke lightly. “I’m Phoenix Castillo. From today on, I will be taking over as CEO of Zenith Group.”
“I take my coffee without sugar. I dislike perfume. I dislike tardiness. Please remember that.”
“Yes, Mr. Castillo,” the three secretaries answered together.
Phoenix looked at Audrey, his gaze distinctly unfriendly.
“You’re Audrey Mitchell?”
Audrey: ...
He didn’t know her name was Audrey Mitchell? Had a clot gone straight to his brain?
“Yes, Mr. Castillo?”
Phoenix checked the expensive watch on his wrist. “One minute late. Your attendance bonus and performance bonus for the month are both gone.”
Audrey: !!!
Making an example of someone?
Was she the sacrifice?
Was she just the example, the warning label for everyone else?
“Yes.” In the end, she swallowed her pride and forced it down. She still had her mother and Little Bean to support. She could not lose this job.
Phoenix nodded, then asked, “The file says you’re divorced?”
...
That bastard was doing this on purpose.
Audrey answered carefully. “Yes.”
“What was the reason for the divorce?” Phoenix continued, then added, “I don’t make a habit of prying into my subordinates’ private lives. But anyone who stays at my side must be clean.”
So this was how he started using his position to settle personal scores?
“Our sex life was incompatible,” Audrey said generously.
Everyone on the scene froze.
Something flickered in Phoenix’s eyes.
Incompatible? Five times a day was still incompatible? Then there wasn’t a man on earth who could meet her standards.
He continued, “Any children?”
“No.”
“Good.” Phoenix nodded with satisfaction.
Audrey looked at him.
Good, my ass.
The consequence he had left behind had almost killed her.
“That will be all. I have a meeting.” Phoenix looked toward Camila. “Ms. Moore, you’re with me.”
“Yes, Mr. Castillo.”
Camila happily grabbed her notebook.
The meeting lasted three hours.
By the time it ended, Camila’s keyboard had nearly caught fire.
Mr. Castillo was absolutely a decisive, merciless corporate grim reaper. He fired three executives on the spot.
Classic new-boss power move. Even Felix Ward was taken down.
When Camila returned, she looked as if she had lost two pounds.
Her spirit had been wrung dry.
“Sure enough, billionaire CEOs are workaholics. Terrifying.” Camila collapsed into a complaint. “But Mr. Castillo is the abstinent type. In that department... he’s probably strong.”
Audrey paused.
He was.
But that had nothing to do with her.
“Hey, Audrey, didn’t you say your last marriage was sexually incompatible? Go after Mr. Castillo. He’s probably a beast.” Camila lowered her voice.
“Stop. I’m not worthy of that altitude.” Audrey shut it down without thinking.
At the stair landing, Phoenix stood in the shadows, his eyes deep.
Not worthy?
Hmph. She had already used him.
She had not been so modest back then, when she confessed to him in front of the whole campus.
[Phoenix Castillo, you can only be my man.]
Later, he really did become her man. Her husband.
But after only two years, she insisted on divorce. Said she didn’t love him anymore. Said he was too poor.
Not until the divorce papers landed in front of him did Phoenix realize how ruthless this woman could be.
Camila bumped Audrey lightly with her shoulder. “Heehee. Is your blind date tonight especially hot or something?”
“Mm. He’s okay,” Audrey said perfunctorily.
A blind date?
So she had no lingering attachment to him at all. While he was gone, she must have found plenty of men.
“Ms. Mitchell. Bring me a cup of coffee.”
Phoenix’s icy voice came from the staircase.
Both women jumped.
The top floor was built as a duplex. The CEO’s office was upstairs, the secretarial area downstairs. Why had Mr. Castillo come down himself?
“Of course.” Audrey hurried to the pantry.
She knocked, entered, and carefully placed the coffee on his desk.
“Mr. Castillo, your coffee.”
Phoenix took a sip. “Your coffee has improved. Your brain has regressed.”
Slap.
A stack of reports landed on the desk.
“There are errors in this report. Check it again. Bring it back to me when it’s done.”
Audrey’s pulse kicked. She had checked that report carefully before. How could there be errors?
“Mr. Castillo, may I ask which item is wrong?”
Phoenix’s expression cooled another degree. “Your mistake. Do you expect me to correct it for you?”
Audrey tried again. “May I... give it to you tomorrow?”
The report was not urgent.
“Ha. Audrey Mitchell, if you can’t finish your work, don’t even think about stepping out of this company.”
That eager to go on a blind date? Dream on.
“Phoenix Castillo, you’re targeting me on purpose,” Audrey snapped, unable to hold back.
“Targeting?” He let the word drift out lazily. “You know exactly how big I am.”
Audrey: ...
This bastard was absolutely doing this on purpose.
“Tomorrow, go to Zurich House and pick up a necklace for me,” Phoenix said. “Do not lose it. If you do, you could sell yourself for the rest of your life and still not cover the cost.”
Audrey paused. “Mr. Castillo, something that valuable should probably be picked up by you personally.”
Touching nothing was the safest strategy.
“If I do everything myself, what do I need a secretary for? To make my day worse?”
Audrey gritted her teeth and checked the report twice more. By the time she finished, it was nine thirty at night.
Not a single error.
She picked up the report and walked back to the CEO’s office.
She submitted it again.
Phoenix said, with infuriating calm, “My apologies, Ms. Mitchell. I may have read it wrong.”
“It’s late. I’ll take you home.”
“No need. I have a car. I’ll go first.”
Audrey finished speaking and ran.
At ten o’clock sharp, Audrey stepped into a high-end riverside bar and restaurant in her heels.
The lighting was soft. The atmosphere quiet.
By the window sat her blind date, a man in a well-fitted suit and gold-rimmed glasses. His manner looked gentle and refined.
“You must be Mr. Montgomery. I’m sorry. Something came up at work tonight and kept you waiting.” Audrey gave him a proper smile.
“Ms. Mitchell, please sit.” Titus Montgomery stood and politely held the chair for her without crowding. “I guessed you’d be hungry, so I ordered mushroom soup and warm rolls in advance.”
As soon as he said it, the server brought over the steaming soup and bread.
Titus handed her the menu. “Have a look. Order whatever you like.”
