He didn’t know how long he had spent processing everything his assistant had just told him. The truth was, Johari had once again left him speechless, with far too much running through his mind.Taking a moment to reflect, he had to admit that the whole situation was more than… fascinating. He had always known Johari was capable, someone who thought beyond what was required. Yet this had demanded an entirely different set of skills. And although she had the help of others, that didn’t make her achievement any less remarkable. It had required planning, anticipation, thinking several steps ahead. Johari had been the mastermind of the plan. To be honest, his assistant had gone far beyond anything he could have imagined, all just to help him with a deeply personal problem.He inhaled deeply, pushing aside the thoughts crowding his mind, and fixed his gaze on the flash drive. He still found it hard to believe that everything was there, contained in that tiny device his stunning assistant ha

He couldn’t complain—not when the lunch with Patrick Siegel, AutoZone’s assistant manager, had been productive. Discussing the possibilities of steering automotive companies toward the electric vehicle industry was, without a doubt, a fascinating topic. Andrew had managed to keep his mind focused on something genuinely engaging, especially since Chrome Machine might, in the future, begin testing by implementing new machinery with advanced technology. Even so, it had been just a conversation, hinting at potential joint projects with AutoZone. This in no way meant the company was merging with another. Exploring future projects was beneficial in many ways, both for AutoZone and for Chrome Machine.After the pleasant lunch and discussion, Andrew considered heading straight to Chrome Machine’s automotive interior production plant, but he remembered the vice president would accompany him, so he had to return to the office. As he stepped out of the elevator, his mind clouded, pushing aside e

He was considered old-fashioned and superficial. A man who did not believe in equal working conditions for men and women. And there was some truth to those claims.He was a man who enjoyed life on a grand scale and did everything with as much expressiveness and confidence as possible. Where others simply walked, he strutted. Where others spoke, he made proclamations. He considered himself a man with a difficult character—authoritarian, critical, and, why not, egocentric as well. Everything had to be done his way; otherwise, it simply would not be up to his standards.In a way, being exactly as he was had helped him get to where he stood today.From a very young age, he had been drawn to the automotive industry. In fact, his first job had been in a mechanic’s workshop, and from that moment on, he never stopped until he became what he was now: a man with an impeccable career in the automotive world.He had been part of one of the largest automotive companies for twenty-seven years. Chro

The week had been one of the busiest she had experienced so far. Adjusting schedules, updating the agenda, arranging meetings, attending unexpected visitors… among countless similar tasks, the last working day had finally arrived.The morning began like any other. She arrived an hour early, as usual, and focused on reviewing emails, sorting through them and deleting what wasn’t necessary. An hour later, her boss arrived. They exchanged morning greetings, she briefed him on the day’s agenda… the usual routine. However, something had begun to change ever since he invited her to dinner.She wasn’t sure what that something was that had started to grow between them, but she had noticed a shift in the way her boss treated her. He was clearly more animated, in a better mood, and even more talkative. It was so… strange.She had grown used to dealing with a serious, reserved, almost indifferent man. But since the dinner invitation, her boss seemed like a different person. In part, it was fasci

Her boss led her down a hallway into an enormous living space, where she noticed a solid wood table matched with four chairs. The room was open-plan, and at the far end there was a large three-seater sofa, two armchairs, and a small round glass coffee table. To her right, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a breakfast bar separating the kitchen from the rest of the spacious room."I know you well enough to guess that right now you want to take a look around the rest of the house," her boss said firmly, making her turn to look at him.There was a faint hint of amusement in the man’s eyes, and Johari realized he was trying to suppress a smile."Oh, no. I wouldn’t dare to…""Go ahead, you can take a walk around. I don’t mind." She narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out whether he was serious. "You’re a curious person, Johari, and I know you want to look. You may do so.""I am, but it’s your house and I shouldn’t…""I asked you to call me by my name, no formalities." What was tha