Businesspeople who let personal matters cloud their judgment cannot possibly continue to thrive in the business world. President Wang had transitioned from starting a business to maintaining one over several years. She naturally understood and appreciated this concept even more. Besides, since Julia Bluen was the esteemed young mistress of the Horne Family, President Wang wouldn't dare show any jealousy on the surface, no matter how envious she felt inside.
Julia Bluen smiled without saying a word. The car moved steadily along the highway. Every highway was bustling with traffic, and sometimes one could even get caught in a jam. Fortunately, though today's traffic was also dense, there were no accidents, so there were no traffic jams. Julia Bluen managed to arrive at the Golden Phoenix Inn at the scheduled time. Content orıginally comes from 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✦𝓷𝓮𝓽
It was now afternoon, a time when people, after their lunch breaks, liked to meet with friends for a walk and to gather for a bite to eat. Outside the Golden Phoenix Inn, in addition to the parking lot, more than a dozen tables were set up for guests who enjoyed sitting outside in the sun and chatting. A two-meter-wide path separated the parking area from the outdoor seating. Sitting at these tables, guests could enjoy the sight of various luxury cars while also taking in the street scene. The outdoor area was cheaper than inside the inn and was most popular with the general public; every afternoon, all the tables would be full.
Since it was winter, the weather fluctuated between cold and warm but was overall a bit chilly. Southerners couldn't stand the cold, and when it was even slightly chilly, they liked to bask in the afternoon sun, which was why this outdoor area was so popular.
Since Julia Bluen was there to meet a client, she naturally couldn't sit in the outdoor area. After parking her car, she walked into the inn with Vice President Li, carrying the large bags of toys. They went up to the second floor, where she inquired at the service desk about the availability of private rooms. Learning that the second floor was fully booked, they went up to the third floor. They chose a nicely situated private room, and then Julia had Vice President Li call President Wang to let her know they would be waiting in Room 303 on the third floor.
Julia Bluen and Vice President Li sat on the sofa inside the private room, arranging the document bags and toys on the coffee table in front of them. Not far from the sofa was a round table. The base of the table was made of wood, and the top was a rotating glass surface. There was nothing particularly special about the table; it was just like any other in a typical inn—uniform throughout.
The two planned to discuss business with President Wang and then invite her for a meal.
President Wang was late. It was unclear if she had encountered some unexpected urgent matter or if she was deliberately late, but she didn't arrive until nearly four o'clock.
She was a middle-aged woman, around thirty-six or thirty-seven years old, approximately 160 centimeters tall, with neat features. With deliberate grooming, she looked somewhat attractive. She wore all black and carried a golden LV bag. Her large eyes were deep as the ocean, and her lipsticked lips, slightly pursed, seldom offered an unnecessary smile. The overall impression she gave was of a shrewd and efficient individual.
She walked in with a man who looked like a secretary, carrying a black bag that appeared to be for a laptop. He offered no smile or greeting upon entering. When Julia Bluen stood up to greet her with a smile, President Wang stopped in front of Julia. Julia's height of 170 centimeters towered over her, and President Wang felt a twinge of jealousy at Julia's stature after just one glance. Julia's pretty, melon-seed-shaped face, her skin as pale as snow, and her lively almond-shaped eyes further fueled this. Although the clothes Julia wore seemed inferior to her own at first glance, President Wang knew quality when she saw it and quickly realized that the fabric of Julia's clothes was superior. Moreover, Julia exuded an innate nobility that couldn't be compared to President Wang's own cultivated aura, which made her purse her lips even tighter.
"President Wang, please take a seat," Julia Bluen said with a smile, politely inviting her to sit down.
"I'm sorry for being late and keeping Mrs. Horne waiting." Only after Julia had spoken did President Wang manage to force a smile, weak as it was, then sat down at Julia's invitation. Referring to Julia as Mrs. Horne implied that her willingness to meet and discuss business was solely out of respect for the Horne name.
This woman is really not easy to get along with. She knows perfectly well I'm the person in charge of Brilliant Art and everyone calls me President Bluen, but this woman insists on calling me Mrs. Horne. Does she think I'm unfit to run Brilliant Art?
Julia Bluen sat down next to Vice President Li. As soon as President Wang took her seat, she started chatting with Vice President Li as if he were the main host and Julia the secondary.
Julia wasn't annoyed but simply smiled faintly, watching President Wang intently. Perhaps unsettled by her gaze, President Wang forced an embarrassed smile and said, "Mrs. Horne, I'm sorry. I've known President Li from before; we hit it off, and I couldn't help but chat a little more upon meeting him."
"That's quite all right. I understand. President Wang, may I make a request?" Julia Bluen asked with a smile, her steady, confident eyes not blinking as she looked directly at President Wang.
Raising her eyebrows with a mild smile, President Wang responded, "Please, Mrs. Horne, go ahead."
"President Wang, I hope that in professional matters, you will call me President Bluen, not Mrs. Horne," Julia Bluen said very seriously, her every word and phrase carrying her determination. "Although I am married to Glades and am indeed Mrs. Horne in that respect, I entered the business world independently, without relying on Glades. I also hope that everyone will see me not just as Glades's woman, but as an independent individual."
Indeed, she had entered the business world on her own terms; Glades Horne wouldn't meddle in her professional affairs. Thus, she wished to be recognized for her own merits, not to be flattered or envied merely as Glades Horne's wife. She was striving on her own to not only maintain but also elevate her company.
President Wang's eyebrows arched even higher upon hearing Julia's words. She laughed, a laugh that held a hint of sarcasm, and said, "I've heard Mrs. Horne is the second daughter of the Bluen consortium, yet you have no business experience. A title is no issue—it changes with the movement of two lips, but the meaning behind it is quite different. Being called Mrs. Horne, you bask in the glory provided by the young Horne heir, receiving a positive reception from everyone. But if you go by President Bluen? You're a newcomer to the business world, you don't understand anything yet, and you've taken over so many companies and chain stores. Do you think you can succeed? People would look at you with doubt and distrust. To be honest, I agreed to meet you today only because of Mr. Glades Horne's standing, not because I have any faith in you."