Carla sat down in the seat opposite Ashley and asked with a smile, "It's your first day here. How do you feel with your work at the president's office?"

Ashley revealed a smile at Carla. "My colleagues are quite busy. I hope that I can adapt to the environment soon."

Carla nodded. "True. The President's Office Secretariat and Senior Assistant Office are the most demanding places in the company. No mistakes are allowed there. More often than not, people will choose to resign as they cannot bear the pressure."

Ashley stared at Carla, asking, "That scary?"

Carla nodded vigorously. "Very much so. The other day, as someone resigned from the President's Secretariat, and they urgently needed help, I worked with them for three days. Seriously, I lost weight due to the nerve-wracking pressure."

Ashley widened her eyes open in surprise. "I heard that President Bryant is very strict with his work and his subordinates and thought it was just an exaggerated statement made by the outside world. I didn't expect it to be true!"

"Of course, it is true. President Bryant is as harsh as the outside world's description." Carla showed a frightened expression and then smiled. "I shouldn't have told you this to scare you. If you resign soon, Director Mia will probably punish me."

Ashley replied while chewing the food in her mouth, "No worries. Entering the Bryant Group is a dream come true for me. Although my current position is not what I initially wanted, I will work hard to do it well and definitely won't leave due to the pressure. Honestly, I quite admire President Bryant. He is talented, smart, excellent, and hardworking."

"That's good." Carla smiled in surprise. "President Bryant is excellent indeed, but..."

"But what?" Seeing Carla's hesitant expression, Ashley asked tentatively, "That people say he is gay?"

"Shh..." Carla's eyes were filled with horror. "Some words cannot be said in the company. If some people hear it, you might get expelled."

Ashley looked around and then nodded obediently.

After finishing her meal, Ashley packed some food for Jacob and took it upstairs.

In the senior assistants' office, Jacob was carefully checking the documents that will be used for the next day.

"Assistant Dawson, here is the food." Ashley handed Jacob the packed meal and a drink.

Jacob was stunned for a second and then revealed a smile. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Ashley smiled, then went back to her position to continue searching for the information.

Jacob then put down the files in his hand and raised his head to glance at Ashley. "You don't have to be so intense."

Ashley also put down the work and turned to look at the man, "Mr. Dawson, you've worked with President Bryant for years. Is that true that he is a demanding person?"

Jacob nodded with a smile. "President Bryant's requirement for work and the team is no mistake. Thanks to his serious and rigorous attitude towards work, the Architectural Design Department of the Bryant Group has become well-renowned."

Ashley replied, "It's true that countless people are eager to enter the Architectural Design Department in the Bryant Group."

Thinking of this, Ashley felt somewhat lost inside. It was a rare opportunity for her to be accepted as a junior architect into the Architectural Design Department. Unexpectedly, she was told her that the position was no longer available. Inevitably, she felt disappointed.

"What's the matter? You want to enter the Architectural Design Department?" Jacob asked with curiosity when he noticed Ashley's disappointed expression.

Ashley smiled and then told Jacob about her interview experience and the current situation.

"You must feel lost inside, right?" At Ashley's words, Jacob looked at her. "It is difficult for ordinary graduates to enter the Architectural Design Department."

Ashley nodded and then sighed heavily. "It's okay. Being an assistant in the president's office is also a precious exercise. Besides, Director Mia has said I will be transferred to the Architectural Design Department once there is a suitable position for me."

Jacob nodded, and he had finished the food during the conversation.

"Accept the reality first, and then try to change it." Jacob stared at Ashley. "Maybe you can learn a lot here that will help you in your future career planning."

Ashley nodded, "I think so too."

The landline on Ashley's desk suddenly rang, and she looked at Jacob, asking, "Mr. Dawson, who is this call for?"

"You take it. Tell the person on the other end of the line that Assistant Shaw is on vacation and ask him to leave a message." With that, Jacob walked out with a thick pile of documents in his hands.

Ashley answered the phone somewhat nervously.

"Come to my office."

The other person said so and then hung up before Ashley could ask who he was.

As Jacob was not in the office, Ashley stood there with a helpless look in her eyes.

The phone rang again.

Ashley answered it again.

"Hurry up." The male voice on the phone sounded cold and impatient.

"Who is there?" Ashley asked cautiously.

After a pause of one second, the man's voice sounded again, "The office opposite you."

With that, he hung up again.

Ashley lifted her head to look at the president's office opposite her.

In an instant, Ashley's heart skipped a beat. She let out a deep sigh and thought about the fierce battle between Leonard and her with a butterfly in her stomach.

The phone rang for the third time.

Ashley did not answer it but rushed over to the office and knocked on the heavy gray wooden door.

"Come in."

After hearing the instruction coming from inside, Ashley mustered the courage to enter the room.

The office was spacious and bright. Ashley saw the man in a white shirt standing in front of the French windows. His figure was tall and straight, and he was giving off a standoffish vibe.

"President Bryant." Ashley greeted Leonard from a distance.

Upon hearing the somewhat familiar voice, Leonard furrowed his brows slightly and then turned to look at Ashley with a trace of shock in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Leonard's expression was complicated. Though he tried to maintain his composure, he was shocked to a certain extent.

Ashley looked into Leonard's eyes and thought about the last two nights they had spent together and that they had got married. Still, the woman could not believe it.

"I am the new assistant of President's Secretariat. As Assistant Shaw is on sick leave, Assistant Dawson asked me to come to the senior assistant office to help." Ashley explained.

With his eyes narrowed, Leonard walked up to Ashley step by step and then stared at her condescendingly. "Really? Is all this just a coincidence?"

"It is just a coincidence." Ashley nodded and missed the implication of Leonard's words.

Leonard's dark eyes were full of coldness as he stared at Ashley. "Do you seriously think that I'm gullible? You approached me over and over again, and now you show up at my company. Who sent you here? What is your purpose?"