Chapter 1 The Company Was Acquired (Part One)

"Zoe, I love you,"

Benjamin Jiang said as he hugged Zoe Cao from behind. The cold breeze made the hem of her dress fly, and she began to tremble from the cold.

As his familiar scent surrounded her, Zoe Cao felt a strange sense of fear in her heart.

"Benjamin, I am parched. Could you bring me a glass of red wine, please?" she asked as she turned around and faked a smile.

Benjamin Jiang let go of her hand and walked towards the control room located on the first floor. Once he was out of sight, Zoe Cao took one look at the vast, endless sea and decided that it was the perfect opportunity to carry out her plan.

Minutes later, she jumped into the ocean while looking at him.

"Benjamin! Help me! Please!" she screamed, attracting his attention. Her voice was heard loud and clear as she fell into the ocean.

Benjamin Jiang immediately rushed out of the control room with a frown. When he looked down at the sea, all he could see was boundless water. There was no sign of Zoe Cao.

"Zoe! Zoe!" he shouted, while holding the railing tightly with both his hands.

His anxious cries resonated across the surface of the deep blue ocean. Finally, he spotted Zoe Cao, who was about to drown. However, he couldn't jump in and save her because he didn't know how to swim. All he could do was stand on the deck and shout as she sank deeper and deeper into the water.

"Zoe! I can't let you die. How could you do this to me? Why would you even do such a thing?" Benjamin Jiang roared when he couldn't see Zoe Cao anywhere on the surface.

He was overwhelmed by the agony of losing the one he loved. He waited on the deck, completely mortified, for the lifeguards to arrive. But by the time they arrived, she was already gone.

Three years ago, in the Jiang Group offices

"Mr. Jiang, this is the first half of this year's profit report. 8.9 billion dollars is our profits as mentioned in our financial statement. And here's a report on our stock prices. The last year, each of our shares was worth 4.99 dollars. And now, they are priced at 10.97 dollars per share," his secretary said. He would come by Benjamin Jiang's office every day with documents and reports, and update him about their current situation.

Benjamin Jiang ignored him and walked up to the large French window. He was dressed in a black suit, and his hair was neatly slicked back with just a touch of pomade. He always managed to smell like the best Prada perfume. He would look down from the window every day and frown upon the people who walked on the street.

Benjamin Jiang was the new CEO of the Jiang Group. He came from a family which had provided the corporate world with successful financial tycoons for generations. People were shocked to see how efficiently he managed the business only days after becoming the CEO.

Benjamin Jiang thought for a moment and then said to his secretary, "Hanley, I want you to do two things, and I want you to listen carefully. Firstly, the financial genius from the United States, James, is coming to our office for an interview at 10:30 in the morning. I am putting you in charge of receiving him. And secondly, I want you to find me a good maid. Don't let that kind of woman into my house ever again. I am not desperate enough to court a filthy maid."

"What? Another maid? Didn't we hire a new maid for your house just three days ago? Why do you want a replacement?" Hanley Hao asked, his eyes wide with shock.

He couldn't believe his ears. Was the CEO looking for maids or for wives?

How particular did he have to be to change fifteen maids in just one month?

"That was your fault. Look at what you've done! I want someone who does the work, not someone who walks around the house wearing a transparent lace dress and does nothing. What do those women think of themselves?" Benjamin Jiang said, rubbing his temples with his hand. The very thought of those maids made his head hurt.

"Oh, so you want someone who can cook, clean and do household chores, not someone who is sexy and tries to seduce you. Many young women want to find a rich husband. I'm afraid it's hard to find..." Hanley Hao trailed off when he saw Benjamin Jiang's sour look.

His words made Benjamin Jiang furious.

"How can you be so sure that they are hard to find?" he asked with a sneer.

"But, sir, it's hard to find one who would meet your standards," Hanley Hao replied and smiled awkwardly.

'Has he really forgotten how many maids he has replaced in just the past month? How many more maids is it going to take before he is finally satisfied?' he thought to himself. However, he was too scared to say it out loud.

Benjamin Jiang took a deep breath and said in a calm voice, "Find me a good maid who will cook and clean the house. And I don't want her to show up in front of me."

"What? She's even not allowed to show up before you?" Hanley Hao cried out. He couldn't believe his ears.

"Hanley, I hope you haven't forgotten that you work for me. How dare you speak to me in such a tone?!" Benjamin Jiang asked, narrowing his eyes at him.

Hanley Hao almost felt as if his boss were going to eat him alive. He swallowed and stood up with a nervous smile on his face.

"Please don't be angry. I will find you a good maid," he said. But then, he immediately realized that he had said something wrong, so he slapped himself and corrected it. "After I receive James for the interview, I will find you a good maid who will do all the work you mentioned. Is that okay?"