Isaac received the order and left the office after slightly bowing to ra.


    Horace’s order further mystified ra, “Now is not the end of the year. Why do we hold a trip for celebration?”


    “You have topped the list twice, so the trip is a kind of prize and recognition of your hard work. I know that sometimes a reward can stimte staff’s enthusiasm to the greatest extent.” Horace exined to ra in a gentle tone.


    “Don’t worry. The whole trip will be funded by the corporation and your job is to have a good trip with your colleagues. I think that you will have a good time.”


    Pondering for a few seconds, ra agreed with Horace. They indeed needed some rxation since they should work much harder in order to ensure the sessive sess.


    “Well, on behalf of the whole group, I thank you a lot, Mr. Kirnd,” ra rxed her poker face.


    That ra called him “Mr. Kirnd” throughout their conversation upset him, yet he also knew that their broken rtionship had definitely been repaired a lot since she was now willing to talk to him.


    “You deserve it,” Horace replied in an official tone, “You will depart next Friday. Ask your colleagues to prepare for it.”


    ra nodded her head and changed the subject. Indeed, she also could not get used to such an official conversation with him.


    “Mr. Kirnd, do you have any other question? If not, I will go back to the group now since I still have some work to do and everybody is waiting for me.”


    “You can go now,” Horace did not dare to keep ra for longer since he was afraid that it would further damage their rtionship and make her hate him.


    “Mr. Kirnd, see you next time,” ra stood up, slightly bowed to Horace and left the office.


    Horace stared at ra until she totally disappeared, with sadness and determination flicking in his eyes.


    He felt it unbearable that he could not keep her but only could watch her leaving him again and again, which was like a nightmare. He swore to himself that there would be finally one day when he would keep her forever.


    As soon as ra arrived at her office, she was weed by the whole group. Everyone asked excitedly, “ra, did our boss agree that we can interview Andre again for our next issue?”


    ra shook her head and let disappointment color her tone, “No. We should find a new interviewer.”


    “What? Why?”


    “Andre is the best choice. Why did the headquarters turn down our suggestion?”


    “We don’t have much time now and maybe Benny is ourst choice.”


    “But I am not sure whether we could maintain such a high cirction if we interview Benny. Ugh, I am looking forward to topping the list thrice. Maybe after that I can have a pay increase.”


    …


    The whole group was upset and disappointed by the news.


    “Well, don’t be sad. I have good news to tell you.” Smiling, ra broke the silence


    “What’s that?” Sarah asked spiritlessly.


    She was preparing theyout for Andre’s interview. But now that the idea had been turned down, the whole group needed to reset their work from a total zero, and she knew that her weekend was definitely ruined.


    “Since we have topped the industry’s rank in Stratmont twice, the headquarters decided to take us to Phuket Ind for a trip next week as a reward. We don’t have to pay for anything during the trip.”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The news sessfully imed everyone’s attention and interest.


    “Really? Do we really have a trip next week?”


    “How generous! I love you, boss!”


    “Bravo! I have almost busied myself to death! I can finally take a rest!”


    …


    As the disappointment turned into cheering, everyone was then as joyful as if they were now in heaven.


    “Well, be quiet,” ra ordered the whole group to calm down. “We will depart next Friday and you can prepare for it in the following days. Yet, now is still our working time, so please go back to your work now, everybody.”


    At ra’s words, everyone went back to their seat blissfully. The air in the office became joyful and sweet.


    Once in her office, ra again dredged up what Horace said. She wondered whether this trip was a kind of lollipop after a punch.


    The happy Friday came soon. On that morning, ra did not go to her office. Instead, she directly went to the airport since she had made an appointment with her colleagues to meet each other at 10 o’clock in the airport.


    However, an unexpected person also turned up in the airport-Horace Kirnd.


    Why was he here? He did not tell anyone that he would go to Phuket Ind. If ra knew it before, she would definitely give up this trip. Yet, it was inappropriate for her to drop the trip and go home now since she had already been in the airport.


    “ra!” Sarah ran to ra as soon as she saw her, “ra, isn’t Horace Kirnd our new boss? He suddenly appeared this morning and said that he would join us.”


    “Yes,” ra nodded, “KMR Media is a subpany of Solrace.”


    “Oh God!” Sarah was shocked, “Thenst time, the person whom you reported to was him? Did Horace buy ourpany because of you?”


    “Shush, nonsense. He took over ourpany only for some business reasons,” ra objected. Yet, she also began to doubt Horace’s true intention.


    “OK,” Sarah replied, still doubtful. Then, she asked haltingly, “ra, then, will you stille? Before you came, gossips almost bombed after everyone saw Horace and knew that he is our new boss.”


    ra knew that everyone would gossip more terribly if she decided to drop the trip now.


    “It’s fine. We only work together and it’s not necessary for me to avoid him,” ra smiled to Sarah, and then, with her luggage, went to greet Horace.


    “Mr. Kirnd, will you join us?”


    “Yes,” staring at ra with profound affection in his eyes, Horace answered smilingly, “I am sorry that I didn’t tell you earlier. I hope I won’t trouble you.”


    “Of course not.” ra faked a smile.


    She was indeed different from who she had been. She was now a bettermunicator and disguiser than before and her official behavior and tone upset Horace a lot.


    The whole scene was quieted down by the arrival of both the hero and heroine, with everyone carefully and curiously observing the interaction between the two.


    The harmony conversation between Horace and ra installed questions about their current rtionship in every “audience’s” mind. Were they gonna get back together?


    “Mr. Kirnd, I’ll check in my luggage first,” after a few more rounds of stilted conversation, ra went away with her luggage.


    “Wait!” Horace followed and then directly took a luggage from her hand. “It’s too heavy. Let me help you.”


    Well, could a subordinate refuse the help of his boss? Of course, no.


    Suppressing the anger, ra squeezed a smile and said in an obedient tone, “Well, then, thank you, Mr. Kirnd.”


    “Give me that one,” Horace wanted to take the other luggage from ra’s hand.


    “No!” ra immediately refused, “I can do it myself.”


    Then the two main characters, watched by the whole group, went to the check-in counter.