"Could it be that the girl is the enigmatic CEO of ourpany everyone''s been whispering about?"


    "A CEO? Highly unlikely. The CEO''s daughter, maybe. That''s a possibility."


    Anthea couldn''t have been more than seventeen or eighteen.


    There was no way she was the CEO.


    "So, she''s the heiress of AY Tech?"


    "It sure looks like it."


    As Talbot escorted Anthea to the door and then returned, everyone promptly shut their mouths and


    got back to work.


    Back at the office, Talbot had someone dispatch the contract to the Peterson Group.


    Alex let out a chuckle as he reviewed the document.


    Just then, a young man named Noah White walked in and, seeing Alex''s expression, asked


    curiously, "What''s got you chuckling?"


    Alex wasn''t one to smile without cause.


    A smile from him usually meant trouble was brewing.


    Noah, who was about the same age as Alex and hung out with him a lot, waited for an exnation.


    "Take a look at this." Alex tossed the contract to Noah.


    Catching it, Noah''s eyebrows shot up, "Isn''t this your deal with AY Tech Co.?"


    "Yep." Alex nodded.


    Flipping through the contract, Noah said, "So they sent it back?"


    "That''s right."


    Noah stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Looks like we underestimated this Talbot guy."


    Alex pulled out a Tootsie Roll from his desk, "You think Talbot caught on? He may be sharp, but he''s


    green. Doesn''t have the experience."


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "What are you suggesting?" Noah frowned.


    Alex unwrapped the Tootsie Roll and popped it in his mouth, "If I''m not mistaken, that person is the


    true mastermind behind AY Tech."


    No one outside thepany had everid eyes on the mysterious owner of AY Tech. Their sudden


    emergence had sparked quite a curiosity.


    Alex stood up and headed for the door.


    "Where are you off to?" Noah asked, chewing on his own candy.


    "To make amends," Alex replied, still working the Tootsie Roll in his mouth.


    "I''ming with." Noah quickly followed suit.


    They left the building, with Noah taking the wheel of the car.


    Alex fished out another Tootsie Roll and unwrapped it.


    "Since when did you start liking candy so much? All that sweetness." Noah remembered Alex never


    having such a sweet tooth.


    "Just drive," Alex said, focused on the road ahead.


    Knowing Alex''s temperament, Noah didn''t press further and concentrated on driving.


    Shortly, they arrived at AY Tech.


    Unfortunately, Alex didn''t get to meet the legendary CEO of AY Tech.


    After discussing the partnership, Talbot personally escorted Alex back to his car. As he watched the


    sleek vehicle merge into the traffic, Talbot couldn''t help but admire, "Ms. Yeager is pretty darn


    incredible."


    He had doubted that Alex would show up to apologize, let alone so promptly.


    Meanwhile, at the school gates, Anthea was greeted by Lizzie and Tanya, who had been eagerly


    awaiting her arrival.


    Over the holiday break, Tanya had undergone a transformation, slimming down from over 200


    pounds to a slender 108.


    Already pretty, the weight loss made her stunning. Standing next to Lizzie, the two looked like


    blossoms swaying in the breeze.


    It took Anthea a moment to recognize her friends before she ran over, "Lizzie, Tanya."


    "Annie." The girls hugged Anthea tightly, "We missed you so much."


    "I missed you guys, too." Anthea hugged them back.


    She had never experienced true friendship in her previous life.


    Having real friends felt incredible.


    After a moment, they let go of each other.


    "You''ve lost so much weight, Tanya. I barely recognized you because you''re so beautiful." Anthea


    complimented.


    Tanya blushed at the praise.


    "Am I really that different?"


    "Absolutely stunning," Anthea affirmed, "Ask Lizzie if you don''t believe me."


    Lizzie teased, "You wouldn''t believe it, Annie, but there were guys asking for Tanya''s number just


    earlier."


    "Really?"


    "Totally." Lizzie nodded eagerly.


    Embarrassed, Tanya urged them, "Let''s stop talking about it and head in."


    "Look how shy Tanya is getting."


    Theyughed and chatted as they made their way into the school.


    Then Tanya mentioned, "They''ve posted the honor roll. Let''s check it out."


    End-of-term rankings were always disyed on the school''s honor board.


    None of them from the regr sses had ever made it on the honor roll before.