Paper Tiger?

"Anyways, who was that? Your friend?" Liam said as he changed the topic.

"Hmm?" Sofia followed his gaze which landed on Hanna, she was standing besides some man; an old man to be specific. "Oh she? She is just a classmate I had a few years back. And we were not friends..." Sofia looked at Liam and continued, "She is most probably going to take part in auction and buy the ring." 

"Oh... it might be very hard to do so. There are many people who are here for it." Liam said.

"Yeah I know... I really hope that it lands with someone who actually respects it's value, you know? Since we were young, both Maya and me used to be eager to know as to who would get it."

Sofia smiled at herself, "What am I even talking about!? hehe... I will leave now, I guess father is calling me. Bye!"

"Bye, see you later!" Liam also went on to meet with some other guests.

...

After having a call with Sofia, Maya was fully awake, so she decided to check on the office of Supreme Starlight which was located in the Capital city. 

This company was mainly started by Maya to support Lucas in his career as a director.

It was not a new thing for famous personalities to open their own fashion line or makeup lines. And so eventually, different varieties like makeup courses, talent hunting for modeling and acting also took over. Being a famous model, Maya had brought a lot of exposure for Supreme Starlight. 

Although it was just a new startup, Maya had properly managed it. There was no shortage of money supply as well. Slowly the company started to get it's own fame and trust from people.

...

Maya had just reached the office, and was looking around. The security was not very good as she had just walked in without any checks. The staff was roaming around as if this was a park! She really had to check with the management here. If she was not wrong, she had recently transferred someone here from the headquarters.

Maya kept on making notes in her mind as she walked through. 

…

Some female employees were standing together and chatting while having some snacks...

"Lily are you serious?! Is she really that bad? I had thought that she was-"

"I am telling you it's true! Do you know the new Manager who had been transferred here from the headquarters? I got to know all about it from his secretary!"

"Wow! You already are friends with her!?" 

"Yeah." Lily checked her nails and continued, "She told me that this CEO Maya is very fierce… domineering and completely unbearable! You know what? The latest news is that she cheated on Vice President Lucas after about a five year relationship for some benefits!"

"God, you can just not trust anyone now! I used to wonder from where and how she was able to get so successful, it turns out it's all because of her connections and affairs with big bosses!"

Enjoying all the attention she was getting Lily nodded, "I know, right!" She said it as if she knew it was the truth.

Maya had finally made her way to the main office room, she looked around in search of any staff member she knew or maybe Manager Davis but found no one. 

Not knowing the truth about how Maya actually was, the girls continued talking about her without knowing her presence. 

Although Maya had arrived late, it was more than enough for her to know what these girls were actually discussing. 

Suddenly a cold chill spread around the entire room. The girls turned around to look at the newcomer in the office. 

Maya tried hard to ignore them and walked towards Manager Davis's office room. "Rumors had and will always exist." She shrugged.

She was about to open the door when someone called her out. 

"Are you the new artiste the company has chosen?" The voice was not rude but it was not polite as well. 

Maya turned around to look at the women who had called her out. She raised her eyebrows when she saw the expression of the employee… It looked as if this lady in front of her was here to bully someone.

"I am not-" Maya was about to tell her and ask about Manager Davis. It was alright if she was not recognized here, after all she couldn't expect everyone to know her.

But before that, this employee Lily interrupted her, "I am pretty sure that you might have already heard about it right? There is no need for you to visit the Manager's office. You will be working under me."

"Tsk!" Maya was getting really irritated by these people, it was already good enough for them when she ignored their talks, and now she had to deal with this as well? No of course not!

She increased the volume of her voice and called out, "Manager Davis. Please come out." Maya had already opened the door to his office a bit, she just needed to raise her voice and it could be heard inside.

 *Thud!*

Came the noise from inside the office. Rushed steps could be heard and suddenly the office door swung open. The manager Maya was looking for, stood there, his clothes looked very informal and his footwear could tell that he treated this job as a walk in the garden.

"CEO!" Mr. Davis said with shock… He tried to calm himself down and continued with a bit of respect in his voice, "You should have informed us about your visit. We could have prepared for it."

All of a sudden everyone else in the room sucked in a deep breath. So this was their company's fierce CEO Maya?!

"Manager Davis, can you tell me how you are planning to solve this?" Maya looked around and then her gaze finally landed on the Manager. She was hinting the casual attitude of all the office employees and then Davis himself.

Everytime Davis heard the title 'Manager' in front of him, he felt humiliated. Many people thought that he had got a better deal when he got an entire office on his own, but he knew that working at the headquarters was far much better than working here as a manager.  And this woman standing in front of him, who was almost at the age of his daughter, was capable of demoting him! 

Seeing the rage in Davis's eyes from being shamed by Maya, Lily thought that she could gain Manager Davis's favor if she embarrassed this paper tiger; Maya. 

She immediately grabbed the steaming cup of coffee and walked towards Maya and splashed it. 

"Ouch!"

...