<h4>Chapter 42 - Offending her is no different from offending him.</h4>


    Everybody has held their breath in anticipation when they hear the melodic footsteps nearing. This was the first time for most of theming face to face to the man about whom they have always heard in the story.


    The eyes of every woman in the room was shining with glimmer as they already have an idea of the handsomely figure they are going to face in some moments. The male chefs present there were treating this meeting as an honor they are getting to meet the President about whom they have always heard in famous news reports.


    Mia was also having her eyes fixed at the door as she stood up in excitement. She quickly nudged Li Xue who was not showing any hint of fan girl admiration for the man who has already taken everyone''s breaths away before his arrival. It was not like she did not have any admiration in her eyes, but the way she admired the person was as an employee who admired his boss, admiration for his work and sess. Nothing like drooling on his looks and charms.


    When she felt the urgent nudge from the girl, Li Xue too stood up and looked towards the door when the man was only a step away from entering. The moment her eyes fell on him; her mind was blown away, her eyes widened in horror. She could not believe the person she was seeing in front of her eyes was her Boss, for whom she has been working for five long years.


    Though she has yet to know who her neighbors are in Little Carnations but she has never thought in her rarest dreams the head of Feng Internationals, her boss will be her neighbor. She wanted to curse her friend now for not informing her that her brother was living in the same neighborhood.


    Not that it would have changed anything, but at least she would have herself prepared for it. She still couldn''t believe it. Was this real? Or was this a p she has got from fate? The fate she has thought she has got control over.


    The man who had strolled into the room was none other than the man she metst night, dressed in a custom made light grey checked id suit that was fitted in his body in a way all his good features get detailed to the eyes.


    Looking at him now she does not know how to behave. Should she avoid him? Nope, he was already in front of her eyes, she could not avoid him anymore.


    Should she ignore that she met himst night and behave like this was their first meeting? Thinking about it, she thought that this will be the only thing that would be perfect in a situation like this. And more than that, she does not think that the man will bring the topic ofst night up here.


    She was busy with her own thoughts that she hadn''t even noticed that the man had already moved inside to take his seat, until she was brought back by his cool, refreshing melodic voice, "Ms. Li Xue, do you have something to say?"


    Everyone was taken aback with his words. The President already knows her name! Was it because he was going to fire her so he has taken all her information? The other chefs thought that it was the most reasonable reason that can infer to or else why a big CEO would know the name of the simple dessert chef who is really new to the stream.


    Li Xue was also surprised thinking that he had known her name. She clearly remembers that she has mentioned herself as Li Wei''s Mama rather than mentioning her namest night, then did he know her from before? The questions arose in her head but no reply was predicted. Seemed like her questions can only be answered by the man himself.


    Having all eyes trained on her, she quickly shook her head apologizing in a humble tone, "Pardon me President, I didn''t intend to grab your attention" Saying this quickly she took her seat. All the eyes reverted back to the man who was sitting on the head seat but his pair of sterling grey eyes remained on her exquisite face, full of interest.


    After God knows what time, finally realized the essence of the moment they were in, he said "So what''s the issue?"


    At his words, the Chief Chef stood up, to address the matter he has already brought to the secretary. Though he was very confident of his words when he brought it to Gao Fan but at this moment, facing the President himself made him feel the wave of nervousness run down his spine.


    Getting all his strength up, he said with all due politeness and respect. "Sorry President Feng for wasting your time with such trivial matters. But I feel really honored that you have given some weightage to my words and experience"


    "I have just asked you to bring up the issue again. Don''t make it look like I have already approved your request, Chef …", Feng Shufen said trailing off at the end as he did not remember the name or title of the chef, he was talking to.


    His gaze was stiff at him which gave the chief chef a bone chilling experience. He felt like he had insulted himself with his own words. Li Xue looked at the man who had been so swift at his words that none of them could notice that he was on his way to ughter the people around. But why did his words make her feel like he was siding with her.


    At this moment when she thought that his eyes won''t get back at her, suddenly his eyes turned to get back to her, her breath hitched, throat ran dry and heart started thumping at a great pace. Realizing these unusual things happening inside her, she quickly averted her eyes, fearing that someone might hear her heart thumping.


    "President Feng, I had brought a request up to your notice. ording to my experience and knowledge, I think the social gourmet you have ordered us to prepare will not remain up to the mark if we let the ending sweet cuisine course in the hands of someone inexperienced. I don''t doubt our head dessert chef''s talent but I personally feel that this is not an opportunity that is fit for her", the chief chef added, trying his best to remain at his grounds.


    But he never thought that his words would bring a mysterious chuckle from the man who has be the living Beelzebub. "You said that your thoughts are ording to your experience? Then are you intending to say that my knowledge and experience iscking inparison to you?"


    The chief chef was horrified. How can he say something that audacious? Even if he takes two more lives, then also he won''t be able topare himself to the person sitting in front of him. "No, no President! I never intended to offend you. I just said this for her"


    "How is offending her is different from offending me?" his stern voice rang in the room giving a jolt of shock to everyone. Her eyes instantly turned to look at Li Xue''s direction. No one was able to understand how offending her will be treated as an offense for the mighty Feng Shufen.


    The woman was also taken aback, she wanted to yell that it was not her fault that this man had said something like that. She wanted to tell everyone that there is no rtionship between them like they are thinking but all her words were stumped deep into her throat.


    Even his secretary Gao Fan was taken aback by such a deration of the President. His eyes instantly flung in the direction of the woman in the talks. He remembered that his President has asked him to look at her background but he never thought that this woman will be having such an effect on him where any offense directed to her will be treated as an offense to him.


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    [*Beelzebub: It is the name derived from a Philistine God, formerly worshipped in Ekron, andter adopted by some Abrahamic religions as a major demon. And also from some theological sources, predominantly Christian, it is sometimes another name for Devil. In demonology, Beelzebub is considered as one of the seven Princes of Hell]