“Um…” My father looked uncomfortable.

I sighed softly. “Xavier used to tell me all the time that he wished he had more time with you. He really looked up to you, but you were always so busy. Now that he’s gone, I just want to stay by your side, you know, to be there for you, just like he would’ve been. And besides, you're such a success in this city, a real powerhouse. I’d love to learn from you.”

Seeing my father's expression soften, I seized the moment and said, “I want to start from the bottom, as a regular employee. I promise I won’t use your name to get any special treatment or embarrass you. I’ll even go by the name Willow Grange. No one will know I’m your daughter.”

He couldn’t refuse me any longer, though he didn’t exactly give me what I wanted either. Instead of placing me in the main company of Heights Corp, he quietly arranged for me to start at one of his subsidiary investment firms. I was hired as an entry-level employee in the development department.

The HR manager at Jones Investment Company had worked with my father for years, so they knew to keep my identity under wraps. No one knew I was Marcus Norton’s daughter, and I even downplayed my academic background.

My job was pretty simple but dull—handing out surveys on the street and collecting them for feasibility studies. Most of my coworkers took a half-hearted approach. They’d hire a few students and have them stand on street corners pestering passersby with surveys, and most people would walk away annoyed without filling them out.

However, I took a different approach. I studied the survey questions and targeted specific groups, like young people for e-commerce, new moms for early education projects, and office workers for the bike-sharing program. My data analysis was thorough and useful, and clients appreciated it.

Soon, the company manager, Tony Lewisham, started noticing me. During one of my reports, I casually mentioned that I had graduated from Futura University.

He was shocked. “A top university graduate doing street surveys? That’s a waste of talent.”

Shortly after, he promoted me to team leader.

In two months, I led my team to land two significant projects, and suddenly, everyone in the company saw me in a new light. After one contract was signed, I let HR “accidentally” reveal to Tony that I had a master’s degree.

“Why didn’t you mention your education when you first joined?” he asked. “You could’ve started at a higher position.”

I answered confidently, “A degree doesn’t mean everything. What matters is ability. Many companies think fresh graduates have high expectations but no real skills. I just wanted to prove myself with hard work.”

That was how, within six months, I became Tony’s assistant.

Working closely with him, I wasn’t just handling small projects anymore. I was now involved with deals worth millions, and the companies I dealt with were publicly listed. As the playing field changed, so did the resources I had access to.

During one of my client meetings, I overheard that Starline Corporation had an investment project worth over a billion dollars that was up for evaluation. Coincidentally, Starline Corporation was hosting a corporate event that evening. As such, I dressed to impress in a season’s new burgundy Gucci wrap dress, had my hair styled in voluminous curls, and applied a flawless, slightly vintage makeup look.

The event was at the Four Seasons Hotel. I thought my appearance would be enough to slip in unnoticed, but the security at the entrance was checking guests’ invitations, and they stopped me.

“Ma’am, may I see your invite?”

“Just a moment,” I said with a smile, pretending to search through my purse while subtly glancing around.

Then, I spotted a tall, lean man walking by. He didn’t have an invitation in hand, but no one stopped him. He strolled right past me, effortlessly.

I quickly stepped forward and looped my arm through his, laughing playfully. “You’re walking so fast! Why didn’t you wait for me?”

He turned to look at me, clearly surprised. He was around thirty, with sharp, deep-set features and an especially striking pair of eyes.

The security guards watched us walk in together without questioning anything further.

Once we were out of sight from security, I gasped slightly and let go of his arm. “I’m so sorry! I thought you were someone else.”

He smiled a small, knowing grin, and his eyes seemed to pierce right through me, as if he could see straight into my soul.

He gave a slight bow. “It was my pleasure. I hope you enjoy your evening.”

Then, he disappeared into the crowd of guests.

I scanned the room, quickly locking onto my target. It was Leo Jefferson, the heir to Starline Corportation. He was twenty-five years old, freshly returned from studying overseas.

He was also the fiancé of my stepsister, Cindy, my father’s eldest daughter. Apparently, the two families had been close for generations, and their business ties ran deep. Leo and Cindy had grown up together, making them the perfect match.

I grabbed a cocktail from a passing waiter and moved into Leo's blind spot, sliding up next to him.

He had a scholarly look—polite and refined. Honestly, he seemed more like a fresh college graduate than the heir to a corporate empire. At that moment, he was deep in conversation with someone across from him, nodding and smiling with all the right cues.

Feeling someone approach, he glanced my way briefly, then, without thinking, casually wrapped an arm around my waist. I let out a soft gasp, and his whole body tensed. He quickly turned to look at me, his face flushing red as he pulled his arm back.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I thought you were–”

Before he could finish, a woman stormed over, her expression a mix of anger and possession. She wrapped herself around his arm like a territorial claim. It was none other than Cindy, my father’s eldest daughter and Leo’s fiancée—the stepsister I’d only ever seen in photos.

I smiled at Leo, unbothered, and said, “No problem.”

Then, I cast a brief glance at Cindy before walking away with a casual smile.

Cindy pursed her lips, clearly uncomfortable, and tugged at the burgundy Gucci dress she was wearing.

Yes, we were wearing the exact same dress.

I knew from my father that Cindy was a die-hard Gucci fan, so I made sure to do my homework, looking up her latest purchases. That was how I knew she’d ordered the season’s new Gucci dress. Naturally, I went to a high-end store and rented the exact same one.

Of course, she bought hers, and I rented mine. The dress alone cost six figures, which I definitely couldn’t afford. Even the rental fee had eaten up my entire month's salary, plus I had to get matching heels and a clutch. But hey, a girl had to do what she had got to do.

The same dress on two different people created two very different impressions, and it was only natural that people would compare. Cindy had a curvier figure, making the dress look bold and glamorous on her. I, on the other hand, kept in shape by running and working out regularly. On me, the dress highlighted my slim waist and more toned physique.

Cindy had styled her hair in an elaborate bun, topped off with a diamond hairpin. She was wearing a matching set of jewelry that made her sparkle but also came off a little… overdone. Meanwhile, I wasn’t wearing any jewelry. My dark hair and red lips contrasted perfectly with my fair skin, giving me a natural, effortless kind of beauty.

Cindy leaned in to whisper something to Leo, and after a moment, they left the hall together, heading for the lounge. If I had to guess, she was probably going to change out of her dress. Women like her always brought more than one outfit to events like that.

I wandered over to the buffet table, helping myself to some food when Leo casually strolled up next to me and grabbed a few finger sandwiches.

“I’m really sorry about earlier,” he said.

I turned to him, flashing a bright smile. “Honestly, the more embarrassing part was wearing the same dress as someone else.”

After that, I tilted my head and gave him a playful wink. “Do you think women are just too dramatic and complicated?”

He laughed, his smile softening his young, handsome face.

“And besides, it’s not your fault. I came over on purpose to talk to you,” I said as I took a bite of food.

He blushed, looking flustered, like a kid caught off guard.

“Hey, don’t get any ideas!” I teased, pretending to be shy. “I’m a consultant with a venture capital firm, and I heard your company has an investment project I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Oh, really?” He let out a sigh of relief. “But actually, we’ve decided to let Jones Investment Company, under Heights Corp, handle the evaluation.”

“Well, that’s perfect. I’m with Jones Investment Company, a subsidiary under Heights Corp. How about we chat about it now? We might as well get a head start,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

A little smirk crept onto my face, and I could see it amused him.

He smiled back, his expression warming. “Alright, tomorrow morning at my office. I’ll be ready whenever you are.”

Just then, Cindy reappeared, now wearing a pink dress. I wasn’t ready to go head-to-head with her just yet. Since I’d achieved what I came for, I decided to make my exit.

I turned to Leo and said, “See you tomorrow.”

Before I left, I handed him a glass of red wine from the table. “A Bordeaux from Château Mouton Rothschild. This vineyard’s wines have quite the reputation, but they can be hit or miss. Sometimes they’re exceptional, and other times, a bit average. Personally, I’m not a fan of the coffee notes in the flavor, but pair it with pineapple, and you might find a pleasant surprise.”

Leo accepted the glass, looking thoughtful for a moment before asking, “Wait, I didn’t catch your name.”

I waved him off with a smile. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

As I walked out of the hall, I felt someone’s intense gaze following me.

I turned to see the man who had brought me to the event. He raised his glass to me, smiling as though he had just enjoyed watching an intriguing show.

I smiled back, raised my glass in return, then casually placed it on a waiter’s tray and walked out of the hall.

After my first victory, things got a lot easier. As I said, some talents were just innate. Reading people and understanding what they wanted was something I had been good at since I was a kid. Now, as an adult, I had honed that skill to perfection, especially when it came to getting a man’s attention.

Making a man interested was pretty simple. One just had to remember three things: First, know what he liked; second, surprise him; third, trigger his protective instincts.

The next day, when I went to Starline Corporation, I wore a simple but perfectly fitted business suit and light makeup—fresh and professional. I was a completely different person from the carefree, bold version of myself he saw the day before.

Leo’s assistant led me to his office, where he was already waiting for me.

Starline Corporation was planning a new energy project in the area. I’d done my homework thoroughly, so I could speak confidently about everything, for example, market trends, product comparisons, feasibility studies, project initiation, funding cycles, market development strategies, you name it.

Leo kept nodding along, clearly impressed. We ended up talking for three straight hours.

“Wow, time really flew. It’s noon,” he said, standing up from the couch. “How about we grab a quick lunch together?”

“I can’t, unfortunately,” I responded with a polite smile. “I have to head back to my office to brief my team on the project. I want to get the feasibility report to you as soon as possible.”

“You know, giving this project to Jones Investments was the smartest decision Starline made,” he said sincerely.

I smirked inwardly, thinking, ‘Of course, you wouldn’t give it to anyone else, considering your future father-in-law owns the company.’

However, outwardly, I smiled sweetly. “I’ll be sure to pass that along to my manager. I’ll take it as a compliment on my work ethic and capabilities.”

He chuckled and poured me a glass of wine. “It’s a genuine compliment. Here’s to our successful partnership.”

I swirled the wineglass, taking a small sip before my face lit up with pleasant surprise. “Haut-Brion!”

He looked a bit taken aback. “This one’s not very common. Most people don’t know it.”

I took another sip, savoring it before continuing, “In terms of quality and flavor, Haut-Brion is exceptional. The tannins are refined, the finish is long, and it has this refreshing fruit aroma.”

As they said, know thy self, know thy enemy. That was how one wins every battle.

I’d been collecting information on Leo for the past six months. By now, I knew everything about him—from the kindergarten he attended as a kid to the Ivy League university he graduated from and his personality traits to his hobbies.

I knew he liked wine, so I studied European wineries and read countless reviews from top sommeliers. A girl who could only afford cheap wine from the supermarket had managed to turn herself into a wine connoisseur, at least in front of Leo.

He also liked sailing, golf, and jazz. God knew how many sleepless nights I spent researching those hobbies just to impress him. I was just a regular girl who hadn’t even been abroad and had to stretch her paycheck to make it through the month. However, to win him over, I’d done my homework.

Soon, Leo would realize we shared the same interests. I’d like what he liked, and I could hold a conversation on any of his favorite topics. He’d start a sentence, and I’d finish it.

Catering to a man’s tastes was just the first step. Figuring out a man’s hobbies wasn’t hard as most guys loved to talk about themselves, showing off like a peacock spreading its feathers. All one had to do was listen, throw in a few compliments, and watch him puff up with pride.

The real challenge, however, was turning oneself into the kind of woman he would actually fall for.

People said men were fickle, that they loved all kinds of women. Sure, they might enjoy variety when they were just having fun, but the type of woman who really captured their heart was almost always the same type.

It was easy to see in real life. A man could go through several girlfriends, but they all tend to be the same type. He might complain that his ex was clingy and indecisive, but the next girl he brings home would still be clingy and indecisive. It was because people were drawn to a specific type, and that kind of deep-seated attraction couldn’t be changed easily.

After a few encounters, I knew that the woman who could win Leo over wasn’t someone like Cindy, with her spoiled princess attitude, nor was it some innocent girl-next-door type. He was into smart, independent women who had just the right amount of softness.

That was a role I could play effortlessly. I had worried he might prefer someone naive and sweet, which would’ve been hard for me to fake, but this? This was easy.

Even before the project officially kicked off, I could tell from the way he looked at me—his eyes heated and intense—that he was already far too invested. Maybe he didn’t even realize it yet, but as the future heir of Starline Corporation, he was spending way more time and energy on this project than necessary, just for an excuse to see me.