Hailey gave me an appreciative grin. "Is that so? Then welcome to this company! I hope we can be friends, Stella!" 

Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see the blushing cheeks of Nick who was right next to me. It made me think that maybe he has a secret crush on Hailey even though in our chats, he blatantly tarnished her reputation.

I stood up and went with Hailey. Damn! It's a painful feeling when your crush has another crush. I can see the attention that Hailey gets from the people around her, maybe if we are always together, I have to get used to this kind of situation.

After we arrived in front of the elevator, two women came out and took a picture of Hailey. They don't wear uniforms the same with us so I thought they were working on another company. The worst part is, I took the picture of them with Hailey and I heard no thank you. When they left, I praised my half-sister while we waited for the elevator to go down to the ground floor.

"Wow. Your charisma is so strong, Ma'am. It's good that you have a fan base, if only I am as beautiful as you, I'd probably be famous too!"

The elevator opened on the left side and we both entered before she answered my question. Fortunately, the elevator was empty so we can have a heart to heart talk.

"It seems like you accidentally overheard my conversation with my father earlier?" Hailey let out a frustrated sigh before continuing to speak. "That old man has never been so proud of me ever since. All I want is to make him proud!"

It's hard to lie and I probably have nothing to lose if I admit the truth. "Y-yes Ma'am Hailey... I'm sorry, I had no intention of interfering in your personal matters."

"I know that. I'm sorry too, I am a failure so I deserved to be yelled like that!"

"Not that I'm interrupting, but does sir Joseph yell at you every day?" I bravely asked.

"Well, that only happens when he is in a bad mood. Usually, I'm the one he gets angry at. Although, I admit that I tend to fail most of the time but it does not mean I am nit doing my best!"

"Don't worry, Ma'am. The time will come when your father will be proud of you. No one starts being good right away," I advised her. This is also what my mother advised me before, so I became a strong person. Of course, sharing is carrying. 

"By the way, Stella, are you a fresh graduate?" she asked, disregarding my advice to her.

"Yes Ma'am Hailey, this is my first work!" I answered right away.

"Congratulations. Are you an honored student?"

"I don't want to brag or anything of that nature but yes I am! I was cum laude before and the moment HR and sir Michael saw my credentials, they accepted me right away!"

The elevator opened and we got out. It seems that she forgot what I told her so she changed the topic again.

"We'll go to the restaurant near here, we'll both eat there!"

My stomach almost lurched at what she said. Because in my whole life, I have never eaten at that kind of restaurant. But I am not a picky eater.

"Actually Ma'am, it's okay with me if we're just next to the cafeterias. I'm not picky about food."

"Okay, I know a restaurant near here, we just need to walk a little bit. I'm not picky about food either, so it's okay. Besides, I'd like eating foods of poor as well!"

I guess I did something wrong, I should have just said yes to her. Now, I have no choice. When we got out, we went to the left side of our building and stopped in front of a kiosk stand with a silver roof but this kiosk is filled with many customers.

"Looks like we won't be able to eat right away with so many people, Ma'am!" I complained to her.

"Alright, let's go to the most underrated restaurant in this place!"

"Sure!" I replied shortly.

We just kept walking until we got to the very end of the kiosks where there was an old man selling by himself. My heart was suddenly filled with compassion because nobody was dining in front of his shop. When he turned to Hailey, he happily greeted him.

"Hey, how are you Hailey? It seems like we haven't seen each other in a while?" he asked. His excitement was plain to see in his eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm fine Dad Elmo. Can we eat here?" Hailey asked.

"Well, yes!! In fact, you are my first customers today!"

"Is that so? Don't worry, we will be eating here often," Hailey put her arm around my shoulder and introduced me to Elmo. "By the way, I would like you to meet Stella. Our new employee! She saved Daddy Joseph earlier so I will treat her."

"Really? I am glad that your father is doing okay! They said that your father is really kind!"

I just looked at Hailey while she was talking to the old man. I don't know but I can see the disappointment in her eyes.

"Dad is really kind, just to other people!" Hailey said with a frown. "Sometimes, I ask myself if I'm really his daughter!"

"Didn't I tell you before that you should work hard? Like it or not, I know your father is very proud of you!"

Hailey's face remained sad and she changed the topic again. "Alright Stella and I have two rice!" she turned to me and asked. "What do you want to eat?"

"I'm fine with the vegetable dish. I am actually a vegetarian!"

Hailey turned back to father Elmo. "Alright, mine is the same!" She took her branded wallet that I dreamed of having. She took 50 dollars and gave it to Elmo.

She suddenly asked me a shocking question.

"How about you, Stella? Where is your father working?"

What she asked me made me sweat. I almost swallowed the rice in my mouth without chewing. It took a few seconds before I stuttered to speak. I need to be very careful otherwise I'll be caught in my own lies.

"My... my... my father left us since I was a kid so my mother raised me alone!" I really tried to cry to bring him to my emotions. Fortunately I really cried in front of her.

She held my hand and looked me in the eyes with pity. It seems I am a best actress as of this moment.

She gave me an apologetic grimace. "Sorry if I brought such painful past. But I'm sure that you and your mother went through a lot and she breathed a sigh of relief when you graduated!"

I agreed with what Hailey told me. "Well, I can't deny that what you told me was true. When she presented me with the award, our stage was almost flooded with tears!"

"Too bad, I am certain that your father regrets leaving you behind. He has no balls at all!"

Before a lie could slipped in my mouth again, I asked her a question to divert the topic. "You, I'm sure your father was proud of you when he attended your graduation!"

Hailey's face seemed to be entwined with heaven and earth at what I said and I was surprised by what he said.

"Actually, my father did not attend my graduation because he was very busy at that time. So I was all by myself. Although I knew that was just an excuse. He was obviously not interested in attending because maybe he regretted that he just adopted me!"

I feel so sorry for Hailey. Who would have thought that her father treated her like that?

"Well, now is the time to prove yourself to sir Joseph!"

Hailey gave me a serious look. "Look, I am doing my best to be a good boss but my father's standards are so high that I don't know if I will resign or what. Especially now, he wants to have to create new products for our big event. Investors will come so we have to prepare!"

"I see, you are launching new sets of brands, is that correct?" I asked her in wonder.

"You know, we need to go with the flow. We have to set a new trends so we can boost our sales!"

"I see. But I'm sure you'll ace this project since you came from a very prestige school!"

Hailey turned pale when I praised her.

"Really sis? Thank you, but I would like to Make me and Nick the models since we are perfectly match, won't you agree!?" she asked, then rested her hand on her chin. "Honestly, I think that guy has a crush on me. Only if he is as rich as I am, he would have a chance to become my boyfriend!"

My eyes widened again at Hailey's words. It seems that I have hope in getting Nick's heart. But the problem is, my sister will be my rival. However, I wasn't going to just agree to let them get closer so I volunteered participating. 

"Sis, I would also like to participate in the event. Maybe it's possible even if I'm not beautiful, right?"

Hailey suddenly smiled. "You can join but I will think of a better way to give you a position!"

I told her about my ability to create business concept. "I don't want to brag or anything of that nature but I have wide knowledge in creating concepts to ace the market. Would you like to try?"

Hailey smiled. "Of course I want. Let us talk about it in the office!" 

"Okay, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed, when is the exact date of the event though?"

"It's still next month but right now, we need are being pressured as it takes lots of preparation for this event. Can I ask you one favor?"

I grinned. "Sure what is that?"

"I'm still a girl so I am too shy to ask Nick about this, can you ask him to do accept it?"

I felt jealous but I know that nothing should be personal when it comes to work.

"Yes Ma'am Hailey, I don't have a problem with that thing. I will chat him later!"

"Thank you sis! When we're out of the office, you don't have to be formal. Just call me sis. After all, we are just like sisters having a nice time together!"

"It's fine with me, but I just want to ask, do you have a boyfriend, sis?"

Hailey leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "Believe it or not, I have two boyfriends in the past and my father did not know about them. They are not as handsome as Nick but they have strong sex appeal!"

Now, I realize that Hailey is really a liberated girl despite her beautiful face.

"By the way, tomorrow after work shift, I will go to the gym so I will keep my fit body. Wanna come?"

I agreed immediately. I can definitely hang out with Hailey to learn more about my father.

"Sure, why not! Honestly, I really want to be fit as well but I don't know how to start!"

"Don't worry, the gym instructor will teach us everything to do. You seemed to be inspired to go to the gym. Do you have a boyfriend?"

I grinned, as expected she would return the awkward question to me. I replied quickly. "I'm only focusing on my career first. But in fact, I really want to have a boyfriend since I feel like I am already left behind!"

Suddenly a waiter came by and accidentally spilled the Juice on Stella's clothes and the waiter immediately apologized to her.

"Sorry Ma'am, I didn't mean it!"

Stella suddenly stood up and looked at the waiter in a mocking way. It looked like she was really fucked up with what happened.

"Fuck, are you stupid? Out of all the people who eat here, you're going to bump into me?"

The waiter was on the verge of panic and looked like he was about to faint from nervousness. I tried defending him from Stella's rants.

"Sis, I am sorry on behalf of the waiter. Maybe he was tired!" I said with a firmed voice.

I really hate people who think they are above other people. It really annoys me!

Stella suddenly pointed at me. "Stop defending him, he should be punished for what he did. As customers, we don't tolerate like this to happen!"

I was surprised that she refused to listen to me. I became quiet again. She turned back to the waiter who spoke again while keeping his head down.

"Ma'am, I'll just pay for your clothes if you want!"

Stella grinned as if he was insulted by what she heard. "Are you kidding? Do you know how much this dress costs? Even if you work forever, you will never pay me back!" she yelled at the waiter.

The manager of the restaurant suddenly came out because Stella was causing an embarrassing scene that even I could not imagine she was capable of.

"What happened Ma'am?" asked the manager who smiled at Stella.

Stella let out her frustration to the manager. "Why hire someone who's not experienced enough for this kind of work? He accidentally spilled the fucking juice on my coat that I bought in France for half a million. Even if you two combine your income, you won't be able to pay for my coat!"

This time, I have no other choice but to stand up. It hurts to see someone being stepped on and as a sister, I want Stella to learn how to have breeding.

"Sis, I think it's inappropriate to say such horrible things against someone who's working to feed their families!"

Stella glared at me but I was not intimidated. "Please sis, it's none of your business. I'll do what I want to do. Do you know that the money I bought here is my savings? How can I disregard this accident like it was nothing?"

"Because at any time, we don't have the right to step on other people. Please, don't try to despise and belittle any of them because if you don't, I will be forced to report you to your father, Stella!"

Stella calmed down. She seemed terrified with what I just told her. Damn! I can't believe that it was quite effective!

"You cannot take back words that you said but at least, try to say sorry!" I dare to tell her.

Stella took a deep breath and politely apologized to the waiter and manager.

"Alright, I sincerely apologized with the rude attitude. I'm just not in a good mood today!"

"It's okay Ma'am, I will make sure it won't happen again!" said the manager.

After we ate, we walked back to the office. I was surprised when Stella suddenly apologized to me.

"Sis, I am sorry for what I did earlier. I know you felt ashamed to be with someone like me who is arrogant. Honestly, I don't know that I have adopted my father's behavior. He often embarrasses people so I definitely absorbed it.

"I understand sis, I'm also sorry if I forgot that I'm just your employee. I hope it doesn't get in the way of us being friends!"

She smiled. "Of course!"

"But I'm serious, I can't believe that your coat costs half a million. Do you want me to wash it?"

"Don't mention it," she said. "This dress is very important to me, but I realized that what you said earlier was right. As they say, if you give something personal to another person, that only means that you value your relationship with them!"

My forehead knitted in confusion. "What do you mean, sis? I cannot fathom your words?"

"What I mean is I'd like to give this corporate attire to you as a symbol of our flourishing friendship!" she said. "You can wash it now and please take care of it!"

I accepted her offer with no hesitation since I like the coat. I agreed even though I know that such expensive clothing is not suitable for my earthly body.

"Thank you very much, in return do you want to drink later or the next day? There is a bar in this area where we can hangout. I know you have a high standard, but the easiest way for you to adapt to the way of living in this country is to explore!"

"I can't understand what you mean," she said with a hesitant voice.

"Sorry sis, I mean I'd like to invite you to a bar so you experience the life of a poor person like me. Although, I am not forcing you if you don't want to!"

She curled her lips to smile. "That's cool. I'd like to experience that. It's been a while since my friends and I had a drink at Harvard. Because after graduation, I went straight to my dad's company so I've got to release my stress. I shall email you after the work!"

I put my arm around Stella and whispered. "Please don't tell your father about this!"

"Oh come on, I won't tell him about this because I might get suspended to work if I do so. I know him from head to toe. He is a very conservative man who hates going to the bar or hanging out with other people unless they've got business to work on!"

"Yes, I know that very well. Anyway, are you a heavy drinker?"

"I won't say I am but we will definitely have fun for sure. Of course, I was a party girl when I was in France so night party is a must. School is boring without leisure!"