When Luana woke up from the dream, she felt absurd. How could she have such a dream?
She raised her hand and touched her flushed cheeks and warm lips.
It must have been because she accidentally kissed his face yesterday, which led to this embarrassing dream.
For five years, she had been with him, each time being completely consumed by him. She had grown accustomed to his touch.
Now, it was probably just a matter of not having adjusted yet. Given time, it would pass.
As she comforted herself with these thoughts, Calvert's call suddenly came through.
She picked up the phone and answered, "Mr. Coburn, do you need something?"
Calvert felt a bit uncomfortable hearing her formal tone, but he quickly collected himself and replied, "Miss Hammond, Stanley isn't available today. Could you accompany me to the bidding meeting?"
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Stanley, who was practically inseparable from Calvert, wasn't available?
Luana was puzzled but agreed nonetheless.
Once the bidding meeting was over, he would probably return to Washington.
She even felt a bit excited and said, "Wait for me."
'Is she that happy?'
Calvert couldn't help but smile slightly, infected by Luana's mood.
"No need to rush. The bidding meeting starts at ten. It's still early."
Luana glanced at the time—7 a.m. She had woken up unusually early this time. Was it because of that dream?
Thinking about the dream made her cheeks flush again. She quickly said, "Okay," and hung up.
She had passed out last night and hadn't checked her messages. Worried that Clarissa might have texted her, she opened WhatsApp.
Clarissa had sent her a few scenic photos and some short videos.
After going through them, Luana replied.
After sending the reply, she instinctively glanced at the profile picture buried under the chats.
The profile picture was blank, as mysterious as Mr. Night himself.
She clicked on Mr. Night's chat, which was still stuck on her last reply.
Since then, he hadn't sent any messages or called.
Luana was a bit puzzled. He had frantically called her hundreds of times that day, so why had he stopped contacting her after she replied?
She only wondered for a few seconds before putting her phone down. It was better if Mr. Night didn't bother her. At least she could catch her breath.
She forced herself to get up, freshened up, and took her medication on time.
Then she called a courier to send out the luxury items Calvert had bought her yesterday—the dress, shoes, and the like.
She could have returned them to Calvert directly, but that would have required more explanation. Sending them via courier was simpler.
After sending the items, she grabbed her bag and headed to Coburn Group's branch office.
The Western Land bidding meeting was crucial for Coburn Group's development in Los Angeles, so everyone was taking it seriously.
The entire branch was bustling with activity, and even Calvert was in the conference room going over the bidding presentation with the executives.
It wasn't until 9 a.m. that everyone finally left the conference room.
Luana, temporarily taking over Stanley's role as Calvert's assistant, was able to attend the bidding meeting.
The bidding meeting was held at the Moriarty Group's campus. Driving into the campus felt like stepping into the future.
The high-tech skyscrapers, imaginative landscapes, and unparalleled security systems all showcased the identity of a wealthy, powerful family.
But for the Moriarty Group, which had repeatedly topped the wealth rankings, this was just a drop in the ocean.
Rumor had it that the Moriarty Group had similar branches all over the world.
Their business spanned a wide range of industries, with real estate being just a small part.
The Moriarty Group's most outstanding ventures were in intelligent development and aerospace research.
A group like this, leading the way in future innovation, was something other companies could only dream of.
Seeing the Moriarty Group's power firsthand made Luana realize how insignificant she was.
She had once naively thought Cline might marry her, but now it seemed laughable.
How could a man with such a powerful background ever marry her?
At this moment, she realized she was completely unmatched for Cline.
The tiny bit of hope she had held onto was utterly shattered by this awe-inspiring sight.
Calvert noticed her staring up at the skyscraper in a daze and gently nudged her.
"Miss Hammond, follow me."
Luana snapped out of it and followed Calvert into one of the futuristic-looking buildings.
The Moriarty Group's security system was extremely strict. Outsiders had to verify their identities to enter; otherwise, the doors wouldn't open.
As they were going through the identity verification process, Runa walked in with a group of executives.
She greeted Calvert and then turned to Luana, who was standing behind him.
"Mr. Coburn, you don't mind if I have a word with Luana, do you?"
"Miss Hammond is your company's employee. Why would I mind?"
Calvert didn't like Runa's tone. It sounded polite but carried a deliberate sarcasm that made him uncomfortable.
However, since Luana worked for her, he couldn't say much.
He told Luana, "I'll wait for you inside," and then led the Coburn Group team further in.
Once he was gone, Runa smiled at Luana.
"Luana, it seems you've been taking good care of Mr. Coburn."