Chapter 5
Originally, Ralph’s secretary was supposed to collect the contract.
But come evening, he abruptly messaged:
[“Diana, I’ve got a last–minute meeting, so my secretary’s tied up. You’ll need to deliver it.“]
“Oh, and personally please. I don’t trust courier services. Best bring it today–sooner we sign, the sooner we’re settled.“]
Sooner signed, sooner settled indeed.
He was afraid I’d back out.
I was afraid he’d secretly change the numbers on it.
I glanced at the pouring rain outside.
Resolved myself.
Gritted my teeth and climbed out of bed.
Luckily, Ralph lived close to my place.
It only took about ten minutes on foot.
I stood at Ralph’s doorstep.
The decor at his entrance felt strangely familiar.
As if I’d seen it somewhere before.
I entered the code he gave me and smoothly opened the door.
The room layouts in this neighborhood were all similar, so I found Ralph’s study without much trouble.
But soon, I stared thoughtfully at the rose–pink door before me that clashed with the entire house.
Ralph’s home has an overall cold and minimalist style–cold white wallpaper, jet–black furniture, even the curtains are black.
Only this door is pink, and it’s that particularly eye–catching pink.
I hesitated for a moment, then gently pushed open the study door.
The next second.
A huge solo poster instantly appeared before me.
I held my breath sharply.
Almost couldn’t believe my eyes-
The person on the poster is indeed me, this was taken in my second year after debut.
If it weren’t for suddenly seeing it here.
I had almost forgotten that this photo even existed.
However, the study contained far more than just this poster.
Small cards, keychains, magazines, and various products I had endorsed, even the fan merchandise from when I endorsed coffee…
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Every little trinket was labeled with a date.
Over a dozen boxes of Fan Merchandise were neatly arranged by their
owner.
Treasured like precious gems.
I rubbed my eyes hard.
Absolutely certain this wasn’t a hallucination.
The angle of his desk and its layout looked strikingly familiar.
I paused to recall, then pulled out my phone for comparison.
The realization hit me like thunder:
Ralph–that emotionally detached, cold and distant CEO who’d made me sign stacks of contracts–was secretly Q, my Die–Hard Fan.
Before this revelation could sink in,
Ralph messaged again:
<<Diana, I forgot to specify: the study for the contracts is on the second floor, not the one downstairs.»
I scratched my nose sheepishly.
[Sorry, I’ve already placed the contract in the first–floor study.】
Ralph responded somewhat urgently:
(2
45.564
【Then put things down and leave immediately. Don’t touch anything inside.]
【Those items are extremely important to me. If you damage them, don’t blame me for being harsh.]
【Uh, don’t worry. I left it and came right out. Nothing’s damaged.]
A two–second pause.
I glanced up again at the Fan Merchandise.
Some were items even I could no longer find.
Yet Ralph had carefully preserved each one, making them look practically brand new.
As I stared, a bold guess suddenly popped into my mind:
[Mr. Garcia, is this female celebrity the girl you mentioned liking?]
After a long pause, Ralph answered solemnly: ….. Yeah. ]
Me: []
Ralph: [What? Do you know her? Or do you like her too? …Are we fellow fans?]
I: […Haha]
Ralph: [?] –
I forced a laugh: [I don’t think I know her.]
Ralph pondered, his tone tinged with disappointment:
[Well, that’s understandable.]
[She never became a household name. This year, after I fully took over the company, I could’ve discreetly funneled her much better resources. But
she left the industry.]
[What will she do after leaving? Get married within the year?]
[Wonder what bastard got so lucky to have her.]
[That bastard better cherish her. Otherwise, I’ll hunt him to the ends of the earth–physical castration first, then dismembered. I won’t let him off.]
