That Saturday night, Sherryn arrived at the airport after returning from Xayldor University.
That same night, she was informed that starting Monday, she would begin working as the Vice General Manager (VGM) at Brightern Corporation.
She was handed a thick stack of documents detailing Brightern's background, as well as information about the Dyroon family, the owners of the international real estate empire.
However, she didn't read them right away, as it was already late at night.
The next morning, on Sunday, Sherryn went jogging along the Lofth River track, a beautiful riverside trail that brought back nostalgic childhood memories.
The weather was bright and pleasant, and the place was crowded with people. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, the crowd made it hard for Sherryn to find a spot to sit and rest.
In her mind, she murmured, "So crowded. It's been eight years since the last time I jogged here. Has it always been this busy?"
She jogged lightly while looking for an empty bench, but all the benches along the riverside were already taken. Feeling a little disappointed, she sighed. She really wanted to sit there and feel the nostalgic morning breeze.
At the very end of the path, she finally spotted one last empty bench. Filled with excitement and hope, Sherryn ran toward it.
Unexpectedly, someone dashed past her from behind, a man running much faster, and sat down on the bench right before she reached it.
Sherryn came to a stop, staring at him with a helpless, pleading look. But the man only glanced at her from beneath his cap and hoodie with a cold, almost mocking expression.
Inwardly, Sherryn groaned, "Ugh, I wasn't fast enough. That rude man beat me to it. Well, I could still sit beside him, the bench is for two people, but with that look on his face, I'd rather not. Even if I did sit, I'd pretend he didn't exist."
Without thinking further, Sherryn turned away and left, heading for a nearby café by the Lofth River.
Though she didn't get to sit by the riverside, she felt comfortable sitting at one of the café's outdoor tables. While sipping mineral water and enjoying the bright morning, she looked around.
"Ah, that ice cream truck is still there?" she murmured in surprise.
It was the same local ice cream truck, the one that only operated here, famous for its unique and nostalgic flavor. She remembered how she used to buy ice cream from it as a child.
Eagerly, Sherryn hurried over to buy her favorite chocolate flavor.
After waiting in line for quite a while, she finally got it. Delighted, she headed back toward the riverside benches, many of which were now empty.
But just as she was walking happily with her ice cream in hand,
Bruukkk
She was suddenly bumped from behind by a tall, broad-shouldered man, making her drop the ice cream and splatter it all over her clothes.
Startled and confused, Sherryn turned around, and to her disbelief, it was the same man who had stolen the bench earlier.
Without a hint of guilt, the man simply walked away, not saying a single word, even though her clothes were stained and her face clearly showed frustration and disbelief.
"Ugh, what a completely annoying man," she screamed internally.
Her mood was ruined after the incident that morning, leaving her unmotivated for the rest of the day. Still, she forced herself to go through the pile of documents about her new workplace.
"There are just so many of these, but I'm not really in the mood to read right now after what happened this morning. Hmph, I waited in line so long and didn't even get to taste that ice cream. But I can't stay upset forever. Fine, I'll just start with the most important files first."
The next day, while looking outside and seeing a man driving a luxury car, she muttered under her breath, "That man."
Even from a quick glance, she was certain it was the same annoying man from before.
"Huh," she whispered angrily, "That's him, the rude guy from yesterday."
"What's his problem with me? Why does he keep acting like such a jerk? And why is he coming out of the Brightern parking area? Don't tell me he works here too?"
She frowned deeply. "Please just be visiting. I really don't want to see that face again."
Not long after, Ms. Jull arrived. She quickly got out of the car and opened the door for Sherryn.
Seeing Sherryn's skirt wet, she asked, "Miss, why is your skirt wet? Let me wipe it with some tissues."
"It's fine, Ms. Jull. Don't bother," Sherryn replied while getting into the car.
During the ride, Ms. Jull asked, "Miss, have you decided which car to buy?"
"Yes, I'll send you the details," Sherryn answered.
"Miss, you seem a bit upset today," Ms. Jull asked carefully, noticing the slight redness in Sherryn's cheeks, the kind that appeared when she was holding back anger.
"Hahaha, do I really look that upset?" Sherryn replied lightly.
"Yes, you do. If someone's been bothering you, please tell me. I'll take care of it," said Ms. Jull seriously.
"There's no need for that, Ms. Jull. I'm fine. Oh right, about the maid I asked for this morning?"
"Yes, Miss. I've already hired one who fits your request, a woman in her forties. She's tidy, clean, and kind. She'll handle the cleaning and cooking every weekday, from Monday to Friday."
"Thank you, Ms. Jull," Sherryn said warmly.
"You're welcome, Miss," Ms. Jull replied with a smile.
When she got home, Sherryn took a shower, had dinner, and reviewed the company documents to prepare herself for her first day as Vice General Manager.
She always went to bed at 10 p.m. and woke up at 6 a.m., an eight-hour routine she had kept since childhood.
On Tuesday morning, the sky was bright and clear. Sherryn left home at 8 a.m. in her new car.
The night before, she had sent the car's specifications to Ms. Jull, who managed to finalize the purchase and paperwork within just a few hours, allowing Sherryn to drive it immediately.
She worked diligently and with great enthusiasm. Being a VGM came with heavy responsibilities, and Sherryn knew she had to study and master the complex tasks seriously.
As she was deeply focused on her work, the doorbell rang.
Ding... Ding... Ding...