Livid Guardian's Endless Coddling

Chapter 582: A hidden devil

Arna smiled brightly when Ivan left the business clients to meet her. Anyway, his words made her unhappy instantly.

"Snow, what are you doing here? Are you meeting any of your clients here?" He asked plainly as he looked around for the potential clients.

Hearing his voice that was trying to get rid of her, Arna puffed her cheeks. 'I was an idiot to think he will be surprised and happy.' She thought.

"I came for you."

Ivan: "..."

He glanced back at the clients and looked at Arna. He saw her ready in business formal dress, "You- Did you come to help me get the project?" He was amused but held it in without showing it to her.

Arna nodded. Even if she didn't know anything about the project, she was versed in meeting numerous types of clients, she thought she could help him a little so that he won't be troubled or pressured too much.

She just wanted to show her support even if she had to just stand behind him.

Ivan crossed his arms on his chest and watched her. Arna looked everywhere but his eyes. She didn't want him to shoo her away by glaring at her.

He knew she wasn't looking down on him but worried and came to be his strength. Still, "How are you going to help me?" He asked, breaking the silence without bothering about the gazes on them.

The Skyline employees were already doubting Arna wooing Ivan and the latter might not like it. Anyway, none had the dream of getting her, they were hell afraid of Aria.

Arna offered, "I can be your assistant."

Ivan countered, "You know nothing about the project."

Arna thought he was smart to know why she said as an assistant but she didn't know Ivan was playing her to know if she could stick up with her decision.

"But I know your preferences of coffee and food. I can get you that."

Well, he didn't expect that from her. He wanted to reject that too and see what else she would come up with but didn't.

"Alright, how are you going to address me?" He didn't know if their clients knew who she was. Since she decided to be his assistant, she has to be formal too as this meeting was very important.

"Iv-" Arna remembered their business industries and her fashion industries are different. In her field, they call everyone by name but here it is important about the address and hierarchy irrespective of age. "Vice president Ross." Her tone sounded more like a tease.

Ivan noticed her mischief smile flash away before she stood unfazed. He took a step closer to reach her ear, "And you are?" His voice was low and hypnotic.

Arna's lips gaped at his mesmerizing voice. She quickly darted her eyes around when he looked her in the eyes. She is totally aware she should behave like an assistant and he was trying to divert her before driving her away.

"Assistant Mor..." She paused. Then she shook her head, "No, I can't say as Morgan or Cooper, they don't have to know my identity."

A faint smile slipped off Ivan's lips. That's what he likes more about her. She doesn't use her identity to make things better for him but supports him to face the problem.

Arna suggested with a straight face, "Assistant Ross." She said in the sense of Mrs. Ross.

Ivan almost choked on his spit hearing her. One who doesn't know Arna's identity could easily misunderstand her as a woman desperate to become his wife to climb up the social ladder.

Digesting her words, he said indifferently, "Everyone will think of you as my sister then." Then he walked towards the table.

Arna: "..."

She hadn't thought of it. She frantically tried to clear it as she followed him a little behind, "Just call as Assistant... Vice President Ross."

Arna quickly went to grab some breakfast and sat next to Ivan. She awkwardly smiled when Ivan introduced her as his lazy yet smart assistant who is late to reach.

"She doesn't seem like an assistant. Vice President Ross, your assistant carries herself nobly." The client doubted how an assistant could be so calm and composed facing them and while eating making almost no noise.

Ivan faintly smiled to brush off the topic about Arna. He didn't like the foreign men peeking at her frequently with odd gazes. Arna tried her best to look like a subordinate and slacken her posture.

----

Well, she was soon bored but didn't show. They moved to the conference room in the hotel and the meeting went on.

She could easily understand many things they discussed in the meeting as she used to visit her father and mother at work when she was a teenager.

The long meeting finally ended with Arna admiring Ivan the whole time other than handing him water or coffee his eyes would look for it. She could see how much he was influenced by his mother. Adding with his attitude and intelligence, he was too good.

When everything ended, Ivan turned to the President to know if he was going to sign, or had any doubts or requirements. Arna crossed her fingers hoping nothing hinders the signing process. She wanted her parents to be proud of Ivan.

The middle-aged man finally spoke, "Vice President Ross, how about we continue the meeting after a break?"

The Skyline employees looked at each other. More than Skyline, those clients need them. Skyline carried out everything formally but seeing the audacity of the clients, they really wished Aria was the one handling the meeting. Her indifferent smile was all needed to show the place of those clients.

They looked at Ivan thinking he might cue them to leave the hall with him. Anyway, he leaned back on the chair, his legs crossed. Instead of leaving, he pointed to the door for the clients to leave.

He gave the ultimatum with his voice cold and gaze sharp, "You have ten minutes." He meant at the eleventh minute, even if the clients want, they will lose the chance.

The President's face darkened.

The Skyline employees silently sniggered in their minds looking at the clients. Their gazes were enough to show their support to their Vice President.

'Did they think Ivan was easy to bully just because he wasn't cold? Tsk, tsk.' Arna thought.

Ivan was like his father. He won't be cold and overbearing unless he should be. 'He is a hidden devil.'