Everyone assured him it was no problem. Miranda chimed in, “I just arrived, too.” Adam gave her a teasing look, smirking as he rubbed his chin, “So, did you have a romantic night with your boyfriend?” Her face flushed instantly. “No, not at all! He has his own place; I stayed at the company dorm last night,” she hurriedly denied. “Haha, why are you explaining? I never said you lived together!” Adam winked. “I saw those roses and his love confession in the snow; so romantic!” Miranda could only laugh awkwardly. “Oh, it really sounds dreamy. Now I’m even nostalgic about my first love,” he sighed as he settled into his chair. “Too bad that’s impossible for me now.” “Why is it impossible? Did she marry someone else?” Miranda asked. “No, she passed away,” Adam said, his tone turning somber. “Let’s not dwell on sad topics. The reason I gathered you all is to discuss something important—the board has decided to enter the North America market.” Miranda and her colleagues exchanged puzzled glances. Why suddenly target North America? “But there are many strong local real estate companies. Competing with them won’t be easy,” one of them pointed out. “Right. Although there’s a lot of infrastructure needed in North America, it’s a huge risk to try and take their business,” another added. Adam waved them off, leaning back casually. “It’s just an experiment. We’re not here to compete but to collaborate. We’ll provide the designs, and they’ll handle the execution. It won’t require much investment. If it works out, we gain a foothold in a huge market. You all know how lucrative the North America market is.” North America was indeed a golden opportunity; every company wanted in. But they also knew the strong nationalist sentiment—many consumers preferred domestic products. “And since Miranda is American, communication won’t be an issue. We’re just testing the waters for now. If it’s not feasible, we can revert to our previous pace,” Adam added. Being the CEO, his words carried weight. The team nodded in agreement.“And Miranda, you can reunite with your family during this trip. If our efforts succeed, you might even work in New York, choosing your team or hiring locally,” Alexander said, smiling at her. “Do you optimistic about this expansion?” a designer asked. “Of course,” Adam beamed. “A real estate company from New York approached us for collaboration. Their terms are quite favorable, and with their support, our entry will be much smoother.” “Which company has such power?” “Isn’t it obvious? It’s Great Wall Group, right, boss?” Adam nodded with a grin. “Exactly! So, any concerns?” Miranda felt a wave of nostalgia at the mention of Great Wall Group—a name she had tried to forget in recent years. Hearing it now stirred something within her. “Miranda, you look a bit pale. Are you feeling okay?” Adam asked with concern. She forced a smile and shook her head. “I’m fine; I just moved to a new place and haven’t settled in well.” “Oh, then you should discuss it with your boyfriend. You can’t overwork yourself; you’re a key asset here. While I won’t interfere in your personal life, I do hope you achieve great things at our company,” Adam encouraged. “Really, it’s nothing… We just started dating yesterday,” she clarified. “What? Just confirmed your relationship?” Adam exclaimed, surprised. “I heard from your assistant that you’ve known each other for years!” “Amy?” Miranda frowned. “Yes! The scene downstairs yesterday was so romantic that many female employees are buzzing about it, asking your assistant about your mysterious boyfriend. I just happened to overhear,” he chuckled. Miranda sighed inwardly, wishing she hadn’t let Amy spill the beans. “Your assistant is quite adorable,” Adam remarked. Miranda could only agree. She wished she had kept Amy closer to her office that morning. “Alright, if there are no more questions, let’s wrap this up. Next Wednesday, we’ll fly to New York. Great Wall Group will arrange for pickup, and with Miranda as our leader, there won't be barriers.” Miranda, feeling a bit exasperated, said, “Boss, I want a raise.” “Of course! With your abilities, a raise is no problem. I’ll discuss it with the board. As for thebusiness trip, you’ll be compensated too. But I’m more optimistic about your professional skills. The representatives from Great Wall Group mentioned that if this collaboration succeeds, there will be ongoing profits. I’ll ensure those earnings are shared among you, which could far exceed your salary. So let’s all work hard!”