Love Me Once More

·1·

My family's business was running a traditional winery, primarily producing two types of wine, white and red.

Thanks to the craftsmanship passed down through generations and my father's relentless efforts, our brand had become quite renowned domestically.

However, under the impact of emerging markets and changing consumer preferences, our business had gradually deteriorated.

My father wanted to innovate by introducing a new fruit wine production line.

Johnny Nash was a top talent my father recruited.

He was a graduate from a prestigious university. With a dignified appearance, he possessed both the refined elegance of someone well-educated and the practical skills expected of a researcher.

My father was very pleased with him, especially since Johnny was not only loyal to the company's development but also exceptionally considerate and attentive towards me.

If he were willing to marry into our family, it would be a win-win situation.

"Catherine, trust my judgment. Johnny is a good boy. You should put aside your prejudices and try to get to know him."

"Dad, have you fallen under his spell? Can't you see he's just putting on a show of being nice to me with his typical pretty face?"

He was genuinely good to me, always accommodating. No matter how whimsical my ideas were, he found ways to fulfill them.

No matter how unreasonable I was, he always smiled and coaxed me, pampering me as if I was his princess.

I knew he had reached his current position through his own efforts, without any family background or support. But perhaps he just saw me as a stepping stone.

My coldness and arrogance didn't deter him, so I decided to make a bold move.

In front of him, I kissed my childhood sweetheart.

His expression was complex-shock, despair, disappointment, and loneliness...

Then, he resolutely left.

My father sighed repeatedly at me, looking as if he was disappointed in my inability to meet his expectations.

·2·

The next time I saw Johnny, he had just come from the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate his company's IPO, and attended an investment banquet organized by the city government.

Indeed, in his first year of entrepreneurship, he successfully launched a wildly popular fruit wine, secured angel funding, and went on to develop a series of products, capturing a share of the fast-moving consumer goods market.

He was smart and ambitious. Not only did he consolidate raw material bases and logistics warehouses, but he also partnered with angel investors to establish a joint venture capital company. In potential projects, he selects enterprises that promised high returns or long-term development, gradually expanding his business portfolio.

"Do you regret it?" My friend Daisy Hussain nudged my arm.

I wasn't sure, but I felt a bit melancholic.

After all, the completely unfamiliar, cold look in his eyes when he saw me was a stark contrast to the warm smiles he used to show.

He still had that same tall figure and elegant demeanor, yet he was not quite the same. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, he mingled among officials and business people, speaking with poise and confidence. Among the middle-aged, overweight, or greasy individuals, he stood out like a graceful swan.

Everyone had their own path to follow, and I didn't have time to dwell on past regrets.

My father's winery was facing numerous issues. Long-time raw material suppliers had been poached with high offers. The newly launched fruit wine series hadn't delivered the expected results. We would either abandon the new line and retreat or seek venture capital for a comprehensive overhaul.

My father was handling the winery's restructuring plan and negotiations with distributors, and his partner Mr. Smith was searching for new raw material suppliers, and I decided to take the project proposal to seek venture capital.

·3·

"Miss Murphy, I'm sorry, but after reviewing your proposal, we still feel that the investment return in traditional industries is too low... "

"Sorry, Miss Murphy, but our valuation for the project can only go this high."

"Miss Murphy, our company has already invested in similar projects, and the board won't approve another. You might want to try elsewhere."

"As for your project, I might consider it, but it really depends on your performance... "

To hell with your demands, I splashed coffee on his lecherous face.

The consequence was that he blacklisted me in the venture capital world, and now I might not even get the chance to be rejected.

Daisy asked me why I didn't seek Johnny's help, given that my father had once been a significant benefactor to him.

Ask him for help? That would be a bit too much for my pride. Besides, he might not even want to see me now.

However, with declining sales year after year, the company was in a terrible financial situation. Without more cash flow, we might be on the brink of bankruptcy.

I decided to swallow my pride, at worst, it would just be another rejection.

As expected, he didn't want to see me. The receptionist confidently stated that Mr. Nash was on a business trip.

I sneezed.

The next day, when I returned, all the flowers at the reception had been swapped for allergy-friendly green plants.

Yes, I was allergic to pollen.

The receptionist still told me that Mr. Nash hadn't returned, and the flowers and plants were regularly changed.

The only thing I could do now was wait, as there were no other companies left to approach.

The receptionist brought me a cup of freshly ground coffee, with milk but no sugar, just the way I liked it.

I told her to inform Mr. Nash that he either met me or never saw me again in this lifetime.

Ten minutes later, the receptionist told me Mr. Nash would see me.

4.

I had rehearsed countless scenarios for our reunion, but I never expected it would make me so nervous.

"It's rare that Miss Murphy would think of me. What brings you here?" He said, sitting in his executive chair with a playful expression, twirling a pen in his left hand, his eyes teasing.

"I'm here to talk business." I pulled out a chair and sat down in front of him.

He put down the pen noncommittally and turned slightly towards me, typing a few words on his computer.

"I hear you're the most insightful investor. Then you should know what the most valuable asset of my family's winery is." This time, I didn't need any documents. The person in front of me once knew my family's company better than I did.

"So, is Miss Murphy planning to transfer the brand?" He asked, glancing at me with a cold tone.

"No, I want an investment, but I'm willing to transfer some equity." He knew well that the brand was the core value of our family business. Selling the brand would be like selling the winery. A win-win cooperation was the best choice.

"And why should I help you?" He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, coldly surveying me, enunciating each word clearly. "Or do you think I still have feelings for you?"

Indeed, what went around came around. The disdain he once received from me was now being returned in full.

"I know I'm not that important. I'm purely here to talk business. If we can cooperate, you could gain attention from traditional clients and the high-end market, while we could successfully enter the fast-moving consumer goods market. It's a win-win... " I hurriedly tried to clarify the pros and cons.

"A month. Stay with me for a month, and I'll consider your proposal." He interrupted me directly.

I looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in front of me in shock. His image in my heart instantly crumbled. I let out a contemptuous laugh and stood up without hesitation. What did he take me for?

"Don't overthink it. I won't do anything to you. Stay with me for a month, just like old times." Seeing me stand up, he looked up and explained, then casually took off his glasses and began to clean them with a cloth.

I stared back at him with mixed feelings. Considering the current state and situation of the company, I hesitated.

He put his glasses back on and, seeing me still pondering, said, "If Miss Murphy is unwilling... ?"

"What do you need me to do?" I bit my lip, steeling myself to agree.

"Help me out with some secretary tasks and join me at an event tonight." He said it casually, as if instructing a subordinate.

I nodded, put down my bag, and picked up his cup to head to the pantry.

"Coffee, please." he said, fiddling with the mouse without looking up.

There were many good coffee beans in the cabinet, but none of them were unwrapped. It seemed he still favored the familiar taste of Arabica, just like my father.

5.

"Wow, Mr. Nash has brought a lovely lady today?" They were all people around the same age as me, none of whom I knew.

"My secretary, Catherine Murphy. " He introduced without any warmth or inflection.

"Hello, everyone." I greeted them professionally, standing by to pour drinks for everyone.

"How can we let a beauty do the work? Sit, sit, don't be shy." The guy who spoke earlier grabbed the wine bottle from me and pressed me into a chair, pouring drinks himself.

Johnny was chatting with someone beside him, completely ignoring me.

Fine, I would just mingle freely then. I took the opportunity to chat with the others, discovering they were all in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. The guy pouring drinks was in the beverage business, the person next to him was in trendy snacks, and the one across was in retail.

"Let's have a toast, shall we?" said Andrew Harper from the snack circle.

I was about to toast everyone in turn. After all, I grew up in a winery, and this amount of alcohol was nothing to me.

"You'll be driving later, no drinking." Johnny said coldly, taking my glass and downing it in one go.

Everyone teased him for being protective, saying there was a driver anyway.

I couldn't quite understand his intentions, knowing full well my drinking capacity didn't require him to shield me. Was he trying to stage some heartwarming scene here? It was unnecessary.

At the banquet, when someone came to toast, he just drank it down.

As the night deepened, everyone left in high spirits. I helped him downstairs, where the driver and car were already waiting at the door.

He clung to my hand, mumbling in a daze, "Remember, you promised a month, don't back out on me... "

So that was why he didn't want me to drink.