Chapter 4. An Order

"Yes, Andrew. My goodness. Don't you know him?"

"I know, of course." Emma wasn't lying. She often heard the name Andrew from her uncle.

"But, do you know which one is him? You don't know, right?"

Emma looked at her friend with a pouty face. What's the point of knowing which one is Andrew?

Sally adjusted her glasses and continued fiddling with her smartphone. "Meet The Most Eligible Bachelor in Town. Andrew Jonas." Sally read the headline from the online news on her smartphone. Then, she directed the phone's screen toward Emma. "Look at this!"

Emma looked at the photo of a young man in a tuxedo on Sally's phone screen. The young man had a strong jawline and a prominent nose. Everyone who saw him would agree that his well-proportioned body was well-trained by its owner. There was not even a hint of a smile on his face. Emma said the most alarming thing was his cold and arrogant gaze.

"Eh, what's all that commotion over there?" Emma hadn't finished evaluating Andrew's photo when Sally returned her phone to her long skirt pocket. Her eyes were drawn to a crowd near the cinema's entrance.

Emma followed Sally's gaze. Girls near the entrance dominated the crowd. Some of them appeared to be hysterical.

"Perhaps an artist is coming for a film promotion," Emma mumbled, to which Sally responded with a casual nod.

The crowd of girls at the entrance was obstructed by two big, black-clad men who were trying to make way for the people behind them. When the group was successfully dispersed, Tom appeared, startling Emma. What business did her uncle have at the cinema? Was he coming to see her? What was so special about her elderly uncle that made the girls in the cinema hysterical?

From behind Tom, a young man suddenly emerged from the crowd, followed by the hysterical screams of some girls. Tom seemed to be talking to the tall young man while pointing toward Emma in the distance. Meanwhile, the two big men, confirmed to be bodyguards, continued to shield the young man from the efforts of the girls trying to approach him.

"Oh my goodness! Am I dreaming? Isn't that Andrew Jonas?" Sally couldn't hide her enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Emma stood frozen, looking at Andrew, who returned her gaze with a cold stare.

***

Andrew wouldn't believe what happened after he mentioned that Emma, the girl he intended to introduce to Andrew, declined the invitation. The news came as a shock to him, relayed by his driver, and he found it hard to fathom that someone would reject meeting him. In his thirty-two years, Andrew had never encountered rejection from any woman.

"So, she doesn't want to meet me?" Andrew mumbled. Tom could only avert his gaze, unable to meet his master's eyes.

"I apologize, Young Master. My niece is quite stubborn."

"Her name is?" Andrew inquired.

"Emma, Young Master."

"If she refuses to meet me, then I'll meet her," Andrew said calmly, his tone radiating authority.

"W-what? But, Young..." Andrew's response took Tom aback, and he couldn't say more.

"I'm short on time, Tom. Where can we find her?"

And that's how they arrived here. Andrew never envisioned that Emma was employed in his own company and worked within the same building as his office.

Andrew felt uneasy in public settings, mainly when he was the center of attention as he was now. He just realized that this was his first time entering this cinema during his tenure at the company, whether for leisure or work. Although the cinema network contributed significantly to the Jonas Group's profits, overseeing cinemas fell outside his responsibilities.

Tom pointed out a girl behind the concessions counter—a petite girl with wavy shoulder-length hair, pale skin, and rosy cheeks. Andrew stared at her intensely, and she met his gaze.

"Master, are you sure?" Tom whispered.

"Wait here, Tom. I'll handle it myself," Andrew instructed as he walked towards Emma.

Suddenly, a girl with long hair and stylish attire intercepted Andrew, prompting his bodyguards to step in. "Hey, Andrew. What brings you here?" she greeted. Andrew gestured for his bodyguards to allow her to approach. "Don't you remember me? I'm Jenny, Rose's friend. We've met a few times."

Andrew didn't react to Jenny's words. Meanwhile, Jenny seemed to be searching for someone. "Where's Rose? Aren't you with her?" she inquired.

"No," Andrew shook his head. "I have other matters to attend to."

"What matters?" Jenny pressed, but Andrew ignored her and moved on. His focus was solely on Emma, the woman who had dared to decline meeting him.

As Andrew closed on Emma, Shawn Gilbert emerged from a nearby door with the cinema manager.

"Andrew, what are you doing here?" Shawn Gilbert appeared surprised by his cousin's presence. The cinema manager, who had been observing Andrew, looked apprehensive. He had yet to be informed about the CEO's visit to the cinema that day.

Andrew barely glanced at Shawn without a word and continued towards Emma.

"Can I assist you?" Emma asked as Andrew stood before her, Sally's startled expression in her peripheral vision.

Andrew paused, collecting his thoughts. He gazed intently at Emma as if studying a rare plant species. The scrutiny made Emma uncomfortable, and she sensed a shift in the atmosphere around her. The air seemed denser for some reason. The young man before her emitted an aura of dominance behind his handsome visage.

"What's the most delightful beverage here?" Andrew finally spoke, his voice resonating with deep authority.

"A-a-all, the drinks here are good," Emma stammered, berating inwardly for her sudden nervousness.

"What's your preference then? Coffee or tea?" Andrew inquired, his eyes unwavering.

"Cold chocolate milk," Emma replied.

"I'll have one," Andrew nodded, and Emma agreed, flustered.

"In that case, I'll expect you in theater three for the first screening tomorrow."

"I'm not interested in watching, sorry," Emma began before getting kicked in the shin by Sally. "Ouch!!!" Emma yelped, shooting Sally a reproachful look.

Sally's expression conveyed, "Are you out of your mind? Why are you turning down Andrew?"

"It's not an invitation," Andrew stated, sipping the cold chocolate milk. "It's an order."

"What?!" Emma's surprise was evident.

"Yes, Mr. Director. She will come," Sally quickly interjected, preventing Emma from saying anything that might jeopardize her career. Sally vowed to scold Emma once Andrew left, reminding her that the one inviting her was Andrew Jonas, the CEO of Jonas Group and a young man sought after by every girl in the city.

Andrew nodded slowly, his gaze returning to Emma to ensure she wouldn't decline this time. He took another sip of his drink and departed, followed by his bodyguards and Tom.

Jenny watched the scene unfold with heightened curiosity. Meanwhile, Shawn Gilbert remained rooted in place. He had never witnessed Andrew behave this way toward a girl, especially one he didn't know. Had Andrew met Emma before? What was happening with his cousin?