Chapter 141: Expectations
"Do you really mean not to return to Shanghai for the shareholders meeting sir?" Beside him in the plane Hao Jin Ying turned and asked him, a worried expression on her face.
They sat in the first class cabin of the public airplane, waiting as the plane was boarded on the flight to Lyons, France.
It was already Monday afternoon, it would take them more than 13 hours just to get to Lyons, France. Then from there to Shanghai another 13 hours. Plus they would be advancing across the international date line and would lose another day. Even if he set the meeting for the late afternoon, and made every connection flawlessly, he would only have an hour or two.
The man sat with his eyes closed ignoring her worries.
"Why are we even heading to Lyons?"
"Because Chang is there." Liang Jian Amal answered with his eyes still closed.
"Did you hear what I said earlier? Mr. Liang, do you even know where she is exactly? If not then we should return, if not Chairman Liang will take this opportunity to undermine you."
"This is more important." Liang Jian Amal turned his head and looked at her seriously. "I took care of business first last time. I won't make the same mistake again, I will handle whatever comes after, I've been through worse."
"Sometimes I feel like the wrong person is our CEO." Hao Jin Ying sighed and resigned she really wanted to see Chang but fretted over the situation in China.
"Possibly." He curved his lips slightly in amusement. "I feel like I have the wrong person as my personal assistant. I should have made you the head of security miss 'demon in the trees.'"
"Peh! Those men should be ashamed to have called themselves battle hardened soldiers." Hao Jin Ying scoffed with derision at his words and slightly teasing tone.
"Sometimes I wonder just what your upbringing was that you would become talented in the way you are." Liang Jian Amal gave her a concerned look.
The soldier he had interrogated had been absolutely terrified of Hao Jin Ying.
"The best kind of course!" She gave him a beaming sarcastic smile before turning away to continue pursing her lips with her brow wrinkled.
"Hao Jin Ying, thank you."
"You don't have to thank me you pay me really well." She gave him a smile while her right hand made a circle with her index finger and thumb.
He chuckled at her cheeky response before turning away.
"Plus I have my own personal feelings invested in this as well now, I truly liked Lihua. Lihua was a good person and a good friend. I want to see everything come out right now.
"I just don't want to see you lose everything you have accomplished. We know that Chang is safe at the moment."
"I will know that for myself when I see her. I'm going. If you are truly worried then go in my stead."
"I can't do that sir, I'm not a shareholder." As she spoke her boss pulled a folded piece of paper from his inside breast pocket and handed it to her. Hao Jin Ying quickly scanned the contents before her eyes flicked up to his full of caution and alarm.
"This is too much."
"No it just might be too little, I cannot even begin to show you how grateful I am for all that you have done. Take this as a show of my gratitude."
"This is so much sir, are you sure."
"Very."
"Hehe I bet you wouldn't give this to the guy you hired to replace me would you? What was his name Luo Jun?"
Yes, and no I wouldn't he's efficient, but he is no 'Hao Jin Ying', and thankfully so; one is enough for the world."
'And maybe too much.' He couldn't help thinking wryly.
"Hehe you flatter me. Thank you Liang Jian Amal." Hao Jin Ying refolded the paper stating that stated his intent to transfer 10% of his stocks to her name.
"I'll officiate it with you as soon as I return. If you so wish you have every right to attend that meeting now. I am going to Chang, I've waited far too long already."
Hao Jin Ying looked down for only a second in contemplation before standing and grabbed her bag.
"If neither thing can wait we should split up, they're both too important. I'll attend the meeting and speak on your behalf."
"Thank you." He gave her a smile before facing forward.
Hao Jin Ying looked at him wondering if she should say anything else but decided against it and went to disembark.
Liang Jian Amal sat there, after Hao Jin Ying left he let the mask of calmness slip from his face.
'Tell him I waited..'
Chapter 142: Expectations (II)
Chang Dumont stood awkwardly next to Jean-Jacques Dumont as he introduced her to her plethora of cousins as well as her aunts and uncles, both closely and distantly related.
Although they wore bright smiles and greeted her genuinely, their eyes were cold and calculating. Chang could feel sweat gathering at her lower back standing in the warm room subject to all the cold gazes in her fine dress and heels that cost god-knows-how-much.
She knew that Jean-Jacques Dumont meant well, introducing her to the family she never knew she had, but all she wanted was to be alone.
To be alone would be better than the cold scrutiny she felt herself subjected to.
'Would it be rude to excuse myself early?' Chang looked at her grandfather from the corner of her eye. She sighed in her mind as she plastered the fake smile she had worn all night, her face was starting to ache with the charade.
'I wish he was here.. No stop it stop it! You promised yourself you would stop thinking about him, he's not coming.' Chang felt another stab to her already mortally wounded heart thinking about him again.
'..If he's even alive still, which I assume he is, his company is doing fine according to the stock market. If the ceo died I'm pretty sure there would be something. Which only means, he's alive and chose not to come.
'I waited, but he didn't come. God if he showed up now I..
'No! Stop with your hopeless expectations, move on girl.' Chang felt her composure slip and without caring if it was rude she slipped away before introducing her to another person and slipped outside.
She heard a few voices tittering and whispering amongst themselves, but she ignored them as she ran out avoiding running into anyone and embarrassing herself further.
The uncomfortable heels made loud clicks through the hall calling attention as she fled outside. The chill air hit her bare shoulders and goosebumps rose up on her skin, her breath clouding the air. The sharp cold hit her lungs and it finally felt like she could take a breath.
Wandering further into the gardens she took off her expensive heels and hiked up the long skirt, so as not to dirty it as she meandered aimlessly into a tall hedge labyrinth. As she walked she let the tears she had been suppressing start to roll down her cheeks. She quickened her pace so that she could find somewhere someone wouldn't find her and see her.
In the darkness deeper in she finally couldn't see the light from her grandfather's manor and the party.
Finally she could let it out without fear.
Chang hiked up her skirt and knelt down and wept into hands. She wept openly for her loss, the people she missed but would never see again.
'They're also who I want to see most. I can't ever see my mom or dad again but I really want to see Jian just one last time. I wish I could have told him myself that I really didn't want to go or write another stupid letter.
'I wish he had been there when my mom died, I needed him so much. I need him so much.'
Chang crossed her arms across herself her fingers touching the thin straps that held the long silver gown as she shivered. She knew it was stupid to stay in the cold in such a thin clothing, but she couldn't go back in as she was.
'Just a little more time, I'm just not ready yet. Just a little more time..'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Kayalicia
Kayalicia
Second to last episode for volume one!
Would y'all like me to do a qna panel after the last chapter in between the volumes? Please send questions and comments, I'd love to hear them!
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