Li had a stressful day at the office and it was just noon. He tried to strive through the boredom but he couldn't at all. He waited for wa while until he realized he had two more meetings and seven more contracts to sign before he called it a day.
He tried to convince his emotions to adapt to the new system. It was almost impossible. A knock hit the door, he raised his head to look at the upcoming intruder. He expected the pompous Zhao but instead it was a lady. A lady he never knew.
"Good morning sir. I'm Lin Yan. Your personal assistant. Mr Zhao Ming called me here to take over when you need me to. It's a pleasure to meet you sir."
Sir? What a compliment. He didn't know what to say or even what to do, no one ever called him sir before. "Lin Yan? Right?"
"Yes sir."
"Have a seat."
She sat waiting for his next command. "Go through these files and sort the documents out, separate them by their priority."
"Yes sir." She began her first duty as a new assistant of Li Wei. For once in his life, he felt good about his job and personal existence. He wanted to give it a smile but that would make him look bipolar and extremely friendly. He kept a stern look on his face.
Another knock hit the door, another lady walked into the office. She smiled brightly and had feminine features pronounced through her clothes. "Good morning sir. I'm Su Yue. I'm your personal assistant for your office. The jade industries assigned me to you for your meetings and virtual sessions only. It's an honor to work with you."
He sat on the desk. He said, "I gues you are supposed to be on this desk then? Su Yue?"
"Yes sir I am."
"Good. Get to work then." He said. He walked off to the coffee table and attempted to make his coffee when another knock hit the door and this time it turned out to be a bit annoying to him. He stared at the ceiling for a while and by the time he turned to look behind him. He didn't think anyone would blow him away but this time, someone did.
"Good morning sir."
"Good morning." Li stared at this young man, he knew they belonged to the same age group. "Who are you?"
"Shen. My name is Shen Hao. I'm your assistant for errands. Coffee, work and everything."
Li extended his hand to Shen, Shen noticed he wanted a handshake. He streched his hand forward. They shook hands. "I need a cup of coffee with biscuits by the side. Make sure it's caramel and creamy enough for me."
"Yes sir." Shen walked off to the coffee table.
Li stood for a while lost in his thoughts about the man he just met. He didn't understand what he felt, was it lust or love? He waited for a while before he noticed the office busy and decided to step out but to where? What location?
A message buzzed through his phone. A lunch date? Ice tea date? It was an invitation from Zhao. He didn't have any option than to completely obey his boss unless he faced the consequences.
He walked out of the building, he thought of checking the cafeteria. He reached the hall and saw no one, just people staring at him and some showing respect and honorable manners towards him. He smiled at it a little in his head but kept a still face. He walked out the moment he realized Zhao wasn't there.
His phone rang, "Did you really think I would be there? It's too common isn't it?"
"Common? Where are you?" Li asked.
"Somewhere else. Guess."
"Guess? I can't. This is my last guess." Li responded.
"Come outside and why would that be your last guess? What part of secret boyfriend don't you get?"
"I'll be outside."
"You sound strict Li. You've taken your executive office too seriously haven't you?"
"What else am I supposed to do? I can't have options, or do I?"
"Exactly. No. Meet me outside."
"What car?"
Zhao hung up without giving Li a proper response at all.
Li felt insulted. He walked out of the building in disgust. He felt smaller around Zhao when he sat in the car. He kept a stern look.
Zhao asked, "What? Why the strange face? Why the look of sadness?"
"You hung up on me. Why?"
"Why the pettiness? You are already here Li. I want us to have an ice tea date."
"Wait. Are you even asking?"
"No I'm telling. And if I must add, the executives are going to be there. It's a private meeting to discuss about Jade industries and it's third parties as well. You'll be meeting my dad."
"Your dad?! No! I'm not ready to meet your father yet."
"Why not? You already took his money."
"Money. This isn't about money. You gave me that money not him. Don't act dumb."
"Dumb? Well that's what you sound like right now."
"Really? Me. So this is about me? Zhao this is too much and too intense." Li complained.
"But your life of poverty wasn't? Your broke attempt to live within the wealthy wasn't? Your failure wasn't." Li stayed quiet. "Li? I want the best for you. I'm a good persona XM I think you should be more than grateful right now. Don't disappoint me, my father isn't the type to give second chances freely."
Li watched him silently downgrade his emotions, his words and his mindset. He didn't know what to say. He just had nothing but a speechless moment to offer.
Zhao knew he took it too far and so he said, "Li I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings with my words but you know it's the truth."
"The truth? Just because you come from a wealthy background, doesn't mean I need to worship you. I don't like the way you talk to me and make me feel small."
"Li? Can I tell you something?" Li didn't respond. "You are my employee and you are just an employee. If you don't understand the terms of a corporate world, the kitchen is always open to you."