“Raymond?”
He looked up from his soup. “Huh?”
Myolie looked at him closely. “Everything is going to turn out fine tomorrow.”
Raymond avoided Myolie’s comforting eyes. He felt a slight tug of guilt. It wasn’t what will happen tomorrow at the meeting that was on his mind…but what happened just before he came here.
“We did everything we could. Moses is right. There is nothing else to do.” She smiled softly at him. “So relax.” She chuckled.
He stared at her. Gosh, did she know that her eyes sparkled beautifully against the dimmed light when she smiled like that. He continued to watch as she dipped her spoon into her bowl of vegetable soup and brought it back up. Placing it slightly against her lips, she sipped it up.
Raymond swallowed hard and looked away.
“How’s the wedding preparation going?”
He relaxed at the safe topic. “Crazy. Last night, the designer was feeling me up.”
“Huh?” She thought she heard wrong.
“The Italian wedding dress designer Aunty hired from oversea.” He lowered his voice. “He scares me.”
Myolie laughed. “Come on, nothing scares Raymond Lau.” She said in a joking manner.
“Well, he does. He…” Raymond looked embarrassed. “He…” Myolie leaned closer in order to hear his words. “He kept pinching me.”
She roared in laughter. “No!”
“Yes.” He frowned at Myolie’s amused look. “It’s not funny. The guy is sexually harassing me every chance he got. Did you know what he did last night?”
“What?” Myolie was blushing from humor.
“He was measuring me for my suits for the wedding.”
“Oh no…” Myolie laughed, knowing where this story would lead to…
“Oh yes…It was a miracle that I got away with my virtue intact. You won’t believe what his hand is capable of…”
She grinned in mischief. “Gosh, I got to meet this designer of yours.”
“He is not MY designer!” He pouted in disgust.
Myolie laughed. “Whatever.”
***
The car slowly eased onto the curve of the sidewalk and stopped. Raymond hesitated with both his hand on the steering wheel.
“Thanks for the meal.” Myolie grabbed her purse. “Get a good night sleep.” She smiled and patted Raymond’s hand. “We will overcome whatever obstacles there is tomorrow but ‘Essence’ will be okay.” She turned to go when Raymond’s hand flipped around and pulled her back inside the car.
Myolie frowned and opened her mouth to speak when Raymond’s mouth was on hers. She was speechless as he kissed her. It was the gentleness and sweetness behind it that shocked her the most. Before she could respond, he released her. “Sweet dreams…” He whispered against her and gently stroked her cheek before he settled back in his seat. In daze, she stepped out of the car. Behind her, Raymond’s car zoomed onto the highway…
“Yeah…sweet dreams.” She entered her apartment in confusion.
***
He should be happy as he watched the other members of his act entered the board room. He smirked knowingly, watching the ignorance smile on their faces. They think they have the upper hand, yet, little did they know…he will always emerge the winner. They believe that since Moses Chan inherited the last 2% of the shares, they will have the power to overcome him. Fools, they are all foolish beings. You never show your hand, not until the last minute… Take the opponent by surprise, that’s what his father taught him. And wouldn’t it be a huge surprise when Raymond Lau realized that one of the board of directors had already betrayed him. His heart should be fill of joy and the taste of success in minutes away.
Yet…strangely, he felt nothing. There was nothing. Even when he knew he was going to win, the sense of satisfaction and the happiness he expected to feel from the start of his plan was different. He expected the sweetness of victory because of the years he spent, the hours he planned, and the sacrifice he made, in order to bring down ‘Essence’. However, when he was only minutes away from achieving his life long goal, he felt…he felt an unknown emptiness.
He frowned as he watched the closeness between the three people that was a completely unacceptable combination. The nobody who grew up from the deepest and darkest pit of hell, the well-brought up classy lawyer, and the washout movie star. A trio that never should have worked but somehow…Ron watched the encouragement they communicated from their gestures and glances. It should be completely wrong. Yet, it worked.
His assistant started the meeting but Ron’s mind was not focus. He kept thinking back to his conversation with Nancy. He calmly listened as Nancy explained that she didn’t want to see their lives consumed in hatred and vengeance. What happened in the past should stay there. It doesn’t matter who was right or wrong anymore but the only thing that should matter was the future…Their children’s future.
Ron pulled himself away from his thought and concentrate on the meeting ahead.
“As you all know the purpose of this meeting is to vote on the future outlook of ‘Essence’ in regards to the mergers with Dominic Enterprise. For the pass two weeks, I believe you have significant time in making your decision.” He looked around the conference table as the atmosphere raise to a new level of intensity. “We will start the voting process now. As we go around the table, please state your decision.”
One by one the board of directors stated the position they are taking, allying themselves with Raymond and Myolie or bended under the power of Ron Ng. As the seconds ticked by, both side of the balance scale bounced back and forth. Ron watched with extreme confidence as the decisions were revealed one after another. In his heart, he couldn’t wait to see the expression on those losers face when their fate and the fate of ‘Essence’ was seal permanently. His heart raced in anticipation as the finally moment arrived.
The only decision left would seal the fate of ‘Essence’. The person looked nervously around the room until his eyes landed on Ron. With only a slight nod, Ron signaled the person to proceed.
This was it.
Ron smiled as the person opened his mouth to give the final verdict…
***
Nancy sat calmly with her hand folded across her lap. In her hospital gown, she was outside the white hallway in an elegant posture…but inside her mind, she was in turmoil. Her head was down with her long hair hiding half her face. Tears were threatening to break out anytime. She was so stiff, it was impossible not to notice.
“Nancy.”
Her head snapped up and tears finally leaked down her cheek.
She ran toward him. “Oh, Ron…”
He embraced her and tried his best to smoother away the fear. “They won’t tell me anything.”
He nodded and they both settled down in the chair Nancy occupied second before. However, this time he was there with his arms around her. “She will be fine.” His heart pounded in fear as he stared at the double door and beyond. “Remember how she fought her life into this world.” He stroked her hair in a comforting gesture. “Our baby girl is too strong to give up now.” He said, giving Nancy and himself reassurance. “Everything will be fine.”
He tasted fear before…but never like this. Never did he felt this intense fear that caused his entire body to shake uncontrollably. He acted brave in front of Nancy but his mind was screaming in agony. His little baby girl was in there. He could still remember when she came into this world, crying with such powerful lungs. Now she was beyond those doors, fighting for her life. It would be so cruel if he was allow to experience true happiness just days before with this new life in his hand and now it may be taken away from him.
Please…
He never prayed. He never believed…but if he was blessed with this one request, Ron was wiling to give up anything. Even his life.
For the first time in his thirty years of life, he realized the true meaning of being a father. He experienced with unconditional love for a being and he realized that this tiny being was more important to him than anything in this world. As long as she won’t be taken from him, he was willing to give up anything…simply name it.
“Ron…”
Hearing Nancy whisper his name, he looked up and saw the door opened.
***
It was fate.
Quite ironic, actually. Alex Chan, the last person to speak up and the person he bribed to change his vote the last minute, was about to open his mouth and seal the fate of “Essence.” At precisely that split second, the conference room’s door opened. Chris entered and hurried toward Ron. He recalled he was frowning at the interruption but he knew Chris was competent and smart enough not to interrupt him. Therefore, something was seriously wrong. He waited as Chris stopped in front of him and leaned down to his level. He whispered in his ear, “Mr. Ng, there was an emergency. Mrs. Ng called a moment ago that your daughter is in critical condition. You are needed at the hospital.”
There was a second there. A second… where Ron pondered whether Nancy was lying to him. He knew of her plan to stop him from destroying ‘Essence’. Yet, he wiped that doubt from his mind immediately. Nancy would never use their daughter as a tool like this. There was never a mean bone in Nancy’s body. Not his Nancy.
Therefore, it only meant one thing…his daughter is in trouble.
At that moment, he spared only one glance at the meeting room. He could do this. He can finish want he started now and win. Yet, as he stared at all the familiar but strangers in the room, he did not even have to choose. Without hesitation, Ron stood up and walked out the room.
He actually heard a few grasps when he closed the door.
Ironic, wasn’t it?
He had spent a large portion of his life waiting for that one moment in the meeting room. His life long goal will finally become reality and he can finally revenge for his father. However, he gave all that up without any doubts.
It was meaningless.
It took his daughter’s life to make him realize the purpose of his life. It wasn’t to continue his father’s vengeance. It wasn’t to bring down ‘Essence’ nor was it to destroy Raymond Lau.
He smile as he stared at his daughter’s sleeping form.
There.
There’s the purpose of his life.
***
Nancy watched Ron’s expression in wonder. Standing outside the glass panel with a view of the recovery infant room, Nancy turned toward Ron who was staring at their daughter.
He came.
When she made the call, she told herself not to have too much an expectation.
However, when Ron appeared in the hospital hallway, she almost broke down. She continued to watch in wonder as Ron touched the glass tenderly.
She never saw this side of him. Not once.
He had shown affection that he never shown to anyone before…it seems like this little girl will have him wrapped around her little fingers.
She smiled in hope.
***
“Cheers!”
The three champagne glasses came together and made a loud ringing sound.
With a sigh, the three partners settle down each on an individual sofa around the small table in the club. Raymond closed his eyes and lay back on the sofa. He took a sip from his glass. “Am I dreaming? Cause this seems unreal?”
“Maybe this is a dream. Yet, I rather dream about a room of Hawaiian girls dancing… which I often did.” Moses added.
Raymond laughed. “Good dream. I have a few of those.” He leaned over to Moses in a carefree matter. “But a little advice…never ever dream it in your lady’s presence.”
“Hm…Hm…” Myolie cleared her throat. “Another little advice…never talk about your dream in a lady’s presence.”
“Sorry.” Both Raymond and Moses apologized sheepishly like schoolboy caught with a playboy magazine in front of the teacher.
Myolie relaxed against her chair. “It was kind of unreal.” She paused. “I never expected Chris to come into my office with a proposal. Ron Ng actually made an offer to sell ‘Essence’ back to us.” She swirled her glass of champagne in triumph.
“What are you going to do?” Raymond asked softly. He watched as her lips gradually curved into a smile. “Never mind, of course, you will.”
“You bet. This battle was too long and tedious. I haven’t had a good night sleep since…I don’t even recall when.” Myolie sighed in joy. “I was quite disappointed that I didn’t get to help Aunty with the wedding preparation. I even have to turn down planning for the bachelor and bachelorette parties tomorrow night. Good thing Linda was able to help out.” She picked a french fries and started chewing on it.
“Wait…wait…” Raymond grabbed Myolie by the shoulders. “Are you telling me you just gave the key to the devil?”
“No.” Myolie moved away from Raymond’s panicked expression. If it wasn’t the fact that Raymond looked dead serious, she actually wanted to laugh at the fear on Raymond’s face. “I said I asked Linda to help out with the planning of the parties.”
“Do you know what you have done?” Raymond exclaimed.
Myolie shared a “What is wrong?” look with Moses, who shrugged in humor.
“Myolie!” Raymond yelled to get her attention back to him. “Do you even know Linda?”
Myolie frowned. “Yes, I know Linda. Your friend. My brother’s girlfriend.” She still didn’t see what she did wrong.
“Argh!” Raymond shook his head in agony. “Why am I asking you this? Nobody…Nobody know Linda as I do and what you just did is condemned the entire wedding.”
“Huh?” Myolie managed to say and glanced at Moses helplessly.
Moses laughed. “Come on, Raymond, stop talking in riddles. You are scaring the poor girl silly.”
Raymond sighed. “Okay. Linda may look sensible and normal…” He paused. “Actually, she doesn’t.”
“Raymond!” Myolie laughed and hit him on the shoulder.
“Okay…” He whined and moved away from her. “What was I saying? Oh yeah, Linda is an animal.”
Moses burst into laughter.
“It is true. Linda is a wolf under the disguise of a sheep.” He glanced over at Moses who was trying hard to suppress another laugh and then at Myolie who looked angry of what he was saying about Linda. “You don’t know her like I do, especially when she is at a party. She is crazy! You wait and see…tomorrow’s party will be a freaking circus.”
“I like circus.” Myolie defied him.
Raymond shook his head. “Not this circus. If you like a Rated 4 adult movie into reality, you would love this party.”
“Come on, Raymond, it’s not going to be like that. Linda work very hard for the preparation. It is going to be wonderful.” Myolie was firm with her assertion.
“You will see tomorrow.” Raymond popped a peanut into his mouth. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Moses watched them in humor as Myolie glared at Raymond who had an arrogant smile on his face. He smiled knowingly.
Didn’t they feel it? He wondered.
It was so obvious.
The attractive was so obvious for anyone to see. Yet, the two people involved were clueless. He continued to observe as Myolie gave Raymond a final glare and went to join another group of people near the bar. Raymond was about to follow when a lady sat down in the seat that was occupied by Myolie only seconds ago. Moses hid his amusement behind his glass of champagne when Myolie glanced at Raymond, who was flirting with the unknown woman, with a troubled expression. The second Myolie turned back to her group of friends, Raymond happened to glanced over at Myolie, who was laughing at a joke with one of her unknown male friend. He frowned.
Well…well…Moses thought in delight. It should be fun seeing those two sort it out among themselves…
Moses sipped his wine with a smile.
____________________________________________________________
Hi,
I’m back! Hopefully, my readers are still here. LOL! Anyway, I know I am gone for awhile and I can’t promise regular updates but I did promise to finish this story. In the meantime, I want to thank with the bottom of my heart for those readers who keep coming back and checking up on me, you are all just wonderful! I think it is all your persistence that keep me writing this story…Thank you all so much! Love you all!
Now, this chapter take me exactly months to complete because I keep coming back to type only a few sentences at a time. Honestly, I am not too satisfied but I am looking forward to the next chapter… The Bachelor and Bachelorette parties! How will it turn out?! Stay tuned.
By the way, I am happy that so much is going on with my favorite idol Raymond Lam! Did anyone went to his concert? I wasn’t able to…However, I was able to watch GTL in Mandarin. I just finish the entire series yesterday and it was just wonderful. It was different from typical TVB series and sometime it can be a little boring but the acting and dialogue are great. I really love Raymond’s character there and it was quite a heartwarming and touching story. I wish TVB version won’t disappoint me because I know scenes would be added and deleted to fit HK’s taste. Currently, waiting for his concert and movie’s DVD on sale!
Thanks for all your support,
Breeze *(^v^)*
Copyrighted to Breeze.Dated on August 4, 2010.
