Green Tea Empress: Every World Needs Me

Chapter 8: Into the Fire

The elevator doors opened to a world of glass and steel. The top floor of Tang Industries was more than just a corporate headquarters—it was a fortress. Every inch of the space screamed power, and it was here that Bianca Lin would either solidify her position or risk losing everything. As she stepped into the elevator, the click of her heels on the smooth marble floor echoed, a reminder that she was no longer an outsider. She was part of this world, a world of ruthless ambition and cold calculation.

Bianca adjusted her perfectly tailored blazer, the fabric hugging her frame like a second skin. Her hair was perfectly styled, the dark waves cascading over her shoulders in deliberate contrast to the controlled chaos of her thoughts. She had made her mark, but now the true test was beginning.

Her recent meetings with Mei Wong had been both enlightening and unsettling. Mei, the Head of the Real Estate Division, had proven herself to be a formidable player in the game of corporate warfare. Bianca had initially suspected that Mei was simply trying to test her resolve, but now she wasn’t so sure. Mei’s words had been carefully measured, her offers of collaboration thinly veiled attempts to gauge Bianca’s loyalties. Bianca had responded with equal measure, offering just enough to keep Mei intrigued, but never revealing too much.

It was a delicate balance—one that Bianca knew she had to maintain if she wanted to come out on top.

As she approached the sleek glass doors of Yu Cheng’s office, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of the power that lay behind them. She had learned a great deal about him in their time working together. Yu Cheng was a man of few words, but his actions spoke volumes. Cold, calculating, and seemingly indestructible, he ruled Tang Industries with an iron fist, and yet, she had started to see cracks in his façade. The way he looked at her, the way his gaze lingered just a fraction longer than necessary—it wasn’t just professional interest. There was something deeper, something more personal beneath the surface.

Bianca wasn’t sure what it was yet, but she intended to find out. If she could uncover Yu Cheng’s vulnerabilities, she would have him right where she wanted him. She would manipulate him, seduce him if need be, and become the most powerful woman in the company. But first, she had to survive the meeting. Today, everything hinged on the outcome of this encounter.

She knocked once and entered without waiting for permission, a move she had perfected over the years. Yu Cheng’s office was exactly as she remembered it—sterile, minimalist, but undeniably luxurious. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the city below, a city that, in many ways, mirrored the world of Tang Industries: carefully constructed, meticulously planned, and ruthlessly controlled.

Yu Cheng was standing by the window, his back turned to her as he gazed out over the skyline. His posture was perfect, his tailored suit a testament to his obsession with control. Bianca knew he was aware of her presence, but he made no move to acknowledge her. She had learned early on that Yu Cheng never wasted time on pleasantries.

“Ms. Lin,” he said without turning around. His voice was low, measured, but there was an edge to it that made her skin prickle. “You’ve been busy.”

Bianca smiled, her lips curving into a polite but knowing expression. She could feel the tension in the room, the invisible pull between them. “I have, Mr. Cheng. There’s always work to be done, especially when it comes to restructuring a company of this size.”

He finally turned to face her, his dark eyes locking onto hers. There was a flicker of something in his gaze, something unreadable. He wasn’t smiling, but there was a hint of amusement in his expression, as if he were watching a game unfold and enjoying every second of it.

“Are you planning to play this game for the rest of your life, Ms. Lin?” he asked, his voice still calm, but with a touch of something sharper underneath. “Or are you ready to make a real move?”

Bianca didn’t flinch. She had anticipated this question, and she was prepared to answer. “I’m always ready to make a move, Mr. Cheng. The question is, are you?”

There was a brief silence as Yu Cheng considered her words. He didn’t speak, but the tension in the room was palpable, as if the very air had thickened with the weight of their unspoken challenge. Bianca kept her gaze fixed on him, unwilling to back down. This was the moment she had been waiting for.

Yu Cheng finally spoke, his tone cool and deliberate. “I’ve been watching you, Ms. Lin. You’re ambitious, I’ll give you that. But ambition alone won’t get you far here. You’ll need more than that if you intend to survive.”

Bianca took a step forward, closing the distance between them. She was close enough now that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, a stark contrast to the coldness that surrounded them. “I don’t need survival, Mr. Cheng,” she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. “I need control.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched between them, heavy with meaning. Yu Cheng’s eyes never left hers, and for the first time, Bianca felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—a spark of uncertainty. She quickly pushed it aside. She couldn’t afford to let him see her vulnerability.

He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “And what are you willing to do to get that control, Ms. Lin?” His voice was low, almost a growl, and for a fleeting moment, Bianca could have sworn she saw a flicker of something in his eyes—something primal, something dangerous.

Bianca’s heart beat a little faster, but she refused to show it. She had learned long ago that the key to control was not in power itself, but in the illusion of power. “Anything,” she said, her voice steady. “Whatever it takes.”

Yu Cheng studied her for a long moment, his gaze intense. Then, without warning, he reached forward and pressed a button on his desk. The door behind her clicked open, and a man stepped inside, a familiar face. It was Mei Wong.

Bianca’s stomach dropped. What was Mei doing here? The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. She had been playing her cards too close to her chest, and now it seemed that her alliances were starting to shift in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

Mei’s eyes flicked between her and Yu Cheng, but there was no sign of surprise in her expression. In fact, she seemed almost pleased, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Mei,” Yu Cheng said, his voice smooth. “Ms. Lin and I were just discussing her future here at Tang Industries. I think it’s time you two spoke about the next steps.”

Bianca forced herself to remain calm. The game had just gotten more complicated. She had anticipated Mei’s ambition, but she hadn’t expected her to play this hand so soon. It was clear now that the two of them had aligned themselves in some way, and that alignment was a direct challenge to her position.

Mei smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “I believe we both know what needs to be done, don’t we, Ms. Lin?” she asked, her tone sweet but laced with a sharp edge.

Bianca’s mind raced as she processed the situation. She had underestimated Mei. She had thought of her as just another corporate player, but now it seemed that Mei was not only a rival, but a force to be reckoned with. The question was: how much further was Mei willing to go? And more importantly, how much was Bianca willing to sacrifice to stay ahead of her?

For the first time since entering Tang Industries, Bianca felt a flicker of doubt. She had come so far, but the road ahead was treacherous, filled with players who were just as hungry for power as she was.

But one thing was certain: she would not lose this fight. Not now, not ever.

Her gaze locked with Mei’s, and she smiled, a smile that was as cold and calculated as Yu Cheng’s. “I believe we do,” Bianca said, her voice steady. “But I’d like to make one thing clear: I’m not here to play games. I’m here to win.”

Yu Cheng watched them both, his gaze unreadable, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes. For now, Bianca knew, the game was still hers to play.

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End of Chapter 8