Games That People Play

Chapter 8: Chang An City

The city was bustling with all kinds of business on the busy streets. There was a huge traffic ahead and the driver looked at the rear view mirror.

"Mr. President, should we take another route?" The driver politely inquired Lu Jinian.

It should take them at least thirty minutes longer than usual if there was no traffic, but the endless vehicles ahead would take them an hour if they insisted on this shorter route.

"Just do it," Lu Jinian's deep voice sounded irritable.

The driver maneuvered the car and turned around to take the other route. He was already used to his master's temper. They arrived HLY Group building in less than thirty. Lu Jinian went straight to his office.

Xiaotian was nervously fiddling with her ID while waiting for the boss. She wondered what she would answer to his question that's asked a hundred times or more already.

"Darn Xinli, where are you? This crazy man will soon kill me..." she thought. The letter that Xinli wrote to her before leaving the city was given to Lu Jinian.

She had no choice, otherwise that demented man would turn their room upside down just to look for a clue as to where Xinli might have gone to. When Xiaotian was called by the secretary, she jolted from her seat. The secretary smiled and motioned for her to proceed to the office of the CEO.

Lu Jinian was quietly sitting on his swivel chair, holding a pen in his left hand, seemingly deep in thought.

"Good morning Mr. President," Xiaotian bowed in greeting.

"Sit down" Lu Jinian acknowledged her presence.

"Miss Xiaotian, it has been a while since your room mate left without notice, don't you think that there is a possibility that the company might sue her for breach of contract?" Lu Jinian said in a straight voice.

"... but Sir, she left her resignation letter to Master Shangbi..." Xiaotian's voice tailed nervously. What is this crazy man up to now? Seems he will try all means just to get Xinli back, she thought.

"Shangbi was no longer her direct superior at the time, if i remember correctly, she was instructed to report to my office prior to her departure for Beijing, or did you forget too?" Lu Jinian's eyes were like two pools of deep dark waters and Xiaotian was terrified.

"Yes...no, no, no..." she stammered, oh God, why on earth he had to pick on her today? Last time, Master Shangbi was in a similar situation and he was sweating profusely when he returned to his office at the hotel. This man was giving them a hard time.

"So, did she connect with you somehow..." Lu Jinian continued his query.

Xiaotian shook her head sadly. Then she thought of an idea.

"Sir, if you agree, may i go to our hometown in Jiangnan... maybe i can get something out from the two Bai servants." she offered.

"I've already done that and still, no trace of her..." the President's forehead knitted together. That hateful woman was really good at hiding, he will never forgive her when he finds her!

"Oh..." Xiaotian was helpless. She felt sorry for the servants Danju and Wuxian, they might have felt terrorized by Lu Jinian's way of questioning.

"How long has it been Wen Xiaotian?" Hearing the President call her full name sent her goosebumps. She was sure he will go for the kill anytime.

"... sir? ahm, more than a year, i think..." her voice laced with nervousness.

"One year, seven months plus twenty four days." Lu Jinian stated coldly. Something sharp seemed to poke at his chest and he blinked at the sudden pain he felt.

"Mr. President, are you okay?" Xiaotian was truly beginning to feel sympathetic to their master for she could tell that behind his iron mask was still a man who had feelings. A man who was still vulnerable to emotion such as love.

Oh, my God! Xiaotian suddenly realized something as clear as the skies outside. Lu Jinian has fallen in love with Xinli! Otherwise, he would not exhaust all efforts in trying to find her. Now, Xiaotian really felt pity for this great man who was highly successful in all of his business dealings, who was the most sought after bachelor of the whole country and beyond... to everywhere their hotels might stand.

He was well known yet he was most illusive, but only her friend can drive him to the wall. Xiaotian felt sorry for him and she wanted to strangle Xinli at that very moment!

"...Mr. President...? I will call your secretary sir..." Xiaotian felt genuine concern. Lu Jinian was clutching his pen hard, showing white knuckles, his face pale.

"No, you can go..." Lu Jinian seemed to struggle with his speech. Xiaotian left hesitantly, something was wrong with the CEO and she was truly worried. But there was nothing she could do to help, she did not know where Xinli was.

She never hinted anything and she was like that when she was up to something. Nobody can tell what goes inside her mind, or what she plans to do. Xinli was secretive and she considered her innermost feelings as private and no one was allowed to know them even her best friend.

Xiaotian felt a little sad, she knew Xinli trusted her but she also respected her privacy and never asked more than what Xinli would allow her to know. They respected each other and shared secrets only up to some extent.

That was how their friendship worked and they both treasured it. Now, she also wants to find Xinli and ask her why she would leave in a huff and why the boss wanted to find her.

Surely, she is not in any danger... "dear God, i hope she's alright..." Xiaotian breathe a prayer.

Now she is also concerned about the CEO so when she approached the office of Sec. Lan Chen, she told her that maybe the CEO wasn't feeling well. She made it sound casual so as not to arouse unwanted attention. With that, she hurriedly left the building and headed straight to her work station at the Zenith Hotel.

After that incident, Xiaotian didn't have news about the president anymore. He was silent for almost two months and none of the employees have seen the boss. She was curious and asked Master Shangbi who was also in the dark as to the whereabouts of the CEO.

Normally, he would call Shangbi or Xiaotian every week or less... but it was also a relief for them to be temporarily free from more 'interrogations'. Xiaotian sighed in relief and anxiety at the same time. She wished she could talk to Xinli and tell her about many things that happened after she left Chang An.

One morning, when Xiaotian reported for work, she was wondering why so many people of HLY group were running in and out of the building. The siren of the ambulance signalled that there was an emergency. Xiaotian hurried inside the hotel and tried to ask the busboys but got no clear information. She was curiously looking out of the foyer when Shangbi called her in the hallway leading to the elevators.

"Master Shang, what's going on? Why is everybody running about?" she asked.

"I heard the CEO will be flown to NYC for heart surgery. I think it is something serious, the doctors here want to send him to a state of the art hospital in NYC." Shangbi informed her in a low voice.

"NYC, that's the biggest western city. Yes, he will get the best treatment there..." Xiaotian affirmed.