Games That People Play

Chapter 3: Escape Plan

Just as she was ready to surrender completely, Lu Jinian stopped midway. She lay there, dazed. She saw him casually button his shirt and his powerful mouth twitched in an ugly manner. He towered over her, his arrogance visible in every desdainful look he shot at her flushed face.

"So, how does it feel Lia? Now you know how it is to be teased and rejected." He jeered. She didn't reply, there was a lump in her throat but crying was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Don't come here tomorrow as I have an important meeting to attend. Come back on Friday instead." He continued without emotion. Xinli felt like trash and was totally humiliated. She buttoned her blouse and wiped bitter unshed tears. Then she stood up, gathered her last vestige of composure and said in a low but steady voice.

"Sir, if you dont have anymore to discuss with me, may I take my leave?"

Lu Jinian seemed to admire this girl's calm appearance but hated her for getting on his nerves.

"Get out!" he snapped through gritted teeth.

Xinli walked calmly towards the main door, she met Miss Zhang Bing in the hallway. She was a topnotch model in Chang An and she was rumored to be the president's girlfriend. So, Miss Zhang would keep him busy tomorrow, she thought with a twinge of pain in her chest. She unconsciously shook off such thought. She knew it was doomed. She kept her head low while in the elevator and managed to act naturally.

When she reached the restroom, she stared at herself in the mirror, her eyes were sad, her face took a sullen look. She washed her face with cold water and combed her hair and secured neatly in a bun. She put on light make up and applied a pastel coral shade of lipstick. No matter what, she will have to stay and finish her shift at 5pm. She had to look her best.

It was a busy day at the hotel and everyone didn't have time to ask what the President called her for. She was thankful for the respite. Upon reaching home, she turned the heater on and went into the shower. She heard Xiaotian's voice, as she came up the bathroom door.

"So, what's the President's order?" she was curious and tapped gently at the door.

"Lia..." there was no answer, then she raised her voice a little, "Bai Xinli!" Xiaotian's voice reached her ears amid the rock music from her earphones.

"Yes, i'll be done in 30 mins..." she replied. She wanted to wash away her pain and humiliation. She would never again fall prey to such a dirty trap, she promised herself. Xiaotian and Xinli chatted happily through their dinner, with Xinli never giving away what she truly felt. She just wanted to cut clean.

"Ahm, i've got free day tomorrow, so ill go to the hotel and get my things." Xinli said.

"OK, there's a new intern at the Reception area, so ill also be busy with the briefings", Xiaotian replied.

"OK then, lets call it a day! Goodnight Tiantian".

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Day Off

The two girls woke up early as usual, had a lightning breakfast and off they went to the hotel. Xiaotian was especially busy today since she was assigned to train the new intern. Xinli took advantage of her free day and gathered her things and brought them home.

Tomorrow is Friday and it's her 22nd birthday. She didn't have time to be excited anymore as she had a plan that only she knew. She would cut clean and never return, or so, she thought. After putting away her things in a box, she wrote a letter to Xiaotian. She thanked her for being her true friend and sent her regards to Master Shangbi. She knew she was at a crossroad and she had to choose her own path.

She went out and bought a one way ticket to NYC. She had a close aunt who had a design shop in the city. Although she wasn't famous, but business was good. She had been inviting Xinli to join her as she was also adept at designing clothes. She called her aunt and promptly made reservations for her to spend the night at a lodging house near the airport. She didn't want anyone to know. She knew the devil would look for her if she doesn't show up tomorrow.

Friday morning.

"Happy birthday to me", she whispered to herself as she boarded the plane bound for NYC. She was sad and there was a funny ache in her heart as the face of a man formed inside her mind.

"Goodbye Lu Jinian, i hope we never meet again." She forced herself to smile at the woman sitting beside her.

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HLY Group Main Office

"Get Shangbi and the roommate at once!" The voice on the other end of the line was furious. Master Shangbi and Xiaotian hurried to the main office of HLY Group.

The moment they stepped inside, Lu Jinian thundered: "Where the hell is Bai Xinli?"

"Please calm down, Mr. President." Shangbi offered.

"Yesterday was the last time I saw her. I just assumed that she was busy preparing for her birthday and send off party tonight."

"Yes, yes sir! It must be. I'm sure she will appear tonight." Xiaotian hurriedly interjected.

Lu Jinian's fist formed into a tight ball. He was like a caged lion. Where could she be? It's nearly 2:00 pm and that woman was clearly defying his order.

He barked at his assistant, "Call Beijing and check if she's already there!"

"Right away, Mr. President!" Assistant Mo Lian hurried on the phone. After a few clicks and fast connection, his face fell as he gently replaced the phone.

"Err... Mr. President, the Beijing manager said that she didn't use the tickets. She cancelled it..." he said in a low tone.

Lu Jinian uttered an explicit and kicked a chair violently.

"Go get some men to look for her! I want results within an hour!" Lu Jinian's handsome face became dark and menacing. He looked like a god of war about to embark on the battle of his life.

"You two can go back to work". He dismissed Master Shangbi and Xiaotian.

Lu Jinian reviewed the monitors of the lifts for the last five days, the last time Xinli used the lift but he couldn't see her face clearly as she kept her head lowered. He sighed and suddenly remembered one month ago, the first time he set eyes on her. It was the Thanksgiving Party of HLY Group.

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One month ago.

"Xiaotian, i'm really done. I cant drink anymore, i have to find the restroom." Xinli was already tipsy. She had never had a drink more than a glass, now she drank three glasses straight. She could hardly make it to the restroom when a man caught her as she was about to pass out.

"Easy..." A deep voice floated in her brain. She tried to open her eyes to look at the man, her drooping eyelids looked so enticing that the man thought it was an invitation for a kiss.

Lu Jinian's mouth quirked and his mouth suddenly swooped and took her lips in a long deep kiss. Xinli couldn't protest, she was too weak. She was aware when the man carried her and put her on a sofa in what looked like an office.

"What is your name? Are you a guest?" He asked her.

She shook her head and said weakly, "Lia..."

Lu Jinian studied her face, she was actually simple yet she has tremendous s*x appeal that even he, a man of the world, found hard to resist.

Slowly, he leaned down and kissed her again, this time, it was passionate and he started to burn with animal desire. His hands traveled down her body, she flung her arms in protest but her strength was no match to his strong arms. His lips traveled upon her neck and slowly traced its way to her breasts. His tongue was wet and warm against the thin covering, she moaned, Xinli have never been touched this way before and her mind told her this was wrong! She didn't know this man and she let him ravage her body just like that.

She mustered all her strength and pushed him away. He was taken aback and she took advantage of his momentary confusion to run to the side hall, her legs wobbly.

She hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to drive her home. She felt dirty and humiliation washed over her. She did not report to work the following day, she was having a very bad headache and she just wanted to lie down and watch tv. It was at this point when the news came in that drew her full attention.

The image of the man on the screen was the same man who was with her last night. The headline said: "Welcoming the new CEO of the HLY Group, President Yue Lu Jinian." She was shocked and panic struck her heart. She hated him for taking advantage of her when she was weak. From now on, she would keep a low profile at work so as not to call his attention, after all, there were numerous hotels and spas in the city and abroad, so it was near to impossible that he would remember an ordinary girl like her.

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Lu Jinian couldn't believe someone would tease him that way and reject him at the last moment. His manhood ached and he couldn't stop himself from seeking physical release while images of the girl flashed through his mind. This is crazy, he thought.

Afterwards, he tried to find her and was looking through the guest list, but he couldn't find the name Lia. Then he heard his name being called on stage to give an inspirational talk. He was tall, almost six feet, with a neatly chiseled face, deep dark eyes, a beautiful nose and a cute forehead. He was exceptionally handsome, no wonder so many women vied for his attention. Lu Jinian was a serious businessman, always decisive, never faltering in his resolve. At thirty one, he was most successful being a hotelier.

He searched for the girl he accidentally met that night but to no avail. He couldn't ask anybody since she was alone when he chanced upon her. However, his search was finally over when the files of those who were to be promoted and scheduled for leadership training were sent to his office. He nonchalantly flipped through the files when her company photo caught his attention.

"Aah Lu Jinian, Lu Jinian, you've been played with by this woman..." he told himself, with a glint in his eyes.

"Bai Xinli" his lips formed her name. "I've finally found you" he said aloud, triumphantly! Without wasting time, he immediately sent for her. Who would have known that she was his employee working at the Zenith.

"Mr. President..." The voice of Assistant Mo Lian interrupted his reverie. "They could not find Miss Bai Xinli."