Christian noticeably brightened when he saw how anable Wendy was this ti.
"Do you like it?" he asked again.
He knew Wendy would not like a present he got for her, but he could not help but ask her again, much like a man who fervently hoped his girlfriend would like a gift he got her.
He wanted to hear her happily reply that she liked that and wanted to hear her thank him for the gift.
"Yes," Wendy replied with a snigger, her tone sowhat derisive.
She had no words for his actions. He was living a lie, nothing more.
"I’m glad you like it. I hope it will keep you safe and happy for the rest of your life," Christian sighed. There was a hint of hopefulness in his tone.
Wendy could not help but laugh at his words.
This ti, there was no hiding the snide in her laugh.
Christian was displeased with Wendy’s reaction. He frowned and asked her, "What’s so funny?"
"Don’t you find your words very self-contradictory?" Wendy lifted her head and looked straight into Christian’s eyes. "Aren’t you the one who has disrupted my peace and put in danger? If you let and Zen go, I will not be in danger anymore and I will no longer have any worries, so I will be happy."
Christian opened his mouth as if to say sothing.
After a mont’s hesitation, he closed it again.
It was obvious he had thought better of it and changed his mind about whatever he was about to say.
There was a strange tense feeling in the atmosphere.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Christian smiled and said, "I rushed back and have not had a chance to eat. Eat with ?"
He walked off before Wendy even had a chance to refuse him.
As they looked at Christian walking away, Zen asked, "Are we going?"
Wendy sighed soft and replied, "Let’s go. It won’t do us any good to anger him."
She turned to look at Zen and her gaze landed on the wound on Zen’s lip.
Concerned, she asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Zen shook her head. "I’ll go with you. In case anything happens, at least there’ll be two of us.
"It’s not the first ti I am eating with him. He made eat every al with him before he left on his trip. I have no idea what he thinks he’s doing," Wendy told Zen.
"He has not shown any sign of wanting to harm so far. You, however, have to be careful around him."
It was obvious Christian treated Wendy and Zen completely differently.
Even when Wendy antagonized him, he never did anything to her.
Towards Zen though, he not only broke her leg, he took out his annoyance toward Wendy on her by forcing her to eat the pastry Wendy rejected.
"I’d better go with you." Zen felt it would be safer if she accompanied Wendy. She had been stuck in bed recuperating and was unable to go with Wendy. Now that she could, she would not let Wendy et Christian alone.
Zen stood up from where she had been seated and positioned her crutches to move off. "Let’s go."
Wendy hesitated, but did not try to dissuade her again.
She helped Zen to the dining room where Christian was already seated.
The maid imdiately added another two sets of cutlery when she saw Wendy and Zen enter.
Both Zen and Wendy had already eaten, so all they did was sit and watch Christian as he ate.
There was a flash of annoyance in Christian’s eyes when he noticed that they were not eating. "Are you not eating?"
"We’ve already eaten," Wendy replied. "Surely, Mr. Lucas is not going to force us to eat more?"
Christian arched his brow at her comnt, then quietly turned his attention back to his food.
...
Neither Wendy nor Zen spoke and the atmosphere at the table turned awkward.
Christian ate slowly with his head lowered. His motions were elegant.
After what seed like a long ti, he finally finished his food. Wendy imdiately asked, "Since Mr. Lucas has finished his food, can we leave?"
Tapping his fingers slowly on the table top, Christian seed to be deep in thought.
Before he finished his contemplation, his cellphone rang.
He answered it, listened for a while and before he ended the call, he then said, "I’ll be right there."
Christian stood up and picked up his coat that was on a chair next to him.
He glanced at Wendy and asked, "Is there anything you would like? I’ll bring it for you tonight when I get back."
Wendy shook her head without a second thought.
What she wanted most was for him to let her go. Would he be able to do that?
"Wait for at ho. I’ll be back soon." With that, Christian left.
As Zen looked at Christian’s retreating back, she bit her lip. He had never said anything like that to her before.
She had been by Christian’s side for years, but he had always treated her as nothing more than a subordinate. Towards her, he was always cold and unapproachable.
He only looked for her when he wanted her to do sothing.
However, Zen saw tenderness in Christian’s gaze when he looked at Wendy.
His last words to her before he left were like those that a husband would tell his wife before leaving for work.
Taking a deep breath, Zen could not help but chuckle bitterly.
Wendy turned to look at Zen when she heard her laugh. "What is it?" she asked.
"Nothing," Zen replied as she shook her head.
"You must tell if sothing is bothering you. Both of us are Christian’s prisoners now and there isn’t anyone else to talk to," Wendy reminded Zen.
Zen’s tears fell uncontrollably when she heard Wendy’s concerned tone.
Taken aback and worried by Zen’s sudden distress, Wendy imdiately patted her shoulder to console her. "What’s wrong?"
"Wendy, do you know how many tis I’ve imagined that scene?" Zen asked, her voice breaking up. She had decided to tell Wendy after all.
"That scene?" Wendy frowned. "What scene?"
"When Christian said goodbye to you before he left." Zen took a deep breath and continued wistfully, "I used to watch his departing back and wish he would turn around and say goodbye to tenderly. Even sothing simple like ’I’m leaving now’ would be enough."
Wendy was at a loss for words.
It was a while before she sighed and asked, "Do you still love him?"
Zen shook her head. "I don’t love him anymore, but I feel that it’s unfair. I’m angry. I loved him for so many years and did so much for him, but I never got even the tiniest bit of tenderness from him.
You know I’m a prideful person. I want to win and to co out on top.
The helpless feeling of defeat does not sit well with at all. I’ve given so much and yet got nothing in return."
Wendy was relieved that Zen rely felt unfairly treated. She was afraid that Zen was still in love with Christian. Zen would be in ntal anguish now if she still loved him.
Putting her arm around Zen’s shoulder and gently allowing Zen to lean on her, Wendy pursed her lips. She did not know how she could make Zen feel better.
She decided to simply say nothing and just be there for her friend.
...
It was Alberto. He had called the mont he heard of Christian’s return. After all, this was Christian’s first business trip after he rejoined the organization.
Whether Christian had been successful in negotiating this deal was very important to the organization. It would decide if he would gain the organization’s approval and its support.
Clent and Alberto were both waiting at the base when Christian arrived. Kennix was there too.
If Christian had been unsuccessful in his negotiations, Kennix would take advantage of that fact and try to kick him out of the organization. He was not about to pass up on such a good opportunity.
Kennix glanced in Christian’s direction as he entered and comnted, "You took four days to settle one custor. Christian, your skills have gotten worse. In the past, you would only need two days at most. Did you manage to close the deal? If you did not, it’d be embarrassing."
Christian looked at Kennix and replied evenly, "Sorry to disappoint you. I not only managed to close one deal, I closed another one too."
"Two deals?" Alberto’s eyes lit up at that. "You closed two deals?"
The custor that Christian had t up with this ti was the one Kennix had been working on for close to six months. In that ti, Kennix hadn’t even managed to et up with that custor. However, Christian managed not only to et him, but to close the deal in just a few short days.
Christian stepped forward and handed the paperwork to Alberto. "Both their contracts are here, but they’re both in a hurry. It’s best if we can supply them with the goods imdiately."
Clent and Kennix both went closer for a look at the contracts.
"Christian, you should have co back to us sooner. You’re practically born for this!"
Clent gave Christian a thumbs up sign.
Christian did not seem pleased by Cent’s words of praise. Instead, his expression turned imperceptibly gloomier.
"We don’t have that much ready stock. If you take all of our goods, everybody else’s custors would have nothing and they’ll have to wait," Kennix ground his teeth angrily after looking at the contract. "My custor wants his goods imdiately too.
First co first serve. Yours will just have to wait."
Before Christian could reply, Alberto cast Kennix a sharp glance and said vehently, "Your custor? Which custor are you talking about?"
"I..." Kennix hurried to explain. "The most recent one. He asked if I could supply him with the goods imdiately. He also said..." Alberto raised his walking stick and jabbed it at Kennix’s throat. His expression dark, he said ominously, "Your custor only wants that little bit, it won’t even make a dent in the amount that Christian’s custors want.
"Kennix, I know you’re prejudiced against Christian, but in our organization, sales volu speaks the loudest. Even if your custor wants the goods now, if what he wants is lesser than that of Christian’s custors, he will have to wait!"
Kennix gulped anxiously as he eyed the walking stick at his throat warily. He knew how lethal it could be, so he did not dare say any more.
Alberto swept his gaze over everyone who was gathered in that room. "Make sure two billion dollars worth of goods are delivered within the week. If anything goes wrong, don’t bla for being rciless!"
"Yes!" His subordinates all answered in unison.
"Christian, as long as you work hard, one day, my position will be yours." Alberto took a step towards Christian and patted his shoulder encouragingly.
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