DC- chapter 32

At Zhan’s place.

Zhan’s phone was vibrating on the table when his mother tapped him gently on the arm.

“Honey, you have a call.”

He opened his eyes slowly to the blurred image of his mother.

He had fallen asleep late yesternight.

“What time is it?” He asked taking the phone.

“11am”

His eyes widened.

The meeting!

He was the one who scheduled the meeting with the Cheshire’s company.

Quickly he dashed out of the bed into the bathroom to shower.

××××

As soon as Yibo entered the conference room, the faces of the guests were not encouraging.

“Welcome”

Yibo stated a bit nervous and stood at the far end of the long conference table, his secretary taking Zhan’s stand beside him, about seven feets apart.

“Mr Yibo, you may be a newbie in this business but I don’t expect you to be this unprofessional.”

Mr Kim, the representative stated bluntly with his mouth full with doughnuts.

Yibo’s brow twitched, as his red eyes ran over the face of the speaker, the man was already eating the snacks like a hungry lion.

Yibo found it difficult to let the insult slide and not insult him back, he forced a smile with his teeth clenched tightly, his eyes showing no amusement making it obvious.

“I promise you won’t regret working with us”

He replied and click his finger.

“My assistant will give you a copy of my next project idea before we proceed.”

Cyrilin quickly gave each of them a hard copy of the designs.

“Is this a joke, this looks like a sketch book.” the second male asked.

“The thing is that my P.A….” He stopped, finding it difficult to talk about Zhan.

After the awkward silence treatment from him, Mr Kim broke the silence.

“I know we shouldn’t have come here, I recommended Wang Haikuan’s fashion company, he maybe a Wang but be is not like his father when it comes to business.”

“I am sorry Mr Yibo but you gave us no reason why we should choose you and not your brother, I saw a design of yours I thought we might work together but this…I don’t think you are ready.” The woman among them by name Mrs. Wang stated.

“He should learn from his brother” Mr Kim cuts in.

Yibo laughed out this time, hands on his face, a nerve tighten in his jaw.

“Oh no, Boss don’t say anything rude.”

Cyrilin whispered knowing his next reaction won’t be nice.

“You think you can come into my company and mock me you obese Korean….I don’t beg for your cooperation you can take your low budget Versace contract to my brother all I care now will you leave or I make you.”

Two set of men in black suits and shades appeared from the two doorways in the conference room.

“What a brat.”

“I know he is always jealous of his brother.”

Another said as they exists the room.

Cyrilin followed afterwards.

As soon as she got to the staff’s room everyone had their eyes on her.

“I don’t think our company will survive this fall season, Our CEO is not a business man, well he may be smart but customer service isn’t in is dictionary, no wonder his brother is more popular, and our management is…”

“Shhsh the P.A is here”.

One of the listeners cautioned in a whisper.

Haoxuan was relieved to see Zhan, though he knew what awaits him after all the drama.

“Are you okay, your eyes swollen and dark circles.”

“I am fine, are they in the conference room?” Zhan interrupted quickly brought out the flash drive from his bag.

Haoxuan shook his head slowly and avoided eye contact.

“What?”

The word gasps from his throat.

Zhan turned to the others and found them whispering stuffs to anyone giving him a hate look, definitely mocking him.

“Thanks to you they’re gone.”

Zhouxuan mouthed from her corner and stepped up, the sound of her heel as she approached Zhan matching the sound of Zhan’s heat beat racing.

“We just lost an opportunity to work for the biggest fast growing brand because you ruin it, I don’t even know why Yibo made you is P.A the former CEO saw you and never promoted you because you are not more than just an extra employee.”

“Zhouxuan that’s enough.” Haoxuan cuts in.

“And here comes his little boyfriend.”

Everyone else laughed.

Haoxuan eyed Zhouxuan loathly and turned to wet eyes Zhan.

“He is inside the conference room, explain things to him, don’t be scared” Haoxuan assured him with a smile.

Zhan nodded slowly and walked to the room.

Outside the door, the cigar smell was so much, Zhan wondered how many packs he took.

With a deep breath in, he pulled the door open and found Yibo alone in the dark, the room stinking of alcohol and cigars.

Zhan felt sad for him.

“I…I am…I am….”

“The flash drive” Yibo requested impatiently, he didn’t even look at him.

Zhan gave it to him, as soon as it got into his palm, Yibo threw it at the wall in rage and dropped down on a seat.

Zhan’s heart skipped at the sound of that, he stared at the shattered metal with his eyes widely open then back to him.

“Get out.”

Yibo stated head thrown backwards, his palm on his forehead.

Zhan opened his mouth but no words came out of it.

Slowly he walked out of the conference room, Zhouxuan went in after giving him a dirty stare.

He got back to his department, all eyes were on him.

Haoxuan approached.

“Did he fire you?”

“I wish he did.” Zhan said with a smile as tears dropped down his cheeks, without saying another word he walked towards the escalator.

Haoxuan quickly brought his phone and dialed Jiyang’s number.

Few minutes later, Jiyang called him, Zhan knew Haoxuan must have spoken to him so he ignored his calls but later at the end of the day, Jiyang called again and he finally decided to answer.

He spent the whole day trying to win back CHESIRE company’s trust and arrange another meeting.

“Hello.”

He said slowly heading out of the company.

“Boy, talk to me what happened”.

“I don’t want to talk about it, please Jiyang can you let me be.”

“First you ignored my calls, secondly you ignored Haoxuan throughout the day at work, you didn’t even let him drive you home”

“Since when is it compulsory to go home with Haoxuan.”

Zhan snarled with an eye roll.

“Oh I know that tone, I am waiting for you at home just get back and we will talk.”

Jiyang stated and hung up..

Zhan stopped at the pace.

He had waited for everyone to leave before him, but after what Jiyang said, he made the decision to stay back at the company.

He texted his mother he won’t sleep at home that night.

With a sigh he turned round, strolled back to the company.