"Please, take it as my way of repaying you," Jack said in the corridor trying to persuade me to stay. He got dressed already and was ready to go have dinner with his friends.
"There's no need for that. I just did what I was supposed to. After all, I am serving you and your family."
"But you must be tired you should get a room for yourself and rest. It will be late at night by the time you would arrive home." He stopped in the middle of the corridor, not moving an inch. "Plus, I will also go back the day after tomorrow, so you might as well drive me back. Or are you afraid of her telling on you, so that's why you want to leave right now?" He put his hands in his pockets and stared at me.
"I am definitely not. She wouldn't dare to, since she doesn't want anyone to see her with makeup smudged all over her face."
I tried to get past him but he blocked my way grinning.
"Now that you mention it, your way of handling the situation was quite peculiar. Almost as if you were a lawyer ready to crush your opponent."
"That's because I am. In my time, I mean. Not yours. But that's irrelevant now."
"Wow, my father will be overjoyed to hear this. Having a lawyer as an assistant is a great asset. It's almost like having a legal advisor by my side. You will be really useful when I take over the company," he said, still smiling and I couldn't help but feel a little sadness that I had to crush his hopes.
"I hope you do realize that by the time you graduate from university and take over the company, whenever that time may arrive, I will no longer be here. Cause I also have a life to return to," I told him coldly. "So, in light of current events, I advise you not to get ahead of yourself."
"You really are talking like a lawyer now," he told me with a grimace. If I didn't know how much he likes ordering people around I would think that he doesn't want me to leave.
"Occupational hazard," I replied with a blank expression and tried to get past him again. "And now if you excuse me..." This time he stepped to the side and let me leave. But I only managed to take a few steps forward when he called after me.
"But don't do anything until I come back! At least stay until then."
"I still have no idea who is behind all of this, so I cannot leave yet."
It seems my answer was to his satisfaction since he didn't say anything else. I left him standing in the middle of the corridor and didn't even look back.
After parting with him, I went to the hotel's parking lot directly. While he is probably in the hotel's restaurant by now. Where he should be. And he may think that I am heartless or ungrateful but I really do think that he should just enjoy his last careless days until he can. Before getting into the car, I looked back at the door which led back to the hotel. I immediately felt a sense of loss as if I would never see him again. But that's ridiculous, it shouldn't bother me.
He is bossy, he is annoying, and always acts entitled and although that's understandable given his family background, I still cannot tolerate it. But then again, I never mingled with people from his social class, so of course I am not used to it.
I looked through the windshield at the dark blue night sky and couldn't help comparing it to his eyes. Just as dark or even darker as the unknown. And I know I shouldn't be thinking about things like this. But at the moment I have nothing better to do. And even though I am going via the expressway, I still have a long way until I arrive home.
Home... Strange thing to call that place my home. In a way, it is at least partly my home. But my parents are not here yet. They are currently with my other self in another part of the city living peacefully. I miss them the most. I would just need to use the watch on my wrist and could go back anytime I want to. Even right now. Although, it's not such a good idea to do it right now, since I am in the middle of the road in a moving car. Who knows where I will turn up if go back now?
Or so I said to myself. I convinced myself that this was the only reason why I was still here and definitely not because he asked me to stay. He has no power over me.
This thought made me think of how he looked like sitting in the jacuzzi in the twilight, only illuminated by the spotlights. Just like the lamps on the sides of the road showing me the way back home. Only he looked more mesmerizing than the view before me right now. Suddenly, I have a bit of regret for not sending at least one of the photos to my phone before deleting it. Not that I could have done it without either of them noticing, but still.
I felt my grip tightening on the steering wheel involuntarily as if gripping it harder would make my thoughts magically disappear. As it turned out, it only made my arms go numb and my fingers hurt from the pain. But it's alright. As long as I remember where I belong, nothing can hurt me.
I guess he was right after all. I really am tired and in need of sleep. Otherwise, there is no explanation for my absurd thoughts just now. Good God, what am I thinking? If he would be able to read my mind, he would either laugh at me or punch me in the face. Or both.
******
It was already past ten by the time I returned. His father's car was already in the garage, so I presume he was at home. Great.
I parked beside his car carefully then went back to the house. As I entered, silence greeted me, and light from the direction of the living room. I also heard voices coming from a television. I figured Mr. Liu was probably watching a movie or something, so I tried to get off my shoes as silently as I could not to get his attention. As it turned out, my efforts were all in vain. I was just about to go up the stairs when the old man's voice called out to me.
"Let's talk!" His voice was neutral but I still felt shivers running down my spine when I heard it. I don't know why but I find him intimidating. As if he wants to rule over everything and everyone all the time.
I slowly walked into the living room where he was sitting on the sofa casually and lowered the volume of the TV when he saw me enter. Initially, I wanted to stop and stand a few feet away from him but when he saw me doing so, he gestured for me to sit down. So I did.
"I won't ask where you were or what you did. I am certain that if there is anything I need to know concerning my family, you would tell me." He seemed so confident in his belief that I couldn't do anything else but agree with him.
"Yes, sir."
"You seem a capable person and although I had my doubts due to our unfortunate meeting, you proved yourself to be different than what I imagined."
"I hope in a positive way, sir." I had no idea how to reply to such a comment.
"So far, yes. That is why I am asking you whether Jack has anyone he is interested in. You see, I already have someone in mind, who would be a more than perfect partner for him but if he already has someone dear to his heart... Well, then I will let him choose her as long as that person is not some riff-raff but a well-educated, well-mannered woman from a respectable family." He crossed his legs and waited for my answer but this time I was the one too stunned to speak.
"I... I have no idea, sir. He never speaks of his private life," I told him embarrassedly. I felt uncomfortable talking about him behind his back.
"Then I ask you to keep an eye on him. You see, if he really has aspirations for taking my place after I retire, then choosing a suitable wife is of utmost importance."
"I understand," I said. "If you don't mind, I'm going to sleep now." I got up before he had a chance to make me stay.
"Alright, you can go." He waved his hand as a sign of my dismissal and I complied.
I would have stayed if I knew what was awaiting me.
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