Plan Executed

In my room, I looked at the dark ceiling for a long time before actually falling asleep. But sleep didn't bring me peace either. I dreamed the old man didn't let me marry his son because being a man, I cannot bear children and it's vital to their family to have a successor. So, he made his son marry his blonde classmate instead. On their wedding day, she laughed in my face and told me to piss off but Jack didn't love her, so he hid me in their mansion to be his secret concubine. However, his wife somehow found out about me, so she threatened to expose him unless he made me clean their house with a toothbrush as revenge.

I woke up in terror and had to rush to the bathroom to wash my face. It calmed me down a little but my heart was still beating faster than usual. This ludicrous dream was still vivid in my mind and as I looked into the mirror I saw that my face was as pale as the walls behind me. I felt my legs wobbling as I turned to go back to my room.

The girl in my nightmare felt too real, no wonder I feel unwell. But I don't have to worry. There's no way in hell that Jack would choose a woman like her. And even if he would, his father wouldn't let him. She is nothing like the future daughter-in-law the old man wants. And in that respect, I agree with him. Jack deserves someone way better.

As I was thinking, images of her appeared before me and the mere idea of her being together with Jack just made me sick to the stomach. I rushed back to the bathroom in a hurry and threw up everything that was left in my stomach from the late-night dinner I grabbed before going to sleep. When there was nothing left to throw up, I raised my head and punched the toilet seat with my fist. He cannot choose her. He can choose anyone but her.

                                                                            ******

I have no idea when I went back to my room or when I fell asleep again. The only thing I know is that I woke up to someone shaking my shoulder in order to wake me up. When I finally did so, I felt like I wanted to knock the person unconscious, who deliberately woke me up.

"Where is it?" Jack asked angrily.

"Where is what?" I didn't try to play dumb but my throat was dry and my mouth tasted disgusting and I was so tired I just wanted to roll back to sleep.

"Meow Meow." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and didn't look as if he would go away until I didn't give him an answer. Somehow it angered me how he doesn't care about anyone, only about that damned cat. Which he unbelievably calls Meow Meow. What kind of name is that really? But I guess Mr. CEO is too busy even to care about himself. He surely must have realized what is expected of him in this household. He cannot be this dumb. Or nonchalant.

"It's in a safe place, don't worry," I assured him as I sat up on the bed and rubbed my eyes. "And you'll get it back as soon as I find a way for you to keep it." I couldn't help but look up at him with a sneer. "Unless you have a better idea. Or you might just go and tell your father that you want to keep it as a pet." My suggestion didn't seem to thrill him.

"He would never agree to that and you know it. Now hurry and find a way to let me keep it 'cause that's what you're supposed to do." He practically gave me an ultimatum and being confident that I could deliver, was about to leave. "Oh, and one other thing," he turned back. "I got a gift for my best friend. I sent you the address, so go and pick it up for me today. I'll need it by seven p.m.

"I'll do just that. But next time, don't come in here without knocking," I told him as seriously as I could but he left without a single word. After he shut the door behind himself, I lay back on my bed. It took me a few minutes to realize that he shouldn't be here. He came back a day early. But why?

                                                                           ******

The rest of the day was at least pleasant. Even those boring hours spent reading one of the books he gave me previously. I still didn't find anything useful in them and even if I did it turned out to be something he had already told me about. I started to think that maybe this was a coincidence. That my parents just bought what they thought I would like to have which just happened to be a watch that can take someone back in time. No big deal. Maybe I'm just extremely unlucky.

And as it turned out, I really am unlucky. On my way to run the errand he gave me, I got stuck in a traffic jam and had to listen to Carl, the Liu family's driver, assuring me every ten seconds that it wouldn't be long now and we could go. I wouldn't consider it as luck but at least I didn't have to wait long after I arrived to pick up the present. It's rare to see people in these fancy shops actually buying something, so no one has to worry about waiting in a queue like average people do on Black Friday. Or on any normal day. Preferably before the holiday season kicks in. Which is, mind you, nice and comfortable. But even if these places were to be suddenly swarmed with rich people wanting to waste their money, I bet even then, he still wouldn't have to wait for others to finish their shopping spree. Not after I saw how the shop assistants acted all humble towards me only because I happened to work for people, who are probably regular customers there.

After getting the package, I went back to the car and told Carl to drive back to the Liu residence. He agreed without saying anything else which is kind of reassuring. However, my moment of satisfaction was short-lived, since after a few minutes on the road, I got a message from Jack. It said that he was meeting his friend earlier than expected, so I would rather go to the address in the attached link than home. Nice. Way to ruin someone's mood. But then I quickly reminded myself that I shouldn't be all grumpy and pissed off, since that's what I'm supposed to do. I'm not paid for nothing. Maybe I'm just cranky because of the whole situation I'm currently in. Or it's because I'm not used to being ordered about. But who does?

When we arrived at the pub Jack wanted me to go to, I half expected it to be such an exclusive place that people could only enter after several security checks or saying a secret password only insiders know. But it was just a regular place, albeit a lot more expensive, with nice music, dim lights, and a few people sitting here and there talking. It took me a minute to find them. They were sitting in a corner of the room talking. I only saw the back of his friend but I had a clear view of Jack. He was busy talking and smiling. A lot.

I slowly walked towards them and I thought they might not even notice my arrival, since they were so immersed in their conversation. But it was Jack, who noticed me first and immediately smiled at me.

"Finally, you are here," he said casually, not as a complaint but rather as a statement. Hearing this, his friend turned around and looked at me. He is also Chinese, I observed, just like Jack, probably the same age as him, too. He stood up and I couldn't help but think that he actually looks more like a stereotypical assistant than me.

"So, it's you. I've heard a lot about you," he said and smiled at me while holding out his hand for a handshake.

"I hope only positive things," I remarked with a grin and shook his hand.

"Well, of course. If Jack had a negative opinion of you, you would never get to meet me."

His voice sounded normal but somehow the way he said it felt strange. At the moment, I don't know what to make of it, so it's best to just stay low and leave. But at that moment, a waiter appeared from nowhere and put three glasses of some kind of alcohol on the table before us. Three. Which means they probably expect me to drink with them. Very likely, I will never have the chance again to drink something so expensive as this but I may have to drive Jack back home after this.  So I pass.

I looked at Jack, who seemed more cheerful than usual. It even seemed as if his eyes were sparkling, too when he smiled at me. And then it dawned on me. The little brat did this on purpose. All of it.