My personal vendetta? Wow, ok.
“I know the reason why it seems the Xiangs and Zhins have been allies for few years now, and it has nothing to do with solidarity or mutual understanding. The Zhins have you on a leash and tug you around helplessly because you dont want your secret getting out. So, don’t seat there with a placid smile and defend Zhin Feng while dying in silence.” I cooed unfeelingly.
It’s not like I don’t mind their feelings, but these people have become very adamant and comfortable with their situation they aren’t looking for a solution whatsoever.
And who gets the short end of the stick? Who gets scarred for life- married to a monster like Zhin Feng? Penelope does!
“Mr Winfrey, please take your leave.” Lei repels in calm anger on hearing what I just said.
But I was not done. If I don’t have their support, I’ll have to go with plan B which is more tedious and time consuming than plan A.
“Forgive me. I really didn’t mean to rile you or sound threatening in any way. I just need your help to stop Feng since his defeat would also benefit you and Ager Automated too.” I stated calmly.
Even though things don’t work out and I don’t get their support, I just had to let them know my stance with the Zhins.
“You’ve only been here for few months and may not yet understand fully how things work around here. But, picking a fight with Feng is a battle you won’t win. So, whatever reason that made you think you can just come in here and make ridiculous demands that make no sense at all- and expect us to join forces with you, should be discarded immediately.” Lei adviced cowardly.
“I’m sorry, but I can discard my reason so easily. Because I’m fighting for my Love’s happiness. So, I’ll fight with or without your help.”
“What do you wish to gain by getting on Feng’s bad side?” Lei asked curiously.
He doesn’t have that disapproving look in his eyes anymore. They’ve been replaced by reasoning and curiosity, and I liked it.
His father on the otherhand shot a mean disapproving look towards the both of us. But there’s hope, and slowly but surely they’ll all come to their senses.
“Penelope’s happiness. Mr Xiang, all I want is for your daughter to be happy. I want to end the Zhins tyranny and bullying so Penelope can be happy without feeling guilty.” I cited sternly towards Mr. Xiang.
Her happiness is my priority at the moment and I needed her family to know that.
Lei was about to speak, but was abstrusely stopped by his father with the lift of his hand signalling him to shut up.
“Ma dauter is happi, an Zhin Feng woud make her happier. Zhin Feng is my future son-in-law an siding wit yo will not look good for ma dauter’s future as their soon-to-be dauter-in-law. So, I ask yo to leave immedately.” Mr Xiang ordered in English.
Penelope is happy? Does he even know what that poor kid is going through? She is anything but happy and that drains me, how can’t they see that?!
“With all due respect Sir, I thought the first time I was going to meet you would be to ask for your blessing to marry your daughter. But, I won’t be able to do that yet because, I first have to proof myself to you as her father that I would go through hell and high waters for her…” I confess boldly in Mandarin and continued.
“… I know the Zhin Feng have something on you but, I’m also aware that you love your daughter immensely, which maybe the reason why my request feels quite strange. But I’m determined to find a way to rid your family of Zhin Feng’s threats- and when I put my mind to do something, I always succeed. I’ll take my leave, Sir- but when we meet again, it’ll be to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.” I concluded confidently, before I stood up and quietly left the room.
Even though I’m slightly disappointed that I wasn’t able to get Mr Xiang’s help, I wasnt going to let that stop me.
I just have to work with plan B, which is to find a way to trap Zhin Feng in all his illegalities.
The next day at the office, Penelope walked angrily into my office- pissed off about god-knows-what.
“Hello to you too, Ms Xiang. How may I help you?” I asked curiously but calmly.
She looked quite upset as she scanned me thoroughly with so much regret and disbelief, making me uncomfortable.
“Penelope. What’s wrong?” I asked, feeling harassed.
“Mr Winfrey, it’s so strange how someone can be very wrong about another person and mistake them to be kind and considerate. Unfortunately, I seem to have made such mistake too.” She stated detestably .
“Penelope, did something happen? You need to be a bit clearer, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Do you want to talk about it?” I inquired, very confused.
Whatever in the world is she talking about? She’s making no sense. Did Zhin Feng do something to her or what? I thought.
“Yes. Yes, I want to talk about it.” She replied furious.
And then she sudden served me an envelope. I looked at what she had presented before me and I felt my heart sink.
The envelope had a heading with the words; Letter of Resignation. I couldn’t believe it. What in the world was going at the moment?
I looked up from the envelope and stared at her in disbelief.
“What the fu’k is this? Whose resignation letter is this?” I asked furiously and upset.
What exactly is going on? It feels like the letter belongs to Penelope, but why? Why would she suddenly want to resign? Is this about Zhin Feng again? I thought.
“It belongs to me Sir. As of today, I’m resigning from S. Group.” she plainly stated like it was no big deal, and I was shocked.
“Why?”
“Why? Because, I never thought you would be so petty as to go and blackmail my father and brother into selling their shares to you. Why did you do it? Was it because I rejected your confession of love? Even if that is the case, it was my fault and if you needed to punish someone, it should have been me- not my family. Damn! It’s like Zhin Feng all over again.’ She stated in comparison.
What the hell? Did she just compare me to that asshole- Zhin Feng in a split second?
“Do you really think I’m capable of doing something like that? Do you honestly think I would try to hurt your family or their company in any way?” I asked disheartened and sad.
Even if everyone doubts my intention, I thought she would at least ask me why I did what I did.
“I… I don’t know, ok? All I know is that my father came home very stressed yesterday and said you asked him to sell over his shares in the company to you. I’ve sacrificed so much to make sure my family don’t get to beg for Zhin Feng’s mercy, but I feel like all my efforts might go to waste because of you. So, I’m resigning before my unrequited feelings act as my family’s downfall.” She confessed sadly, and I hated that.
Why would she say that? Why does she think her feelings are unrequited?
Maybe it’s because she has only experienced the worse side of me. She first loved my worse side, so she doesn’t understand when I try to show her my best side.
“I didn’t ask your father to sell his shares of the company to me because I want to buy Ager Automated off him, all I wanted was just to have a leverage over Zhin Feng’s strengths in the company. It’s just part of my plan to try and end his tranny and terror, that’s all…” I answered honestly.
But she looked at me with a raised brow doubtfully, so I continued.
“… I would have given back what was your father’s… and maybe become an investor- but only after I’ve gotten Zhin Feng out of your lives. I promise, I was not planning on hurting your family in any way. Your father and brother just misunderstood my intensions, but I won’t stop- not until I make everything right…” I paused when I noticed her eyes have gone soft, then continued.
“… I plan to set you free from Zhin Feng and his family because, you are mine. You belong with me- and me alone. I don’t want anyone else to think of you as theirs ever again.” I stated boldly and a bit possessive.
I didn’t intend to sound so possessive, but it was in deed upsetting hearing her father call her the Zhin’s daughter-in-law.