Liu Yang fixes the few loose strands of hair as she watched her reflection on the elevator. She is not late for work this time but an emergency came the moment she arrived in her office; her secretary and literary agent greeted her with anxiousness.
"Where is she now?" she asked them while gathering some important documents.
The agent contemplated. It looks like the Editor is calm but she knew full too well how pissed she is right now. "As soon as she arrived, she went directly to the Chief's office."
"Did she inform you of her visit today?" Liu Yang asked the agent.
"No, the Chief's secretary was the one who informed us today."
'Aish! That stinking brat!'
Liu Yang almost cursed out loud. Her jaw clenches hard, she is trying to suppress her anger at her juniors right now. They did nothing wrong; she keeps repeating in her head.
She takes a deep steady breath, and tells the agent, "Okay. You, come with me."
They immediately went to the Chief's office.
The secretary greeted them in her neat ponytail and red lipstick. She rises from her feet and gives them a smile.
"Chief and Ms. Amy are already waiting inside, Editor Liu. You can directly enter the room."
"Yes, thank you," Liu Yang curtly answered. Her hand paused on one of the handles of the double doors. She glances at the agent, nod at each other, and opens the door wide.
Inside, the woman she had been cursing out in her mind a while ago, is happily having tea with Min Chu. Her brunette hair beautifully flows down her shoulders and she is facing her to them.
Amy Niu.
She is only twenty-years old, Chinese-American, having her free life, and is the Chief's cousin-in-law. Liu Yang had no problems over the past few months she was working with her. Amy was cooperative and accepts any kind criticisms on her work. The only problem is that, she is totally clingy.
Amy always demands time to be focused on her. Even the literary would sometimes whine Liu Yang about how she dragged by Amy around to have some 'fun'. It was cute at first, but later it became a burden to their work.
"Editor! You're here!" Amy greeted them gleefully. She even rose to her seat and gave them both a hug.
Liu Yang tried her best to smile that her started to hurt. If the Chief is not here…
"Good morning, Chief," she greeted Min Chu first, then turned to the woman. "Miss Amy, what a pleasant surprise! I thought you are busy and can't be able to set a meeting, yet." Liu Yang gritted her teeth but kept her smile on while glaring at her.
"Oh, my appointment was canceled that is why I came here directly," Amy answered.
'This brat!'
Liu Yang's nose flares up hearing her answer.
"Then, why didn't you contact your agent directly?" she tried her best not to raise her voice but, her anger is evident.
"Editor Liu, calm down and take a seat first. You, too, Xi." Min Chu butted in. She puts down the cup in hand.
Liu Yang just then realized they were still standing. She blinks several times, and administered Xi (literary agent) to sit together with her.
She gives Amy a side-glance who is still smiling at her, returning in her seat adjacent to Min Chu.
"Sis-in-law, are you okay? You told me you weren't feeling well." Amy asked when she noticed the slight frown on Min Chu's forehead.
"I'm fine. Let's talk about you suddenly coming here without noticing your agent," Min Chu looked at Amy. "I know how frustrating it is to put the publishing of your book on hold, but it is still rude of you for not informing your Editor or Agent of your arrival today. That is not how it works. Even if you are a family member, you should still be professional and follow the rules. That is what Father and always tell us."
"And it is not entirely their fault. I was the one who ordered them to. In fact, it was not only your book, there are other authors, too."
Liu Yang smiled at Min Chu's words. Her admiration for this woman elevated once again. Just one push and she is going to put her on a pedestal.
Amy purses her lips and straightens her back. It feels like being scolded by her own mother at the moment. "I know, Sis-in-law. I'm sorry." She said with her head hanging.
"It's not me you should be apologizing for."
Amy looks up at Min Chu; her eyes turning red and telling her she is ashamed enough to say those words to Liu Yang and the Agent. She bit her lower lip, slowly faces Liu Yang and, "I'm sorry, Editor Liu and Agent Xi. It was wrong of me to keep you in the dark."
Right now, Liu Yang hates herself right now for feeling sympathy towards Amy. Looking at her with her head down, her ego must be crushed to the brim to say those words. Knowing that she came to the Chief to gain some kind of power to berate them.
Liu Yang cannot see her face. Amy's head is still bowed down with her entire face covered with her hair.
She sighs, "Apology accepted, Miss Amy. Just make sure there will be no next time."
"Of course." Amy slowly lifts her head.
Liu Yang noticed how the brim of her eyes are red. Amy fixes her green mini dress and sits straight. It seems like she is sulking. Watching her be conscious of her every action in front of Min Chu, Liu Yang could not help but laugh to herself.
She turns to the Chief and says, "Then, Chief, we will be on our way and transfer to another room to proceed with our meeting."
"It' fine. You can proceed with your meeting here."
What she said left Liu Yang dumbfounded. If it wasn't for Xi lightly nudging her arm, she would still be in daze.
"O-oh, t-thank you, Chief."
"Go on with your meeting, then. I'll be on my desk to work on some documents."
With no other choice, Liu Yang opens her laptop and starts discussing with Amy the revisions and suggestions they had made for the last few days.
They were immersed in their own world when all of a sudden, they heard rattling sounds coming from Min Chu's desk.
They immediately leaped on their feet when they saw Min Chu's body on the cold floor.
"Chief!"
"Sis-in-law!"