The Call

As the three businessmen climbed Into Gordon Zhou's luxury Rolls Royce, Gordon's long time best friends made eye contact. Through tacit understanding they planned to dig deeper into the matter of Miss Xia with Gordon.

"So, since you bit the bullet and asked her on a date, does that mean you'll be covering your own hospital bill should something unforeseen take place?" Andrew asked with raised eyebrows.

"It's not a date. It's just that I need someone with me at the charity ball or I'll be hounded to death by the single women of Beijing." Gordon quickly thought of a response.

"Ah, our brother is so arrogant. He believes he's such a fine catch!" Michael hooted.

Gordon sat silently, thinking over Michael's words. It wasn't that he fancied himself some great catch so much as he was long aquatinted with facts. The facts were that he was the CEO of a top 500 corporation, the oldest son in the Zhou family and stood to inherit honor and wealth in his family, and he was often referred to in social circles as one of the most handsome bachelors.

But on the other hand, Gordon felt the heavy weight of his responsibilities. He also loathed social gatherings like the charity ball. He'd much rather write a check and be done with it than endure mindless chitchat with people he'd rather not socialize with. He was by nature an introvert and he also despised close physical contact with others. He was obsessed with cleanliness and long been known to have a cold and domineering personality. His IQ was exceptional but he readily admitted his EQ was lacking. In thirty-five years the foundation of what made up his personality had never wavered. And he wasn't interested in changing himself to suit any woman.

However, he had to admit there was something about Charlotte that was different. In the past he wouldn't have given a chance to someone who was late for a job interview. Especially after that person scalded him with coffee, but yet he found he really wasn't angry with her. When he'd looked into her panic filled eyes as she profusely apologized he actually had to fight the urge to chuckle. Gordon never laughed.

He also knew that while his sexual orientation was normal, he'd never met a woman who had stirred up feelings of passion or desire. He'd never been with a woman and had no desire to be. Yet earlier that day when he'd caught her in his arms to prevent her from falling, his heart had slammed into his chest. He felt a burst of heat and desire. He didn't want want to let her go because those feelings were so foreign to him that he wanted to spend time analyzing them. And that terrified him. He'd always been firmly in control of his emotions but that had not been so earlier in the day. He thought it would be best to keep his distance, but when he'd heard Michael start to invite her to the charity ball something strange filled his heart and mind. It was some long buried instinct to keep other men, even his friends from becoming close to her. Because he was also afraid that she might favor them. That she would favor them over him.

Andrew's voice brought him back to the present; "I'll tell you one thing big brother, you'd be wise to keep a woman like Charlotte close. That was the most awkward attempt to ask a woman on a date I've ever heard. And she didn't turn you down or laugh at you!"

"It's not a date!" Gordon thundered.

"Whatever you say bro." Michael laughed.

———————

Charlotte was packing up to leave the office that evening when her phone rang with a video chat from her mom.

"Hi Mommy! Hi Cora!" She cried excitedly as her mom and sister came into view.

"Charlotte! Where are you? It doesn't look like your apartment." Her mother asked.

"That's because I got the job! I was almost ready to leave when I got your call." Charlotte said with a smile.

"You got the job?!" Cora squealed.

"I'm so proud of my daughter!" Her mother said.

"Don't be too proud. I don't think I've made the best impression on my boss today. I'm a klutz you know." Charlotte said with a wry face.

"You're just spirited. You're just like your father was!" Mother said with a thoughtful smile.

"I hope father would have been proud of me. I can't take care of the two of you as well as he did. But as soon as I get my first paycheck I'll send half of it to you." Charlotte promised.

"You have always been a filial daughter, Charlotte." Mother said gently.

"Mommy, what has your doctor said recently? Are the treatments helping?" Charlotte asked with concern. Her mother had breast cancer and depended on her income to pay for treatment.

"I haven't gone this month. But I feel very good. Don't worry." Mother said.

"Don't listen to her, Charlotte. She put of treatment this month because my school fees were due." Cora interrupted.

"Mommy, why didn't you tell me?! I have a little bit in savings. I could have sent it to you. I'm getting off the phone right now to transfer it to your card. Call tomorrow and make an appointment!" Charlotte scolded.

"No! I take too much of your money as it is." Mother argued.

"Mommy, you can't go without treatment. If you don't go tomorrow then I will bring you and Cora to Beijing to live with me. Then I'll oversee your care personally." Charlotte threatened.

"You are stubborn like your father too!" Mother scolded lightly.

"Know it, Mommy!" Charlotte said cheerfully.