Chapter One Perfect meeting

"Extra cream latte" I said taking a dollar note from my bag. "Creamy as usual" I said smiling brightly

Since I discovered this coffee shop, all other eateries in South California had gradually faded away.

"Ohh and two teaspoons of sugar... please" I reminded as he turned to walk towards the machine

"Sugar?" he asked unsure, I wasn't surprised, I never took my coffee with sugar

"Yeah, sugar" I chuckled as I nibbled on the chocolate he had handed to me earlier

"Well that's weird" he said as he scooped the sugar from a jar. "What's with the change?" he eyed my outfit; I could tell he didn't mean the sugar

"I met her" I announced grabbing the cup he placed before me

He was more than a coffee vendor, 3 years of my life in the US had been great thanks to him; aside from selling the best coffee I knew he gave the best guidance I heard

"Her...? Who?" he asked confused now stopping to face me

"The therapist, I mean it was your suggestion"

I watched him laugh at my last words, I didn't find it funny but reacting that easily wasn't my thing

"What part of my sentence was that amusing?"

"You seriously met her, that was just a joke..." the rest of his words were swallowed in a loud laughter

I looked around to make sure no one heard him laugh manically before I looked at him again, I didn't find it funny and he was not helping

"And I was supposed to know because..?" there was every trace of seriousness in my voice

"I dunno, I figured you're so smart and I thought you'll find it all out" he looked the least remorseful

I raised an eyebrow at him. This was not how I had imagined breaking the news will end.

I had been too much of a workaholic.. so much I barely knew how much sleep i had in a day, and he thought a therapist would help and now this....?!

"Too bad Mr smarty pants, I didn't get your badly encrypted message and here I am" I was frustrated and I didn't hide it

"One minute" he indicated with a finger as he rushed off to attend to a customer, I sipped on the coffee slowly

"So what did she say?" he asked as he returned

"More sugar" I said simply as I grinned stupidly

"More sugar?" he repeated

"Yeah, I guess" I was confused again

"Eye bags, pale skin, dry lips, lean physique, smaller..."

"Ethan" I yelled signalling him to stop, "she's just doing her job, besides, there will be other days"

"What! you plan on going back there? Tell me this is a joke"

I glared at him for a second or two before picking my bag up, I arranged the black ruffled blouse I had on

"I'll tell you what is a joke, wasting 20 minutes of my time talking to this douchebag when I should be at work making cash" I spurted out. He did not budge regardless of how angry I looked. "I regret this last minutes of today, you can go to hell" I finished

He laughed at my nagging, it was obvious he didn't care and I wasn't staying back

I walked into the street waiting for my Uber before a text entered

'Call me after work'

"Bean head" I cursed in my head playfully as I smiled looking out for my ride

*****

Two years of working here earned me quite a promotion; 'head of foreign and personal relations'

It wasn't quite the ideal post but it had a great pay and made me work long enough to forget how much of a mess my life was

"Good morning" Mitch greeted as she entered my office with something in her hand. She was my personal assistant and a good friend

"Hey" I said beaming with smiles. I was happy to see her

"Xiao..." she continued

"Don't call me that" i protested

"You do know that is your name right?" she laughed

"Whatever" I ignored her and continued typing loudly on my computer

"Fine, Ava...."

I finally looked up

She continued "This letter came in for you today from the headquarters..."

"China?" I was anxious and wouldn't hide it

"Yeah, were you expecting something?" she asked suspiciously

"Nope" I shook my head

"Okay" she handed it over to me. "See you at launch?"

"Yeah" I answered half interested. As The door closed behind her I tore the letter open

Those words, that handwriting, the whole message took me an entire hour to comprehend

I read it 5 times hoping something would change and when nothing did I laughed hysterically

I looked at my phone at intervals, a number I vowed never to call again, I guess things had really changed. Tossing me and now so much commanding power. I shut my eyes tightly as I tapped that number with so much disdain

After shutting me out for 6 years from my family he suddenly needed me back to run his godforsaken company..... He'd better have a good reason for this

He seemed to be expecting my call

"Xiao" he called from the other end. That voice caused a great rush of emotions, my head was spinning, I suddenly has butterflies in my mouth.

...