18: PLANS

Director Ang Lim came back to sign the contract with his lawyer, Bao Hwei Ru at the conference room in Youshi Tower. An exciting opportunity for Wang Xiu to meet the young woman, though she's familiar with the Bao family and their company, she would like to meet Hwei Ru in person.

"Glad to meet you, Ms. Bao Hwei Ru." The female executive extends her arm to initiate a handshake with the lawyer stepping inside the conference room.

Instead of Wang Xiu welcoming Ms. Bao at the lobby, as she does to every guest, Li Jun insists to fulfill his responsibility to receive the woman and lead the counselor to the meeting room. The director came in early and Wang Xiu was able to accommodate Ang Lim without her cousin. She could be extra friendly with the director without Li Jun looking fiercely annoyed with Mr. Lim.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Zhang. I heard so many things about you from my brother." Ms. Bao shakes the executive's hand, flashing a modest smile on her face.

"I hope they are all good." Wang Xiu replies with a wide gleam on her face while scanning the woman's beauty.

Bao Hwei Ru looks pure with her clear glasses and thick bangs on her forehead. The woman wears prudent clothes from the white long sleeve shirt buttoned to the neck accentuating with a red ribbon, folded on the waist by the over-the-knee dark red skirt which matches the red shoes on the lawyer's feet.

The woman dresses more like a professor than a lawyer, Wang Xiu thought.

Bao Hwei Ru replies with a smile as Wang Xiu deflects her polite compliment. Saying she heard about the woman is a subtle way to indicate she knows every trick the woman has on her sleeve. Her brother, Bao Jiang Ru and Wang Xiu graduated from the same university with a similar course and the same year. And every year, her brother would complain about the "serpent of the Long family", taking credits and opportunities that her brother wants to get, including being an intern to Ms. Park Min Ah's apprenticeship.

"Since you are already here Ms. Bao, we can proceed for Director Lim to sign the contract." Wang Xiu says, taking a glance at the director standing beside her.

They walk towards the rounded table where a half-inch thick volume of papers resting with a pen beside it can be seen. The director turns his face to the young lawyer near executive Long Li Jun and raises his brows to express a questioning look about the contract.

Is it safe? The director asks the woman from a distance.

The lawyer nods his head to cue the director to sign. She has studied the document and finds it fascinating to learn about the mistake the legal team of Long Construction committed. Watertight. The company would not be able to change the director of the project until it is not finished. They might think it favors them to make the director stay yet it can also bring them trouble. What if the director gets into an accident, disabling Mr. Lim to accomplish his duties? The project will be halted permanently and the money used for it will be wasted.

The director turns at Wang Xiu, grinning into a smile of victory. Confident and proud of the project he is going to accomplish with the beautiful woman he likes. 

Is it too much to assume he has a chance with the young executive? Mr. Lim thought to himself.

Wang Xiu expands the bright gleam on her lips as the man continues to sign the contract of their project. A part of her thinks this will be the first step for her to be recognized by the shareholder and the other part says this is not enough. She needs a bigger project, one that can bring money to the company. A steady flow of money and she has a plan on how to get it.

"Done!" Director Lim exclaims putting the pen down on the table. He reaches for the executive beside him and excitedly shakes Wang Xiu's hand.

The director, delighted by the project, shakes every employee's hand including Long Li Jun who glows with happiness standing beside the young lawyer. Wang Xiu raises her brow, having a glimpse of the two gigglings together like kids with a secret.

After signing the contract, Wang Xiu and the director move forward to talk about filming the advertisement. From hiring utility staff the director will need to set up the cameras on drones to the maintenance of the technology. The marketing team will take the task of the secondary crew that can assist the utility men while providing them with the duty of acquiring licenses to use private places to find a good spot to film and hotels to stay while filming.

Wang Xiu came prepared with all the details required for the project. From contracting crews to employees that will join the project and that excludes her cousin Long Li Jun.

"Why are you leaving me behind?" The male executive lay both of his palms on top of the table and fiercely ask Wang Xiu sitting at the leather swivel chair with a paper in hand.

"You are never a part of the project." Wang Xiu replies and sets the document down on the table. She hunches her back on the seat and lays her hands on the arm of the chair.

Li Jun steps back and puts her left hand in his pocket while he makes his fingers stand up from the table, setting his weight onto them. "It will be a great learning opportunity for me to be there."

"I need someone to supervise here while I'm gone." The female executive insists, leaning forward and clasping her hands together at the table.

Li Jun marches back and forth across the room, laughing briefly to mock at the woman who continues to reject his request to join the team. "That's bullshit!!! You are only going to be gone for two weeks."

"I know you live in America for a long time and you acquire that kind of language but don't you dare use that on me." Wang Xiu expresses a stern tone, she doesn't like the man to persuade her by downgrading her reasons.

"I'm going to use that language because you are giving me a crap excuse to not include me in your project." The young man explains and stops himself from pacing around the room. He stares at the woman sitting behind the table calmly staring back at him with a poker face.

"I don't have time to babysit you while we're filming." The female executive answers and picks up the document on her table. She lifts it and starts to read when her cousin begins another outburst in her office.

"Is this because of the director? Did he ask you to leave me behind so the two of you can be "friendly"?" Li Jun raises his brow and sets his hands on his waist. He can't understand why it is hard for his cousin to take him with them. An executive at the company should be able to join any project, especially the future CEO.

"I thought you would be busy dating Ms. Bao." Wang Xiu counters arching her lips to express a mischievous smile.

"Don't change the subject Xiu!!!" The young man loses his temper and shouts at the executive yet the expression on Wang Xiu's face did not change.

I don't want this project to be tainted by your name, Wang Xiu thought.

She wants to shout at the spoiled man strutting his ass in front of her. The project she has planned for months will be seized by a man who accomplishes nothing but gets fortunate to be adopted by Long Liu Wei while she works hard to achieve where she is.

It's unfair.

This is her project and she has the right to be selfish.

"I have this project planned for months, you are not included because you are not here when I made those proposals." Wang Xiu explains keeping her calm voice and posture. She won't budge an inch from her plans.

"I'm here now, can you at least add me?" Li Jun pleads and shrugs his shoulder. If his cousin won't let him after his dramatic approach, humbling himself could be a key to the woman's stubborn heart.

"To add you, I will either take out one employee or ask the finance to give me a larger budget to accommodate you which will push my plans for another week because I have to do another proposal and—"

"How about I use my own money to join you?" The male executive asks. "I won't be involved in your project but I will be there to observe." He adds.

Persistent shit, Wang Xiu thought. She closes her eyes and clenches her jaws while she turns to face the glass wall of her office. Staring at the elevated buildings towering over the small establishments like giants hovering at the less fortunate souls. Making certain they don't rise to power.

"Fine." Wang Xiu replies. If her cousin made another scene, he would look like a fool to her team.

"Can I take Hwei Ru with me?" Li Jun flashes a wide smile as he was allowed to be around the woman. He can get an eye on the sleazy director who he assumes will take advantage of the time that Wang Xiu is vulnerable. 

"You can take anyone." The woman sitting at the swiveling chair answers. She did not turn from peering into her reflection that the glass wall shows. She has one person in her mind bothering her thoughts.

Bao Hwei Ru

The woman chose to be a lawyer yet the connection of Hwei Ru's family is prominently visible especially where the counselor works. The clients the woman handles are famous and bring money to their firm. Wang Xiu assumes within two or three years Bao Hwei Ru will be one of the partners and will choose to marry a man with the same wealthy family where the woman comes from.

And from what Wang Xiu observes, Li Jun is the best candidate.

A perfect couple.

The twin sister of the CEO of Bao Metals company, owning mining ores and large factories producing steels and alloys used for construction and other household materials. And the only son and future CEO of Long Construction and Development Corporation, owning not only buildings but also other shares from their developed structures. Tying them together means uniting two wealthy families from the construction industry and LCDC will benefit more than it could.

It could even make Long Li Jun a CEO that the shareholders will support without question.

Wang Xiu suddenly feels the rush of anxiety gets through her head. She massages both sides of her temple and begins to breathe in deeply to relax.

She has a new plan to accomplish when Li Jun comes with them.

Break the new lovers apart.