25 Taking a stand for Mr. Wang

I started rehearsing what I was going to say before Mr. Wang. I needed confidence. And I was damn good at counselling myself.

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Mr. Wang, I'm good at what I do. Wait, that's not quite right. I'm freakin' excellent.

There's no point in trying to be coy about it. There's no point in trying to hide my own talent behind a false veneer of modesty. I have been a part of one of the most quickly launching, quickly profiting businesses in history, that too at such a young age. There's a lot to be proud of there - and trust me, I am extremely proud. None of this has come easily to me, I've had to struggle to get this job. I have no plan on stopping anytime soon. Just being talented isn't enough, however. It's all a game of chess. Your pieces are constantly being moved, checked, and kicked to the curb with yesterday's newspaper. All it takes is a single, minute mistake and you are wiped from history as though you never existed. I would not be one of them. I would not be another failed attempt at success. I would conquer.

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I enter the room. I pause, giving each of the members of their board a slow once over. It unnerves the one farthest to the left, the newest one, the weakest link.

He blinks furiously under my scrutinizing stare before staring down at his papers.

Mr. Wang asks me to present the projections in front of the probable investors.

For a long time it was them in the spotlight, and now it's me. These days, they invest a lavish amount of money onto growing businesses in order to stimulate their own continued success. They are comfortable with being profitable behind the scenes, unlike me. I want the forefront, I want my name to head the papers and bylines. It has always been my dream. And it is the time to take a stand to protect my job.

It'd only been a matter of time before they came crawling to me, though now they were here and it wasn't quite going like how I'd been imagining it for weeks. I've had the entire speech planned out.

How, without signing a contract with our company, they would fail.

"Good afternoon Gentlemen. Kindly look at these budgeting reports." I started,, refusing to let frustration seep into my deep voice. That was what these business vultures wanted – a reaction. I wouldn't allow them the pleasure.

I plaster my thumb against the paper, tracking lines of growing graphs and numbers. Anyone would've been shocked at the growth, so why did everyone not all lean forward with intense curiosity?

"We've already completely blown past the projections." I continue fervently, We're having ten year profits and it's only our second year. Imagine just how much money you would make as one of our investors. Imagine how much we all could flourish with this new income."

Mr. Jack Chu, one of the businessmen present in the meeting, was a shrewd, intelligent man. He should know something amazing when he saw it. Perhaps his age now skews his decision making more than I expected.

"We have many potential investments this year, Mr. Wang." Jack finally began, closing the folder with a finality that almost made my heart stop. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle warily, making the flesh tingle, "But we only take a single opportunity a year."

Something was off.

"I understand that." I responded quickly, "But our numbers and growth are extremely strong-" Jack held up that same hand, his eyes closing as if I'd disrespected him.

Only a few weeks ago, we played golf and chuckled about the caddie's interesting choice of gingham short shorts that appeared only slightly modified from a speedo. Now, he barely looked at me.

"Your numbers are green and unreliable. You haven't had a slump yet, you haven't had a major setback." He rests his chin on his palm as though he were uninterested, casting a glance towards his diamond encrusted Rolex.

Really, Chu was going to complain that we were too well off?

"We've discussed all of your concerns in depth, Jack. We are miles ahead of your other options, I guarantee that. I figured we were past this stage of negotiation."

"You figured that I would just start sending you checks as if you were my grandson?" Jack laughed heartily, though it wasn't a pleasant laugh, like nails grating on a chalkboard "You're as green as your numbers, Mr. Wang."

"What is that supposed to mean?" For just a moment I forgot myself, voice turning into a snarl. Quickly, I relax back into my chair, flippantly resting my ankle over my knee as though I were resting on a park bench, enjoying the sun on my face and not the cynical gaze of the man who could make me or break me. He laughed again at my indignant scoff, my blood boiling within my veins.

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