Housekeepers

Lin Jing cleared her throat before meeting the lady's gaze, "And who are you?" she asked coldly as she sat down to continue with her meal.

"My name is Zhang Mei Li," the lady replied giving Lin Jing a strong urge to scoff as she realizes Meili's beauty was well described by her name.

She pressed her lips reluctant to keep eating but after a few seconds of thinking of the many other woman she was sure her husband had outside, she nodded to acknowledge the lady before she continued eating.

Seeing that the woman had completely taken up the job and even made something nice for her to eating, she knew that her husband was not giving her the opportunity to have a say in his decision so she would have to learn to live with it or suffer while hating it.

After her lunch, she took her time to go through several options on how to escape whatever her husband had on his mind by keeping her around. Without many other options, she could consider reaching out to her cousin for help as the only way out.

Her mother did not care about what her family said when she insisted in getting married to her father. Her father's family went bankrupt before her mother could get married to him and since her parents did not want her to suffer, they told her to agree with them to cancel the wedding but she insisted.

Since they were scared that her father's financial situation would affect their family, they cut ties with her mum when she insisted on getting married. Her mother helped her dad with all the connections she had and helped him through it. Her father opened another business that bloomed with her mother's help.

Her mother fell ill shortly after she turned six and had to struggle through the weakness and pain until she died few months before Lin Jing could become a teenager.

She could still remember that her mother might have been weak but the woman never hesitated to smile and act as jovial as she could wish was the reason, she remained jovial for more than a decade of her marriage in her past life.

Her cousin was the CEO of her family's business and her grandfather made his father the chairman of the group which meant made him her only option. She could not go to her uncle or her grandfather because she was sure they would pay her no heed, after they cut ties with her mother, who was she to them.

Her cousin was only a few years older than her and she was felt he would not hold an animosity towards her mother. He became the chairman in her past life and he never disappointed the legacy laid by her grandfather.

She did not even have his phone number to reach out to him. Lost and confused, she chose to go to his company.

She went into her closet to pick out an outfit. Seeing her reflection on the mirror when she was done, made her smile sadly. She looked so much like her late mother that she could almost see no trace of her father in her physical appearance.

When she walked out of the door, she was taken a back but when she remembered what her husband said about bringing in guards, she was sure they were there for her. She sighed in defeat as she thought of walking back into the house accepting her fate when one of the young men in suits walked to her and bowed deeply.

"I am off to visit a family member," she told him firmly as she continued forward.

"Yes, ma'am."

That response shocked her but when she saw the cars lined out to take her out, she understood why they had agreed to let her leave. She usually drove when going grocery shopping so seeing a chauffeur drive her felt weird but it was better that they were not trying to send back into the house.

When they arrived at the skyscraper owned by her grandfather's group in the middle of the business area of the city, the door was opened for her and the young man who spoke to her when she walked out of the house followed her when she walked into the building.

She glanced at him sure that he would refuse to leave even if she asks to him so she simply walked to the receptionist who greeted her with a bow.

"I need to meet An Lin," she said.

The young man she met at the desk must have recognized her as someone who was a high status as he respectfully asked all the necessary questions and sent an information to the top floor when she gave him a reason to.

A minute passed after he told her to wait for a while when he received a call and young man came to take her to her cousin. That was smoother than she expected despite how long she had to wait standing. She had made up her mind to use her husband influence if she had no way out.

When she got to the floor, she was led into his office. Her guard waited at the door while she walked into the spacious office. She first noticed her cousin standing in front of the ceiling to floor window.

"When I heard that my cousin came, I was surprised," he said as he turned to face her. "Sit down, what would you like to drink, I will have them bring it," he told her as he gestured to one of the sofas in the sitting area of the office.

"I am good, thanks," she smiled as she sat down.

"You look so much like your mother," he smiled as he sat down.

She remembered seeing him at her mother's funeral when they younger but he did not spare her a second glance. Seeing the young boy as a successful CEO, she felt a gentle feeling of pride warmed her heart.

"Thanks," she smiled.

"So, to what do I owe this visit?" he asked. It was natural that he was surprised after even after her father built his business, her grandfather always felt it will collapse one day causing him to avoid associating with them and he was not long because her marriage is the reason the company still exists.

"I need your help . . ." she began. She knew he was aware that she came to seek his help but since she had no one else, she remained firm about this decision before a knock came from the door.

The door of the office opened causing her to pause. She noticed her cousin's gaze move to the door and his smile broadened. He waved causing her to turn to see the visitor and her interrupter.

Her heart palpitated as her eyes met the grey eyes of the man staring at her. She felt so haunted with no place to turn to. Glancing back at her cousin as he stood up still smiling broadly, she was sure she came to the wrong place.