Chapter 8. A scene in the elevator

Chapter 8. A scene in the elevator

Everyone looked at Jeremiah however he was unfazed. He looked at Stephan and then to the family.

"There's no need to put a spy here. We're all family".

"Yes Stephan. Why'd you think like that towards your uncle?", Greg questioned, his voice laced with slight warning.

"Stephan, behave", Rita cautioned with a hidden pat on his other hand that was under the table.

"I'll find my own wife", he said with a tone of finality, leaving now room for anyone else to speak.

The USA medical association was hosting a workshop for gynaecologist doctors from across the world. This gave Mia a reason to appear at Central Park with her luggages, dialing Leilani crazily. When Leilani finally picked up her call, she was hellishly surprised to know of Mia's appearance here in New York. Giddily, she got off work early that day and left for Central Park. When she arrived, it was just Mia sitting in the living room with a stick of cigarette in between her lips.

"Hey baby girl", Leilani screamed at the sight of her bestie.

"Bao bao!", Mia stood and grabbed the latter in a hug. She was dressed in loose baggy clothes, making her feel comfortable.

"NYC is doing you real good", Mia said in between the hug.

" I know right?", Leilani replied with a chuckle.

"Any good guys around?", Mia asked again, this time, she was about to sit down.

At the question, Leilani hesitated before giving her reply. Stephan sliding in but she kicked him out immediately.

"None".

Mia heaved a defeated sigh and took a long draw form her cigarette.

"I swear Lani, you're gonna die without feeling a 'D' within that juicy haven of yours".

"You're being dirty Mia", Leilani said and began walking to the dining to get a glass of water.

"There's no being dirty right now. You need to have fun. Do you even realize that you've been boring all your life? Except for those pretty colors you always put together?"

Leilani kept the glass of water on the table while eyeing her bestie.

"Your throat must be dried. Have this glass of water".

Mia smiled in appreciation. "Yeah. Thanks ".

"You're talking about me not having a man in my life, what about you?"

"C'mon sweetheart, you know we're different".

"We're not ", Leilani retorted.

"I don't like the opposite gender. You know that right?"

"You could have dated me then".

"You're not my type".

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. You might be pretty and be enticing, but...", she concluded with a sigh.

That evening, the duo left for dinner at a local restaurant. Obviously, it wasn't Leilani's idea, both the restaurant and the dinner. They were out all thanks to Mia's enthusiasm.

"Hey girl, why'd you come over to New York suddenly?" Leilani asked as they ate.

"Well, I'm surprised myself. The USA medical association is hosting a workshop for all gynaes across the globe", Mia explained

"Wow, that's a big event ".

"Yeah. I'm grateful I came along. It was hard getting here but I fought my way through ".

"I love you so much bestie, you did well", Leilani said and gave her a quick peck on the back of her palm. Mia arched a brow and and pinched her nose with her fingers.

"I'd be staying for a week, so...".

"Oh... that's ok still".

The dinner lasted for like an hour. They had a drink and Leilani got drunk after two glasses.

Mia slept in her bestie's house and would be doing that for the rest of the time she would be staying here.

The next day, the duo left for their separate events. Leilani arrived at EssDee Corp that morning with Rachel. The duo was led to the office of the manager director, Mr Lim who was already anticipating her arrival. Once she reached his office, Mr Lim's assistant gave the news to her boss and the duo was let in.

"Good morning sir", she greeted the moment she saw the elderly man.

"You're welcome Miss Zhang. Have a seat", he said and gestured her to sit.

"Thanks", she said and sat down.

"Everything has been set for you, and your office is ready".

"That must have been a lot of work"she said, feeling happy towards his hospitality.

"No. Not at all. You will resume today".

"Yes sir".

"Some files have been submitted to your desk. You'll be working a lot Miss Zhang ".

"I have been working all my life. This won't be a problem. I just hope you'll be satisfied with the outcomes".

"You're stating the obvious. Your outcome would obviously be accepted ".

After a little chit-chat, Leilani left the office and went to hers. It was located on the floor before the MD's floor. On her way, she noticed a room that was branded with, CEO on the top of the door. She looked at it for a while and suddenly realized that all this time, she had never heard of the CEO of EssDee Corp. She ignored it after a little thought and left for her new office.

The office was quite huge. It wasn't overly decorated but was simple and conducive. The air circulation was ninety percent. The sight of her name that was inscribed in the silver name panel brought a tearful smile on her face. She gave herself a secret thumbs up before settling down.

There were a lot of files on the table. Files from the EssDee's entertainment, aviation, automobile, even the factory. She was assigned to review their uniforms and make amends where necessary. The one for the entertainment, she was the costumier for the movie they were planning to invest in.

After that evening, she left with Rachel for Royale. She needed to check the profits and losses of the day. Rachel had offered to send the values to her but she declined. She decided to go alone, as it would be stressful for her assistant as well.

She arrived at Royale and walked straight to her office. From the time she arrived, she had stayed a total of seven hours extra, doing a crosscheck on the files. After she was done, she decided to leave.

She took the elevator. Just when she had entered, someone else joined her. She was surprised that there was still someone in the building.

"Thought I was the only one here", she said with a slight smile as she looked at the person.

The person didn't respond and his expressions were hidden as he was wearing a baseball cap. Leilani didn't mind. She took his dressing as a sense of fashion. She believed that everyone had the right to their own fashion.

Just then, the elevator lights began flickering making her flustered. Her heart clenched as she didn't understand why the lights were shaking. This was going to trigger her panic and she didn't want to let her shame elapse here. She prayed earnestly that the lights get back to normal.

However, that voice seemed to have sworn against her.

"You want to keep running don't you?"

She bit down on her lips to avoid making a sound.

"Ha...I will make sure you run for the rest of your life Lani".

She turned to check if the guy next to her already got a hang of it but was dead shocked to see that he was smirking at her. The smile was taunting. It was scary. She gasped.

"Who're you?!", she questioned, her voice almost yelling.

"You can't do anything to me Lani", she heard the man say. She noticed the wrist watch that was on the man's wrist. It was a Chanel watch, the same as the one she had seen in her dream. Her bag fell to the floor and her breathing hitched. The man grabbed her neck and squeezed it hard, leaving the young lady to scamper for her own breath. The lights were flickering and she was being caged by someone in the elevator. She couldn't even call...her eyes were closing gradually as she felt life slip through her body. She couldn't die. She didn't want to die. She had to be here. For her parents. For Royale.

And...she woke up.