Fighting a losing battle
Leo's lips curled into a smile as he remembered how cute she had looked when trying to sound intimidating. He had always found her so adorable. Actually, Lola was not just an adorable little kitten. It was only because he was older than her that he thought so.
Aside from the self-deprecation that acted up sometimes, she was was a smart girl - a little too smart for her own age. Even he didn't know just how smart she was exactly, because every time he thought she was at her limit, she would surprise him with a new stunt. There was one that he just couldn't ever forget no matter how many years passed.
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Eight years ago -- Scarlet Restaurant.
"You have changed." Leo said as he looked at Lola who was sitting across the table.
Because he had gone abroad for a year, it had been quite long since he last saw her. They had only exchanged text messages and occassional voice calls.
He was completely surprised to come back to a totally different Lola.
Compared to the cute little girl who didn't even know that she should stand up to her bullies, Lola now looked quite mature - more mature than other seventeen-year-olds. It was not just her appearance; many other things had changed about her as well.
She was now elegant as she ate her steak, something he couldn't quite say about her in the past. Her gaze was now authoritative, commanding respect from him - or whoever was looking at her.
When she heard him go on about how different she was, she simply laughed it off. "Leo, people change."
Well, looking at her, he could not refute that.
When they were done eating, they left the restaurant together.
He was just about to ask whether they should take a stroll or go for a movie when he remembered something and felt bummed.
"I'm sorry, I cannot stay with you for too long. I have a pending business deal to discuss with a partner but I don't even know how to get them to agree to a meeting."
"Tell me about it." Lola casually said, and he assumed she was only trying to share his burden. She already knew about his situation in the Qin family.
So he briefly explained, "The Qin Empire is planning to open up its jewelry business to other cities. Father chose to set it up in Northstar Mall in Paradise City. [1] However, the mall owner has adamantly refused to meet up with anyone from the Qin Empire. My role is to convince him."
Lola casually threw a response to that. "Give up. Sometimes it's better to turn back at the right time than keep fighting a losing battle. The end will frustrate you."
Her words would have sounded mean, considering how much effort he had spent. However, he was taken aback. "What makes you conclude that it is a losing battle?"
"It's obvious as day, Leo. Just forget it."
She had this weird look he had not seen before as she made an audacious suggestion. "Since you are more or less in charge, just choose another mall and set it up on your own. He will definitely yell at you but when he sees the outcome, he will be forced to swallow his words. Not only that, he will also have to respect your thoughts in future. You would have killed two birds with one stone. Actually, you can also use the whole incident as an excuse to break away from The Qin Empire's business…"
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The present.
Leo had not realized it yet but now that he remembered it, it totally shocked him like he had been electrocuted. He stared into space in disbelief. How could he not have realized it?
Her analysis at the time, her audacity, her bluntness, and her way of draining every possible benefit out of a situation… was just like Shera Black's!
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1]... Paradise City is also a fictional city in Olphire.