CHAPTER 9 - LOWER EGO

Ginny's mind drifted back to the fate of her company, which was again in danger of going bankrupt or even disappearing in the hands of people she didn't know at all. The worst possibility is the loss of The Royal which was later replaced by another company.

Ginny tried to think quickly to find the best way so that she wouldn't lose anything else that really belonged to her. It was impossible for a Ginny Albright to lose again what was hers.

Instead of calling her lawyer, Ginny quickly dialed Ivanka's number. She had to consult with Ivanka before she decided what she should do.

"Why so long?" Ginny asked after Ivanka answered her call.

Ivanka chuckled a little, because it sounded like she was playing with Fiona.

"Sorry, Fiona and I are busy making homemade pizza," Ivanka replied. "What's wrong? Sounds so urgent that you're calling me now,"

Ginny nodded her head even though she knew Ivanka wouldn't see her doing that. "It's very urgent," Ginny sounded calm but her tone was full of emphasis.

"So?" Ivanka asked impatiently. She pointed her hand at Fiona, so the little girl would wait for her for a while.

"Dave pawned the company deed to the bank," Ginny began.

Ivanka was wide-eyed. "What?! How could you not know it? Obviously the important papers you have, you keep in your personal safe," Ivanka babbled in annoyance. She was very upset about Ginny's blind stupidity in love for a jerk like Dave.

"Iv, this is not the time for you to nag me. Look, this time I'm fully awake, umm... yeah, I don't mean to rise up like you think. But ..."

"I see, I'm glad to hear you're back to being as excited as the Ginny I know." Ivanka said encouragingly.

"Good. So now I clearly have no plans at all."

"Do not be crazy!"

"I called you for advice," Ginny replied.

"You obviously know very well what advice I'm going to give you," said Ivanka.

"Not! Do not pick that one. Obviously I'm not going to hand over my company to him."

Ginny knew exactly what Ivanka was going to say. Ivanka would obviously persuade her to hand over The Royal to Hendry Cho. And that was something Ginny would never do.

"That's the only way."

"Yes, but this is clearly a very different case, Ivanka." Ginny re-emphasized her sentence. "This time I have to pay off the debt that that damn Dave did,"

"You can sell your company to Hendry," said Ivanka.

"IV!!!" Ginny screamed in frustration.

"Then what again? He's the only one who really wants you."

"Not me, but my company."

"I think he wants you by trying to get you into business. That's what I caught when I saw you two at the bar back then," Ivanka casually said again.

"Aku tak sedang bercanda, Iv," Ginny mengingatkan.

"I'm not even joking," Ivanka replied.

"So?"

"There's no be or next, Ginny. You're the only person who knows best what you should be doing, and what path you're going to take."

"Fine, fine, I know." Ginny replied weakly. "Continue your time with Fiona, anyway is it okay if I ask you to look after Fiona until the night?" Ginny asked then.

"You're going to take overtime?" Ivanka asked curiously.

"I think so," Ginny answered simply. "Then pass my regards to Fiona. Tell her momma will be home soon."

"See you at home, Ginny. I'll take care of Fiona for you."

"Thank's, Iv." Fiona said coupled with the action of disconnecting the phone.

There was no time for Ginny to breathe like the average person, for her every breath and time she was living was a new, horrific challenge in her life.

Ginny tried to finish one by one the files in front of her while thinking whether she should meet Hendry tonight.

"Emma," Ginny pressed the intercom button in her office which immediately connected to her private secretary. "Can you send me Mr. Cho number?"

"I'll send it to you now."

"Thank you." Ginny replied.

It didn't take long for Ginny to get Hendry's phone number, she saved the number that Emma had sent via her e-mail.

Ginny typed a few words while muttering to herself for her to send to Hendry.

Hi, it's me Ginny Albright. Looks like I...

"Gosh, this doesn't look good." Ginny deleted the message she had typed and replaced it again.

Hi, Mr. Cho, sorry to call you so quickly like this. You must know who I am...

"God, this looks so selfish," Ginny mumbled again.

With a frustrated face that increased a thousand times from before, Ginny put her cell phone on the table and refused to call Hendry.

"Damn, why do you have such a high ego, Ginny!" Ginny scolded herself.

Just at the same time Ginny found her cell phone ringing again.

"Yeah, a call from another unknown number," Ginny muttered.

Ginny let her phone keep ringing and decided not to answer it. She still had to solve a new problem that she just found out this morning. Honestly, she couldn't bear to hear or accept the other fact that she would hear another new case from the other end.

***

It was ten past seven and Hendry was still hoping that Ginny would come to see him. Over and over again, Hendry glanced at his watch as he looked around with the expectation that he would see the figure of Ginny Albright who would greet him as arrogantly and coldly as usual.

"Would you like to order now?" a restaurant waiter came to Henry.

"Ah, in a moment, my friend hasn't come yet." said Hendry.

"The person you called your friend just now has arrived, you can order it now," Hendry's very familiar voice sounded clearly behind his ear.

"Ginny? Sorry, I'm being informal again." Henry corrected. "Ms. Albright,"

Ginny smiled and sat down on the empty chair right in front of Hendry.

"So you decided to come here to meet—"

"Yes, I'm here to meet you. But first, you can order your food or drink before we talk." Ginny said quickly, cutting Hendry off.