Meilin ran out of patience and left without thinking twice. "Mr Guiren Chiu!" his attention was called by one of his guests and he quickly snapped out of his thoughts. "Yes sir" He said to one of the elders seated, he didn't even know the right person that called.
"We've been here for almost fifteen minutes now! What's the hold up..."
He didn't know what to say. His eyes met with those of his idol, Mr Haru Yang and he gulped at the embarrassing situation he was stuck in.
No one else could do it but Meilin. It was her project and ideas, how would someone else explain her concept?
"Seems like this is going nowhere" Haru said as he got up "Excuse me gentlemen" He bowed before leaving. Guiren wanted to stop him but the rate by which his guests were leaving one after the other, he didn't know who to call back until he was left a lone.
The deal was canceled. His money was all gone. He sat down, tears welling up in his eyes as he bowed his head in shame.
*
"Guiren!"
"Leave me alone!" He yelled at his mom "I'm gonna move to the city and I'll make it!" He said as he marched out of his home town to the distant train station.
He was still a young naive boy, exactly nineteen. He was eager to know what it was like to live with rich people. That's what he's always wanted, to live with the rich and act like them.
He wasn't born into an affluent home, he had to struggle to make ends meet with his single mother. They didn't really get along when he was going through his puberty stage. Arguments day after day.
He was the result of an extra martial affair. His mother was a mistress and his dad couldn't accept him. That's what his mom told him whenever he asked about his dad.
He always believed his mother never wanted him but the lady tried her possible best to prove she loved him before she died.
He left her during times of crisis. She grew depressed over her lonely hours and fell sick. Despite her difficult times she'd send letters, letters that never got to him. She'd go on her knees to pray for his safety when the sun rises and sets.
He knew they didn't really get along but he had a dream. A dream that could make them both happy. He'd buy her every single thing in the world if he worked hard and abandoned everything that had to do with emotions. He really loved his mom but he thought the sooner he acted cold, the more he'd learn from it.
The time he spent gathering money to start his own business took most of his attention. He hardly slept and his living condition at first wasn't so good but his motivation was his mother's happiness. He had to bare with the messed up environment for the sake of a good life.
Years passed and he finally had enough to start his own cooperation. It might not have been the best from the start. Neither was it on the top ten list but he wanted his mother to be proud of him. He decided to tell her everything from the beginning but there was no one to celebrate with him. His mother was already gone.
"Hey Mama Biyu! your son's a failure and he's also ugly!" He remembered everyone that disliked him. He was always teased at school for not being the brightest but his mother always ensured him he'd make it someday. She was the only star in the darkest of his life.
He'd cry but without her by his side he didn't have a comfort zone. No one to vent to. The amount of days he'd spent alone didn't let him have close friends. He wasn't acquainted with anyone at all.
And now, ten years later. He failed again. He was more than disappointed in himself. He hated himself for not doing things right, for being the type that cries instead of finding a solution. He wasn't a happy man. He wanted a friend and he thought Meilin could be one but sometimes he was afraid of her.
He had the power to force her to stay but he was scared. What if she laughed at him and tells him the truth? He can never control anyone because they'd never listen to a failure.
That was the truth "I'm a failure. Empire inc is also a failure. So much time wasted in believing and dreaming. I guess I got too carried away with my hopes"
He was about to leave when the door opened and he bumped into someone. He looked down and his teary eyes met with familiar ones.
"Did you forget something?" She shook her head no "You need time alone" Meilin said starring deeply into his eyes but he looked away. "You think?" He asked as he rolled his eyes then left.
He wouldn't understand her reason, there was no point of telling him but she'd find a way to make it up to him.
The next day, Guiren locked himself in his office sulking and murmuring whilst he stared at his reflection. He glanced at the clock on the wall then sighed thinking about his use to the world. He was irrelevant matter, nothing special at all.
He'd actually like to go away from the company where nothing ever sparks up. No deals, no big promotions, no reviews. Yesterday was the first and major opportunity they'd had so far but all his hard work went down the drain.
His employees don't really help matters. Most of them were just hired to fill up space. His situation forces him to spend sleepless nights thinking about his teenage mistakes. He shouldn't have left his mother, he shouldn't have had silly dreams that were bound to fail. If not for the company his mother would've been alive. There was nothing to be proud of. He hated both the company and himself.
Meilin opened the door with a suitcase in her hand "Boss..." She plopped it on his desk and opened it up. "The contract has been signed. We got ourselves a merited partnership."
Guiren couldn't believe the contract was really signed and the money looked more than what he expected. "But i let everyone down. How did you?" she shrugged. "I decided to pay a visit to one of them and bam! deal secured" She crossed her arms.
"Won't you praise me?" He gave her a weary smile "thank you" he expressed his gratitude even though she didn't really detail what she did to convince one of the guests.
"Come close, I want to tell you Something secret" She leaned in on his desk to whisper something and he also moved closer.
She slapped him.
He put his hand on his cheek stunned after her attack. He was confused, why did she hit him? Why didn't he react? He was afraid again. She was able to seal the deal but he failed to do the same, how useless could he be?
"Why are you hating yourself?" She asked and he shook his head "I don't...I really..." He sat back on his chair "I cry a lot I know. I know the truth, I'm useless. You would make a better boss than I am Miss Zhao"
She rolled her eyes "Man up boss!" She slammed the table with her fist tired from his endless sulks and tears "If you keep on crying It won't solve anything!"
"I couldn't save my mother, how can I find a solution to the company's problem?"
"I can help you but please stop blaming yourself okay? If you want to be strong, cry out all your fears and pain. I've been there once, if I can make it. You can."