"Where are you off to?" Charles asked as he came out of his office and saw Gemma Gatling her handbag and suit jacket.
"I made plans for lunch. I'll be back within the hour. Plenty of time before your meeting," Gemma assured him. She rushed off to the elevator while Charles watched in confusion.
Why didn't she tell him where she was going? Why didn't she ask him to join her? And why wasn't she waiting to have lunch with him? Wasn't she his girlfriend? Why did she suddenly want time away from him?
He sent a quick text to one of the men in his security detail.
"Follow her and report back."
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DaMing Kuo read the text from his boss. He'd worked for Charles Wen for over a decade and never had his boss been seen with a woman. And he certainly never had a woman followed with his body guards or security team. DaMing immediately knew this woman, this Gemma, was special.
He watched as she climbed into the backseat of a luxury car with tinted windows. He followed it downtown to a fairly nice restaurant. He whistled to himself. This lady must have expensive taste. He was paid an excellent salary, but he'd not be able to easily afford this restaurant.
He watched as the woman exited the car and an older man exited with her. He couldn't get a good view of his face but the man looked to be older, and from the cut of his suit, well off. He snapped a quick picture on his phone and sent it to Charles.
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"Father, thank you for picking me up for lunch. But you didn't need to." Gemma told her father, Phil Liu.
"You're my Princess. I am happy to do it."
They ordered their food and Gemma pulled brochures from her handbag.
"Here are some event planning companies I looked into. I picked the best ones for you to choose from for your anniversary celebration with mom. They should be able to give you ideas and do things just as you'd like." Gemma explained as he took the booklets from her.
"I knew you would have the best ideas. What would I do without you?" He asked with a loving smile.
"You'll never have to find out. I'll always be your daughter."Gemma said.
"You are indeed my favorite daughter." Phil told her.
"Dad, I'm your only daughter." Gemma said with a laugh.
"But still my favorite." He held up a finger in the air as if proving his point.
"Thanks Dad. I love you too." Gemma admitted with a smile.
"Gemma, I asked you to join me for another reason, not just about the dinner party." Her father's voice suddenly became solemn.
"What is it?" She asked, her chest tightening at his gravity.
"I saw your Uncle Mo yesterday at the golf course. He said you had a boyfriend and he'd seen the two of you at a wine party out of town." Her father said pointedly. He didn't mince words, that was for sure.
Gemma squirmed in her seat as though she were in the principal's office.
"Yes Father, it's true." She admitted.
"Gemma, I have no objection to you finding a good man. But he tells me you're seeing Charles Wen. Gemma, his reputation proceeds him. He's ruthless in the business world, and some of his practices, while legal, the ethical aspect is questionable. And he's know to hate women. Some say he even has an...impediment." Phil continued.
"Daddy, he has no...uh...impediment in that area," Gemma blushed scarlet. "And I'm aware of his business maneuvering. But deep down, he's a good man, Daddy. He's been good to me so far." Gemma didn't say how much they'd struggled up to this point, but her father was astute.
"I don't know, Gemma. He's not the type of man I'd have picked for you. Although a father's opinion doesn't matter much these days." Phil suddenly looked tired.
"Of course you're opinion matters. Give him a chance Daddy. I'll invite him to the anniversary dinner party." Gemma said.
"Well—" her father began but was cut off by the shout of Charles arriving on the floor and taking in the scene. He saw the back of the man's head, sitting across the table from his woman!
"Gemma!" His voice thundered across the private dinning area.