Fortunately, I didn't accept her proposal. And from what I saw in the contract, Lily Ling wasn't really my type. I wasn't very fond of overly controlling personalities, of a partner who dictated whatever I could do in such a one-sided manner.
Everything in the contract, from what I saw, was about protecting her…but it said nothing about protecting me. Everything was about what I could or could not do, but it said nothing about what Lily could or could not do.
Ridiculous. Marriage should be an equal relationship between partners. It should be one of mutual respect and trust. That contract didn't look like a vow between husband and wife. It was more like subordinate and mistress. Or a protection order.
It made me uncomfortable. As much as I agreed to help her out for the near future (six months was going to feel like a long time), I doubted I would ever end up in a long term relationship with someone like her.
…why did I feel disappointed? Was I actually expecting anything from Lily?
I shook my head and focused on the current task at hand – escorting her out of my office and toward the exit of my warehouse. As we did so, Lily suddenly turned around, recalling something.
"That's right. Even though you don't want money or a dowry…or for me to invest in your company, I believe I'll be able to help you somehow."
"Oh, don't worry about that…"
"No, please. You're doing me a favor. And I still haven't repaid you for saving me from my sister and brother-in-law's scheme last week." Lily hardened her gaze. "I don't like owing people. I always pay back my debts."
"Ms. Lily Ling, I helped you because it was the right thing to do, not because I want anything in return. Don't worry about it."
"Just hear me out." Lily sighed and raised a hand. "It's not a big deal anyway. You might be aware of Ling Electronics, which is a subsidiary of my father's Ling Conglomerate."
I paused for a moment, vaguely recalling such a subsidiary, and then nodded.
"We have a warehouse where we store discarded components and parts." Lily glanced at the mess in the garage, her eyes resting upon the hulking frame of my Titan. "Ling Electronics is always updating and producing new products, so a lot of the older ones get retired, replaced or recycled. We would store the discarded components in a warehouse at the edge of Diu District. It's a colossal waste, though, but…as you know, Ling Conglomerate can afford to throw out tons of equipment."
She rolled her eyes.
"The evils of capitalism and consumerism."
"I see."
"So you can pick whatever you want. Since we are throwing those stuff out anyway, it's not as if anyone will be using them. So you might as well take whatever you need from there, since they would all end up in the recycling plant shortly." Lily took out a card from her handbag and gave it to me. "This should get you through the security. If you need people to help you transport the components to your office here, just show the staff there this card and let them know."
"That would be a great help, thanks." I couldn't imagine William and myself hauling a bunch of bulky components and robotics parts into the bus, train or other forms of public transport. I bowed gratefully. "I really appreciate it."
"No problem. Since we are throwing those stuff away, we might as well give some of them to you." Lily waved my thanks away as she stepped toward the door. She didn't get very far, though, before a limousine screeched to a halt just outside.
A tall and handsome CEO with dark hair and brooding eyes stepped out of the limousine, his expression thunderous. Before Lily or I knew what was happening, he strode forward and seized the diminutive lady.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Lily struggled against her captor, but his grip was strong.
"I should be asking you that. What are you doing here?"
"How is that any of your business?"
"Of course it is." The bossy CEO glared at him. "You are my woman."
"Benjamin Bo, don't you dare go too far!" Lily snapped furiously. "I am not your woman! Stop deluding yourself!"
"Really? Can you still say that even after this?"
Benjamin Bo leaned down to force a kiss onto her, but Lily managed to clamp her hand on his mouth and shoved his face away.
"Are you crazy?! Let go of me!"
"Hey, what are you doing?" I approached them, trying to help Lily. "Ms. Ling is telling you to stop. She doesn't like it!"
"Who are you?" Benjamin Bo sneered, glaring at me. With a snap of his fingers, a bunch of bodyguards in suits emerged from the limousine and closed in on me. "Teach him a lesson."
What the hell?
"Benjamin Bo! You…!"
"I what?" The bossy CEO sneered. "Lily, this is your fault. You know I get jealous very easily. How dare you get close to another man?"
He turned to his bodyguards and nodded.
"Now he will be punished because of you."
Was there something wrong with this fella's brain?
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to figure this nonsense out. The trio of bodyguards were closing in on me, their eyes hidden behind sunglasses. They raised their arms and began throwing punches and kicks at me.
I swiftly dodged, staying out of range of their attacks. Stumbling back, I crashed into the ground and rolled away desperately, trying to evade their punches and kicks. What? Were you expecting me to be some kind of hidden expert or martial arts master? Or perhaps an ex-soldier? Reality wasn't that convenient.
Unfortunately, I was in no condition to fight back.
The bodyguards continued to pummel me, but I did my best to run away. I dove back into the warehouse, and they followed, intent on breaking my arms and legs as a warning. Behind them, I could see Ben Bo glaring at me with smug satisfaction. This bastard had gone too far. Just because he was a rich and handsome CEO, he thought he could get away with anything.
Well, I will show him.
Fortunately, this was my territory. My home ground, of sorts. I knew where my tools were and I was able to snatch up a laser drill. Whipping it up, I activated it and pulled the trigger, sending a ruby beam in their direction.
"Ugh?!"
The bodyguards dodged instinctively, but they needn't had bothered. Even though I aimed in their vague direction, I wasn't actually aiming for them. I didn't want to kill them, after all. Instead, the laser beam sliced into the limousine, leaving rivulets of dripping molten metal across the door.
Ben Bo's face darkened and he stomped forward. "You…!" he growled.
Then he stopped when I pointed the laser drill at him.
"I was simply defending myself." I met his glare evenly. "Don't tell me you're allowed to set your dogs on me and beat me up, but I'm not allowed to fight back? You should be relieved that it was your car that was damaged, and not your arm that was cut off."
"That's right." William showed up, carrying a plasma torch. There was a ferocious hiss as he activated the power tool. The three bodyguards exchanged uneasy glances and stepped back anxiously. No matter how much Ben Bo paid them, it wasn't worth selling their lives unnecessarily for intimidation.
"I will pay for the damages to your car, since you attacked Mr. Shen when he tried to help me." Lily retrieved her smartphone. "How much? Is 20 million yuan enough for the repairs? I'll transfer it through E-pay."
Ben Bo scowled and turned away, gesturing for his thugs in suits and sunglasses to retreat. He stopped by the damaged door, opening it and getting ready to board his limousine.
"No need for that," he snapped. He sent me one final glower. "Mr. Shen, was it? I'll remember this."
"The fuck?! You're the one who sexually harassed Ms. Ling, and then tried to assault me first!" I hollered. Ben Bo sneered.
"So what? What can you do about it?"
"How about I burn a hole through your ugly mug, you piece of…"
"It's fine.�� Lily stepped in quickly, holding up her hand. She shook her head. "Benjamin Bo is not worth it at all."
"Hmph. Remember, you are my woman."
"No, I am not. And if you pull this stunt again, I'll tell my father. Similarly, if you bother Mr. Shen, I will take it as your Bo Corporation declaring war on my Ling Conglomerate."
Benjamin Bo laughed. "You think I'm afraid of your Ling Conglomerate and your father?"
"Perhaps not, but even you won't come out unscathed if we cancel our contracts with you."
That shut him up. The bossy CEO glowered at Lily, but she refused to be intimidated. Eventually, he snorted and slammed the door of his car before driving off.
Lily shook her head as she turned to me.
"Sorry for getting you involved in this mess. But believe me, I have nothing to do with him at all." She grimaced, her expression filled with contempt. "To think Dad put him forward as one of my prospective candidates for marriage…I will never give in to a scoundrel like him."
"I hope your dad knows about this."
"Oh, he will," Lily vowed. "I intend to tell him everything."
"If you need evidence, I'll provide you the CCTV footage." I grinned as I gestured toward the security cameras outside the warehouse. Lily smiled.
"I'll take you up on that."