Workaholic
- BOL4 -
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"Vin?"
"Yes, Pa?"
"Papa needs to have a serious talk with you." A 56-year-old man who still showed his handsome lines walked to his reading room, followed by his son.
"What's the matter, Papa?" Vince asked when they were both sitting across from each other at a large table.
"Our London office got a bit shaky. I hope you'll be there to fix it. I believe in your abilities." Mr. Benetton said.
Mr. Benetton Hong's words immediately caused Vince to gasp. Not because one of his father's companies nearly collapsed, but because it meant he had to be separated from Ruby for some time.
Vince was nervous. His eyes moved restlessly. Nail has unintentionally bitten.
"Vin, what's wrong? Don't you want to help Papa?" asked the father. His son immediately returned his gaze, but still couldn't find the right answer.
Vince could not ignore his father's request. He was his father's one and only child. He is currently only supported by his father because his mother died when Vince was in high school.
Young Master Hong loved his father very much, and vice versa.
Will Ruby win Vince's inner battle? Who will win? Ruby or his father?
'Is it okay to take Ruby with me to London? Guess not! That's a bad idea.' The inner voice of Vince Hong soars in his mind. If his father found out that he took a woman to London with him, it would be complicated. 'My father doesn't like to mix work with fun, especially when it comes to women.' His father might be angry and freeze all assets for Vince!
"Um ... err ... okay. All right, Pa. I ... I'll just go with what Papa says. When are we leaving?" Finally, Vince won his father over Ruby. It's okay, sacrificed for a while and did not meet Ruby as long as the assets were not frozen.
"You go there yourself, Vin. Papa wants you to go there as Papa's representative," said Mr. Benetton like a bullet shot in Vince's head.
"What?! Me alone?!" Vince nearly jumped out of his chair in shock. He gripped the chair handle tightly. "Papa must be testing me," his mind kept thinking. 'Yes, this must be a test from him. Papa wants to measure my business skills!'
"How can you afford it? Papa's already bought tickets for next week. You can briefly study the ins and outs of our company there for a week." Mr. Benetton Hong rose from his chair and turned his back to his son. He looked at the garden through the sliding glass door.
"Next week, eh?" repeats Vince Hong.
Benetton Hong glanced back without turning his head. "You are Papa's only hope, Vin. If it's not you, who else? There's no way Papa could have sent anyone else there. You are Papa's future, our company's future." Now, Mr. Benetton Hong turned around and took a gentle glance at his one and only son.
Vince admitted his father's words were true. He should have been the one to handle this. After all, later … the company will be inherited to him as well.
For the past 3 years, he has been involved in one of his father's companies in the furniture sector.
Mr. Benetton had a lot of business. From retail, electronics, furniture, and food. Everything was on an international scale.
Vince was given the mandate to manage the rattan and wood furniture business. At the age of 27, he had become a young entrepreneur in the field of classic furniture.
Vince was quite successful in managing his father's furniture company. It had even been worldwide, spreading across Europe and America.
In London, there were only electronics companies. That meant Vince had to really learn the details, as his father had said.
'Okay, I'll study. Who knows, maybe I'll be given all the electronics companies after this. If that's the case, I can easily propose to Ruby. Yes! That's the perfect plan!' Vince smiled to himself at the thought of marrying Ruby. Surely, their children will be beautiful and handsome like their parents.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Vince's preoccupation with learning about business in London turned out to be very time-consuming. It's hard to get out of the house. His father clung to him in order to provide direction to the other team of experts.
Sometimes, Vince can only exchange news via cellphone with Ruby, asked the woman to wait patiently for him.
He had already explained to Ruby about his business matter in London next week. Ruby said okay for that, it's alright, and communication can only be done through private chat.
During this week, Vince could only see Ruby, twice. Even then, it could not linger because of time constraints, and his father's team had been waiting for him to discuss business.
-0-0-0-0-0-
The day of departure for London arrived. Ruby couldn't escort him because she had to go to the cafe. Vince understood.
In London, he literally heltered-skeltered to take care of everything.
The father's company was really on the verge of death due to several problems, both internal and external.
Vince would have almost given up if it weren't for his and Ruby's future. That thought could make him continue to struggle in London to restore stability to the company.
Due to the severe weather and many problems in London, Vince will not be able to return home shortly.
"It's been more than a month. Hghh ..." He complained one night when he finished researching the company's data. Every now and then he looked at the nearby cellphone, who knows Ruby had replied to his chat.
He sighed once more as soon as the phone screen remained blank and no notifications arrived.
"She's busy there too, huh?" Vince muttered before returning to the data in front of his eyes.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Imperceptibly, two months had passed since Vince had lived in another country. Every time he wanted to give up, the image of marrying Ruby flashed before him and roused his faded spirit.
In the third month, the company began to stabilize, although not completely. Vince really worked hard. It's just to get him home soon.
"Papa's son is great." That was the compliment from Benetton Hong, or Ben Hong, when he contacted Vince. "Papa's decision was not wrong, ha ha ha. You are indeed a very proud son of mine. Papa is lucky to have you."
Vince's nose swelled with pleasure. "Can I go home, Pa?"
"Not yet, Vin. Next month will be okay. It's better if you stay there for the next month while waiting for Papa's representative to be there to replace you. Yesterday he was taking care of his sick wife, that's why Papa assigned you."
Vince held back something that felt heavy in his chest. Another month. He had to wait another month to meet his dear love.
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Just send my car to Chek Lap Kok (the name of the international airport in Hong Kong), and I'll meet my friend as soon as I arrive." Vince packed his things before he got into a taxi to Heathrow Airport.
His men immediately agreed, and the phone line was hung up.
'I'll surprise Ruby. Ha-hah, she must have been shocked and hugged me tightly as soon as I met her.' Vince stroked the velvety little box as big as the pencil case. It was one of many gifts for Ruby.
"Papa, I've arrived at Heathrow. I won't be home right away. I have to meet someone first. Bye, Pa!" He said over the phone before hanging up because he was about to board the plane.
So impatient to meet his lover.