After a few more akward moments, Mrs Cheng got up, clapped her hands and spoke with forced cheerfulness.
"The servants have prepared a wonderful spread, why don't we all go into the dining room?"
She led the way and everyone followed. As the guest of honor the chair at the head of the table was removed so that Mr Xhi's wheelchair could be rolled in place and Natzin sat at his right side while the servants came in bearing platters of tantalizing meals.
"Tell us, what made you interested in our company? It was a little surprising to get an offer from your lawyer." Mrs Cheng asked as the bowls of food went around and the people around the table heaped their plates.
Mr Xhi looked up at her, "I actually did not know about your company, my COO was the one who made the suggestion and since I have never been led wrong by their suggestions I readily agreed." He said with a smile.
"It would be lovely to meet this COO who has brought us such good luck." Cheng Wei said.
Mr Xhi smiled mysteriously, "soon enough you will have the opportunity, I have stipulated that the COO has to have an office in the company in order to offer some direction and help."
"Oh any help would be welcome." Mrs Cheng said.
"But it is also unnecessary." Jie who had been quiet throughout the conversation said. "The company has been solely governed by the Cheng family for six generations, outside interference would disrupt our practices."
When he had seen the clause in the contract where the investing company wanted someone not only on the board of Cheng industries but also to have an office at the company's headquarters he had kicked against it.
Xhi cooperation had stubbornly insisted on that clause remaining, they even offered more money which had made Jie suspicious. In the end he accepted their terms after pressure from the rest of the family and the board of directors.
"That might have been true but Cheng Industries is no longer the commercial giant it used to be. Xhi Cooperation invested a lot of money, it would be unwise to not keep an eye on it considering recent circumstances." Natzin's voice, clear and firm spoke out and made a tension roll in the room.
Jie clenched his fist under the table and looked up into Natzin's challenging and cold eyes. He had resisted looking in her direction the entire time because just remembering that she was here made him want to go as far away as possible.
She seemed unfazed by the anger in his eyes and she even seemed to challenge him. The lights of the chandelier glittered over the diamonds that rested in the hollow of her cleavage and his eyes lingered there for a moment, when his eyes went up to her eyes she smirked as if she had caught him doing something stupid.
"I was not aware that Mrs Xhi was an expert on economics." He said with a raised eyebrow, his meaning very clear.
She was dolled up for the evening and looked like a pretty doll, and attached as she was to a very wealthy and much older man it was obvious that all she had to offer were her looks and youth. Jie was upset that he had to tolerate her impudence when he really just wanted to kick her out along with her husband's money.
Natzin casually took a sip from her wine glass with her eyes still locked on Jie then she said, "i don't have to be an economics expert to see what is being said about your company on the newspaper, heck the news stations carry it."
"It is refreshing to hear that Mrs Xhi has a grasp of current affairs." He replied.
"It would be a pleasure for Cheng Industries to get all the help it can get to move past this rough patch in the road from a successful man like yourself." Mrs Cheng hurriedly interrupted before her son could say something that would cause irreparable damage.
"I am certain that my son Jie will enjoy and appreciate working with your COO. Jie is a gifted administrator but I know he could learn some new things." She continued and eyed Jie.
"It would doubtless be a pleasure to work with someone who you have placed such trust in, when should we expect them?" Jie asked, moving his eyes from Natzin to Mr Xhi.
While what Jie had said about Mr Xhi's COO was true, the COO had come in three years ago and Xhi Cooperation has seen a tremendous growth in the value. A lot of people in his position would be happy for the chance to work with someone like that, all these did not impress Jie because he did not want to work in the family company in the first place.
Hopefully though, maybe with the COO's help he would be able to raise the company's stock and then resign. If he produced great rewards then he could leave.
"Unfortunately my COO is dealing with some things currently but as soon as all of that is finished they will be prepared to take on the challenge." Mr Xhi said with a smile.
The rest of the meal went amicably, with Mrs Cheng providing most of the conversation and making sure to stay on topics which were less prone to cause volatile reactions.
By the time they were finished with the dinner, Natzin insisted that they had to leave because Mr Xhi had a strict bedtime thanks to the doctor's instructions.
The Cheng family followed them to the door and watched as the bodyguard helped Mr Xhi into the black Bentley while the driver held the door open for Natzin.
When the car was out of sight each of them let out the breath they had been holding the entire evening and Qi Li stormed off into the house while her husband Cheng Wei ran in after her while calling her pleadingly.
"What was that about?" Mrs Cheng asked her son, looking at the closed gates where the car had departed.
"You wanted an investor and now you have one." He said as he walked away, leaving her staring off into the dark starry night.