Chapter 11

Phillip and James were frequently in meetings with Henry already. They weighed in on decisions necessary to influence the company. James was wiser and quicker to make a move when other companies wanted to cooperate with the Chen company. Phillip was more detailed to finance. Within the meeting, Henry announced that the Zhiang company had recently wanted to merge on a project within the city mall. This would be a big opportunity for James to impress the elders and shareholder because the Zhiang’s were Sherry’s parents. Henry did not know this and James felt it was unnecessary to share the information but it would be an advantage for his and Sherry’s relationship in the future.

“I believe the compatible person to lead this project would be James. Phillip will be assigned to another project, but if James was to accomplish with the Zhiang, it would bring in a great revenue and more opportunities of cooperation in the future.”

When seeing that many of the shareholders agreed, James understandably accepted the project.

In the afternoon, Sherry called James excitedly. “Babe! I heard you’ll be working on a project with my father. I’m so happy we’ll be getting to spend more time together. Aren’t you excited as well?”

James was very exhausted and indifferent staring at his desk full of work. “It’s just strictly business. It’s best you don’t get in the way or influence his judgement with our relationship.”

Sherry frowned on the other end, “Why do you say that? What’s wrong, James? Recently you have been very reserved towards me. Don’t tell me Hannah has been winning you over.”

James rubbed his eyes and ended the call abruptly.

It had been two day since James returned home after his drunken quarrel with Hannah. When he quietly snuck into the bedroom, Hannah was already deep asleep with the body pillow still in between.

“Ma..ma..,” Hannah mumbled.

James leaned over to double check if she was awake. She was sleep talking.

“Ma, Pa…don’t leave. I’m so lonely,” she softly whimpered in her sleep, but tears saturated her pillow.

James moved over the pillow in between and gently pulled her in his embrace. She continued to whimpered into his chest until falling asleep again. When she awoke, the pillow was fixed in between and James was gone, but his messy side of the bed showed that he did return the night before. She had no recollection of him holding her to sleep all night long.

At the company when the secretary saw James grabbing coffee, he remarked, “Boss, you look so happy today. It’s like a whole new person. Did something in particular happen?”

James didn’t realize he had been smiling all morning but when the secretary mentioned “something in particular”, all he could think about was Hannah’s sweet scent and soft body against his from last night.

“Nothing happened.” He suddenly stopped smiling and put on a cold face. When the secretary left his office, James turned his chair around and continued to chuckle in embarrassment.

Just then a call came in from Sherry. “Babe, I made reservations for us to try wedding attires. Can you meet me near the old elementary school this Friday? There’s a dress that only a store nearby carries. Please?”

“Uh, I really don’t think it’s wise to wedding plan now, Sherry.”

“Don’t be silly. I’ve already hired a planner and am in the talks with them now. You can blame it on me. I just want to get a head start. I’ll send you the address later. Meet me there after work this Friday.”

After work on Friday, Hannah was walking with Rose to her apartment nearby the school when Rose notice two familiar faces within the wedding shop.

“Hey! Isn’t that James, Hannah?” She yelled pointing to Sherry who was in a wedding gown and James, who was sitting uninterested.

Hannah felt her heart drop, but remembered that James was allowed to do whatever he wanted without her consent. She understood they were excited to get their wedding done after the divorce as well. She pulled Rose away from the window and continued walking away.

“Where did you go?” James asked Hannah who just now came home late.

“I went to visit Rose.” She quickly placed the papers on the table and headed for the bathroom.

“Are you sure it wasn’t someone else?”

Hannah stopped briefly and thought about saying something slick back after what she witnessed, but realized she was too tired to quarrel. He was more disappointed seeing how uninterested Hannah was to him. He didn’t know she had seen him and Sherry at the store earlier trying on wedding attires.

She went to bed quickly afterwards.

During lunch with President Zhiang, James was immersed into business talk. Suddenly, Sherry entered the restaurant in a short, black skirt, furry jacket, and cherry red lips. She hugged her father and then scoot very closely next to James. “Daddy, I see that you’ve already started talking with James.”

The half-grayed hair man with a mouth full of food lightened up at the presence of his daughter. “Sherry, aren’t you supposed to accompany your mother today?”

“Her friends came to keep her busy. Pa, …” Sherry shot a quick look at James who tried to keep a stern face in front of Mr. Zhiang.

“What is it, honey? Do you need more money already?”

Sherry blushed in embarrassment. “No, pa. You know that James and I want to get married. What do you think of that idea if we were to do so soon?”

Sherry’s father’s face was sort of complexed at the ease of her bringing up such a delicate topic. “We can have the elders meet if it’s favorable, but are you sure Mr. Chen even wants to marry a free going girl like you?” He laughed at his joking.

“Pa! You are so cruel! He will marry me. He promised me after he’s settle his divorce.”

Mr. Zhiang’s eye widened and he choked on his food.  “What, what did you say? Mr. Chen, you didn’t mention you were married.”

James suddenly became uncomfortable and angry how Sherry butted into their business relationship. Before he could start explaining, Sherry interrupted again, “Pa, it’s not like what you think.” She was coming off really childish now.

Mr. Zhiang’s eyes became angry looking over James and Sherry and slightly raised his voice in the restaurant, “Well, you two better start making sense of this to me. How could any situation of my daughter meddling in someone’s marriage be any good?!”

The two explained the complicated arranged marriage to him.