True Love Waits

Sighing, Debbie put the first-aid kit away and said, "Let's go. Let Evelyn be. She had a busy day at work, and I'm sure she's tired."

Carlos nodded and stood up from the sofa. "You wanna know what I think?" he asked Evelyn. "I think you need to play harder to get. String him on for a couple years if you want. If you get with him too quickly i might make you look desperate."

He turned to Debbie. "Honey, why are you staring at me? I mean it. We need to let Sheffield know that Evelyn's not that easy. Otherwise, he won't think she's worth keeping."

Debbie tried her hardest to drag the man out of the room as he prattled.

Carlos didn't want to leave the room yet. "I haven't hugged Gwyn yet!"

"Let the baby sleep now. You can see her tomorrow! Out!" Debbie insisted.

"Okay, okay." Carlos dropped the idea of hugging his granddaughter, but he was still angry with Sheffield. He continued, "Look, Evelyn. See this bruise? That was Sheffield. Tell him if he tries anything like that again, I'll beat the shit out of him every time I see him."

Carlos' voice trailed off when the door finally shut.

Silence reigned in the bedroom once more. Evelyn felt her head ache. She missed the calm, cold, decisive Carlos Huo. What happened to him? How did he manage to lose his cool?

Sighing helplessly, she tucked her sleeping daughter in and kissed her forehead before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

The next morning, at ZL Group

Evelyn called Nadia in and said, "Contact Theo Group and set up a meeting. I want to talk to Mr. Tang about his research projects." Actually, Evelyn didn't want to talk to him directly, so she asked Nadia to do it Nadia nodded, "Yes, Miss Huo."

Right then and there, Nadia dialed the phone number of the assistant to the CEO of Theo Group. "Hello, this is Nadia from ZL Group. My boss wants to meet with yours. When would be a good time to do that? Two minutes later, Nadia hung up the phone. "Miss Huo, they said...Mr. Tang is not in the office now. They'll call when he's back in."

Inexplicably, Evelyn heaved a sigh of relief. "Okay, thanks."

Nadia nodded with a smile.

"By the way, the managers are supposed to be conducting a tour of the company. Sort of a check-up on how things are running, right? Have they started that yet?" Evelyn shifted her attention back to work. "They will start in three minutes, Miss Huo."

"I think I'll join them." She hadn't been involved in the day-to-day business of the company in a long time. "Yes, Miss Huo! I'll arrange it right away." Then, Nadia left the office.

Once a month ZL Group's senior management would inspect each department. Evelyn wasn't on the list, despite her regional CEO title. But Carlos hadn't assigned her much work and she'd been there early that morning, so she decided to join the inspection tour.

and followed them around the company. It was good to

notes. When she found a problem, she put it on the list so she could address it later. Or

file in her hand, she said, "Don't mind me. I need to hit the ladies' room first. You guys can continue the tour and

"Yes, Miss Huo."

on that floor

hands and was about to leave when

and walked toward the

good walking into work this morning, but then she yelled at me out of the blue. She's just a department

She more or less figured out what was

supervisor yelled at her every day. It made working here

sobbed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to put this on you." She paused, waiting for the person on the other end of the line to say something. "I have to put up with her. I

girl hung up the phone and wiped her tears with a tissue. When she turned around and was about to

silk scarf about her neck. On top of that, she had a

stood with arms over her chest, staring at the

an aura of cool, and one of power, of a woman used to getting what she wanted. The other girl couldn't look her in the eye,

or any work badge,

into the trash and was ready to

CEO stopped her with

stopped and turned around. She asked cautiously, "Who are

at

was canned for

mention a department supervisor. If the supervisor

you get to work instead of hiding in here?" A domineering female voice suddenly rang

done this time." She immediately greeted her supervisor respectfully, "Hello,

you want to lose your job?" The indignant supervisor

other for two years, but they

stunned, while Evelyn was

think anyone who had nothing to do with the company would be here at this hour.

wearing your uniform during working hours? And you're just chatting away with a co-worker? Why aren't you at your desk?"

don't know her. We weren't talking. I just... I had to use the restroom. I'm going back to

trouble. "First, I don't