After the employee left, Andrew grumpily crashed on his chair. “How can she not come to take the cheque? I mean we were working together right? Isn’t it right for her to come personally and close the deal?”

Taking out a whiskey bottle from the lower cabinet of his desk, he added, “So she is not going to see me ever again? She is just gonna give up everything that we have? So she wants us to just forget about the feelings we harbor for each other? She wants me to completely forget the only woman I have ever loved?”

Tossing the bottle cap away, Andrew started gulping down the neat whiskey straight from the bottle. Only he knew how tough it had been for him all these days. The more he tried to forget her, he ended up missing her even more and when he thought about her, the feeling of losing her forever enveloped his heart making him feel miserable and awful.

He had been giving himself a teeny tiny hope of getting a chance to see and talk to her when she comes over to collect the cheque but now when his hope had shattered into tiny pieces, he felt helpless and heartbroken all over again.

Michael sighed and snatched the bottle from his hand. “Okay, your heart is already in trouble now don’t torture you liver like this.”

Closing the bottle, he asked, “Do you think getting drunk is the solution to this problem? This will make things worse Andrew.”

“What else can I do? The two most important women in my life don’t want me to be a part of their life. In fact, they don’t even want to see me or talk to me, how am I supposed to react?” Andrew snapped.

“So what makes you think that drinking is the only option? You need to make things right Andrew, you need to make a decision today.” Pausing for a while, he continued, “Do you want to make things right or you want to support a very unreasonable man.”

“I—”

Cutting him off, Michael said, “Listen to me first, I did a little research about the man whom Pulos has been hiding in his mansion. He goes by the name Lawrence and he is Mo Zixin’s second uncle. He is a very man who had been disowned by the Mo family after he attacked Zixin’s father a few years back. Since then Zixin has been trying to take Lawrence down and he had almost succeeded but Pulos saved that man and brought him over.”

Andrew frowned and asked, “Why would Pulos save him? Do they know each other?”

“I have no idea but a few of our men are already working on that.” Placing his hands on Andrew’s shoulder, Michael added, “Listen to me mate, we have been best friends for more than twenty years now and you have trust in me on this. Lawrence is trying to use Pulos to get back the Mo’s especially Zixin and Pulos is using you because he knows that no matter what happens, you will never go against him. He has been taking advantage of you for so many years now but now it is the right time to stop my friend.”

When Andrew did not say anything, he added, “Look if it wasn’t for you, I would never go against Zian, Zixin, Huang and Liang. Though we were never best of friends, we have known each other for quite sometime Andrew and you know they would never do anything outrageous or support someone who is wrong. I know we have powers and we can give them a hard time but what good will that bring to us? Not only will you lose Linyang forever, you will also lose your sister. Jenni has already mentioned that she isn’t comfortable with you being against her boyfriend’s family, which is totally understandable. But do you think she will ever forgive you if anything happens to anyone from the Li family because of you?”

Keeping quiet for quite some time, Andrew asked, “So what should I do?”

“It’s time for you to choose between something that is right and wrong. It’s between the people you value and someone who doesn’t deserve your loyalty. Remember one thing Andrew, without you Pulos is nothing and without him, Lawrence is nothing.” Pausing for a while, Michael added, “Whatever decision you take, I’ll always be there supporting you no matter what. You may lose everyone and everything but you will never lose me.”

Giving Michael a tight hug, Andrew took a deep breath. “Thanks man, I don’t know what I would do with you.”

Patting his back, Michael said, “Think about it and let me know.”

Keeping quiet for quite some time, Andrew took a deep breath. “Fix a meeting with them today in the evening, let’s finish this ones and for all.”

….

Liang’s apartment

“I need to leave for work,” Kathy chuckled.

Tightening his grip around her, he pulled her closer. “No, don’t go.”

Turning towards him, she chuckled, “I don’t remember you being so clingy before.”

Liang pouted his lips and complained, “Because I—”

Cutting him off she chuckled, “Ahh yes, because you thought I had a hidden special boyfriend.”

Pinching her cheeks, he sighed, “You will never stop teasing me won’t you?”

“How can I ever forget that priceless look in your face?” Kathy chuckled.

…..

FLASHBACK

THREE MONTHS AGO.

Country S airport.

“Liang what happened? You seem very disturbed,” Kathy inquired. They had arrived at the airport half an hour ago and were waiting for their flight. Liang had been exceptionally quiet and also looked a little pissed.

“Nothing,” he answered. How could he be okay when the woman he loved was taking him to pay a visit to her so called secret lover?

“Look, I know this whole trip is a bit rushed but I really want to your meet the most special person in my life and–”

Cutting her off, he frowned, “Alright, I am going with you right? So can you please stop praising that special someone? It’s really very irritating.”

Kathy raised her brows and inquired, “And how is that irritating?”

…..