Kris continued walking again until he got to the meeting room. As he entered, a group of men instantly stood up from their chairs and greeted him.
"Boss!"
"Sit down." Kris sat down on his own chair. "I know that pulling everyone out on a quick notice count be dangerous but there has been a change to the mission."
The men looked at each other then back at their boss.
"Becca is now terminated. She will no longer be on the team or a resource. She does not know that yet, so you all can play as if she is still part of the mission. It would alert the target if we get rid of her too soon."
"Boss, we have worked within the Huang organization for a while now but only Becca had ever come closest with the Huang leaders." One of the men pointed out.
"Don"t worry about that, I have a way to get one of you on the inside. After all, we have a more capable woman on our side now."
A more capable woman? They did not hear about any new female coworkers joining them in Area 2.
Kris continued to speak with the men about the future plans and changes to the mission. He did not want to keep them there too long too. Their disappearance would make them be suspicious.
Everyone began to leave but one man stayed behind.
"Are you sure you want to go through with it? I would not want to put you or your family in danger?" Kris asked the man.
"It is alright, boss. This is the only way and the quickest way. Once the mission ends, I will get to be with my daughter. We would not be here anyways if it was not meant for you." The man spoke and thanked Kris some more before heading out too.
Kris looked at his watch. He can drive back home and spend the rest of the day with Lena. He had told himself not to overwork, but he felt like he had been working too much and not spending enough time with Lena or his mom.
He drove back to the penthouse, hoping to find Lena when he got home. Instead, he arrived at an empty home.
"Lena?" He called out. His voice echoes through the walls. Had his home always been this.... empty?
Kris was about to take out his phone to call Lena, but he saw something sitting on the dining table. He turned on the light and walked over. He saw a note on the table with a gift.
"Decided to go back home to my parents tonight.
Will see you tomorrow for dinner. Also got you a gift.
I know we are both forgetful. A watch for you, and a necklace for me.
- Lena"
Kris picked up the box from the dining table and opened it. It was a watch, but a custom made one. It had a latch that opens a small area where Kris a.s.sume that he can put his promise ring inside.
He smiled. He wore his watch more than his ring, and Lena wore necklaces more than rings. He took his ring off, slid it in the opening and put the watch on.
He decided to call Lena anyways.
"Hey..."
"I got your note. And the watch is perfect." Kris spoke.
"Glad you like it. My parents are acting like it"s not a big deal tomorrow, but I can feel them ready to ripe you down to pieces."
"You really think so? I feel like your dad is afraid of me."
"Please... that is when you were CEO Li... not when you will be son-in-law."
"They can ripe me ripe me to pieces, as long as I get you as payment."
"I miss you...." Lena softly replied.
"Then you should have stayed home..."
"I would never heal then... I am trying to recover, doctor"s orders."
"Heh..." Kris smiled.
"I have a confession." Lena raised her voice.
"What did you do this time? Who did you p.i.s.s off? How much money do you need? Do I need to cover up the crime scene?"
Lena giggled over the phone. Kris"s hearts raced and he smiled, hearing her sweet laugh.
"I went to see your grandparents this morning."
Kris smile faded. "Lena, I don"t want you ---"
"Near them." Lena finished his sentence for him. "I know. That"s why I visited them. If they really want the best for you, then they should stay away from you."
Kris did not reply back to Lena.
"I know that you are doing your own things to protect me. So this is me, doing my own things to protect you. We are in this together now, and forever. So... whether you like it or not, I am part of your life and I will make sure you are happy."
"I...I really love you, you know that?"
"Yes I do."
"I am going to go take a shower then... dream about me." Kris spoke.
"Ok. See you." Lena sent him a kiss over the phone and hung up.
She tossed the phone on the side of her bed. She put her hand up to her face and looked the ring on her finger. That"s right, she is his, and he is hers... whatever makes him unhappy, she will make them go away.
This morning, after breakfast, Lena head straight to the Old Li Mansion. She did not expect them to openly accept her but she had no trouble entering the mansion. It was like they were the perfect pair of grandparents.
"Lena... Come in... come in." Old Madam Li came out to greet Lena.
Lena did not say anything and entered the house with the old lady. Elder Li was already sitting in the living room, drinking a morning tea.
"Come, sit. I did not know you were coming to see us today. Will Kris stop by too?" Old Madam Li asked.
"No. I just came to say something." Lena walked closer to Elder Li. "I don"t mean to be rude, but can you both... just stop interfering with Kris" life?"
Elder Li stopped drinking his tea and looked up at the young lady.
"I can tell that you still care about him, but your eyes are still so greedy. You think that you can"t just let someone like your grandson walk out so freely... but you can. You already lose your own son, don"t lose your grandson too."
"You---"
"You know exactly what I am talking about." Lena did not falter. "You know... he still has nightmares about whatever stuff you did to him? He doesn"t talk about it much and I don"t ask about it, it"s his choice. I know he has less of them when I am with him.. but the thought of the man who did all these things to him is his own grandfather... I don"t know how a kid can ever get that pain out of him. A father who was never there and a grandfather who tortured him... give him a break."
"You have done enough." Lena continued. "And if you care so much about that stupid curse of yours... don"t. I am pretty sure you already got the good news from Lady Wu. So let me warn you, you can either leave Kris.. or I will... and you can say goodbye to that next generation of the Li family that you have dreamed of so much. All the success and power that you have worked so d.a.m.n hard to protect, gone, just because you cannot let your grandson be happy."
Lena took a deep breath and turned around to leave.
"You think... you can really leave him?"
Lena stopped and looked back at the old man, knowing that he fears losing everything too. "It takes two to be in a happy relations.h.i.+p.... but only one to stop it. So yes, I am sure that I can leave him. What kind of monster do you think he"ll become when he finds out the reason I left was because of you?"
Lena turned around again and left the old couple. She held her hand in a fist and walked back to her car. She closed her eyes of a second and took in another deep breath. Lena started her car and left, not realizing the ninja car following her.
As Lena left, Elder Li started to have a hard time breathing. He closed his eyes and held his chest, slowing breathing in and out.
"Old woman, do you think... I am so bad?" Elder looked around the empty house.
"Husband.... I am also a horrible grandmother. I turned a blind eye for all the things you did to the little one."
"What was it that Lady Wu exactly said?"
"Only she can bring the Li family redemption."
Elder Li sighed... "Ace."
Ace popped from the hallway and entered the room. He did not think that he would see his sister-in-law so soon. She"s as perfect as he can imagine her to be. "Yes, grandfather."