Neil had been in a somber mood all day today.He liked having Mi Rae in his home.He had never really realized how much isolated and lonely he had been in the past few years.His brothers and Al tried their best to be with him but Mi Rae filled a void that he had not even known existed.And now she wanted to go back home.Sigh!He did not want her to return to her home.But their relationshsip had just started.He could not logically ask her to move in.Though why he was thinking logically in a relations.h.i.+p was beyond him!Weren"t such relations supposed to be illogical?
A thought struck him then.Why not?Why could he not ask her to move in.It wasn"t as if they were playing with each other.He was pretty sure that Mi Rae had a long term relations.h.i.+p in mind and he wasn"t about to break up with her of his own accord.He liked having her around.So their living together would be completely logical.Nodding,he decided he was going to invite his suns.h.i.+ne to stay with him.
Having thought everything out,Neil was satisfied and worked faster to finish his work so that he would be free to pick her up in the evening and propose his plan..Just then he received a call from the reception about the unexpected arrival of a person.After the Onita Dew incident,the receptionists had taken to directly calling Neil for his preferance.When Neil heard the name of the erson who was there his face formed a smirk and he smiled before ordering to let the person in.This was going to be interesting.
A few minutes later,an older man with a slight pot belly but otherwise staight stature dressed in a black suit was escorted into the office by his staff. Though the man was a senior,by age and experience,Neil did not stand to greet him or showed him any welcome. He waited for the man to greet him or initiate the conversation.After all he was here for his own benefit.And Neil had given him enough face by not ordering the security to throw him out of the office.
Attorney Lee was humiliated at this intended insult and wanted to leave then itself but he remembered how the other partners had accused and threatened him.He had to endure or they were going to force him out of the company. But he vowed to take revenge some day. He sat on the opposite seat and his a.s.sistant who had followed him in sat next to him. The a.s.sistant was experienced and knew both parties would stay silent until someone intervened. And that was his job.
So clearing his throat,he said formally, "Good afternoon, Attorney Long. Thank you for making time for us.As you may know we are here to discuss the case with you.We would like to come to a settlement with you.Can we set up a negotiation whenever it is convenient to you?"
Neil acknowledged the a.s.sistant with a nod and after hearing the words smiled casually and asked, "What case?"
Director Lee and the a.s.sistant turned to look at each other and then at him.The a.s.sistant hesitantly said,"The one you filed in court in last week.Against our company for discrimination and hara.s.sment."
Neil said an "aah!That!" then continued pointedly,"But why would you come to my office,unannounced at that,for that case.The case was filed on behalf of my client.Would you like me to arrange a meeting with her?After all you need to do the settlement with Attorney Zheng."
Director Lee smirked at that and said,"She is your girlfriend ,isn"t she?So whatever you decide should be acceptable to her.Or is she the one that wears the pants in the house?We can settle the rate and she will agree."
Neil"s smile widened at that and the a.s.sistant openly gawked at his director.The director had turned senile!Trying to taunt the shark.The a.s.sistant hyperventilated even more when Neil bared his teeth!Because that was what the smile was-baring of teeth!
"Oh!The both of us wear pants in the house.The pointof this case is that your thinking is too outdated and cra.s.s whichnegatively reflects on your Company"s HR police and this, you have proved by coming here and trying to come to a settlement with me instead of Attorney Zheng.Do you think it is beneath you to negotiate with a woman?But where was your pride when you reaped the benefits of the cases that woman won?Was that not beneath you?What is or not in a relations.h.i.+p does not make a difference but you seem to find that difficult to understand!And now let me warn you,I am going to advise my client to not go for an out of court settlement.People like you need to be shown their place which is below a woman"s heal.So Director Lee,forgive me my rudeness and please leave.Mr a.s.sistant,you can report to the other partners that director Lee botched his chance."
Director Lee was unable to say anything to that and glaring at Neil,left the office in a huff.