Eyes fixed on Colleen, and one hand propped against her chin, the girl sitting next to Wesley explained in a low voice, "You misunderstood my relationship with Wesley. I'm not his girlfriend."
Demanding an explanation from Wesley, Colleen was irritated by his silence and the way he avoided her unblinking eyes. At long last, obviously running out of patience, she asked, "How can that be possible? You know, you're the first girl Wesley has ever brought to—"
"Colleen." Finally Wesley interrupted her. "Weren't you asking about Debbie?" he snapped, eager to change the subject.
"OK. Alright! Mr. Huo, you haven't answered my question yet." At Wesley's hint, Colleen pretended to realize she was off the topic. Promptly, she tuned her gaze to Carlos, the look in her eyes unrelenting, waiting for him to answer her earlier question.
"She's at home, expecting all the papers to be ready, so that she can go abroad," said Carlos, determined to keep everything as laconic as possible.
As he spoke, Curtis could see the gloom on his face. Of course, he knew Carlos and Debbie were still not reconciled yet. So in an attempt to broach the subject with caution, he said, "I've heard that ZL Group's business has been booming lately. The employees have been working extra hours. I hope you haven't been sleeping in your office." He added that last bit with slight emphasis. The gist of his question was to find out why Carlos had not been sleeping at home. Then he added his piece of advice. "You don't have to burst a nerve working overtime, man. If it's for money, do you think it's wise of you to drive yourself so hard at work that you don't even have time to return home?"
Hearing his question, the others exchanged a look.
Damon drew a tile and chipped in sullenly, "It's not like Carlos Huo is short of money. No! That's ridiculous. I suspect, the person driving him hard is his wife. You know how demanding some ladies can be." The tongue-in-cheek way he phrased his words left everyone in stitches. But Damon ignored the giggles and carried on. "Only she can throw him into a vortex of emotions."
Although Damon was known for his wise cracks, Curtis took him seriously on what he had just said. He discarded two dots and with a curious gaze at Carlos, inquired, "What did Debbie do to get on your nerves this time?"
Carlos took a puff on his cigarette and blew the smoke forcefully, betraying his inner tension. Amid the fumes, he opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words escaped his mouth.
Noticing that mood around the place, Megan, somewhat embarrassed, excused herself. "Uncle Carlos, maybe I should go home. You have fun with your friends," she said in a shaky voice.
In her pockets where nobody could see, her hands had been balled into fists. 'These people…Huh! Now they are all on Debbie's side. It looks like that woman is taking my place in their hearts. No! I won't have any of that bullcrap!'
But while she cursed inside and was about to leave, Carlos ordered her to sit down. Without saying it, he thought to himself, 'I have ignored Debbie for seven days, and now she knows that I brought Megan with me to this place. I don't believe she will take it well and won't do anything about it.
For all I care, I'd silently standby and watch her level this booth to the ground, if she broke in here, right now. I just want to know she cares.'
Just then, someone started to kick the door of the booth from outside. "Hell no!" he murmured, fearing Debbie had indeed come to fulfill his silent wishes. But when the door finally burst open, a group of men noisily stormed in. The women in the booth were scared stiff.
"Policemen?" Colleen wondered loudly.
The men playing mahjong only paused for a second at the commotion. Then ignoring the intruders, they calmly went on with their activity.
A young policeman feeling insulted by the way his team's arrival was casually ignored raised his gun and shouted, "Police! Stop what you are doing right now! Someone reported that you were gambling."
'Gambling?' The four mahjong players were amused.
Damon looked at Wesley, who was wearing casual clothes. Then he gave a wicked smile.
"Which of you has the surname Huo?"
the young policeman roared. 'Huo?' All of Carlos' friends shifted their eyes to look at the shameless intruder.
The enthusiastic cop continued, "Someone reported under their real name that the person with the surname Huo was doing an illegal transaction and activity here. Please come with us. And the lady beside you." The young policeman turned to Megan and asked, "Miss, what do you do? Where do you go to work? How did you two meet? How long have you known each other?"
Megan's face turned pale with embarrassment. Everyone could tell that the policeman thought she was a prostitute.
"Plbbt! Ha ha." Damon burst into laughter.
Even Curtis and Wesley, who were much more unflappable, found it hard to stifle their laughter. Clearly, the police were there for Carlos. Reporting him for doing illegal activity and Megan for prostitution…
In Y City, there was only one person daring to do that. Among the eight of the party, everyone knew who it was, except Blair.
"Stop laughing. This is as serious as your lives!" the young policeman reprimanded with a red face, pointing his gun at Damon, who seemed to be having a good time. Obviously, the moment wasn't quite enjoyable for Damon. He didn't like it when his authority was challenged.
Stone-faced, Carlos tossed the tile in his hand away and looked at the young policeman. "You said the report was done under the person's real name? Who was it?"
The young policeman looked very serious. "Carlos Huo's wife, Debbie Nian. Now, stop stalling. Come with us."
At this point, the policeman next to the overzealous young chap pulled his sleeve and cautioned, "Boss, we're in trouble. This is the…the very Mr. Carlos Huo."
The young policeman was barely in his twenties, but already made the team leader. The young are fearless. Learning that the man he had been talking to was Carlos Huo, he was only a tad bit surprised. But then he carried on, "We have to do our job. All of you have to come with us."
Carlos took out his phone and asked casually, "Which police branch are you with?"
The young man presented his badge and replied, "The City Bureau."
Carlos patted Wesley on the shoulder. "He had great potential. You can consider transferring him to the army so that you can groom him." Meanwhile, he dialed a number on his phone.
It was connected soon. "Uncle Noel, I'm sorry to disturb you at this late hour, but your men here are trying to take me to the station."
'Uncle Noel?' the you g policeman wondered. The name of the COP of the City Bureau was also Noel. And he was old enough to be Carlos' uncle. 'Could it be…?'
Not half a minute later Carlos hung up the call, the young policeman's phone ring. With shaking hands, he answered, to which Noel Li went straight into a dressing-down. "You are an idiot. Get your mend back here as fast as your legs can carry you! Do you have any idea what and whom you're messing with?"
"I know who he is, but someone reported that he organized gambling. Also, there is a prostitute with him…"
"Shut the fuck up! Do I have to explain to you whoever Mr. Huo is with? You're stupid enough to him into action without even confirming the report you get? Who the hell came up with the idea of raising such an asshole to your position? Get the hell out of there now!"
Now with a mixture of panic and embarrassment, the young policeman looked at the four men in the booth. Resignedly, he put his gun away and replied on the phone, "Yes, Chief Li."
Before he left with his men, he looked at Wesley. Confusion was written over his tan face. "You look very much familiar. Do you know Colonel Li the Gods of Warriors?"
Blair laughed. "Handsome, this is Colonel Li."
'This woman called another man "handsome" right before my eyes.' Wesley's face darkened.
The young policeman's man eyes glistened with excitement the minute he realized he had met the God of Warriors. Instantly, he stood at attention and saluted Wesley. "It's a great honor to meet you, Colonel Li."
Wesley nodded in response.
The excited young cop wanted to get an autograph, but afraid that he might cause more trouble, two of his co-workers got him out of there quickly.
The booth finally regained it's quiet. Carlos tossed the chip on the table and stood up. "Damon, you'll have to drive Megan home later."
Damon stared at the man who was putting on his coat. "Eh? We've just started. Where're you going?"
After glancing at him, Carlos replied flatly, "It seems my wife has become unbridled. I'm going home right away to deal with her."
