Chapter 31 - Behead him

Ayu held her breath as Shen stood still in his spot after the news she delivered.

Would she get killed right here? But James had absolutely refused to cooperate with them and she needed Shen's help.

She had to report this to him, since he was the only one who could bring James to Moshi Corp's side to assist with this particular mission. They were finally so close to a breakthrough.

His eyes suddenly went blank and even Ayu couldn't read him. But she knew this was bad. Shen only acted like this when someone threatened the madam, his parents or his position at Moshi.

Too late for damage control. James would be punished. Shen would behead him.

Shen picked up his jacket and walked straight to the front doors. Before he left, he wrote a quick note to Lina that he would be back soon and to keep working well. He handed the note to Butler Min and then drove off silently.

Ayu breathed a sigh of relief. She had avoided the line of fire, for now. Lately, she had been in so much hot water because of that stupid madam.

"Butler Min, please give me that note. I will personally deliver it to madam in the study."

The butler hesitated for a moment. Even though Ayu was one of the most loyal and trustworthy people under Shen's command, she had never taken a special liking to the madam. He was very protective of Lina and wanted to personally deliver the note from Shen to her.

But Ayu already plucked it out of his hand and marched to the study.

She walked in authoritatively without knocking. Lina was typing furiously and Mei was reciting notes from several doc.u.ments.

Both of them stopped working immediately and looked up at Ayu's beautiful but sour-looking face.

Mei immediately stood up and took an almost defensive stance in front of her boss.

"What is it Ms. Ayu? Do you have something for boss?"

"Yes."

Lina got up and walked towards Ayu. Mei didn't like this, she was too protective of boss.

"Ayu, how's your arm? When does the cast come off?"

Lina hadn't interacted with Ayu much since the night she met her and forced her to take her to Shen's office. She felt guilty that she had indeed unknowingly injured the beautiful woman.

Lina gently touched her hurt arm and Ayu suddenly let out a low growl, turned away, left Shen's note on the table and rushed out.

"Why does she act like that?" Lina was partly wondering out loud and partly asking Mei a legitimate question.

Mei looked at her awkwardly and tried to decide whether she should voice her thoughts.

"Madam...that's just how Ayu is. She looks down on mostly everyone who isn't the young master."

Lina was now more confused than ever.

"Why?"

"I don't know. There isn't a real reason. She's a workaholic and views everyone else as a waste of time if they are a distraction or an inefficiency."

"Am I an inefficiency?"

Lina was getting agitated. Why would Ayu act so high and mighty? It didn't seem like she was a useless person before the amnesia. In fact, from what she had come to know of her life, she was indeed highly skilled at what she did and even helped Shen from time to time.

"No boss, of course I don't think so! Maybe she just doesn't like when the young master is distracted from work because of you."

Mei said this last sentence in a softer voice, finding it embarrassing that something so vulgar could come out of her mouth in front of the woman who had helped her bloom professionally.

After all, why shouldn't the young master dote on a wife as spectacular as her boss?

As the two women were conversing, Lina's eyes fell upon the piece of paper Ayu had left for her before she walked out of the room.

She read Shen's note with a tinge of worry in her eyes. The last time he'd gone off in this fashion, he could have gotten himself killed. Did she really have to worry about him again in the midst of all her own work?

She furrowed her brows wondering whether to run after him again or obey his wishes and do her own work here at home.

Outside the study, Ayu leaned her shoulder against the wall and touched her arm where Lina had a few minutes ago. She breathed out a long, troubled sigh.

"Stupid madam..." she whispered under her breath. "Why?"

She heard a scoff behind her. She spun around defensively to find a familiar face, smiling condescendingly at her.

"Ro-kun. What are you doing here?"

In a moment of embarrassment, her eyes widened. She hated looking weak, especially amongst the other staff her boss employed.

If she was Shen's right hand, Ro-kun was his left.

Shouldn't he be with Shen right now?

"What does that have to do with you? Go back to HR, instead of torturing yourself around the madam."

"Torturing myself? What the hell do you mean?"

Ayu was on edge. She'd been exhausted and stressed, dealing with HR and James. Now Ro-kun was putting her on the spot.

"You can't have her."

Ro-kun never said much. He was the silent support by Shen's side, always observing everyone else around him. As the head of security, he had to be vigilant to people around his boss.

People took him for granted, but he knew far more about people than they thought he did.

"WHAT?"

Ayu almost screamed at him.

"You think I didn't know? You're so obvious, Ayu."