Chapter 567 - Tell me why? (3)

4 June, Coffee House, City K

Rachael, let a few tears fall down her face. "He added to me that there were other demands. The financial settlement with mother had to include clauses that required me to sell to him at face value the forty percent of shares I am due to receive, at the time I get them. He said that any compensation for losses was something mother and my uncles had to pay, not him. His reason was that mother had delayed giving him what he was entitled to, which had to be more than she received as he has a new family that he has to support, unlike her who only has an a.d.u.l.t child that can support herself."

Lexi reached over with her uninjured hand squeezed Rachael's hand, as Rachael picked up a napkin and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"That felt like a slap in the face to me. But then he dropped the balance of his demands for the agreement. It was about company management. He knew that I had been the driving force behind the development and said that the agreement must include clauses to require senior management to remain in place for several years, with compensation to be paid if they left or damaged the company. He wanted five years and ten million US dollars for everyone other than me. Me, he wanted tied to the company for ten years and ten times the compensation."

Shaking her head again "That made me realise to him, I am just a tool to provide for him, the woman he has always loved and his other children. To him I am nothing. Can anyone tell me why he is like that."

Lexi sat there, and all that she could say is "I had no idea."

Rachael, sensing the sincerity in Lexi's four words said "You know me, talking about my family is the last thing I want to do. I will listen to everyone else complain about things, even Joan, who you are right in being somewhat of a bridezilla. I get her complaints because we know about her father and brothers ruining a century old family company simply to follow their pleasures. She feels insecure in marrying someone who has, through his own hard work built up an amazing company. She worries that she is not good enough for him. That is a.d.u.l.t relationsh.i.p.s."

Lexi quietly said "You are right about her being a bridezilla. But I wonder if her insecurities are driven by her…"

"S.e.xuality. I got the shock of my life when she convinced me to go on a getaway when my parents divorce hearing was happening. Her reasoning was I needed to be out of the arguments when they were before the court. She was right in that respect. The time away was a relief, as it got me to the point that I knew I had to stand my ground and keep out of their arguments because it was not doing me any good. But she dragged me to a club and boy did I get the shock of my life. All I did was sit in a corner nursing my drinks throughout the night. Each time I looked at her she was making out with a different person, sometimes a man and sometimes a woman. It shocked me, but the following day she sat down with me and talked about her s.e.x.u.a.lity. Some things I did not understand, but the funny thing was as we talked, I realised one thing. She was still my friend, regardless of that. Did you know?"

"I did. You remember the trip she and I took before I fell pregnant?"

Seeing Rachael nod, Lexi continued "I got my exposure to her s.e.x.u.a.lity then. I did not take it as well as you seemed to, but I was younger when I got confronted with it. But I have mellowed. You know I do not care about a person's s.e.x.u.a.lity if the relationship they are in is a committed loving relationship. I just think Joan is worried that David Hwang will not accept her fully, and that is where things are coming from."

Rachael nodded and said "That was my thoughts. She wants her friends focused solely on her in case things go wrong, and if it is not all about her, then she will complain to someone else…"

"Putting them in the position she has put you in. Rachael do not worry about it. I will talk to her at her fitting appointment, because dealing with her is the last thing you need presently. Dealing with your father must be your current priority. He has to be stopped, otherwise this will just get worse."

Tears filled Rachael's eyes, and Lexi paused. Seeing the expression on Rachael's face if this kept going her father would cause her to break. It was then an idea formed. Could Anna Hou help, even if it were simply to give a Rachael some general advice.

Lexi said, "I have an idea, if you will let me make a call."

Rachael shook her head, and quietly said "You want me to confront him. You know he has a temper."

"Not the plan. At the beginning of the year, I met someone when I had to play hostess for my two idiot brothers. They had an international business partner and his very pregnant wife come for a visit. I spent the day accompanying her shopping. Her story was amazing. Literally she crashed into her husband and proposed a wedding on the spot. I thought a clash of cultures would ruin things, but despite her ups and downs she has made a life for herself with the love of her life. But interestingly she is a lawyer from Australia and is working towards being able to practice in her new home country. I am going to call her and see if she will talk to you, because I know that all I can do is be supportive. You need someone to help you plan to deal with him, as if you do not, he will only get worse and break you."

"I am not sure…"

"Just talk to her. No pressure on anything else, but you need some objectivity that none of us can give you."

Without waiting, Lexi pulled out her phone and dialled a number. As soon as the call was answered she said "Anna, can your husband spare you and my cute little godson for a couple of days. I have a favour to ask you."

-------

If you are reading this novel anywhere other than at or its apps then you are reading work that has been stolen in breach of the authors rights and those rights assigned to others.

Please support this author and only access this novel through at # and report the illegal posting of this work.