Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“No. While you got answers, you were also in the first row of a show, and the name of that play was Plotting and Testing.”
“You weren’t there.”
“I don’t need to be there to know what happens when my father and his siblings get together. They would make any Broadway cast look like amateurs. Their acting is top notch.”
I blinked.
Lei finished texting and then put his phone back into his pocket. “Second wish?”
“Uh. . .I kind of want to do something different, but I don’t want to mess up the flow of the East.”
“What do you want to do?”
“After seeing this house and the garden, I really want my sisters to see it sooner.”
“You want to move them in right now?”
“No. Not move them in. . .because if I did. . .then that would mean my being here fulltime.” I sighed. “But before the battle, I would love to have Banks bring the girls over for a short visit. Maybe for dinner or something and. . .”
He watched me. “And?”
“I want them to meet you.”
He nodded. “I want to meet them.”
“Perfect. I’ll show them the garden and their rooms. Then, they’ll know that I’m safe and be excited about their futures. Plus, Banks would calm down with my living in the East.”
“I like that. However, I would like to alter your wish.”
“In what way?”
“Instead of Banks driving them over, I’ll send the helicopter. Then, we won’t have the press following the car from the gate to Lotus Blossom’s outer gates.”
“Wow. Okay. I mean. . .none of them have ever been in a helicopter so that alone will make their year.”
“Then, I’ll let Chen know to grab them tomorrow. You’ll have to tell Banks.”
“I will.”
He pulled out his phone and began typing again. “What about your third wish?”
“Hmmm.”
“More clothes and shoes? Jewelry? Tonight, we could even fly off somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. We would just have to be back by tomorrow morning.”
Oh shit. Tomorrow. Damn it. I almost forgot.
Lei continued, “It would be a small trip. Just you and me.”
He put the phone up.
Tension gathered in my shoulders. “Well. . .this would be a big wish and a massive ask, but I am hoping that you are open to it and trust me. Lei. . .you really need to trust me.”
Lei took in two staff members as they carried chairs out of the hallway and toward the dining room.
Then, he looked back at me. “Trust you?”
“Yes.”
“Always, Moni. Just say the final wish. You decided to dedicate your life to the East and me. Therefore, I’ll give you anything because you’re giving all of yourself to me.”
“Good, but. . .it’s still a huge ask.”
“Just tell me.”
“For my third wish, I want to have a tea ceremony with your father tomorrow with the news cameras in attendance.”
And just like that, Lei’s face turned pale, his eyes widened and his mouth gaped open in disbelief. Next, his body froze.
I swallowed down my nervousness. “Lei?”
All the joy that had been in his eyes, left.
“Lei?” I walked closer to him. “Talk to me.”
“Fuck.” He looked up at the ceiling and turned back to me. “Now I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“I thought it was one type of test, but. . .he wasn’t just testing you. Fuck. Now I understand the entire day—why my aunts did what they did and why Uncle Song and even my father did what they did too. It’s bigger than the tea, Moni.”
“What are you talking about?”
This odd laughter left him and I swore it sounded like some deranged person having a psychotic fit. “Now I fucking get it.”
“Get what, Lei? What am I missing?”
“Oh, Moni.” He shook his head and laughed some more. “Allow me to be your tour guide within my father’s mind.”
I widened my eyes.
Chapter twenty-one
The Innerworkings of Leo’s Mind
Monique
Lei’s laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls of Lotus Blossom.
It was a strange sound, but I could see the tension behind his amusement.
And for the first time, he truly took in the setting around us—the new decor, the fresh flowers in vases, and the servants moving gracefully through the space, preparing for what he now knew would be tomorrow’s tea ceremony.
And all I could do was wonder what was going through his mind?
Was he pissed?
Would this be an unnecessary fight?
Or something that would help our relationship grow even more?
Nervous, I stood in place, just like the little girl from the story did as the dragon thunderously laughed in her face.
A minute later, Lei finally looked back at me, and just like the dragon in the story, his eyes sparkled with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. “Now I understand.”
“What?”
“It couldn’t be just one thing, Father. No. You sneaky bastard.” Lei shook his head. “I was looking at the surface of today then when he put that blade to your neck, I only considered the danger, but never did I pull back the layers of his purpose.”