Day by day at the Gu Consortium, Jack was beginning to notice a different kind of connection between Jacob and Emily. They had a subtle mutual understanding, an ability to read each other's body language without too many words.
Also, the way Emily looked at Jacob was completely different. She once had fear and obedience in her eyes, but now a hint of delight crossed her face every time her eyes met his.
Jack couldn't bear the fact that Emily never looked at him in that manner. Was she really in love with Jacob?
He could perhaps understand why she would like Jacob's status, but it didn't seem like that was the case. Accepting that she might actually love him was hard for him.
He had a lot of confusing feelings about that, a mix of pain, jealousy, and regret. If he hadn't broken up with her, she and Jacob would not have the opportunity to be together.
He shouldn't have let her go. She should be his! Why did he give her to Jacob?!
During another meeting, Emily and Jack's opinions clashed again. She was already a full-time, permanent employee there, due to the success of the last project. Even though she didn't quite have all her paperwork in order, everybody turned a blind eye for Jacob's sake.
Besides, Emily could hold her own if anybody dared to question that. She was becoming an assertive, smart and capable woman, the woman she was always meant to be.
"Jack, I don't agree with your plan. You always look only at the interests of the company, which is great. But to build a good reputation, we need to consider the needs of our consumers..." insisted Emily.
Looking at this woman who spoke freely with passion and a confident smile, Jack was baffled and frustrated all at once. Where did the Emily he knew go, the one who was once soft-spoken and sweet?
She had completely changed from the inside out. She was more polished and dazzling in her mannerisms, like a pearl which had been cleaned from all its shell's impurities.
But she was not his anymore.
"Ah, please..." Jack declared on a satirical tone. He then proceeded to get up and walk out of the meeting room, ignoring the shocked looks of everyone in there.
Emily was slightly surprised too, but she didn't give it much thought and went back to her point.
They had gotten used to it anyway since Jack and Jacob had not been on the same page for a long time either. So it was expected for Jack not to treat Emily too well. In his mind, he could only see her as Jacob's woman and his ex... not as a co-worker or the powerful professional she had become.
Everyone thought Jack left the room due to the frustrating disagreement; however, Emily was able to see the regret in his eyes... What was that about?
She did not understand and neither did she want to.
Jacob looked at Emily's seemingly calm attitude, and his eyes sparkled with admiration and perhaps even relief.
That afternoon, Jacob received an unexpected call from old Mr. Gu. Without saying too much, he hung up the phone and drove over to the Gu's mansion right away.
Upon entering, he saw Mr. Gu having tea in the courtyard. He looked relaxed and carefree, just like a regular old man in an ordinary family.
But Jacob knew the ruthless man he really was, far different from the appearances he put on.
"What can I do for you?" Jacob asked rhetorically. He could guess his intentions, but he still decided to ask.
Mr. Gu sighed in disappointment," All these years, and you still refuse to call me 'father'."
This was a patter how the two of them always communicate. From the moment he found out the truth that Mr. Gu wasn't his real father, Jacob had stopped seeing him as a part of his family. Anyway, he still had to be at least polite to this man who had raised him.
"I'm busy with the company affairs. So if you don't have anything important to say, I'll go," Jacob stated with a poker face.
"Come and sit down," replied Mr. Gu. He was not going to pretend to be a kind father since Jacob had no intention to play alone. He then gave Jacob a sharp glance.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Call That Changed Her Entire Life