Siren Song - 208 Tell Me Why

After he spoke Chang just stared in shock at his white shirt, the words repeating in her head.

Not hearing a reply Liang JianAmal repeated himself patiently while releasing her head a little, so that he could see her reaction. Cupping her face by her ears he forced her to look into his eyes.

“Leave this place with me. Come back to Shanghai with me as my wife again.”

Hearing of Shanghai Chang immediately thought of the beautiful estate he had there with the beautiful garden. Smiling a little her second thought flashed to a pair of sharp cold black eyes. Eyes that everytime she met stared at her like an insect that was about to be crushed underfoot or with blatant disdain. Thinking of the owner of the eyes being in Shanghai as well, Chang immediately shook her head in rejection.

Seeing her shake her head, Liang JianAmal felt a surge of anger and dissapointment well up in his chest.

“What do you mean no? Do you not want to leave with me to return home?”

“Well yes and no?” Seeing his increasingly angry expression in response to her words Chang looked to her peripherals; towards one of his hands and away from his stare.

“Look at me. What do you mean, explain Chang.” Sliding his hands down from her face he gripped her upper arms, willing her to be forthright with him.

“You’re hurting my arm, Jian let go!” Gasping at the sudden pain Chang tried to pull herself out of his grasp.

“Sorry. Just explain to me, why not? I do not understand.” Releasing his grip on her, Liang JianAmal gritted his teeth wondering where her sudden reluctance was coming from.

“I do but I can’t leave yet. There’s things I have to do here. I need to settle my case against Robert for one.”

“What else do you need to do? What else is barring you from leaving with me?”

“I have responsibilities now Jian I can’t just disappear all of a sudden anymore, and leave with you. I’m a boss now, I have to be responsible for all the people who work in the firm under me and find a suitable replacement for myself.”

“Insource from one of your employees and promote them. Problem solved. They already work there for you so they know what to do. Plus you already should know of their capabilities, so it will be easier.”

“It is not that simple. This involves my grands-père’s reputation and that of the whole Dumont family, I cant be so casual about it. I have to hire the right person.”

“Fine then, we take the time for you to find an appropriate successor so that you have peace of mind and have fulfilled your duties. Would you then leave with me?”

“Why are you insistent on having me leave here?” Crossing her arms across her chest, Chang tried to put up a defensive wall between them, not wanting to admit her fear.

“You said yourself you have been forced to face things that felt like they would crush you here. If you leave with me you would not have to face such things any longer. And if this is you wanting to work, that is not an issue either you can continue to do so once we have returned home together.

“You can see in the mirror the effects your time here has had on you. You won’t admit it yourself but you are dangerously thin my love. This image you have cultivated for yourself here has damaged you.” As he spoke the last bit hoarsely Liang JianAmal lightly traced her pronounced clavicles with his fingertips.

“Oh are you dissatisfied with how I look now, now that I am no longer fleshy.”

“When have I ever said such a thing?” Raising an eyebrow at her, Liang JianAmal could not understand why she was so sour.

“Then what do you mean when you keep bringing up my weight.”

“Exactly what I have said, I am concerned for your health. I want you to be healthy and comfortable with yourself as you are as you used to be. You seem to have developed a negative image about how you used to look, when you are a curvaceous woman. You should have curves.

“But I want you to know that I love you, all of you. No matter what, I still all of you, I live for the feel of you in my arms. Have I not shown you that?” As Liang JianAmal spoke he continued to trace his fingers across her exposed bone structure over the towel finally halting on her face.