My father finally arrived at the designated location in Shanghai. He looked well. But his demeanor was smug. We were seated at the dining table in relative silence. From time to time, he would glance at me out of the corner of his eye. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Why the silent treatment, Father?” I asked out of exasperation.

“I have to travel all the way to Shanghai to have dinner with my daughter, who doesn’t even live in Shanghai.”

“Father, you know where to find me. And let’s be frank with one another, as soon as you learned that the only man I’ve ever loved was over here, you began to plot and scheme.”

He placed his fork down and shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. I don’t understand you.”

“What’s to understand, Father? That you drove the only man I love away?”

He chuckled. “Don’t be ridiculous. Love? A common low life for my only daughter? And what would you have me do, Charli? Ignore the damage that he has done to this family? To you?” He motioned at my face. “You are requesting a lot from me, as you continue to disgrace yourself and the organization that I built. And over a married black man mind you. I shouldn’t have come.”

“I will deal with this my way, Father. What I need from you is a free hand in doing so,” I demanded.

“What are you proposing, Charli? And this better be good. I’ve traveled very far.”

“You were coming anyway. But you know me; I will do whatever it takes,” I shot back. He held my gaze to gauge how serious I was and to see if I was going to back down. But I wasn’t. Mr. Macklin was way too valuable to me and the team I’d assembled.

“I won’t allow you to kill him, Father. Do you want me to hate you for the rest of my life? If not, don’t touch him.”

“Is he really worth all of that—I think not. Therefore, there is no need for me to meet with him. I am going on with my agenda.”

CHARLES LI

I tossed my dinner napkin across the plate, signaling to my spoiled daughter that this meeting was over. I was totally disappointed that she was trying to stop me from crushing these two little cockroaches. And realizing that I had to crush her next. Her loyalty to me had been compromised. I left her at the dinner table looking angry. I made my way to the restroom down the hall. As I unbuckled my belt and unzipped my slacks, I felt a breeze. I turned around, and I felt a sharp pain across my throat.

KAYLIN