Chapter 8 — The Day You Sent Me To Jail

Tham Yen Bach walked to the sofa and stood still. He looked at me. I also looked at him. 5 days without seeing each other. Last time we met, he sat in his office signing documents, not even bothering to raise his head. This time, his eyes finally… finally… rested on my face. Stare. Don't blink. It's like wanting to engrave every detail of my five senses into my memory.

“Sit down.” I put down my cup of tea, tilted my chin towards the sofa opposite, "Are you planning to take a negotiating position?"

He didn't move. The corners of the lips move.

“Khuong Duong.”

His voice was much more hoarse than I remembered. It's like sucking on a handful of broken glass.

“The Hang... is yours?”

I crossed my legs and leaned back in the chair.

“Boss Tham.” I smiled faintly, "You came here to negotiate, right? Personal issues are not on the agenda."

His throat slid up and down. The secretary standing behind held up a file of documents. He didn't take it. Still standing there, still looking at me. The emotions in those eyes were extremely complex. There is fear. It's hard to believe. Got a little angry. And there was an emotion I had never seen on his face before— Like someone had just punched him in the stomach. Cramping pain. But can't say it.

“Sit down, Boss Tham.” I repeat a second time.

This time he sat. Movement is very slow. It was as if lead had been poured into my knees. He sat across from me, his back straight, his hands resting on his knees. But his hands— Are shaking. It's very light. If I hadn't been looking closely, I definitely wouldn't have noticed.

“Let's negotiate.” He spoke.

The voice regained its calmness. The CEO mask is on again. I lifted the tea cup and gently blew on the layer of tea foam floating on top.

"What are you negotiating about? Tell me."

“Conditions for Chinh Hang to withdraw capital.”

"Conditions have been clearly written in the lawyer's letter. Withdrawal of capital immediately, no negotiation."

“The contract stipulates a 30-day notice period.”

“Article 7, clause 3.” I looked straight into his eyes and said word by word, "If the legal rights of a major shareholder are harmed due to personal infringement by the actual controller of the investment company, the major shareholder has the right to withdraw capital immediately."

His pupils shrunk. The room fell silent for 3 seconds. The legal person standing behind him quickly opened the contract and quickly reviewed clause 7. After that, the legal person's face changed color. He leaned close to Tham Yen Bach's ear and whispered something. Tham Yen Bach did not react. He just looked at me. Looked for a long time. Then he spoke. Very small voice.

“I was right from the beginning.”

“Know what?”

"You know there is a clause in this contract. You know that as long as I do... anything too extreme for you, you have the right to withdraw your capital."

I put down the cup of tea.

“Shen Yen Bai.”

I called him both his first and last name. I've never called him by his full name before. Previously, I called "Yen Bach", called "Husband", called "Brother". But not today.

"This clause, from 3 years ago when Chinh Hang invested capital, was already written in the contract. At that time, I was still by your side, cooking porridge for you every day."

“I never thought one day I would use it.”

"It's because you forced me."

His lips were pursed a straight line. Jaw bone clenched tightly. Don't say a word. I stood up. The heels of the shoes hit the floor, making crisp clicking sounds. I walked in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window, turning my back to him.

"The negotiation is over, Boss Tham. Chinh Hang's decision will not change. You can go home."

There is no sound behind. A long time later… maybe 1 minute, maybe 5 minutes… I heard the sofa move slightly. He's standing up.