In any case, Victor didn’t have to break his stride. Han fell into step beside him and immediately started signing to update Victor on the situation.
The update was rather short. Kuang had shown up at the house Victor shared with Phantom and Han an hour ago. And when they’d told him Victor wasn’t there, he’d offered to wait. But he’d refused to tell either of them what he wanted to talk about.
So, no time to get cleaned up. Victor scraped a hand through his now only partially gelled hair and buttoned his suit jacket over his crumpled white shirt before entering the receiving room. There he found Kuang seated in the armchair Victor always occupied during meetings. Phantom, who usually stood on the left side of Victor’s chair, was waiting for him near the couch where their visitors were supposed to sit.
“Have a seat,” Kuang invited as if they were in his house, not The Silent Triad’s.
An old memory of being called to his father’s study for not listening to one of his tutors wormed its way into Victor’s head. How old had he been back then? Ten? Possibly eleven? Whatever the age, this was the same feeling he’d had back then when his father called him to the carpet.
Victor took a seat on the couch. And Han and Phantom fell into position as best they could behind him.
Kuang regarded him with open disapproval for a few beats before letting him know, “This is the first time I’ve ever had to wait an entire hour for a requested meeting with one of my associates. Much less a would-be partner.”
Most people might consider Kuang’s expectation of an hour turnaround time for a meeting he’d showed up to unannounced unreasonable. Not Victor.
He couldn’t remember a time when his father had to wait more than fifteen minutes to speak with his desired party, even on a surprise visit. Often they’d shown up before the ten-minute mark.
“Normally, that insult alone would be enough for me to sever all ties. However, the work you’ve done on behalf of the 24K has been beyond all expectations. I came here today to formalize our agreement….”
Kuang’s face twisted with severe annoyance. “But after having to come to you and wait like a dog hopeful of dinner, I’m not so sure.”
Han cleared his throat in the silence that followed Kuang’s aggrieved statement. “Of course, we would like to correct this unfortunate miscommunication. We are just as committed to this partnership as you.”
Victor and Han worked so seamlessly together. It felt as if the words coming out of his brother’s mouth were truly his delivered on another’s tongue.
“Perhaps,” Kuang answered. His gaze shifted from Han to Victor, cold and calculating.
Then he let out a rather dramatic sigh. “It will be easier to trust once our families are truly united. My daughter, unfortunately, is being quite difficult. She tells me she couldn’t possibly get married until she is done with school. But I trust when the time comes, there won’t be any barriers to your union. No unforeseen problems in Providence. Like the one that delayed your arrival today.”
Victor’s blood chilled. There was no way that Phantom or Han would’ve told Kuang where he was. That meant Kuang must have gotten this intel from someone else. Perhaps even before his impromptu call for a meeting. Maybe that was the reason why he’d decided to call it in the first place.
This might very well have been a test to check that Victor would still jump when Kuang said, no matter the circumstances. A test that Victor had failed.
“There won’t be any unforeseen problems anywhere,” Han assured Kuang as Victor reeled. “Nothing supersedes Victor’s commitment to this partnership. Nothing.”
Han addressed Kuang, but it felt like he was chastising Victor.
The assurance seemed to mollify Kuang, in any case. After talking over a few business points and some possible future projects they might invest in together, Kuang left with his cadre of soldiers.
“Thank you,” Victor signed after Phantom escorted him out.
“Was I lying to Kuang?” Han demanded as soon as Kuang was out of their eyesight. His signs were angry and rushed. “Is your Providence secret going to be a problem? Like she was five years ago?”
“No,” Victor assured him. “It as you said, I’m committed to this partnership.”
His brother didn’t press the topic further. But he also didn’t look like he believed Victor.
Victor didn’t blame him. He found it hard to believe himself too. Especially with that wedding ring buried in his waistcoat pocket.
“I need to go get cleaned up,” he signed to Han.
Han didn’t answer. And Victor could feel his brother’s worried gaze on him as he left the room.
As soon as Victor got to the suite he kept on the second floor, he brought out his phone to send out the first of many instructions.
