TEAMWORK

Chapter 3: DOWN RIGHT EVIL iii

Chapter
III
Hello Minions
(What the Fudge!?)

***

Zhang Qi Ling looked out his office window. The city was beautiful at night and it was now significantly night. Glancing at his watch, Zhang Qi Ling saw it was one in the morning. Standing rather stiffly, Zhang Qi Ling stretched and collected his files and briefcase.

Walking out of his office, he switched off the lights and noticed he could see a light on across the floor. Curiosity getting the better of him, Zhang Qi Ling worked his way across the room and saw the light was coming from Wu Xie's office. The puppy probably fell asleep and no one woke him.

Nearing the office, Zhang Qi Ling stayed in the shadows. Wu Xie was on the phone.

"Yeah, Sansu. I know. But I need to go over this proposal. Xie Yu Chen and the whole team are amazing, but I have to make sure... No! No, don't tell him!... Anything... yes, signed copy... What? Goddamn you, San... Hey Grandma... Yes, I am getting plenty of sleep... After one? Really? I hadn't noticed. Wait, why are you still awake?"

Zhang Qi Ling watched as Wu Xie covered a yawn. "Grandma," The young man sighed closing his eyes, "I am working with Zhang Rishan and Zhang Qi Ling. I don't need to tell you that everything they do is perfect and brilliant. I have to work hard to even walk in their shadow... I know. But you have to say that."

Zhang Qi Ling walked away. That was... interesting.

***

Two months later at yet another board meeting...

"This company isn't some daily dinner party. You have responsibilities and one of those responsibilities is to ensure that..." Zhang Qi Ling whispered darkly while fisting his hands in his lap so hard he could feel the crescent shaped indentions forming.

"Don't! Don't you dare tell me what my responsibilities are, you stuck up prick! I've been working my ass off for this company... OUR company! Not that anyone can tell since my fellow 'partner' is too busy basking in the easy ride his cousin gave him to..."

Zhang Qi Ling standing up so fast that his chaired crashed into window behind him.

This time it was Zhang Qi Ling that jumped over the table.

***

After that meeting all interactions between Zhang Qi Ling and Wu Xie were held over video conferencing.

***

Within six months the fourteenth floor was literally split in two. Zhang Qi Ling's team on one side and Wu Xie's on the other. Straight down the middle was a wide pathway that the employee of the fourteenth floor called 'The DMZ' or the Demilitarized Zone. It was a neutral area where employees could converse but were not allowed to mention their bosses or conduct business of any serious nature. Zhang Qi Ling and Wu Xie's inner circles were never allowed to cross the DMZ. These rules were concrete and held up by none other than Zhang Rishan himself.

After coming down to see his Vice President and nearly having an eye taken out during "The Great Cubical Blitz of 2019" which consisted of Wu Xie and his teammates launching various office supplies up and over their rival's cubicles, Zhang Rishan decided that serious actions would need to be taken. And the fact that he caught Zhang Qi Ling and his teammates covertly attempting to enter Wu Xie's office with less that business related intentions drove the point home.

Wu Xie and Zhang Qi Ling were not allowed in the DMZ. They were not allowed physical contact of any kind. At business functions that required that both of them be in attendance, Zhang Rishan was forced to hire bodyguards to protect the young men... not from hostile strangers, but from each other.