TEAMWORK

Chapter 5: GREEN ALL OVER ii

Chapter
V
Burning In Hell
(Wish You were Here.)

***

Zhang Qi Ling enter his dark condo and flipped on the lights. Slipping off his shoes he headed toward his bedroom intent on taking a shower before sleeping. His theory was that when he woke up he would find that this entire day had been one sick nightmare.

He removed his already loosened tie and unbuttoned his shirt as he walked, tossing them both onto the sleek chaise lounge chair in the corner before entering his black tiled bathroom. The rest of his clothes soon followed and he was just reaching to turn on the faucet when the phone rang.

Sighing, he turned and walked to the bedside table, checking the caller ID. It was time for the weekly phone call already? Where does the time go? Sighing again, he forced himself to answer.

"Hello."

"Xiao ge, it's Yin Xin Yue."

"Oh course. How are you?" He softly whispered.

Zhang Qi Ling sat on the edge of the bed. The conversation would last for four minutes before the phone would be handed to his cousin. His cousin's wife would tell him about her week, whose garden party she had been to and about that nice daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Qi Ling Doesn't Give a Damn.

Zhang Qi Ling started when the voice talking to him became deeper, "Xiao ge? Are you okay?"

"Yes, Fo Ye gege. How are you?"

"I am fine. Rishan tells me that you are going to Mop's Team Work for the week."

"Yes, Fo Ye gege."

"That man had been doing this for years. I am sure that you and Wu Xie will learn many helpful techniques that you can incorporate at the office."

"Yes, Fo Ye gege." Zhang Qi Ling's free hand fisted the dark comforter beneath him.

"How are you and that boy getting on? I don't hear much beyond what Rishan tells me and he says that both the divisions are turning amazing profits."

Zhang Qi Ling didn't even try to hide his discomfort. How were they getting on?! How did his cousin not know? Why had Zhang Rishan kept it a secret? Then Zhang Qi Ling shook his head. No, the only things his cousin really wanted to hear were the numbers. Rishan would understand that. His cousin's lives fell somewhere further down the priority list... after golf times and before his wife's numerous dinner parties.

"We are fine. He is an excellent asset to the team."

"Of course he is. His fath..." Zhang Qi Shan paused causing Zhang Qi Ling's eyes to widen. His cousin never hesitated.

"Yes, Fo Ye gege?"

"Have a goodnight, Xiao ge."

"Yes, goodnight."

Zhang Qi Ling shut the phone and tossed it on the bed before heading back towards the shower.

As the water cascaded down his neck and back Zhang Qi Ling thought... What about Wu Xie's father?

***

As predicted the following morning was putting it nicely, a living, breathing hell that smelled, tasted and looked like vomit, more specifically tequila induced techni-colored vomit. The three sat around the table while the coffee maker bubbled pleasantly, apparently unaware of the extreme necessity its life giving force was to the waiting men and women.

Wen Jin scooted her chair back when the machine stopped causing all of them to clutch their heads and moan loudly at the uncomfortable screech the chair legs made across the floor.