The Heartless 🖤

The unfortunate meeting

**Ming's POV**

"Damn this university, and damn this lift!" I huffed to myself, pressing the button one last time. As expected, it didn't respond. I sighed and headed towards the stairs. I have an entire empire to manage, yet here I am, wasting time on stupid assignments!

Thankfully, my exams are over. Now I can focus entirely on business without worrying about attendance and assignments.

I quickened my pace as I descended from the 4th floor. I was nearly at the ground floor when a voice made me stop.

"Ming!"

I sighed. 'Of course, the universe had decided to delay me.' I turned to see my good-for-nothing classmate, Leo, who insists he's my friend. He reached me, gasping for air, hands on his knees, sweat beads glistening on his forehead.

"Oh dude! That was fast, wasn't it?" he panted. I had to agree; I'd just witnessed him sprinting from the 3rd floor.

"I had nothing to do at home, so I came here. The lift wasn't working, and I thought it was a bad sign. I almost decided to leave, but then I saw you, so it must be a good day! How about we hit the club together? What do you think?" he rambled on, barely taking a breath. Like these are his last lines before his tongue fall off.

I truely wish someone would cut off his tongue.

"So you're coming!" he said, more a statement than a question, and put his hand on my shoulder, trying to guide me downstairs. I clenched my fist!

'Calm down, Ming. You'll be in trouble if this idiot dies here,' I reminded myself, gently removing his hand from my shoulder.

"Leo, for God sake it's 10 in the morning, and you want to go to a club? Besides, I have an important meeting to attend. I can't join you," I replied, calm but firm.

But of course, he didn't stop.

"So what if it's 10? We can still go and have fun; we finished our exams! Aren't we supposed to celebrate? And since I've explained enough, we're going, and that's final. If not the club, then somewhere else, wherever you want," he insisted.

"Did you miss the part where I said I'm busy? I have an important meeting. I'm not going anywhere but the office," I reminded him.

"Fuck your meeting! Can't you just tag along for today? Even P'Tong will be with us."

It took all my willpower not to slam him against the nearest wall. But wait, P'Tong is coming?

"P'Tong is coming?" I asked, a bit more interested now. I hadn't seen P'Tong in ages because of these exams. We're best friends, like brothers. He's the reason I continued my studies.

"Yes, he is," Leo confirmed, though I couldn't trust him. He'd lie without blinking.

"You're lying," I accused.

"And why do you think he's lying?" a voice asked, making me turn abruptly.

"P'Tong!" I exclaimed, spotting him-a tall, well-built man with a handsome face and deep brown eyes-ascending the stairs.

"I thought you'd be in your office, working your ass off," he teased, knowing me too well.

"I had an assignment to submit.", I complained.

"You didn't answer my calls. I thought you were in the office. I was about to head there but luckily, we met here."

"Yeah, Phi, I saw your calls but I was with Professor Mike. It wasn't urgent, was it?"

"Ahh, no. We haven't hung out lately, so how about we check out the new restaurant that just opened? I heard it's pretty good!", P'Tong suggested.

As much as I wanted to say yes, I couldn't. The meeting was crucial. If I didn't make it, I'd lose the deal to my rivals.