When You Came

Chapter 38

"Hey, babe –" Noah didn't get to finish his sentence when he saw the Asian man in our living room.

"Uncle.." He breathed out. There was shock and maybe fear in his eyes.

"Nephew!" His uncle greeted him with great enthusiasm. "It's been forever."

"It's only been like four months uncle.." Noah mumbled.

"Come on man don't be a Debbie Downer and hug your uncle." The familiar sparkling blue eyes said. Tyler, I remember his name.

What was he doing here? Why did he come up with Noah? Do they know each other? Why do I sense that something is terribly wrong?

"Hey, Aurelia." Tyler said with an evil grin. The way my name rolls of his tongue gave me shivers and definitely not the good kind.

"Wait, you guys know each other?" Noah looked confuse and angry.

"No." I spoke up before Tyler could say something stupid and untrue. "We were strangers that knocked to each other when I was on my way to the office to have lunch with you. He tried to hit on me."

"WHAT?!" Noah growled and grabbed Tyler by the collar.

"What the fuck are you trying to do?!" His uncle yelled.

Noah and Tyler both turned to look at him. His uncle was furious. Noah was kinda scared and loosened his grip on Tyler's collar while Tyler had a winning smirk on his face.

"What the fuck are you two doing here anyway!?" Noah grumbled.

"NOAH!" His uncle shouted. "Is that the way to talk to your elders!?"

"I'm sorry uncle." Noah bowed 90 degrees to apologize.

I was shocked. I've never seen this side of Noah. So submissive. He was actually afraid of his uncle. What could he possibly do? Did Noah grow up like this? With his authoritarian uncle? He was practically like a soldier who obeyed his commander's commands.

"Hǎole shànglái." His uncle spoke in Mandarin. (That's enough, get up.)

"Nǐ zhīdào wǒ wèishéme huì zài zhèlǐ ma?" His uncle spoke. I couldn't understand but it seems to me that the other two people in the room could. I felt like an outsider. They were in on this secret group with their secret language. (Do you know why I'm here?)

"Zhīdào." Noah spoke. (Yes.)

Wow, Noah speaking Mandarin. I'm officially hooked!

"Nǐ pò liǎo dàng chū nǐ gěi wǒ de yuánzé nǐ pò liǎo dàng chū nǐ gěile gōngsī de yuánzé! Nǐ xiànzài gěi wǒ yīgè lǐyóu wèishéme wǒ xūyào ráo nǐ de mìng!" The tone in his uncle's voice was furious. It was like he was disciplining a subordinate. (You broke the code you gave me, you broke the honor code you gave to the company! Now give me a good reason why I should spare your life!)

Noah looked at me. I could see that he was so scared. The fear was clear as day in his eyes. But I couldn't understand what they were saying. Only that his uncle was angry and furious about something and that Noah was scared shitless. Other than that, I really have no idea what's going on and I don't know how to help Noah.

"Duìbùqǐ shūshu!" Noah kneeled down on his knees with his head hanging low. (I'm sorry, uncle.)

"Sorry is not going to cut it!" His uncle spat.

I ran to Noah's side and tried to lift him up from his knees. Key word being tried. He was heavy and he didn't want to get up.

"Stupid girl! What are you trying to do!? Getting in the middle of family business!" His uncle shouted.