Chapter 4：The Art of Smiling

"Well that's a problem."

I vigorously nod my head. Mister Cheng paces a few steps and pauses to stare at me. Okay, time to bite the bullet.

"I'll figure something out, thank you very much for housing me Mister Cheng."

With a firm nod I continue my progress to the door. C'mon Jennifer, you have this. I didn't escape that town for nothing.

"What do you plan on doing?"

I walked out of the room, only for my eyes to be assaulted by sunlight. Once I squint through the glare, I notice a massive window. Who the heck needs a window this big? Aish.

Loud footsteps thunder behind me, making my head throb.

"What if something happens to you? We're in the city right now, if you leave and go down the wrong alley you could run into the Triad."

I turn and blink at him a couple times.

"What's a Triad?"

~*~

When I heard Jennifer's answer, I knew that I couldn't leave this girl alone.

While her can-do attitude is cute and enduring, it will most likely be the death of her. It was hard to believe that this clumsy naive girl happened to turn nineteen without being seriously harmed.

Part of me didn't want her to leave.

"I don't know you!"

I suddenly look up to see my secretary trying to soothe Jennifer. The girl was taken aback when the older woman tried to hug her. She doesn't seem to appreciate physical contact very much.

"Little one, it's okay. She meant no harm."

Jennifer looked at me in concern and slowly hugged Secretary Kim. While tough as bricks, Secretary Kim was truly a mother at heart. I knew that firsthand.

With a small smile Jennifer looked at the woman in strange awe.

Her hand reached up to play with her chestnut hair nervously, shifting it just enough to show bruises on her neck. Bruises in the shape of a hand.