Chapter 29 - Release

The judges tried to calm down the witnesses of the trial and the reporters.

After Lawyer Chang asked the representative she sat back on her seat. 

Prosecutor Huo Dian proceed to closing arguments followed by Lawyer Chang .

The judges then give everyone a break. They turned to the juries and instruct them the appropriate law for the verdict.

In the afternoon, while waiting for the verdict. The public was in a mess.

They were all pointing their fingers towards CJ's for deceiving them. Many were asking for investigation of the promo Sale since a lot of people bought from that promo. They wanted the government to investigate the CJ's, and refund their money.

After a long while, the judges called everyone again for the verdict.

The court was silence as the judges started to read the verdict. Camera's focused, reporters readied themselves to write, CJ's representative sweating back, Lawyer Chang's boring gaze to the paper that the judge was holding, Huo Dian's calm and unwavering gaze, Xiao Mei's shaking breaths and Xiong Zhi's sipping tea.

While everyone was anticipating for the result , Xiong Zhi was drinking tea at the nearby cafeteria. After the break she immediately went to this  coffee shop. She did not like the crowd. Besides she already knew the result. She just had to wait.

As she had thought, the judge proclaimed that Xiao Mei's case lack evidence against her, so she had proven not guilty. Other than that the evidences were pointing to CJ's instead, they also announced that there would be an investigation to CJ's giving the public a satisfied answer.

CEO Long was long gone to the hospital after the break, the board of directors handled the remaining procedures and also the new investigation. They did not know what to do. If the government investigate them they were really doomed. They had been smuggling fake diamonds since the time of CEO Long. That had been nine years.

While the CJ's was facing their doom , Lawyer Chang's team were relieved and satisfied with the result. They waited outside the ward for Xiao Mei.

After a while, Xiao Mei came out and she was greeted by Lawyer Chang's and Huo Dian's hugs.

"I'm free." Xiao Mei said teary-eyed. She was a bit shocked and was still in daze, she let herself feel their hug to know if its really real.

'I can now go home....thank you...'

She freed herself from their hug and thank them. She then noticed that the young girl she saw earlier was not with them. She looked at Lawyer Chang questionably.

"She's in the coffee shop. Do you want to meet her now? She really help a lot." Lawyer Chang said.

Xiao Mei nodded and they went to a coffee shop.

In the corner , nearby the window, a girl with a cap and a jacket was sitting alone. She looked up and waited for them to come to her table.

When Xiao Mei sat comfortably, she lowered her head and bowed expressing her deep thanks to Xiong Zhi.

"I'm really lucky that you lend your hand to us. I have heard everything from Bivia, thank you so much. I know by working with you I cannot pay you enough. I will work loyally with all my best to your company. " Xiao Mei said still bowing. She did not care if she was lowering herself to a younger person. She had learn a lot from this experience . No matter what status or age, it did not describe a person. Like how she had been naive to trust CJ's since they were a hundred year old company and have a good public image. But that very company almost ruined her honest life.

Now she was freed, she would thank the people forever who had helped her.

"If young Ms. Xiong Zhi wanted me to sign the contract right away, I can do it now." She was really thankful to the young girl. She would worked hard to repay them.

"Its OK. You need to visit and focused on your grandmother first. I'll give you a week to settle them. Just tell me when Mrs. Ping's surgery. After that, contact me so we can start."

Xiao Mei was moved. She gave a deep thanks to Xiong Zhi again.

After saying those, Xiong Zhi prepared to leave.

"Congratulations for getting out." Then she strode off.

_______________________________

Caroline Jewelries was build in 1910. Being a hundred year old company their roots was deep. However, with this controversies regarding the fake diamonds, CJ's was being uprooted little by little. In a week before the trial, their expansions in overseas was having a mishap. Foreign investors canceled their deal, store, malls, and establishments were closing for them. In the country where CJ's born, public trust had gone down to zero, their business partners breach their contracts, leaving them. Their VIP's and usual customers, the wealthy family was ashamed of them, even throwing out their product in public making their ruined image more ruined to the point where their company's name would be heard, the public would only think one word for them: fake.

Moreover, they faced the public's rage. They were demanding refund. They badmouthed CJ's to the point even the employees resigned in that company. The employees also did not want to face the public's wrath. With the investigation coming, the board of directors were fleeing to another country and changing their names. The CJ's was really going further down to the point of no return.

CEO Long was sitting in the hospital bed. He was watching the news. He saw the CJ's, the company he tried so hard to made it big going bankrupt.

'Its gone....its gone for sure....my company.....'

CEO Long just stared at the TV.

'What should I do? Should I run? Never come back here? But...that was my company...I worked for hard for many years to become a CEO....now it will be gone....  I ....I can't accept this!'

Then he remembered something....or should he say someone.

'Right. ..that person can change everything.. He is the one who make me a CEO and teach me this business....he's powerful...for sure he can help me...'

He reached for his phone and searched for that person's contact. When he saw it. He dialed the number.

After a ring, a woman's voice answered.

"Hello? CEO Long? "

"Hello, can I talk to Mr. Lu ? I really need to talk to him right now." CEO Long said in a hurried voice.

"I-I am sorry...but Mr. Lu is not available at this moment."

"Please I really need to talk to him, my business is at stake here. Can you at least tell me what time he will be available?"

"I-I think I should advice you CEO Long, this is not really a good time-"

"Who's that?" Another voice interrupted the woman. It was a man's voice . Hearing that voice CEO Long got a chill in his back. But he suppressed his fear, he need that man's  help right now!

The assistant handed the phone to the man. A hard, deep , with a tinge of amus.e.m.e.nt voice said,

"Oh...its CEO Long. How have you been? "

"CEO Lu, I really need your help. CJ's need a backing right now-"

"Oh...so you called me for help? Why do you think I would help you? I don't have time to swim at the bottom of the ocean and retrieve  a thing to a ship that sunk."

CEO Long gritted his teeth. He knew this man was fearsome. But he need to be brave right now. So he said in a hard tone.

"CEO Lu, have you forgotten who introduce me 'those' business ? If not for you, I would not be in this corner right now! The government will investigate CJ's. If they find that file, will your company be also implicated? "

"Ha. Ha. " a cold laugh that seemed to come from the underworld reached CEO Long's ears. He could not help but be afraid. Still, he just bit his lips.

"So you are threatening me? You can't probably think straight right now. Going against me? Are you sure?" The man said tauntingly.

CEO Long's finger were now numb and cold. His breathing stopped for a moment. He was....really afraid right now.

"N-no. H-how c-can I go against you.. I'm just saying the f-file..."

"Oh you're worried about the file? Don't worry, just check your drive and you will be relieved. Good bye CEO Long I hope you won't make a bad decision. I really enjoyed our time as business partners." Then the man ended the call.

CEO Long stared at the phone. Then with a shaking hand he checked his drive. He tried to find the file. But no matter how much he scrolled and searched he did not find it. The L file was gone.

Meanwhile, in the other line, the man just handed his phone to his assistant . He just answered the call earlier to escape from the old man's inquiries. If there's anything that made things hard for him, this old man in front of him, was one of those kind. Hard to remove. A challenge.

He took the sit in front the old man and faced him. He then said.

"Sorry. It was a business call. Where we are again, father-in-law?"

"I want my grandson back." The old man said with a determined voice. No matter what, he would took that child away from this monster.