Chapter 5 Texas and Back

"So can we arrange that change?" Timothy was asked by an elder-looking man.

"Yes. All calculations were precise and much appreciated at this 6% difference," his new female teammate replied, flipping the page in front of her.

Everything about the attractive female screamed, 'don't play with me'. Timothy figured she probably had it tougher than most because firstly, she was younger than everyone except him and Harold. Two, she was more attractive than most females and three being the most obvious, is that she was female. Top that off with a male-dominated field. She was fierce.

"Great so the first braze can be done in...?" Harry queried.

"Two weeks tops," a thirty-something-year-old man, who introduced himself as Anthony piped in.

"No last-minute problems again?"

The members all laughed at the joke and continued looking at the projection on the wall. They all met three days ago and the plans seemed to be in full effect. Harold and Timothy both thought the team they joined was up to par. His father thought this was a vacation Timothy had taken and thought he was on a cruise.

"Shipments?" another known as Ali chimed in.

"All is going as planned," came from another male named, Rajkumar.

Timothy was filled with pride as he saw the American part of the team admire his designs yet again.

"So the project is off to a good start."

"Security and viable design is something we all look forward to with this ship. So I'm impressed by what we seem to have new on the table as we work from the last weak point we had." This remark came from the eldest person in the room, who probably was in his forties.

"That seems to the end of the meeting. Anything was missed?" the woman chimed in again. Everything agreed that was it.

"Great. Now let's discuss figures and get some signatures," the silent man who was listening to everything being discussed in the meeting said. He clicked open the brown expensive briefcase that was on the table in front of him. Harry who would have been a solicitor, if not for his friends, sat next to the lawyer after shaking his hand. "Can my lawyer take a look at the documents? " Harold didn't trust lawyers. Harold didn't trust people generally. The question was rhetorical as Harry held onto the documents.

Years back when Harry was studying for his law degree, (LLB) he was arrested, along with fifteen others, for possession of drugs and intent to supply. His lawyer was incompetent as Harold ended up serving three years although everyone knew he was innocent. The police and principal were hell-bent on cracking down on illegal narcotics and it was just Harry being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His roommate was the supplier and Harry paid the price for not reporting him.

"There really isn't anything to stop you from studying law, but you might not be allowed to practice law as a solicitor or barrister. The Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board investigate people with criminal records before allowing them to practice. And you now have a conviction and that may make it difficult for you to get a practicing certificate."

Harold didn't finish his studies after being released. He didn't bother with it as he said his dream was not shattered. Instead, he wanted to start anew with Timothy and the dream he once had. Life behind bars humbled him even more.

At first, Timothy visited him every month but his father threw a fit and threatened to cut him off if he didn't stop. Years passed before they met up with each other again after Harry's father, one of the controlling shareholders, insisted that he be hired to work at the company, much to Timothy's father's disdain.

As a shareholder who owns a large number of a company's outstanding shares... He had that power, even though the percentage is not a majority.

Harry's father had influence, here and in other countries and shares companies. Harold did not need to work.

Tim tried to listen in on the conversation between Harold and the lawyer. Mr. Sankar, had a bored look on his face as he said," By hiring up to four employers to the corporation presumes, employees will look for that company which enjoys the limitations of liability afforded by share capital and the corporate view freedom from application for a while at least for the dreaded LLC at 23. So nothing works better to encourage litigation and having no legal basis for the clean-"

"Insightful extremely insightful," Harold cut the man off. Tim noticed the room was getting empty.

Timothy zoned out again but this time he thought of the woman. The elevator woman. Her intoxicating smell. Her smile...wait. He was imagining her smile, for she hadn't smiled at all. What color was her hair? He didn't recall. He only remembered her face. Why couldn't he remember her hair? She obviously wasn't bald.

"...the nationality of the employee is a collateral issue but one which does not directly change the risk of unexpected applicability of the Labor Standards Act Art 23. Foreign residence of Korea, are entitled to all and the same protections of Korean law as Korean Nationals. Except for a few limitations under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. This means that certain business sectors are unavailable to foreign investors and any limitations arising from their visa status," Harold stated scoffing.

Okay. It seemed that Harold definitely didn't like the lawyer. And from what he gathered from the bits and pieces of the conversation he heard, the lawyer was cocky. But most lawyers were. Why wouldn't they be? They knew the law. Timothy figured the lawyer probably was giving Harry some 'stuck up shit talk.' He zoned off again.

The room was now clear except for Harry, Timothy, and Charlotte.

Harold it seems, took a liking to Charlotte as he quickly re-introduced himself to her, engaging a bit in the lengthy conversation. Tim didn't think that his presence was needed as Harry wasn't his assistant here but his equal partner. He exited the conference room quietly after observing a seemly captivated Harry and headed to his new office.

__

Two days later they were back in Korea. He still didn't know what to say or how to say what he needed to, to his father. He could easily win over his mother but she would probably most likely be undermined by his father, sooner rather than later.

His uncle was a safer bet. But he was also loyal to his father. Not that he was betraying anyone but his father was hell-bent on family and traditions. His safest bet would be his friend, Hannah, to see how things were with his uncle. So far, according to Hannah, his uncle was loyal to his father and adored Tim.

This he already knew. He wanted to know if his uncle would stay by his side when things would go astray with his father. He really needed all the support he could get when he broke his 'wanting to leave the family company' to his father. The only person on his team and forever by his side -

The ringing of his cell phone cut into his thoughts. Harry.

"Harold. I'm busy."

He wasn't.

"Your father is in your office."

"In my- what does he want?" Timothy asked loosening his tie.

"I don't know. I sort of snuck out."

Timothy sighed passing his free hand over his face. Closing his eyes, he let out a breath. Since the incident his father thought he witnessed do between them years ago Harry avoided him whenever it was possible. And so did his father.

"I'm busy."

He wasn't. He was currently parked outside a mall awaiting Ha-Neul. They had, hopefully, a new client who was going to make a switch in insurance and he had, Smart Holdings, his father's company in mind.

He bent his head on the steering wheel and thought about his client. Should he cancel last minute? He very much doubted that Mr. Li would make a postponement this late. Glancing at his wristwatch, he saw he still had fifteen minutes before the meeting started.

"Okay, he just walked out."

Timothy raised his head, his long hair brushing his right eye. 'Gosh I need a haircut,' he thought as he fixed his hair to the side, watching the rearview mirror for guidance. He turned slightly, raising his chin and turning left and right taking in his undercut. It had grown out.

"He's in his office now. Hold on," he heard Harry through the earpiece say. He leaned back on the seat as he waited, drumming his hand on the wheel. A few seconds later he heard Harry muttering. Then a minute later, "He hasn't asked for you yet."

"Harold, you made me wait for that?"

He hung up. They were best friends so they had to be professional when they worked. And now they were also partners. Equal teammates. But that was only when they worked on the drawings. Right now, Harold worked for him. It was something they discussed when he had joined their fathers' company. His father had to agree to hire Harold as his co-founder/shareholder/friend happened to be Harold's father.

Enough with his thoughts. He got out of the vehicle and walked to the entrance of the mall as he saw his uncle walking towards it. Timothy had another thought, 'Why would father be at the company and be looking for me when he knew we were meeting with a client?'

He never made it to the meeting.