The afterglow of their successful negotiation with Mr. Liang was short-lived. The Zhang Corporation, like a grand, gilded ship, was constantly navigating turbulent waters, and another storm was brewing. This time, it came from the formidable Madam Zhang.
Leonard's phone rang, the elegant melody of a classical piece cutting through the office's ambient hum. He glanced at the caller ID, his expression turning grim. "It's my mother," he announced, his voice laced with a hint of dread.
"Good luck," Sophia said, her tone sympathetic.
Leonard answered the call, his voice carefully neutral. "Mother, what can I do for you?"
"Leonard, you're not making this easy," Madam Zhang's voice boomed through the phone, her tone sharp. "I've arranged a dinner with the Li family. It's time to finalize the engagement."
Leonard sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Mother, we've discussed this. I'm not ready for marriage."
"Ready? You're never going to be 'ready,'" Madam Zhang retorted. "This is a business arrangement, not a romantic comedy. The Li family is crucial to our expansion plans, and you're jeopardizing everything with your… stubbornness."
"I have my reasons," Leonard replied, his voice firm.
"Reasons? What reasons? You're wasting your time playing intern while our competitors are circling like sharks," Madam Zhang snapped. "Get your priorities straight."
The call ended abruptly, leaving Leonard staring at his phone, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation.
"Family drama?" Sophia asked, her voice laced with amusement.
"You have no idea," Leonard replied, his tone dry. "My mother believes marriage is a business transaction, and I'm the commodity."
"Charming," Sophia said, her amusement growing.
"Tell me about it," he replied, a wry smile playing on his lips.
Meanwhile, in her sleek, minimalist office, Emily was dealing with her own set of family pressures. She had always been the peacemaker, the mediator, but even her patience was wearing thin.
She sat opposite her father, Richard Zhang, a man of formidable presence and even more formidable temper. He was pacing the room, his expression a mix of anger and frustration.
"This tech division is a waste of resources," he declared, his voice booming. "We're a real estate company, not a Silicon Valley startup."
"Father, the tech division has potential," Emily replied, her voice calm but firm. "It's the future of our company."
"The future? The future is in bricks and mortar, not in some fancy gadgets," he retorted. "We're losing money on this venture, and I won't tolerate it."
"We need to be innovative," Emily argued. "We need to adapt to the changing market."
"I've been in this business for fifty years," Richard snapped. "I know what works and what doesn't. And this tech division is a disaster."
The argument escalated, their voices rising, their frustration growing. Emily, usually calm and composed, found herself losing her temper, her patience finally snapping.
"You're wrong, Father," she declared, her voice sharp. "You're stuck in the past, and you're going to drag this company down with you."
Richard stared at her, his expression a mix of shock and anger. "How dare you speak to me like that?" he roared.
"Because someone needs to," Emily replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're not infallible, Father. You make mistakes too."
She stormed out of the office, leaving Richard staring after her, his face flushed with anger.
Later that evening, Sophia found Leonard in the office, working late. He was hunched over his laptop, his expression grim.
"Everything alright?" she asked, her voice concerned.
"Just dealing with family issues," he replied, his tone dismissive. "The usual."
"Which is?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued.
"My mother wants me married, my sister wants my father to embrace the future, and I just want a decent cup of coffee," he replied, his eyes fixed on the screen.
"Sounds complicated," Sophia said, her amusement growing.
"It's a family business," he replied, his tone dry. "Complicated is our middle name."
As they worked, Sophia noticed a strange email on Leonard's screen. It was filled with financial data, and some coded language. She tried to read it, but Leonard quickly closed the email.
"What was that?" she asked, her suspicion growing.
"Nothing," he replied, his tone dismissive. "Just some work stuff."
But Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that Leonard was hiding something, something that went beyond family drama and intern duties. The mystery of Leonard Zhang was deepening, and she found herself drawn further into its depths.