Chapter 2 A Call From the Mansion

After a tiring day at the sunset, Lynette and Flora, her manager, went home. She had two houses in LA. One was a two-bedroom flat in the city and the other one was a two-story house in the country. She usually stayed in her place in the countryside if she wanted to relax and feel the fresh air from the mountainside. It may be a house in a rural area but the design was modern. Her garden had different kinds of plants both flowering and vegetables. While her manager was driving, Lynette’s phone rang. She knew the number. It was her grandpa in China. She picked up her phone in her tote bag and answered, “Hello grandpa! How are you?” Old Master Chen, Lynette’s grandfather was a 70-year-old retired businessman. He was the chairman of Lee Group for almost three decades until he passed it to his eldest grandson, Glen Thomas Lee. “My child, how are you?” A soft and sweet voice called from the other line. Chen Lee might have been a ruthless and powerful businessman but he was sweet and soft-hearted to his family especially to his wife and his grandchildren. “I’m doing well. I just had a movie coming and we went to the beach to shoot. Grandpa, the sunset was stunning,” she giggled. She acted like a spoiled child when it came to her elders. That’s why nobody would ever believe that she was a very independent daughter with a strong but cheerful personality. Grandpa Chen just listened and nodded to his granddaughter while she was telling all of her experiences in the shooting. “Lynette, I have something to tell you,” he suddenly said in a serious tone. Lynette was familiar with that tone. If there’s a problem in the company before, his tone was stern and domineering. It made all the directors, managers, and stockholders either bow their heads or run away from him. That includes his eldest son, Robert Lee, Glen Thomas’ father. “Is there something wrong in the household, grandpa? Is grandma alright?” Lynette was worried. “No, there’s nothing wrong here. We’re all in good health. I called you for a reason. Lynette, my child, you must come home!” her grandfather said. He explained the reason and it took her a long time to ponder everything. She had been in the entertainment industry for six years now. She was at the top of her fame. After the movie, Young and Beautiful, which was almost finished, she was going to have her next album. She just wrote fifteen songs and she would start recording next week. “I have no choice but to keep this agreement,” her grandfather uttered. “Although the Hansens don’t really care about this, the Yaos who are always stern to their rules are different." he also added. "I made a bet with the old Yao when we were still young. Whoever wins will be granted a request. My request was to control his business while he, was for his eldest grandson to get married to my eldest granddaughter. And for the result, you can already guess who won the bet. I’m sorry my dear Lynette. You have to sacrifice your life's happiness for that stvpid bet,” he added. While clinging on the phone, Lynette respectfully answered her grandfather, “Don’t worry grandpa. I’m okay with the marriage. I will be fine. Who would dare to bully your pretty granddaughter? Huh! They wish!” But Chen was still anxious. He knew his granddaughter well. She was an independent, optimistic, and loving child. After hanging up, Lynette sighed. The word marriage shocked her manager who had been quietly driving. “What? You’re getting married!?” Flora exclaimed. “No way! Lynette, if you’re going to get married now, your life is over. Do you hear me? It’s over!” “Calm down Flora! No one’s dying okay. Kindly focus on the road,” Lynette advised. But deep inside of her heart, Flora was right. She knew her life was over. “Lynette, please talk to the old master again. Don’t let him force you to get married. How about telling this to your grandpa in Sweden? For sure, he will not agree~ “Even my grandpa in Sweden can’t do anything about it. This was an agreement made decades ago. Destroying it is the same as breaking the ties between families. Not unless, the Old Yao will destroy it himself, then everything will be fine,” Lynette cut Flora’s suggestion. “Come again? Who? The Yao family? As far as I know, the Yaos have only one grandson and that is the director of Hansen Empire, Kevin Jones Hansen. An icy man!” Flora continued while opening the drawer of the car beside her and took a financial magazine and gave it to Lynette. Lynette opened the magazine and there she saw a one-spread photo of her future husband. “Hulala! What a chest!” Lynette sighed. Kevin was wearing a suit in the photo but his two upper buttons were open. “Shut it! This isn’t funny! Are you really going to do it? Coz if you do, I’ll start hunting for a new job. When you’re getting married you’re going to leave me, you know,” Flora became emotional while fixing her eyes on the road. She had been with Lynette for six years and she was just like an older sister to her. “Flora, what if you come home with me? You are also Chinese. Don’t you miss your home?” Lynette replied. “You know I’ve also been thinking about it. I miss my hometown so much. I never visited my family for a long time,” Flora told Lynette. They kept on talking to each other, explaining everything that might happen when they get home, looking at Kevin’s photos, and reading about his life and achievements when suddenly Lynette saw a beautiful woman beside the image. The caption said, 'Sandra Lei, Kevin’s long-time girlfriend. He dotes on her a lot. Such a perfect match! Lynette thought it was just nothing but she felt a little different in her heart especially the word ‘DOTES ON HER A LOT! She already knew that she was going to be in big trouble but she had no idea that the trouble was bigger than she expected. . Lynette decided to stay in LA for two weeks before going home. She canceled all of her coming photoshoots, albums, and advertising campaign. It was a good thing that the scene on the sunset was the last shoot in her movie. If not, they were going to look for another actress and Steve might not like it. Lynette never announced to the media about her quitting. She just said something happened and she had to leave. The industry respected her decision but as a rule, she had to pay the penalty for breaching the contracts. Indeed she paid a hefty price. Her brother, Joshua was staying with her in the flat. She had three cars. A red sports car, a BMW, and a van that she used for shooting and filming. “Sister, these are my gifts for everyone. Take care of them,” Joshua said while helping his sister pack their gifts. “I can’t believe you’re getting married!” Joshua added. “I can’t believe it either,” she said while folding some of her clothes. “Grandpa must have regretted it. He's such a crazy old man,” he said while shaking his head. “Indeed he is. On the contrary, I admire him coz he kept his word,” Lynette continued packing. “I will be leaving early to the airport the next day. Flora will go with me. You take care here, okay?” “Sure! Ahm sis! Car keys?!” while winking at his sister. Lynette tossed the keys to her brother and reminded him to be careful in driving. Joshua loved racing so she knew her three cars were going to be doomed. “Bye babies!” she whispered talking about her cars. “Find some tenants to stay in the big house for a while so that at least you have an allowance while studying here. Don't just depend on the Williams and the Lees billions you know,” Lynette told her brother. “Know what sister?! You are such a nagger. I wonder what my future brother-in-law's life would be when you two are together. Perhaps he will get old faster!” Joshua teased. “Give me back my keys, you brat!” Lynette exclaimed. “Okay! Just kidding. My sister is the best of all. I love you to the moon and back sis,” Joshua said laughingly while hugging his sister from behind. “Get off me now or you’re not going to get the house keys in the countryside,” she complained. Joshua let go of his sister and they continued talking while packing.