Let me go!
April moved in and caught Andy’s hand. He pulled him closer and tried to hug him.
“Come on, baby. Give me a kiss.”
Andy was shocked.
“No!” He tried to wrestle free but the man was too strong for him. April’s face was so close to his that Andy could smell the man’s bad breath. His eyes had a crazy look in them and his tongue hung out of his open mouth. Andy felt he would throw up if April licked him.
“Come on.” April had him in a hug now.
“Stop it and let me go.” Andy was angry.
“Just one kiss, okay? Just one kiss.” Andy could feel April’s hand slide down his back towards his butt.
“If you don’t stop now, I’ll scream!” The warning had some effect on April who relaxed his grip. Andy pushed him away and made a dash for the door.
“Hey. Stop. Don’t go.”
Andy was already out in the corridor leading to the reception area. When he passed the receptionist, she looked up surprised.
“What happened?”
“That man’s crazy!” Andy ran to the lift lobby. He was afraid April would give chase. With his heart threatening to implode any moment, Andy kept punching the lift button until it arrived. He got inside and shut the door.
On reaching the ground floor, Andy ran as fast as he could. Once he reached his office building, he tried to calm himself down by taking slow and deep breaths.
He had to make a decision about his job sooner than he’d thought. Whether he had another one in hand or not didn’t matter any more, he had to quit. Tony had deliberately sent him to April’s office. Maybe they had planned it all along. He needed to get his stuff and get out of there.
At that moment, there was only one person Andy could trust in Shanghai. Sky answered the call on the second ring, as if he were expecting it.
“Where are you?” Andy gasped.
“At the Bund. Are you okay? You sound breathless.”
“How soon can you get here?”
“Where are you?” asked Sky. “Office?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Are you okay? You don’t sound well.”
“I’m fine. I’m going to quit this job now. Just want you to pick me up.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes, yes. Please hurry.”
“I’m on my way.”
Andy hung up and took the lift to his office. Tony had his back turned towards him and didn’t see him come in. He was on the phone and sounded angry.
Andy opened the drawers in his desk and started putting his personal effects into his bag. Tony hung up and turned around. He jumped when he saw Andy.
“What have you done?!”
Andy could feel Tony’s temper rising.
“I’ve done nothing,” he shot back. “It’s your friend.”
“Why did you scream and shout nasty stuff at the client office?”
“What nasty stuff? I didn’t scream.” Andy felt his blood boil.
“Yes, you did and you made a scene there. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable!”
“Is that right? Your friend, April, tried to kiss me. He was trying to hug and grope me. Is that acceptable behaviour?”
“Don’t lie. He did no such thing.”
“How do you know? You weren’t there.”
“Even if he did, what’s your problem? He’s a client. He gives us good business. You’re a boy. If he touched you, so what? Why are you making a scene?”
If Andy had a gun he’d have fired at Tony that very moment. How dare he!
“Why didn’t you deliver that file yourself? You’re a guy too. And he’s your friend.”
“How dare you talk to me like that?” Tony banged on his table. “I’m your boss!”
“Well, no more. I quit. Right now.” Andy speeded up collecting his stuff.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I’m firing you.” Tony pointed a finger at him.
“Good. Either way I’m happy. Please settle my account and I’ll leave right away.”
“What account?”
“My salary. I want it.”
“There’s no salary.” Tony broke into a crooked smile.
“What do you mean — there’s no salary?” Andy shouted. “I didn’t work here for free.”
“No, you didn’t. Your behaviour will affect our relation with the client. We’ll lose business. Keeping that in view, I don’t think you should get anything.”
“What!” Tony was turning out to be more lowly than Andy had thought. Sigh. Andy had no savings left after his trip to Guilin.
“Okay, I don’t care for your money. I’m out of here.” Andy picked up his bag.
“No, you’re not. Not yet.” Tony had an evil look.
“What do you mean?”
“Close the door behind you.” Tony spoke to somebody behind Andy.
Andy turned around and found April at the door. He hadn’t heard him arrive. Andy started walking towards the door but April blocked his way. Tony made a lunge towards Andy and grabbed his hands from behind. He pulled Andy back as April closed the door.
“Let me go!” Andy struggled against Tony.
April was on to him in a flash and pressed against his cheekbones with brutal force. Andy saw him pick up tissue paper from his desk. He knew April was planning to gag him as soon as he opened his mouth. But he couldn’t fight it any longer. The pain was unbearable. Andy opened his mouth but, before he could scream for help, April had stuffed tissue paper into it.
Tony dragged him back to his own desk and pushed Andy’s head, face down, onto the table. His mouth went dry and Andy began to choke. He didn’t know whether it was the gag or the panic. Tony pressed down harder making his head buzz. Andy fought hard to focus. He was afraid of losing consciousness.
April reached under Andy and unbuckled his belt. Andy kicked wildly but it had no effect at all. April held his thighs down against the edge of the table. His belt loosened and his trousers were pulled down. Then his shirt was pulled up. Both men laughed as April pulled his briefs down.
Andy felt vulnerable. He pleaded with them to stop but no words came out of him.
“I go first, okay?” April asked Tony.
“Sure.”
