"The demand for pure jade jewelry in Beijing and nearby countries is huge, but the supply is low. The only thing we can do now is mix in the fake and the real and supply it to the public. But we'll have to be strategic about it." I heard a board member say.
Where was I?
The thief brought me here? But that voice sounded like one of the shareholders!
I shot my eyes open; my fist had been on my temples as they spoke when I sprang up. My eyes darted across the room. From the white-bearded man whose eyes glossed with greed, to the other board members in the room.
Why was I in the conference room, or did I have a long nightmare?
I moved back several steps. The feeling of mobility struck me. Overwhelming sensations and emotions rushed in my bone marrow like lightning. The worst feeling was the growing confusion. I was completely disoriented, and this was evident in the concerned and scared eyes looking at me.
"Ms Wang, are you okay?" one of them asked as an overwhelming migraine hit me, forcing me to yelp in agony. I clutched my temples in a desperate attempt to soothe the pain that maddened me. Arms swung to assist me. I shoved them away as I staggered out of the room. The fingers of workers drumming on the keyboard paused, while several eyes looked at me with growing curiosity. Some of them tried approaching me, while yelling,
"Ms Wang… Ms Wang… Boss…. Boss" the noise further worsened my situation as I pushed to get out of there.
Pushing and shoving, yelling and screaming filled the atmosphere. I ran for the first time in more than a year towards the exit. The migraine worsened with each step I took, and eventually knocked me out. My body collapsed onto the cold floor. I heard the clicking of cameras and several people gossiping in hushed tones. Soon it grew silent again, another void and darkness.
I slowly pried my eyes open. The cardiac monitor beside me beepeing. The panic that filled me could not be explained with words. I jolted from the bed like a mad woman, alerting the nurses on duty who tried to hold me down. They did a good job trying to calm me and soon I was docile. I sat back down on the bed trying to understand my situation.
I was back; I whispered, my voice crisp. Maybe it was all a dream. Maybe I had a long vision of the future in the conference room. But the events in the dream were too vivid to ignore.
It felt nothing like a dream, yet there was no logical explanation for all this. In an instant, I had a question; what year am I in? I had died in 2025, didn't know the day or month, but I was sure it was the year 2025, but what year was I?
My head turned to a nurse scribbling in her report book,
"Nurse," her expression switched to one of concern.
"What's… today?" I asked. She replied, perplexed.
"It's a Friday, ma'am."
"No…the year?" I rephrased.
"2022?" I looked away and thought for a moment.
I had already been dating Hào Rán for two years, and our relationship was still in the honey comb stage. He showered me with gifts. But in the same year, I had seen him several times on the bosom of different women including Xiǎo Lì. I had acted oblivious then, because I believed he would change for the better in the long run, but instead, I died in the long run.
I didn't know why I was back in 2022, but whatever made it to be, wanted me to fix something. It may be the engagement, the merge, or something else-and I wouldn't waste a second chance at life.
A few minutes later, the doctor came into my ward, flashing a brilliant smile at me, and with a calm voice, he said,
" Ms Wáng …Everything is under control. You were experiencing a severe panic attack but it is fine now. Take more rest and drink more water, it'll help calm your nerves." I nodded forcing my eyes to look calm and collected and smiled at the doctor as I shook hands with him.
I made my way to the elevator. My security concierge followed three steps behind me the whole time. I hadn't noticed them earlier. I got to the elevator and one of them pressed the button for the first floor - the lobby.
My brain drifted to thoughts of Hào Rán and Xiǎo Lì, while still struggling to know if I've experienced this day before. I was looking for a hint but there was no hint whatsoever as everything looked like it was another day. I was still perplexed and shaken by my new reality; I couldn't help the confusion that enveloped me like a shroud.
I got to the black Cadillac waiting for me at the entrance of the hospital. One of my guards hurried to open the door for me. I was a few meters away from my car when a familiar voice reached my ears.
"Huá Huá."
I paused in my tracks, turning to meet the face of the person I dread with so much intensity it hurt. My eyes widened in shock; it was none other than Hào Rán.