He didn’t seem overly perturbed. Given some of the other boys Renee had brought home, maybe it struck him as a nonissue. Derek Lim’s mother had sold laksa in a hawker centre.
“It’s clear what’s happening here,” said Su Khoon. “This woman, Chang Yin Lok, has a grudge against Chahaya. Renee’s seeing the son and he’s fed her some rumours about Freshview. Do you think she’s up for the job of leading Chahaya? What’s to stop her from sabotaging the business if it doesn’t meet her boyfriend’s approval?”
Renee began, “TheGuardianwouldn’t be publishing an exposé about Freshview if it was simply rumours—”
Dad crooked a finger. It was the signal he used when he wanted silence. Renee shut up despite herself.
“This boy, what’s his name—he’s your new boyfriend?” he said.
Renee’s cheeks warmed.
She and Ket Siong hadn’t talked about their relationship status. They’d barely even spoken since the day the picture on Su Khoon’s iPad was taken. She’d been so busy laying the ground for this meeting, the only time she’d seen Ket Siong in the intervening period was when he’d taken her to meet Helen Daley.
She knew how she felt about him, even if she’d yet to say it out loud, but this thing between them was so new and fragile. Could she really trust it was serious?
Then she remembered the way he’d looked at her when they’dlast parted—a long, steady look, as though he was drinking her in, trying to imprint her image on the back of his brain. Her chest flooded with light.
“Yes,” she said.
“Hmm,” said Dad. Su Khoon opened his mouth, but Dad said, “I’ve heard enough for now. I called this meeting because I wanted to tell you two about the succession planning for Chahaya. I spoke to your brother already.”
He rubbed his temples. “Su Beng has been taken off his project. I’m putting somebody else in his place. If he could do the job, he would be the next CEO, but he cannot manage it. It must be one of you. But if I give it to Su Khoon, it will be Jessie who runs the business.”
Su Khoon said, “That’s not—”
“You had your turn,” said Dad. “Right now, I’m talking.”
His very mildness was a warning. Su Khoon quietened down, looking disgruntled.
“Jessie is a clever girl. But she is not a Goh,” said Dad. “Su Ren is too emotional, and the way she makes decisions is hard to predict. But in business, you need somebody who can work hard, who can sacrifice, and who is willing to take risks. So I was planning to appoint her.”
Renee caught her breath. Her heartbeat was thundering in her ears.
She’d imagined the triumph of this moment so many times, craving the recognition it would represent.
None of her fantasies had involved her blowing up the Freshview deal. She’d given up on the idea of being chosen when she’d decided to do that. But that yearning for validation remained, woven through her body, even if her mind knew Chahaya wasn’t what she wanted.
“But now you tell me you’ve pulled us out of the Freshview deal,” said Dad. “Some more you went and interfered in the family affairs, talking to the nephew’s wife and all this.” Hesighed. “So I don’t need to ask Low Teck Wee if he wants to play golf anymore.”
“Dad,” said Su Khoon and Renee, at the same time.
“Wait until I finish first,” said Dad. He settled back in his chair, looking weary. “You shouldn’t have run off to do all this by yourself. This kind of major decision, you must get the stakeholders on board.
“But,” said Dad, “I can see the problems with Freshview. Singaporean government is very sensitive about corruption. We have to be careful. And if the development goes out for retendering, that will be interesting for us.”
He gazed into the middle distance, seeming not to see either of his children.
“It’s too early to decide,” he said. He straightened up and took off his glasses, putting them in the front pocket of his shirt. “Su Ren will be acting CEO for one year. Then we’ll see how. If you can win this London development, we will formalise the appointment. Otherwise, it will go to Su Khoon.”
“But—” said Su Khoon.
Dad got up. “I’m going to rest. Call me when the children are back.”
When Dad was done with you, you were done. That didn’t stop Su Khoon from saying, “ButDad…”
Dad ignored him, lumbering off to the stairs. He had a foot on the first step when he checked and turned around.
“Of course,” he said, “you must finish with this boy. What’s the name, Yap—? The lawyer’s son. Your mother has a friend, her eldest is divorcing his wife. Forty years old, no children. The father owns a media company in Hong Kong.”
