Huaisang takes the tissues with thanks and sits again, quietly dabbing at his eyes. He allows himself no pause. The moment that he lets go of control over himself, he knows that he's going to have a breakdown. So he has to push ahead until this is concluded.
"Yes, Mr. Hands," Huaisang says, quiet and subdued. He's aware it must be extremely visibly obvious that he's only barely maintaining his polite facade, and he needs desperately to be shuttled into a hot bath and then tucked into bed. It hardly matters that it's still early. Huaisang's come to the end of his ability to function for the day. "That's the request that I'm making and the deal that I'm offering. Whatever appearances we put on in order to find and punish my brother's killer may be discarded as soon as that task is complete. We can go our separate ways at that point, if you wish. I have more than enough personal wealth to fund the lifestyle I desire. While I will always maintain a controlling interest in the company because my position as majority shareholder is not on offer, and I do expect that your protection over me and my interests will continue in perpetuity, I am offering you the position as CEO and chairman of the board without conditions. I hope you'll respect my brother's memory and care for those workers within the company who have been dedicated and loyal, but if you choose to run the company in a way that would shame and enrage the rest of my ancestors, well." Huaisang's lip curls. His father was not a kind man. Though he was always a just man, that justice was heavy-handed and without a drop of mercy. (Mingjue had had no choice but to be shaped into that same mold, to become a stern man of justice, but Mingjue had had a kind heart, and it had introduced a fatal flaw into the mold. He faltered from his father's path but didn't have the ability to forge a new path of his own.) "Fuck 'em."
Finishing off the last of his second glass of whisky, Huaisang sets it back down. "I'd like to dissolve into sobs now, Mr. Hands. I'll need to fetch at least a few things from the Nie Estate in the next few days, and tomorrow before the board meeting I can give you a full briefing on who will be present and what I know of their motivations and weaknesses. Until then, if you'll tuck me away somewhere safe and quiet? I don't wish to discomfit you with my grief."
Taking care of Huaisang's emotional stability isn't part of the deal. Huaisang expects that Hands will do whatever's necessary to keep him functional, will ensure that Huaisang has physical safety and luxury, but he expects no comfort or pandering beyond those practicalities. That remains Huaisang's responsibility, and Huaisang is fully aware that he's a broken wreck of a person. But he'll keep their deal and provide Hands with all the assets and access he has to offer, and he'll be a lonely, tragic lump on his own time.
no subject
"Yes, Mr. Hands," Huaisang says, quiet and subdued. He's aware it must be extremely visibly obvious that he's only barely maintaining his polite facade, and he needs desperately to be shuttled into a hot bath and then tucked into bed. It hardly matters that it's still early. Huaisang's come to the end of his ability to function for the day. "That's the request that I'm making and the deal that I'm offering. Whatever appearances we put on in order to find and punish my brother's killer may be discarded as soon as that task is complete. We can go our separate ways at that point, if you wish. I have more than enough personal wealth to fund the lifestyle I desire. While I will always maintain a controlling interest in the company because my position as majority shareholder is not on offer, and I do expect that your protection over me and my interests will continue in perpetuity, I am offering you the position as CEO and chairman of the board without conditions. I hope you'll respect my brother's memory and care for those workers within the company who have been dedicated and loyal, but if you choose to run the company in a way that would shame and enrage the rest of my ancestors, well." Huaisang's lip curls. His father was not a kind man. Though he was always a just man, that justice was heavy-handed and without a drop of mercy. (Mingjue had had no choice but to be shaped into that same mold, to become a stern man of justice, but Mingjue had had a kind heart, and it had introduced a fatal flaw into the mold. He faltered from his father's path but didn't have the ability to forge a new path of his own.) "Fuck 'em."
Finishing off the last of his second glass of whisky, Huaisang sets it back down. "I'd like to dissolve into sobs now, Mr. Hands. I'll need to fetch at least a few things from the Nie Estate in the next few days, and tomorrow before the board meeting I can give you a full briefing on who will be present and what I know of their motivations and weaknesses. Until then, if you'll tuck me away somewhere safe and quiet? I don't wish to discomfit you with my grief."
Taking care of Huaisang's emotional stability isn't part of the deal. Huaisang expects that Hands will do whatever's necessary to keep him functional, will ensure that Huaisang has physical safety and luxury, but he expects no comfort or pandering beyond those practicalities. That remains Huaisang's responsibility, and Huaisang is fully aware that he's a broken wreck of a person. But he'll keep their deal and provide Hands with all the assets and access he has to offer, and he'll be a lonely, tragic lump on his own time.