The Alchemists

With a sad face she returned to her table, trying to remove traces of her tears.

When Caspar saw her, he squinted his eyes to take a better look at Finland. He immediately stood up and held the girl's hand.

"Are you crying? What's wrong?"

"No... I wasn't crying. It's nothing..." Finland answered.

"I know what your crying face looks like. Even though you wiped your tears, I know you were crying. Your eyes can't lie."

Again, Caspar saw the saddest pair of eyes in the world. The same pair which first caught his attention at the airport. He hated to see Finland sad.

"I hate people who abuse their power to oppress others..." Finland finally answered after Caspar urged her again.

"Who abused their power? Who hurt you?" Caspar asked.

Finland stole a glance at Noah's table, and she saw the man raise his wine glass while nodding toward them. Caspar followed Finland's eyes and looked at the same direction.

"He? What did he do?"

Finland pursed her lips and replied, "He's the Atlas Corp Marketing Manager. Our company is trying to set up a contract with them. A few days ago, I accompanied several people from the marketing department to meet them for dinner. He tried to flirt with me all night and I became very uncomfortable. Finally, I asked Jean to come and pretend to be my boyfriend."

Caspar began to understand what had happened.

"Then?"

"After Jean arrived, he stopped flirting with me and probably forgot about me. But now, he saw us together tonight, and when I kissed you, he thought I was that kind of woman. He said that he heard rumors that I am some wealthy businessman's mistress and therefore I must be used to serving men. So he insisted that I accompany him on a holiday in Bali this weekend... otherwise he will cancel the contract with LTX..." Finland gulped down all the wine in her glass before slamming her glass on the table, "I hate people who bully others like that..."

Caspar hugged her and rubbed her head.

"I understand..."

Being treated so gently by Caspar, Finland could not hold back the tears she tried hard to suppress. Hate is a strong word, but she really hated people who have power over others and oppress the weak. She was tired of being mistreated by people all her life...

"I... I hate being bullied by others..." Finland sobbed, "It's not my fault that I'm poor or weak... If I can fight them, I will fight. But mostly I can only cry when other people do whatever they want to me... "

Caspar imagined the times when Finland was dragged to the back of her school, tied to a tree and beaten by girls who hated her because she was beautiful...

Actually, they did not torture Finland because she was beautiful, but because she was weak, poor, and unable to defend herself.

Finland was an easy target...

"Honey... I can't save you from the bullies that happened in the past, but I can save you from your bullies in the present. Now, anyone who hurts you must face me." Caspar whispered softly in her ears. He was very calm. He ignored all the people who were stealing glances at them and continued, "I will not let anyone bully you again. Ever."

Finland tried to calm down and wipe her tears away, but Caspar was faster. He had taken his handkerchief and carefully wiped the tears on Finland's eyes and cheeks with a loving attitude that made all women in the room green with envy.

After Finland calmed down, Caspar pressed a telephone number on his cellphone.

"Stanis, I want you to buy Atlas Corporation. They are an American company. I know it's still early there but I want you to call the owner right now and make an offer that he is unable to refuse. I want an answer in half an hour."

Finland was amazed to hear that. She stared at Caspar with a look of awe.

That was easy...

It must be nice to be a very rich and powerful person who can buy a company without thinking...

"Do you want more champagne?" Caspar asked as if he hadn't just made a call to buy a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Finland nodded. The waiter swiftly refilled her glass without being asked.

"Do you think buying Atlas Corp is a good decision?" Finland asked softly, "The owner would definitely ask for a price that is too high because he doesn't actually want to sell. The company is currently very profitable."

"I know," Caspar answered casually, "but as I said earlier, there are things that cannot be valued with money. Your tears are too expensive to flow in vain like that. I hate to see the girl I love being hurt. So, I will buy Atlas Corp and fire that asshole. That way he can get what he deserves."

"Oh..." Finland fell silent. She looked at Caspar with love-filled eyes. This man always made her feel looked after...

She sipped her champagne with a lighter feeling. She did not mind having Caspar on her side. Today, for the first time, she could get back at someone who was trying to oppress her...