She turned her head, embarrassment and exasperation swirling in her light brown eyes. A faint blush touched her ears as she raised a hand and thumped his chest.
"Hold on."
She kept her voice low, though a tremor slipped through at the end. "Let's talk business first."
Only then did Yongye look up at General Lane.
His gaze passed over Lane's shoulder insignia and settled on the old general's face, hardened by years and war but now full of pent-up frustration. Yongye's smile deepened.
"For Lois's sake, you have one minute."
He glanced at the phone on the desk. "Keep it brief. Make it count."
General Lane clenched his jaw.
His fists tightened and loosened at his sides, again and again, until the skin over his knuckles turned pale.
"Can you send Doomsday to Russia instead? Fusang is our ally, after all."
He forced down his anger, grinding each word out through his teeth.
Supreme Leader Laxington had asked about that country in the East, but Lane did not even bring it up. Lois had already told him there was no chance.
Asking would only humiliate him!
Yongye leaned back in his swivel chair with his hands behind his head. He tilted his head at Lane, his playful smile turning into open mockery.
"Either I don't send him anywhere, or he goes to Fusang."
"Minato Namikaze of Fusang bears responsibility for this. Sending Doomsday to Fusang is justified. But Russia? I'm the Golden Armor God of War. Don't I have a reputation to protect?"
What reputation, you bastard?
General Lane cursed inwardly.
He was about to argue when Yongye raised his right hand and waved him away as though swatting at a buzzing fly.
"Time's up!"
The words stuck in General Lane's throat. Frustration gave way to shock, then to