I've always had eyes for Nayi, my co-leader and co-founder of a real estate team. She's petite, toned and firm to the touch. Her eyes are large and she is always put together wearing well tailored suits. She has really strong Chinese ties, a reason I partnered with her in this internationally saturated market. I work my demographic and she works hers. There's no doubt that she brings in business because of her youthful energy and good looks. I play the stereotypical tall white guy that panders to the crowd and they eat it all up. Together we've rented a lot of real estate on the outskirts of NYC.
She's labeled a rain maker and is a savant with her CRM skills. She has to be tidy in that respect since she has so many leads that come in. We throw a lot of private events that lead to even more people entering our funnel. I've shifted from selling real estate and more to mentoring people who are trying to break into the industry. It was at one of these events that things took a negative turn. Well, negative for her, but maybe positive for me.
Usually the Chinese crowd are loud and boisterous. Some might even go as far as saying they're flashy and braggadocios. Well I noticed a group of men enter the event and stand in the back corner without greeting anyone or so as much as look at people. They were dressed nicely, but not flashy and kept to themselves. They barely even talked to each other.
I could tell that something was off so I didn't approach them or introduce myself. I just stood tall next to Nayi and worked the crowd of this event. The goal was to get people to sign up and not interrogate every single person that came through the door. We had plenty of people express interest and sign up already so I needed to keep my eyes on the prize. I just kept schmoozing and shaking hands. I told jokes and laughed dis-ingenuously until I could feel the strong stare from these group of guys.
I must not have noticed but the group grew from the last time I looked at them. It was not 6 men deep and I couldn't help but notice that Nayi glanced over in their direction nervously. She didn't make eye contact and certainly didn't look for very long. It was uncomfortable to see her shifting her weight around when she's normally a very confident person.
"Nayi, who are those people?" I asked between groups.
"Mike, I can't really talk about it now, but we should alert security."
"What should I tell them?"
"This isn't going to turn out well. We need to exit quietly."
The mystery made my palms sweaty. They weren't overtly intimidating, but they were anti-social enough to make me think they were up to no good. I walked away from Nayi's side and towards the event staff.
"Hey this group here is making Nayi nervous. Can we find a backdoor to slip out of?" I asked the event planner.
"Sure. Do you want me to call security?" The event planner glared at them while asking me without looking up at me.
Well that tipped them off. They started to push through the crowd and towards Nayi and I. Before I could make it back over to her and protect her, a couple of them were able to grip her arm and give her a head nod directed to the backdoor. A couple of the guys made their way to me and cut me off with their bodies. Sure they were short, but I was outnumbered and didn't want to cause a scene. Nayi didn't either as she went with them quietly and I had no choice but to stay put.
I watched as they disappeared behind the curtains and can only imagine they went down the hall as every one else kept networking. That's when I felt a firm shove from behind. I turned to see who would do that, but soon I just felt pressure from shoulders pushing me in the same directly. I was half relieved that I could catch up with Nayi and half upset that I was getting pushed around. I went with the flow through the crowd, but planned on fighting back when we got out in the hallway.
As we got out towards the hallway the fluorescent lights caught me off guard by blinding me for a split second. When my eyes adjusted I could see that their group grew in size. Over the top of their short heads I could see Nayi getting roughly pushed towards an event storage room. "Hey! Get off of her." I said loudly, but quickly realizing that I am not in control of this situation. "Where are you taking her?" I asked repeatedly. Well I guess I was going to find out as well since they shoved me in that direction too. I looked back trying to get my bearings and see if anyone from the event was going to come save us.
Being a taller than average guy I always thought I would be able to handle any situation, but their grip strength was proving me wrong. Nayi was wearing a pink pin stripped sport coat with pronounced, roped shoulders. The double breasted coat was longer than her skirt so it looked like she was wearing it as a dress. She was always so stylish and perfectly dressed without a single stitch being out of place, but in this moment I couldn't help but notice her vulnerability. They were ruffling and wrinkling her in a way that seemed like she was in school and they were the bullies.
I also was not happy that my suit was getting squished and wrinkled as well. I come from humble beginnings so my clothing getting ripped was just as offensive as getting pushed down a hallway. Before I knew it I was pushed into the door jam of the same room they were holding Nayi. I could see she was standing in the middle of the room surrounded by cardboard boxes and a bunch of these guys. I tried to grip the doorway, but I felt myself get tripped into the room. As I stumbled in, my leather bottomed dress shoes slipped and I fell right at Nayi's feet.
Immediately she pointed at me and started to speak Chinese. Clearly I don't have a clue of what she's saying, but I could tell she was very passionate. Her hands moving demonstratively and her body clinched. I got the overwhelming feeling that it wasn't my place to say anything as these were here people. Eventually one of the guys shuffled over to her and backhanded her across the face. I stepped forward to challenge him and I just felt someone grab the back of my collar and pull me back. I felt multiple hands on my arms and clothing to pull me back. I was flung into the wall and some boxes fell on top of me. I kicked my legs to get up to my feet, but it was so strong that I almost didn't want to get up. I figured it was better to play weak than challenge these guys head on.
I could hear Nayi speaking faster, but more quietly. I pushed the boxes to the side and eventually used my elbows to prop myself up. I could see her putting her hands up in a gesture to show that it's okay. She said my name and spoke English. "Mike, no sudden movements. It'll be over quickly. Just do what they say. Don't fight. They have guns."
I did as I was told. I slowly got to my feet, brushed myself off, and avoided eye contact.
"Oh we don't need guns. Look at these weak chicken legs." One of them said and pointed at my legs. My dress trousers were a mess and pulled up to reveal my socks. I looked towards Nayi who just closed her eyes in a way to message me that I just need to suck it up and deal with it. "I'll snap him like an ox stepping on a twig." I heard someone else say. As I turned to see who it was, I felt a strike across my face. I was in a pile on the ground again within a matter of seconds. This time I got up a little faster and more angrily. And again, I felt another strike on my head and this time I was really seeing stars. The pain was sharp and enough for me to know it wasn't a fight I was going to fair well in.
Nayi wasn't trying to help me at all. She just stood there and pinched her lips together. That's when I realized for sure, she knew these guys. She knew what this was all about. She knows what they're capable of. She got us in this situation. I felt angry towards her for getting us placed in this situation. The foreign language was way too fast for me to even try to translate the little Mandarin I knew, but I could tell by the tone, it was not a positive conversation.
I felt a wet liquid on my face and realized I was bleeding rather profusely. The entire front of my suit was drenched. I went to wipe it and see if I could stop the bleeding, but one of the guys motioned towards me and out of instinct I flinched and put my head down. I didn't want to get struck again. Looking at the ground I said: "Enough with the violence. I get it. I'll do what ever you need. What do you want?" I asked enunciating the words since my head was pounding.
"Well, Nayi, why don't you tell him. Or would you rather just keep this part of your business to yourself." One of the goons said.
"We're partners. Anything she's having trouble with, we face it together." I said trying to sound respectable.
"I'm glad you said that. There's a development in Williamsburg that you two have been working on." Another voice said, but I couldn't tell from where. Between the lighting, the gang circling us, and my head pounding, I was so dazed.
