Page 42 of Billionaire’s Promise

“Yes, I think she does.” Kai introduced us quickly and Lucy spoke beautiful English with a hint of a British accent, very much like Kai’s. Fortunately, they didn’t spend too much time speaking in Mandarin before they switched to a language I could understand.

“Lucy and I–” He paused.

“We were dating and then he left the country.” I could totally see that. She was definitely the kind of woman Kai would date. Beautiful. Supermodel body.

Her fingernails were so perfectly manicured I felt a little embarrassed when she shook hands with mine. Not that I didn’t enjoy a little manicure at the salon, but I just didn’t really have the time. Besides, I scrubbed my hands so much, there wasn’t much point really.

“Blind dating.” Kai felt like there was a need to clarify.

“His mother arranged it.” The gorgeous woman winked, and I had no idea why she did that. Perhaps she was trying to say that she was the perfect candidate for Kai’s wife, approved by his mother.

Kai sighed quietly. She noticed it right away and gave him a nudge. “Come on, we had fun.”

Kai nodded and I could feel my heart sink. It was only when he looked up and stared right into my eyes that I realized I had been staring.

“Interesting. Uh, by the way, what happened to Ting Ting?” I had to clear my throat ever so slightly to speak – it had somehow seized up.

“Lucy’s Ting Ting. I just didn’t know her Chinese name until now.” Ah ha! Their dating can’t have gone all that well then if he didn’t even know this about her.

“What a small world right?”

Really? “Did you know Kai was Jenny’s cousin?”

“Not until yesterday.” Lucy replied, her smile flirty, yet somehow innocent. I narrowed my eyes at her, wanting to hate her, uncertain that I could.

“Why didn’t you tell me then?” Kai asked and they went on to chat in Mandarin, and at times it sounded like something else, while I watched the airport staff get busy with unloading her belongings. My God, she had a lot of stuff. Was she planning to move to New York permanently? I couldn’t hear a word that they were saying, not that I would understand.

My mind was everywhere. With the kiss the other day, I really thought that we were going somewhere. Perhaps it was all in my head.

Then Kai got Lucy and I in the back of the car while he volunteered to be in the front seat. Throughout the drive, he had his face turned towards us while having a conversation. Dave asked about switching the Porsche for a limo, but they didn’t have time to do that.

Kai gave me a signal and I started briefing Lucy about Jenny’s condition.

“Don’t worry. No one knows why I’m here,” Lucy reassured him. “But I told my mother that I was visiting you.”

“Ah, I see.” His face changed a little as he rubbed his fingers on his forehead.

“Was that a secret that you’re here?” I chimed in.

“Well, I didn’t exactly tell my mother I came.” He laughed awkwardly. “Never mind, my mother would have found out sooner or later.”

I had learned a lot about Kai from my brother, especially how amazing and brutal he was when he conducted business, but I didn’t know much about his family.

“I’m sorry,” Lucy said nonchalantly. I doubted that she actually meant it.

“I guess now my mother will get off my back about seeing you.”

She laughed a sweet laugh, covering her almond-shaped mouth with her perfectly manicured but short nails, as if Kai had said something funny.

I felt like a third wheel.

“So, how long have you known Jenny?” I asked, hoping that this would change the topic of the conversation. I knew Kai had dated many women – beautiful, sexy women – but seeing what one of them looked like was reality hitting home. I didn’t look anything like that.

“We went to university together.”

“Did you go to her wedding? I would have remembered if you were there.” Kai asked with a huge smile, his voice vague as he seemed to try to remember.

Jeez, was Kai flirting with her? Then suddenly, his smile turned upside down. I wondered if it was the thought of Jenny’s unhappy marriage.