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EIGHT
CALEB
I can barely contain my relief as I board the plane. I miss having the house to myself. The money is worth it, but I’m her flatmate, not a babysitter. This trip to Singapore couldn’t have come at a better time. It will be great to see Melissa again. Melissa Chang: the only woman I’d gladly give it all up for.
She’s the closest thing I have to a girlfriend, which isn’t saying much, considering she is engaged to someone else and has been for the last two and a half years that we have been seeing each other. I’m aware that this is beginning to look like a pattern for me.
We met at a technology award evening I charmed my way into, because I was failing sales-wise in Asia. Melissa was the sole female on my table. I immediately noticed her doll-like frame, her jet-black hair with every strand in place, her big brown eyes, her flawless skin, her dangerously red lips. She didn’t touch her food but, every now and then, her hand smoothly lifted her water glass to her lips and back down again. She was riveting to watch. I knew it was going to be my last trip before I got fired for making a mess of Asia, so I decided to enjoy myself. As soon as the guests got up to network, I sat next to her, and I leaned in with as much charm as I could muster. If I was going to go down, it was going to be in flames.
‘I’m sure you’re told how beautiful you are all the time.’
She turned to me with a bored expression. ‘Actually, no,’ she responded coldly.
‘Well, let me. You’re indescribably magnificent.’
‘Thank you,’ she replied, not even bothering to look at me.
‘So, who’s the poor sod that’s left you on your own tonight?’
She pointed to the most obnoxious man at the table.
‘That fool?’
That got a smile out of her.
‘That “fool” is the COO of the fastest-growing software company in Singapore, and my fiancé.’
I looked at her quizzically. ‘Him?Is it the money?’
‘It’s definitely not the money,’ she said with a chuckle.
‘Good, because I have no money, but I can have you feeling much happier than you do right now.’
‘Why me?’
‘I haven’t been able to stop looking at you all night. I suspect you’re much more fun if you let me take you off your display shelf and get under all this packaging.’
‘I could be.’ She raised an encouraging eyebrow at me.
‘Think he’ll notice if you snuck away?’ I winked.
‘He hasn’t noticed much all night.’ She picked up her bag and stood up to leave. Her quick response surprised me and rooted me to my seat. ‘You coming?’
I hadn’t expected to get this far, and definitely not this quickly. I straightened my jacket and walked out behind her. Outside, I suggested we get a drink somewhere, and she looked at me like I was dense.
‘What hotel are you staying at?’
‘The Hyatt.’
She got into a waiting car, gave instructions and, before long, we were in my hotel lobby. I lost my train of thought as she stared at me impatiently.
‘What room are you in?’
When I told her, she walked to the bank of elevators, and I followed, wondering who had picked who up.
In my room, she carefully placed her bag down, turned her back to me and lifted her hair for me to unzip her dress. To slow things down, I kissed her neck softly. She smacked my head away.
‘Zip! Now!’
