Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
I t’s not a date. It’s a friendly dinner between colleagues, that’s all. There’s no point getting worked up over it.
Despite my attempt at self-reassurance, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more brewing beneath the surface. Neil’s fierce protectiveness when he found me with Daniel, how he hugged me in the storeroom, the intense way he always looked at me… Did he really just see me as his secretary? I shook my head, willing myself to accept the evening as no more than a chance to enjoy his company and deepen our professional relationship. Yet, the tiny spark of hope was difficult to ignore.
I shed my work attire and changed into a wrap skirt and a tank top. A pair of strappy sandals completed the look. I touched up my makeup, then checked the time. Neil would be back any minute.
He knocked on my door at seven thirty on the dot. I grabbed my purse and took one last glance in the bathroom mirror.
Not a date, I reminded myself.
I opened the door.
Neil stood before me. He had changed out of his suit and into a blue linen shirt and pair of white shorts which came up above his knees, revealing toned legs scattered with fine dark hair. I was so enamoured by how cute he looked that I stood there dumbstruck for a moment, unsure if he had said anything.
“Are you ready?”
His voice broke through my dazed state. “Yes. Ready!”
His eyes raked over me with an appreciative gleam and a hint of mischievousness which threw me off-guard. “Really? Because your top is inside out.”
“What?” Feeling a blush rise in my cheeks, I quickly checked my top. “No, it’s not.”
Neil cracked a smirk. “I couldn’t resist.”
Wait a minute.
I gaped. “Did you just make a joke ?”
“Did you think I was incapable of making jokes?”
He set off towards the lift. I closed the door, then followed him, the memory of our first encounter playing in my head. Looking back on it now, he intrigued me even then.
“I can’t believe you’d bring that up! I thought you had forgotten.”
“I have an excellent memory.” He pressed the button for the ground floor, and we descended.
I fixed him an exasperated glare. He chuckled, his face lighting up in a way that made me melt. I’d happily be the butt of his jokes just to hear him laugh like that.
“I could also make a joke about the time your fly was undone, you know.”
“And how exactly did you notice that again?”
My embarrassment metre spiked, threatening to burst. “I don’t know! Probably because you always look perfect, so it jumped out at me.”
“Perfect? Thank you.”
“You know what I mean.”
The door opened into the lobby.
Well, that had certainly broken the ice. Was that Neil’s plan all along? I side-eyed him with interest. He had revealed yet a new facet of himself to me, and I wondered what else I might discover about him.
“So, where are we going?” I asked.
“There’s a hawker centre nearby. I used to go there often when I worked here. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something to eat that suits your tastes.”
“Hawkers? That sounds fun!”
“Well, like you said, it’s our last night here. You should at least get to experience some local cuisine.”
“I’m sure it will be amazing.”
We exited the hotel. As we took our first steps side by side along the pavement, I began to feel very conscious that it was just the two of us out in public.
“Do you still think Daniel could be spying on us?” I asked, scanning our surroundings.
“Maybe. But he has already revealed his hand to you. I don’t think he’ll bug you again before we leave.”
“But do you think it’s okay if we’re seen together? After what Daniel said about us?—”
“That is inconsequential. Besides, the crowds will offer us a sense of anonymity. I doubt anyone could keep a close watch on us, even if they tried.”
“Hmm. I guess so.”
Neil slowed his walking pace to match mine. “You’ll be safe with me.”
I perked up, his reassurance putting a spring back in my step. “Which way are we going?”
“This way.”
He led me through winding streets and back alleys, the sounds of laughter, sizzling food, and clinking utensils growing louder with each step. The smell of frying food wafted through the air, drawing us closer. We turned a corner, and a bustling open-air food court came into view. I scanned the stalls around the perimeter as we weaved through crowds speaking multiple languages. The clattering sounds of woks and the rhythmic chopping of ingredients filled the atmosphere.
“Anything catch your eye?” Neil asked.
“How about that one?” I gestured to a stall with pictures of noodle and rice dishes on its signage. The fragrance of spices drifted from its open kitchen, beckoning us closer.
“What would you like?”
“I don’t know the first thing about Singaporean cuisine. I’ll just get whatever you’re having.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded.
We joined the queue. It moved quickly, despite its length. When we got to the front, the hawker man behind the counter greeted us with a wide, toothy grin. “What can I get for you today, young couple?”
A rush of embarrassment scorched my cheeks, but I didn’t bother to correct him. Neither did Neil.
“What’s a vegetarian dish you recommend?” Neil asked.
“Ah, for our vegetarian friends, how about some vegetable dumplings and fried rice? Both are very good.”
“Does that sound okay to you?” Neil asked me.
“Sounds perfect.”
“Yes. We’ll take it. Enough for the two of us.” Neil handed a wad of cash to the hawker. “Keep the change.”
“Thank you, sir.”
We stepped out of the queue and watched from the sidelines as a cook prepared our order, folding dumpling wrappers filled with veggies and spices, then adding them to a bamboo steamer. Meanwhile, a wok sizzled with a medley of colourful veggies, the scent of garlic and onions filling the air.
A few minutes later, loaded with plates piled high, Neil and I searched for a vacant table.
“Here.” Neil pointed out a lone empty table surrounded by a cluster of occupied ones.
As soon as we sat down, I noticed the table was wonky on the uneven pavement, but somehow that only added to the rustic charm of the experience.
“Go ahead.” Neil said, breaking apart a pair of disposable chopsticks and passing them to me.
The first bite offered a powerful burst of flavour, with a blend of crunchy vegetables, savoury seasonings, and delicate dumpling wrapper. The fried rice proved equally satisfying. Each mouthful brought together the nuttiness of the jasmine rice, the sweetness of fresh vegetables, and the umami of soy sauce.
“What do you think?” Neil asked.
“Delicious,” I mumbled with my mouth half-stuffed.
Neil seemed more interested in watching me eat than his own meal. I tried to pace myself, matching his controlled tempo, savouring each morsel.
“You used to eat here often?” I asked.
“Yes. It hasn’t changed much.” Neil glanced around. “Maybe a few new vendors.”
“When I was cleaning your house, I got the impression you don’t cook very often.”
“You’d be correct. Cooking isn’t my strong suit. I’d like to learn how, but I don’t have the time. What about you?”
“It’s too expensive to eat out. I cook my own meals.”
“Commendable.”
I shrugged. “Not really. I just do what I have to do.”
“Trust me, in my position, you start to long for the taste of home cooking.”
“I’ll bring you my leftovers.”
“You’re being facetious, but I would seriously take you up on that offer.”
I pushed my food around on its plate. “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”
Neil huffed with theatrical indignation. I smiled to myself, adoring how receptive he was to my teasing.
“You must be looking forward to going home tomorrow,” Neil said, his tone shifting to a more serious note.
I paused, my chopsticks hovering over my plate. “Why do you say that?”
“This trip turned out to be more… eventful than I expected. I’m questioning if bringing you here was the right decision.”
I reflected on the whirlwind of events we had experienced. “Well, it’s been an interesting few days, to say the least. It was challenging, but I feel I rose to the occasion. I’m just glad I could be here to support you.”
“You’re much more capable than I sometimes give you credit for.”
“You know, I think this trip was worth it just for this moment, sharing a meal like this.” As soon as I said it, I worried I had overstepped my mark and wished I could reel my words back in and lock them away, but to my surprise, Neil leaned in, appearing to mirror my sentiment.
“I agree.”
By the time we finished eating, the hawker centre was even more packed than when we had arrived. As we navigated the sea of people, I was worried I’d get separated from Neil and get lost. I instinctively clung to his arm. Then, realising what I had done, I dropped it, conscious about crossing the strict bounds of our relationship. To my surprise, Neil reached out, took my hand in his, then placed it back on his arm where it had been. “It’s crowded. Stay close.”
I held on to him, the gentle bulge of his bicep evident through the thin fabric of his shirt. He was warm beneath my fingertips.
We emerged from the heart of the hawker centre and into an open space with thinned-out crowds. I let go of him.
“Are you ready to go back? Or do you want to walk around a bit?” Neil asked.
An opportunity to prolong the evening was more than welcome. “Let’s go for a walk.”
We walked side by side along the picturesque Singapore River, its shimmering waters reflecting the multicoloured hues of the city lights. I relished the long periods of comfortable silence between us, the sounds of the city, and the lapping river in the background.
“Do you go for walks much in Auckland?” Neil asked, hands in his pockets as he strolled along.
“No. Not much. It’s not very pleasant to walk around the area where I live. Sometimes I make it out to the Domain, though. You?”
“Every day. I usually alternate. Running one day, walking the next day.”
“Sounds like a good routine.”
“The Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter are perfect for it. Once you move, you’ll be able to make the most of it.”
I had been so caught up in the trip and all it entailed that I hadn’t given much thought to my impending move, but now that Neil had brought it up, I felt a rush of anticipation. “I can’t wait.”
“Are you still aiming to move next weekend?”
“Yes. Saturday morning.”
“Do you have much stuff to move?”
“No. Not really. I’ve already sold as much as I can. But I’ll maybe need to rent a car for a couple of hours. I haven’t sorted that part out yet.”
“You can borrow mine, if you like.”
“The Tesla?”
Neil nodded.
“I wouldn’t know how to drive it.” The prospect of operating a top-of-the-line electric vehicle was more than a little daunting when I had only driven petrol-chugging clunkers in the past.
“I could give you a quick lesson. Or, if it’s not going to take more than one trip, I could pick you up from your place. It wouldn’t be much trouble.”
His suggestion sparked hope in me. I clasped my hands together in front of my chest. “Could you? That would be so helpful. I don’t think it’ll take more than one trip. There’s nothing big to move.”
“Just let me know what time you need me, and I’ll be there.”
“Thank you so much!”
We reverted to comfortable silence until a glowing structure in the distance caught my attention. “What’s that?”
“Ah. That’s the Merlion statue. A fountain with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It’s quite famous. Do you want to take a look?”
“Sure!”
We approached the statue. The majestic figure stood perched on a platform, its eyes gazing into the distance, and a gentle stream of water cascading from its mouth. The statue was lit up, making it appear almost mystical. I grappled for my phone to take a picture. I snapped a couple of shots, then thought it would be better if I could be in the photo. “Would you mind taking a photo of me? I want something as a memento of this trip.”
“Of course.”
I passed him my phone, then I posed in front of the statue with a cheesy grin plastered on my face. Neil watched on with clear amusement that made me smile even harder. As he took the photo, a passing elderly couple saw us and approached, speaking an unfamiliar language between themselves. The man tapped Neil on the shoulder. In a mixture of broken English and miming, he offered to take a picture of us as a couple. Neil was shaking his head, but the man was insistent. He grabbed my phone and herded a slightly bewildered Neil next to me. The woman motioned for us to stand closer together. No longer having the will to fight the friendly old couple’s instructions, we obliged, moving closer to each other. The woman wasn’t satisfied until we had fully closed the gap between us, the sides of our bodies touching all the way down.
Snap, snap, snap.
At last, the couple returned my phone and went on their way.
“Thank you!” I called as they left.
The man turned back to give me a thumbs-up before they disappeared down the winding path into the trees.
I grimaced. “That’s the second time tonight we’ve been mistaken for a couple.”
Neil smirked. “We must look good together.”
His flirty remark rendered me gobsmacked. He was full of surprises tonight. I tried to gather myself to think of something equally flirty, or at least vaguely witty, to say in return, but the moment slipped away.
Dark clouds gathered overhead.
“Do you feel that?” Neil asked, raising a palm up towards the air.
“Yes.”
The humidity was almost oppressive
“We should go back now. It’s going to rain any minute.”
We turned around and hastened our pace, knowing that time was against us. The air grew heavier with moisture by the second. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Fast walking became sprinting, the hotel within sight further down the street.
Almost there.
The sky opened up, releasing a torrential downpour upon us. We dashed down the rain-soaked path and ducked under the shelter at the front of the hotel, drenched to the bone. I puffed, clutching at the stitch in my side from running. The exertion mixed with exhilaration heightened my senses even more to Neil’s presence beside me.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” I gasped.
His shirt had turned slightly transparent, and it was clinging to his sculpted torso in all the right places. Not to mention his white shorts…
Neil bit his lip, and his eyes were looking everywhere but directly at me. I realised he must have noticed about me what I had just noticed about him, and I folded my arms across my chest.
Neil cleared his throat. “Let’s go inside,” he said, his voice a shade huskier than usual.
I wiped my shoes on the mat by the door and squeezed the water out of my hair before we entered. When my wet skin met the cool air-conditioning, I broke out in goosebumps. Neil led the way to the lift and pressed the buttons for our separate floors. We didn’t say another word to each other until the door opened.
“Good night, Milly.”
“Night.”
“See you at seven tomorrow.”
I didn’t catch another breath until I was safely in my room with the door shut behind me. Once I had calmed down, I changed into dry clothing and climbed onto the bed, clutching my phone tightly in my eager hands. As the rain continued to drum against the windowpanes, I swiped through my phone to look at the photographs of Neil and me together.
My heart swelled with hope and longing as soon as I saw them.
In all three photographs, Neil wasn’t looking at the camera, he was looking at me, and with such a fond and wistful expression that anyone who didn’t know any better would think he was in love with me. He even had me fooled for a minute.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I sent my favourite of the three pictures to Neil. No caption. Just the photo. I wanted to see how he would respond—If he would at all.
Anticipation gripped me as the message turned from unread to read, and a heart reaction popped up.