Chapter 12 The Friday Table
The Friday Table
The door of the Yat Sing swung open.
Alexis, Grace and Constance were sitting at the usual table.
“Hi everyone!” Natalie called out loudly from the door, waving both arms with unrestrained enthusiasm. “I’m here!”
Alexis looked over and her eyes bugged out. “Holy shit. Who the fuck is that?” Alexis started to laugh hysterically.
Constance and Grace’s heads swiveled and snapped to focus on Natalie at the door.
Natalie stood at the door, smiling and waving.
She started to walk over, her strappy black Manolo Blahnik pumps clicking rhythmically against the tiled floor.
Grace covered her mouth. “It’s Natalie.”
Constance just stared.
Natalie wore a skimpy black Balmain dress, featuring a plunging neckline that dove daringly low. The hemline was shockingly short, ending high on her thighs and accentuating her legs with every movement. The fabric hugged her figure tightly, shimmering under the restaurant’s lights.
“How do her tits even stay in there?” Alexis whispered.
Grace shot Alexis a disapproving glance.
Natalie raised her arm and a Cartier bracelet slid up her forearm, its diamonds catching the light, while Tiffany earrings—delicate yet eye-catching platinum drops with sapphire accents—swung gently from her ears, framing her face.
“Hi, guys!”
“I don’t know if I want to hug her or rob her,” Alexis said under her breath and Constance stifled a laugh.
Natalie arrived at the table, smiling widely.
“Grace, Constance, Alexis, how are all of you?”
Natalie set a shiny new Celine handbag on the table.
Constance said, “We’re fine. It seems like you’ve… made some changes.”
“Oh, do you like it?”
Natalie twirled around.
“Um, sure,” replied Constance.
Natalie put her hands flat on the table and the Cartier bracelet slid down.
“I just want you all to know that you can borrow any of these clothes, anytime you like,” she said smiling. “What’s mine is yours! You are all my friends!”
She looked at them, her face expressive.
“Oh my God, it’s so good to see you all!”
Natalie gushed, her voice loud and bubbling with energy that filled the space like champagne fizz. She reached across the table, her movements expansive and unapologetic.
“Grace, you look absolutely amazing—that shade of blue brings out your eyes perfectly. You always know how to put an outfit together. Alexis, your hair is incredible tonight; it’s giving major ‘I’m going to have sex’ energy, I’m obsessed!
Constance, you’re positively glowing; whatever you’re doing, keep it up. ”
Alexis laughed. “Where can I get one of these personality change operations?”
Natalie laughed. “Oh, Alexis. I know that I look and act a little different now but it’s good, right?”
The others exchanged cautious glances. Grace offered a small, careful smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Well, it seems like you are more confident.”
Natalie slipped into her seat.
“I know, right?” Natalie replied. “Well, I just wanted to be more sexy, like Alexis. And, gosh,” she gushed, “it’s made a world of difference.
The gallery had The Cho Chou Salon of Contemporary Ink and Form Event, and I know that it’s a silly name, I mean, why put Event in the name but Mr. Cho insisted because he said, ‘How would people know it’s an event if the word event isn’t in the name?
’ but it doesn’t matter because it’s changed everything!
People came. They really came. And we sold two pieces with one reserved and half a dozen inquiries.
Mr. Cho and Mr. Chou are so happy and it was all because of me. ”
Then, the door to Yat Sing opened and Tessa and Lung walked in.
Tessa saw Natalie and her face immediately soured. Lung looked confused.
They walked to the booth and took their places in the center.
“So, what’s this?” Tessa asked, looking at Natalie.
Constance looked at Tessa and offered up, “Natalie’s made some changes.”
“I see.”
The waiter came with the salt-and-pepper squid and put it down on the table. He glanced at Natalie in surprise but said nothing. He just turned around and walked away.
They ate and drank tea. The conversation fell into the usual Friday night pattern. Everyone slipped into their usual role.
Tessa commanded. Alexis interjected. Grace corrected. Constance observed. Lung obeyed. And Natalie listened and was ignored.
But Natalie was no longer content to listen and be ignored. Like a second, unfunny Alexis, she started interjecting her own comments after everyone else’s.
She was constantly correcting people on almost every subject.
“No, Constance, that’s not true…”
“Well, you see, Alexis…”
“I don’t think so, Grace…”
“Oh, Lung, that’s not right…”
“Tessa…”
“Excuse me, Natalie,” Tessa said crossly after being interrupted for the third time. “I was speaking.”
“I know but I have something to say.”
“Well, you can wait until it’s your turn.”
“But I never have a turn. I just sit and listen while the rest of you talk and you all ignore me. And now I’ve got some exciting news and it’s really not fair that I can’t share it.”
“Okay, fine,” Tessa said. “What’s your news?”
“I have a boyfriend,” Natalie announced.
“Well, that much is obvious,” Alexis said. “I’m sure that all this brand name stuff didn’t come from that subsistence salary that they pay you at the gallery.” Then she added: “Unless it’s fake.”
“It’s not fake,” Natalie said, irritated. “My boyfriend bought it for me. He’s very rich.”
Then she regained her excitement. “You all know him. You’ve all seen him in movies and on TV. You’ll never guess. You’ll just never, ever, ever guess!”
Tessa shot a glance at Lung. “It better not be Danny Yeung.”
Lung got a hunted look about him.
“No, no,” Natalie replied and Lung gave a sigh of relief.
“My boyfriend is really rich, he’s very intelligent, he knows nearly everything, especially about women, and we have marvelous discussions about art and culture.
He has a large two-level home in Mid-Levels Central and it’s absolutely stunning. ”
Constance said, “That certainly doesn’t sound like Danny Yeung.”
Grace asked politely, “Who is it, Natalie?”
Natalie laughed. “No, guess.” Then almost to herself: “You’ll never guess.”
Tessa said in an irritated tone, “How are we supposed to guess? So, first, you keep interrupting everybody and now that you have our undivided attention we’re supposed to waste our time throwing out random names for the next hour?”
Constance leaned in and gently asked, “Natalie, where did you meet him?”
“He came into the gallery and we really hit it off.”
“Who is it?” Grace asked.
Natalie paused for effect, just to make sure that she had everyone’s full attention. She let the question hang.
“For Heaven’s sake,” laughed Alexis. “Tell us!”
Natalie paused a beat longer and said:
“It’s Aaron Lam.”
The table went silent for a few seconds as each woman tried to connect the name. The name sounded very familiar but they couldn’t put a face to it.
Finally:
“Aaron Lam, the actor?” Alexis asked incredulously.
“Yes.”
Grace brought her hand to her mouth.
“Isn’t he older than you? By a lot?”
“Well, yes, but he says that I am more mature than my physical age.”
Alexis laughed. “I’m sure.”
“He knows my soul. He knows how to touch my soul.”
Grace’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not having sex with him, are you, Natalie?” she asked in a worried tone.
“Of course I am! He loves my body and my mind. He compares my naked body to art.”
“Oh, God,” Grace said looking distressed, “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Constance added, “You and me both.”
Natalie glared at both of them.
“Why do you have to say it like that?” she asked crossly. “Aaron and I are both adults. It’s not gross. It’s beautiful.”
Tessa said, “I’m sure it is.” But Natalie did not take that as supportive.
Constance looked at Natalie, worry in her face.
“Oh, Natalie, why didn’t you listen to Tessa? Why do you insist on getting yourself involved with men that you can’t handle?”
Natalie reached out and slapped Constance on the arm.
It didn’t hurt but it was a shock to the rest of them. Natalie had never done anything like that before. Not Natalie.
“I know what’s going on here!” Natalie cried, tears in her eyes.
“You just can’t stand that a super star like Aaron Lam is in love with me.
You were all like me when you were teenagers, dreaming about being with Aaron Lam.
But now that it’s real for me and not for you, you want to make it into something disgusting! You are just jealous!”
Constance, Grace, Alexis and Tessa were stunned. Lung just hung his head, staring into his lap.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Tessa said in a low voice, “I, for one, am not jealous that I’m not letting some aging Lothario have sex with me.”
Natalie’s face twisted with rage, her makeup cracking under the strain of her flushed cheeks. She shot up from her seat so fast her heels scraped loudly against the restaurant floor, drawing stares from nearby tables.
She was standing up, leaning over the table.
“You’re all so fucking pathetic!” she exploded, her voice rising to a shrill pitch that cut through the ambient chatter. “Jealousy is literally dripping off you like cheap perfume.”
“Natalie!” Grace said in shock.
“Tessa, you especially—sitting there in your sad little Taobao dress, acting like you’re above it all. Newsflash: Aaron bought me this dress.”
She yanked at the sleek, black silk hugging her body, the label visible for a second as she twisted.
“It’s Balmain. Three thousand dollars. Aaron had it flown in from Paris because he said it was made for my body. What have you ever gotten from a guy? A fucking Starbucks gift card?”
Grace tried to interject, “Natalie, calm down—”
“No!” Natalie jabbed a finger at her. “Don’t ask me to calm down. You’ve all been rude to me all night. I’m tired of taking your crap!”
She whirled on Constance.
“And, Constance, with your ‘oh Natalie, why didn’t you listen’ bullshit.
I’m not some dumb bitch who doesn’t know what she’s doing.
I’ve got the real thing now and you’re just trying to put me back in my place.
Why don’t you listen to me? I know fashion.
Your entire wardrobe looks like it came from a Mong Kok upstairs boutique.
Aaron took me to Landmark last weekend and dropped twenty grand like it was nothing. ”
She faced the table.
“He likes spoiling me. He loves it.” She spat out the word loves. “Because unlike you basic bitches, I actually inspire a man like Aaron Lam. He calls me his muse. He says my skin feels like fucking velvet and my pussy feels like silk. And you know what?” she screamed. “He’s right!”
Lung shifted uncomfortably in his seat and Tessa was deadly still, watching.
Natalie wasn’t done. She whirled on Alexis next.
“And you, Alexis, always acting like you’re so worldly because you went to Europe once on your parents’ dime.
Aaron is taking me to Los Angeles next week for the Golden Hour premiere.
On a private plane. Not business class, not some points-upgrade fantasy.
A studio jet, sent exclusively for him. For us.
So forgive me if I’m not impressed by everyone sitting here pretending I’m supposed to feel ashamed for actually living the dream. ”
Alexis jerked back, surprised.
Tessa let out a harsh, mocking laugh.
“Jesus Christ, Natalie, listen to yourself,” Tessa sneered, her voice loud and dripping with contempt.
“A private jet? A fucking studio jet? You’re really out here sucking an old man’s cock and acting like you just won the lottery. Newsflash, princess—you’re not special. You’re just another desperate little whore who traded her dignity for designer bags and a seat on a leased Gulfstream.”
She pointed at Alexis.
“Alexis has fucked richer guys in her sleep and didn’t need to pretend they ‘knew her soul’ to do it. At least when she spreads her legs, she doesn’t delude herself into thinking it’s poetry.”
Tears of fury streamed down Natalie’s face now, but they weren’t the soft, vulnerable kind. These were hot and vicious.
“You want to make me feel small?” she screamed at Tessa. “You want to turn the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me into something dirty? Fuck you all.”
She fumbled with the Celine handbag, knocked it over and it dropped to the floor. She ignored it, raising her two middle fingers and pointing them at them all.
“Fuck you! I don’t need you! I don’t need any of you! I have Aaron. I have everything you wish you had. So enjoy your sad little lives talking shit about me because you won’t have quiet little Natalie to kick around anymore.”
She yanked her handbag up off the floor and slung it over her shoulder.
With that, Natalie spun on her heel, her black Manolo Blahnik BB pumps clicking sharply against the tile as she stormed toward the exit. The heavy restaurant door slammed behind her with a satisfying bang, leaving the table in stunned silence as heads turned and whispers erupted around them.
Tessa stared after Natalie.
Quietly, she said, “Well, fuck her.”
Grace brought her hand to her mouth.
Nobody really agreed with Tessa.
But they didn’t really disagree with her, either.