Make Me Yours

Clearing his throat, he recovered first. “I suggest you start thinking of how best to let the residents know they have to vacate. I intend to win this one, Miss Martins.”

Win this one? So this was what this was for him, another round of poker?

She smirked as she shook his hand. “I don’t play to lose, Mr Li. You of all people should know this.”

“Ah, I do. However, this is a different game with different rules.”

“This isn’t a game to me. The welfare of thousands of people is at stake. They may not mean anything to you, but they do to me. Which is more reason why I will win this.”

“I like your confidence. It might be your most attractive trait yet.” As he said those words, his gaze swept over her. Intentionally, slowly, like a hot caress. It made her feel just that way – hot.

“Nevertheless, it is obvious that you are in way over your head here. Sit this one out, dear Miss Martins.”

“I’d rather stand, dear Mr Li.”

“So, it is settled then.”

“Yes, it is.”

“May the best man-”

“-or woman.”

“Of course. May the best man or woman win.”

Another firm shake and it was sealed. Finally, they let go, stepping aside from each other. As air left Zoey’s lungs, she realized that she had been holding her breath.      It be your own body.

They all said their goodbyes to each other. Zoey and her company stayed behind. Mr Li let Mrs Chan go first. His attorney followed. Just as he was about to go through the door himself, he turned with that famous smirk on his face.

“Lest I forget: Happy birthday, Miss Martins. I am sorry you had to cut your trip short on my account. I sure hope I didn’t ruin your day.”

He gave her no chance to respond. Swiftly, he took the last step out and closed the door behind him. Gob smacked, Zoey simply stood, staring at the door. How could anyone be so full of himself?

It was Kelly who spoke first.

“Woo… is it just me, or did it get extra hot in here? Damn… that was some intense conversation.” She fanned her face.

The last thing Zoey wanted to do was smile, but she found herself smiling, anyway.

“Oh please, Kelly. Who? That man? He is so full of himself.”

“I agree. I have never seen a more arrogant and obnoxious ass. Is that what you had to put up with in Singapore? Are all their men like that?”

Zoey could swear that she heard a hint of jealousy in Richard’s voice, but she waved it off; finding it adorable rather than offensive.

“Trust me, they aren’t. This one is a special breed.”

“You didn’t tell me you knew Mr Xen Li, though. You know? The Mr Xen Li? Gosh, I should have taken a photograph, but I didn’t what to blow up his already super inflated ego by asking for a picture.”

“You made a good call. That man thinks he’s the air we all breathe. And no, I didn’t even know he was the same Li. Met him at the casino two nights ago. He was playing with some men, I invited myself to the table because I thought he was hot, you know. Dude didn’t even spare me a glance, until it was just the two of us left sitting. Of course, I won the game – much to his chagrin. Yesterday, the girls and I ran into him in the elevator. I tried to apologize for gloating over my win, and in that superior voice of his, he told me that he didn’t give autographs. Can you believe that? He completely acted like he didn’t recognize me.” Thinking about it now, it made her angry all over again.

“Well, he is hot…” Kelly responded, her eyes dreamy with a sigh to go.

“Kelly!” Zoey and Richard exclaimed.

“What?”

“Snap out of it. You have a fiancé. And I have to figure out how to make sure this man loses, again.”

“Of all the things Zoey said, the one that resonated most with you was the fact that he’s hot.” Richard was hot in his rights too. So hot that he had his own fair share of girls drooling over him, including Mariah, who had the hugest secret crush on him. Nevertheless, Zoey watched him battle with his ego as he said those words.

“What? Did you see that man? Damn… Zoey, it’s so obvious he’s into you as well. Whenever this is over, please go for it.”

“Zoey deserves better. He’d probably think he’s doing her a favor.”

She threw a knowing look Richard’s way and when his eyes caught hers, she knew he had gotten her subtle message.

“I’m not going for anything that has to do with Mr Li, thank you. I won’t have him thinking he’s a god, after all of these insults. In fact, that’s enough talk about what chemistry there might or might not be between Mr Li and I. We have to make certain that we do not lose the Belmont property to him. To do that, we have to get to work.”

“Do you really think we stand a chance, though?” Kelly asked, the worry she felt evident.

Zoey who had been bending down to pick her handbag, stopped and straightened up.

“Well, I guess we would never know, unless we try. And I’d rather lose trying to win, than lose by not trying at all. What do you think?”

Kelly’s smile was full-fledged, her worry almost gone. “I think that’s what Zoey Martins would do, and that is one of the reasons why I admire, love and work for her.”

“Oh, really? Say what; join Richard and I for that takeout and Ferris wheel ride, and you can fill me in on what all the other reasons are.” She paused to look at Richard.

“She can come, right?”

“Only if she brings Abel along. I plan on having you all to myself and I don’t want her feeling like a third wheel.”

Before he finished, Kelly was already typing furiously away at her keyboard. In seconds, she was done. With a brilliant smile, she looked up at both of them.

“He says he just got off his shift at the hospital and he’d meet us there.”

Chuckling at how fast that was, Zoey replied, “Awesome.”