Make Me Yours

Her eyes searched her wall for the clock. There was an hour and thirty minutes left until 1 p.m. Gruby’s was a good fifteen minutes’ drive away. If she wanted to make it before him, she had to be there thirty minutes before. She had come to learn that Mr Li also like being extra punctual. This meant she had to leave the office in forty-five minutes.

It was ample enough to tie up some lose ends and set things in order.

Picking up the land line, she dialed Anna’s desk once more.

She picked on the second ring.

“Hello, Ma’am?”

“Hello, Anna. Just wanted you to know that I would be having my lunch early today. I’d be going back by one so I’d appreciate it if you cleared my appointments today, and refrain from making any more.”

Since Kelly was not in today – she had the flu – the duties of both assistant and secretary had fallen upon Anna and she was doing it sufficiently. Even happily, if she dared say. She sure was going to compensate her for that by the time the month ended.

“Got that, Miss Martins.”

“Thank you.”

She dropped the call then and went back to work.

In exactly forty-five minutes, she was on her way to Gruby’s. After handing her keys over to the valet, she began to walk into the restaurant, happy that today she had decided on a lovely gown that accentuated her figure and hugged her in all the right places. She had long since ditched the blonde wig for a pitch-black bouncy bob. It gave her the boss-bi*ch look she really loved; it also looked very beautiful on her.

She had retouched her makeup just before leaving her office, telling herself that she simply wanted to look presentable, but she knew it was a lie. Who cared, though? She was walking into Gruby’s feeling good about herself, confident that she looked The Bomb. That was all that mattered.

Not to mention the several heads that had turned in her direction as she walked in were good for a woman’s ego. As she got to the head waiter, she stopped in her tracks. With one of the most beautiful smiles she saved for occasions like this, she spoke:

“I have a reservation under the name Mr Li, I’m certain? It’s for 1 p.m. If you could just show me to the table, I’m happy to sit and sip a glass of margarita while I wait for him.”

The man nodded with an equally pleasant smile on his face, and began to go through the list he had in his hands.

She watched him and knew when he found it. His eyes lit up before he spoke.

“Ha-ha… Here it is. Section C, table five. I’ll have Cecilia take you there. I’m afraid I cannot leave this spot at the moment.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I can find my way. I’m not exactly a stranger here.” But he was. The other man who used to hold that position had resigned a month ago.

“As I can see. Nevertheless, Cecilia shall be happy to escort you like the royalty you are deserves to be. Miss Vervade?”

At his call, Cecilia turned around. The moment her gaze found Zoey’s, her eyes lit up in a smile and she began to walk over.

“Miss Martins, it has been a while.”

“Indeed it has. How are things, Cecilia?”

“Very well, thank you.”

The younger lady turned to look at her boss who said to her, “Miss Martins has a reservation for lunch. Please, show her to her table in section C. It’s table six.”

“Of course, right away.”

Zoey thanked the man and began to follow as Cecilia led. In no time, she was seated, rested from the drive, with the ice cold margarita finding its way down her throat.

She saw him the moment he entered. Not that she had been watching the door – even though it was a clear view from this vantage point. No. In fact, she had been staring at her iPad, busy googling this man who rambled her up quicker than anyone ever had.

What had alerted her of his presence was the way the hair on the back of her nape had stood. She had known instantly that he was here. Now, her eyes confirmed it. She took a quick glance at her wrist watch, and saw that she had been right to come extra early. It was 12:45. The man sure didn’t joke with his punctuality.

Patiently, she waited as she watched him speak with the head waiter. Their conversation appeared to be light and pleasant enough, if the small smiles on their faces and the occasional chuckling were any indication.

Then, suddenly, he turned in her direction and caught her eyes. It was too late for her to look away, so she didn’t. She simply held on his gaze, standing her ground.

Finally, Cecilia was summoned and only then, did he look away to pay attention to the girl. Soon, they began to walk towards her, and Zoey easily spotted the blush on the girl’s face. Who could blame her? Xen Li was a walking Greek god – the finest of them.

He didn’t look up until he was no more than three feet away. When he did, once again, their eyes clashed. This time though, his lips curved up in that smirk she despised. As he came to a stop by the table, she rose to her feet and put out her hands for a handshake.

Of course, she had closed all tabs on her iPad and it was currently lying face down on the table.

“Mr Li.”

“Miss Martins. What a pleasant surprise. I was thinking I would have to wait for you.”

His tone held sarcasm, yes. However, it wasn’t the kind that bit. It was the kind that made her want to smile, and darn it, she actually did smile at Stoic-face. Not the sarcastic type she had been hoping for, but an actual genuine smile.

Couldn’t she just win it all? Was that too much to ask for? Surely not.

“I thought to get an early start. I didn’t know I would be so early, myself.”

“Indeed. Especially if one were to consider that your office is farther away than my hotel.”
“Precisely. Welcome.”

“Thank you.”