Make Me Yours

“I have never been to Shelton Rise, but I did not expect such a reputable restaurant for the elite to be empty on a beautiful night like this.”

“You caught me. Yes, I wanted us to have it all to ourselves. The peace and quiet. Jo’s was a little too loud. I wanted something… different.”

“So you bought the entire place…”

“For the night. I hope you aren’t mad.”

She was smiling… hard, so he didn’t think so. The problem was being in such proximity with her graceful beauty had begun to make his heart palpitate.

“It’s beautiful. Everything is beautiful. Thank you, Xen.”

He stepped to her side, so he could help her pull out her chair. She stepped in as he gestured at it and when she lowered, he tucked the chair back in so she could sit. As she did, he lowered and whispered into her ears.

“Yet, it pales greatly in comparison to your beauty.”

She said nothing as he backed away and returned to his chair.

“I was afraid that the clothes and shoes would not be a perfect fit.”

“They are. I must confess; I was surprised that your guesses would be so spot- on.”

Xen smiled at this. He said nothing as he opened the bottle of French wine that had been waiting on the table, and filled their cups.

“I had a little help,” he murmured, but she heard it.

“Hmm… really?” she asked, accepting her glass from him.

“Yes. The boutique owner has good eyes. She was able to guess your sizes from your pictures.”

Well, he had also called Jenny, but he didn’t have to tell her that. That was their little secret.

She mumbled as she sipped from her cup. He watched, unable to tear his eyes off her. She mesmerized him. Greatly.

“You didn’t look surprised to see me. She had been surprised, yes… but it had been at finding the restaurant empty. Not at seeing him.

“I had a few guesses; you were right at the top of that list. Not to mention, my friends and assistant seemed to think it could be no one else but you. They’d be happy to know that they were right.”

“I see.” He had only let Jenny in on his plan and that was only because he had needed help with her sizes. He wondered if she had told others. Well, it su*ked that his element of surprise had been taken away, but that was something he could live with.

“You look very handsome yourself, Xen.”

He had chosen a black suit and a white shirt, wanting to keep things as light and formal as he could.

“Thank you.”

“And this is a very beautiful place. Now, I get the fuss about it. I mean, I have seen pictures but being here in person, it just feels completely different.”

He smiled and joined her in taking the entire scene in again.

“Trust me; I know just what you are talking about. Perhaps I shall do something like this for the hotel back at home. It would be a lovely sight, looking down at the city, at night.” Whoever had thought of this idea was a genius.

And they had made a roof, to make provisions for when it rained. It happened to be some sort of panel, because now it was open and they could stare at the night sky as well.

“If I ever visit Singapore again, I’ll definitely visit.”

“Visit? I would think that with all the impeccable service the hotel rendered to you, you’d be happy to stay there once again. Tell me, Miss Martins, were we unsatisfactory?”

“What? No. Not at all. Your hotel is one of the best I have been to, and that’s saying a lot – ‘cause, well, I travel. A lot. I often save up enough to afford five to seven star hotels, so… I too have had a taste of the good life. I meant visit the restaurant. I’ll be sure to stay in the hotel.”

“Good. And I knew that, I was simply teasing you.”

Her eyes widened, and then her lips followed into a smile. When he smiled back at her, she chuckled and looked away. It was like one of those moments in the movies; it thrilled him.

The waitress returned, and they made their orders. As she went away, Zoey cleared her throat.

“So, one of the reasons I wasn’t fully convinced that you were behind the presents was the silence from you.”

Her voice was slightly accusing, but it was only to be expected.

“Understandable. But that was deliberate on my part, for that exact purpose. I wanted you to think that I was neglecting you. That way, you wouldn’t believe that I was the secret admirer. Look how well that played out. You figured it out anyway. I could have as well followed through all the thousand times I found myself dialing your line.”

He was pleased by the glint of pleasant surprise in her eyes.

Stopping her drinking half way, she swallowed before she asked, “You almost called me?”

“Only about a thousand times.”

“Wow. That is… news. And here I was thinking you had-”

“Thinking what?”

She shook her head. “Never mind. Nothing you need to know.”

She went back to drinking then, and in no time, their meals arrived.

The rest of the evening was filled with light but wonderful conversation. They spoke about their week and mostly about work. He got to learn how she had started St Martins’ Properties and how she had climbed her way up from the bottom of the chain, to where she was now.

She spoke of her parents, and her younger brother who was her only sibling. As she talked, he listened, taking everything in, from the way her eyes shone when she remembered a fond memory, the way her voice thickened when she spoke of how wonderful her staff were, or how amazing her family was.