Alex sighed when her cell phone rang later that night. She could count on two hands the number of people who had access to her personal cell phone number. And at that moment, while still smarting from her encounter with Xian Liu, she wasn’t in the mood to speak with any one them. Only after she’d checked the number of the incoming call did Alex answer. “Hello.”
“Lee,” a deep familiar voice responded.
Alex sat down on the edge of the bed and cradled the cell phone with both hands. “Brian.”
“So how are you, Lee? Still going to the dojo every other day?”
He had given her that nickname after watching her spar with a fellow student. Brian had found it amusing to compare her to the legendary martial arts champion, Bruce Lee.
“Of course.” She smiled. “How are you?”
“I’m lost on weekends without you.”
“You don’t have to be. Just because I gave back the ring doesn’t mean I gave back our friendship. We can still go for hikes in the hills.” Alex cradled the flip phone between her shoulder and ear. With both hands free, she began preparing for bed.
“Yeah? Well, that’s not possible anymore.”
“Why?” Alex questioned while removing her watch.
“Lee, I’m leaving.”
Her hands stilled. A range of emotions passed through her, the most powerful being regret.
“I’ll be relocating to Latin America,” he continued.
“Congratulations,” she finally replied. “Is it a promotion?”
“In a way,” he answered.
Alex could sense tension in the evasive response. If it were a promotion, he deserved it. He’d worked so hard to achieve success and had spent many late nights surrounded by computers. He was a computer genius, a technology whiz with the temperament of an Italian painter. Some days when they had been together, he had been on top of the world and other days he’d wrapped his anger and frustration around him like a cloak.
She shook her head, pulling back from the memories, and then asked the question that had risen to her mind immediately after Brian had announced he planned to relocate out of the country.
“Are you leaving town because of me?”
“No, I just think it’s time I grew up. I love my family and I’m going to miss my mom like crazy but I think distance would be a good thing.”
“She still mad at you?”
“Yeah, she thinks I should have fought harder to change your mind.”
Alex shook her head. “I tried to talk to her.”
Brian’s voice took on a weary tone. “I know, but she blames me anyway.”
“You tell her you’re leaving?”
“I’ll send a postcard from Brazil.”
“This is going to hurt your family.”
She loved the Scott clan. They were a big, warm, affectionate family that had welcomed her like a long lost child. After her father’s death, she had been starved for the warmth and kindness Brian’s parents had given her. But the desire for family hadn’t been enough.
“Not as bad as it hurt me to lose the the woman I love,” he replied.
She added simply, “You love me but you aren’t in love with me. You proposed that night because of your mother and your work.”
Before he could protest, Alex cut in. “Let’s be honest. I know your mother, Brian. She loves you and wants what’s best for you. She got it into her head that I was the one for you. Nanna pressured you. Then there’s your company. No matter how good you are, the executives value stability. Getting married would be a great boost to your career. I’m not accusing you of anything, but it’s the truth, whether you like it or not.”
In her mind, Alex went back to the night Brian had proposed. To be honest, she had been tempted to accept the engagement ring. The thought of her life as Mrs. Brian Scott, living in a five-bedroom house, driving a Mercedes, and being a stay-at-home wife hadn’t been the attraction. No, for Alex it had been the opportunity to have parents again, to be someone’s daughter. That was what she’d wanted.
“You’re right, Lee. I’m just sorry I took your rejection so hard. I ruined our friendship and made a complete fool of myself. Alex, I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
Several heartbeats passed before he spoke again. “You could come with me.”
She shook her head. “No, I can’t.”
He was such a strange mixture: strong, giving, caring, and yet possessing a selfish, stubborn streak. She’d never told him about her missions. Instead, she had let him believe that her role in the military was less than what it truly had been. Somehow, she’d known he would try to wrap her up in a cocoon and take away her strength. Alex had seen it while they were dating, but at that moment in her life, she’d needed to feel protected.
“Had to ask.” He halfway laughed. And for the first time Alex detected something else in his tone. Something she couldn’t place and it made her uneasy. “Brian, are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me, Lee. Just be happy. Good-bye.”
The hair on Alex’s arms prickled as she flipped the phone closed. Maybe it was his voice, the sound of finality, but something about the conversation kept her awake that night.
* * *
Two days later at a political fundraising event, Xian lifted his half-empty glass as Gregory Michaels, CEO of the newest Internet startup, walked by. Cocky S.O.B. he thought. They’d met at the last technology symposium. The brash young man had boasted of his assured success. Xian smiled and shook his head. The company was doomed. Their IPO had been a disappointment. If the software company didn’t capture market share soon, it would be a prime target for a takeover bid.
He surveyed the opulent ballroom taking another swallow of soda water before setting the glass down on a passing waiter’s tray. Alcohol and business never mixed and Xian needed to be alert. He caught sight of his date, Sung Yee, as she worked the room.
Xian smiled warily as he noticed the eyes of the other men in the room watching her every move. Her midnight hair, which was parted in the middle, fanned her face, making her appear more exotic.
Sung Yee loved the attention her looks brought her. In Hong Kong, she would have been one of many beautiful women. Here in San Francisco amongst the moneyed crowd, her exotic air made her stand out as she flitted from one powerful man to the next. She glided towards him with a pout playing on her red-tinged lips.
He slipped into Mandarin when she came to a stop by his side. “Enjoying yourself?”
Looking down into her almond shaped eyes, he wondered why he had never before seen their lack of warmth.
Sung Yee took a sip of white wine and smiled. “You don’t seem to be.” Raising an eyebrow, she continued in unaccented English, “What’s bothering you, Xian? Jealous?”
“No. Just tired.”
That was part lie and truth. He was tired of this. The games, the parties, the travel, the client events. Xian wanted nothing more than to be with his son. An image of Chou’s teacher rose in his mind. Alex. Such a strong name for a beautiful lady. Looking down at Sung Yee, he found himself comparing the two women and no matter how he looked at it, the woman in front of him came up wanting. Chou’s teacher had impressed him with the way she handled his son, and she’d also piqued both his mental and physical interest.
Every time he thought of her, his body responded. Yet hard on the heels of the idea of romantically pursuing Alex came the obvious reasons of why he shouldn’t. He wondered how this crowd would have reacted if he’d brought an African-American woman on his arm as his date.
He shook his head at the direction his mind had pursued. Here he was imagining all of these things when he doubted that she had even noticed him or was even interested in him outside of her relationship with his son.
“Xian, are you listening to me?” Sung Yee’s high-pitched voice interrupted his thoughts.
“What is it, Sung Yee?” He allowed a hint of displeasure to color his voice.
“I was asking if you would come with me to dinner on Saturday. My parents want to meet you.”
“I have other obligations.”
She waved her elegantly-manicured fingertips. “You can bring the boy.”
He clenched his teeth. “My son’s name is Chou.”
They had been seeing one another off and on for the past three months and she still couldn’t remember his son’s name. Again a comparison sprang to mind. During the dinner two nights before, Alex had made Chou laugh and smile. That Chou admired his teacher was obvious.
Beautiful, desirable, and great in bed, Sung Yee would make an excellent wife. She was the newest rising star at one of the West Coast’s top advertising companies and they moved in the same social circles. She would be an asset to him, but she would never be the mother his son needed.
“I’m leaving,” he said to Sung Yee.
“The evening just started. I need to be here to represent the firm,” she scolded, tossing her hair over her left shoulder.
Xian reached out and fingered her soft tresses. Then he dropped his hand, placed it in his pocket, and pulled out his valet check.
“Good night, Sung Yee.” He stopped as her hand grasped his arm.
“If you leave me here alone, it’s over between us,” she hissed.
He watched as her face flushed with anger, making her look even lovelier than before.
“Give my regards to your father,” he said coolly before striding away.
* * *
It was around ten-thirty p.m. when Xian arrived home. He pulled the car into the garage and pushed the button to let the garage door back down. He got out, opened the side door, and stepped into the kitchen, then made his way in semi-darkness to the front of the house and went upstairs.
Xian stopped at the second bedroom and stood in the doorway looking at his sleeping son. A lump formed in his throat. He stepped quietly into the room and placed a kiss on Chou’s head.
“He fell asleep at about nine, Mr. Liu.”
Xian turned to see the housekeeper Mrs. Lee standing beside him.
“Thank you for watching over him,” he whispered.
“You are very welcome. Chou is a good boy. He is no trouble. Not like my spoiled grandchildren.” She smiled, her soft eyes crinkling slightly. “I’ll go home now. Have a nice weekend.”
He nodded. “You do the same.”