Novel Square
Chapter 20
We entered the club around 5:30 PM.
A different woman was waiting on the other side of the red door, but she still wore a black outfit – this time with thigh-high leather boots.
She started to welcome us, but Han cut her off. “Is Mei-ling here?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have her meet us at the bar,” Han said.
The woman nodded and walked off.
“Why does everyone automatically do what you say?” I asked as we made our way to the lounge area.
Han took a second, as if he was coming up with an answer. “We send a lot of business here.”
I wasn’t sure that was the entire answer, but I didn’t really care.
“You should be nicer to the staff,” I rebuked him.
He gave me that dead-eyed look of his. “Why?”
I was about to give him an earful when he looked past me. “Save the lecture. You’ve got company.”
I turned around and had to catch my breath.
Mei-ling was walking towards me. She wore a short emerald green dress that only reached halfway down her thighs, putting her amazing legs on display. Her long, dark hair spilled down her shoulders and back, and her toned arms were bare. Completing the ensemble were silver bracelets and strappy black stilettos.
The only thing about her that wasn’t entrancing was her pissed-off expression.
Before she could speak, I said, “I came to apologize and make a peace offering.”
She stopped in front of me and gave me a cool, appraising look. “A peace offering, hm?”
“Yes. Have you had dinner yet?”
“No.”
“Then I’d like to invite you to dinner.”
“I’m at work, Mr. Rosolini,” she said in a clipped voice.
“I’ll have you back in plenty of time for when the club gets busy. If you go with me, I promise you one of the best meals of your life – not to mention one of the most interesting experiences you’ve ever had.”
“I don’t know,” she said in a deadpan yet playful voice. “I’ve had lots of interesting experiences.”
“Then you’ll have the pleasure of mocking me over what I consider ‘interesting.’ Plus, you can exact any punishment you wish for my wasting your time.”
She raised one eyebrow. “Really.”
I smiled. “Within reason.”
She smirked – then turned her head to one side and looked at me distrustfully from the corner of her eyes. “This strikes me as a very conservative step back from your offer last night.”
“My offer last night was based on what I assumed were the rules of your club. My offer now is what I really want: to spend time with you. To get to know you.”
“And what if I said no?”
“Then I would ask again.”
I could tell she was trying to suppress a smile. “And what if I said ‘no’ again?”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
I took the slightest step forward – just enough to enter her personal space but not enough to be overbearing.
“Being told ‘no’ doesn’t bother me. In fact, I actually like being told ‘no.’ It heightens the pleasure when I get what I want.”
She regarded me for what another person might have described as an uncomfortably long time.
Personally, I loved staring into her eyes.
Then the corner of her mouth turned up the tiniest bit. “Ask me again.”
“Say yes,” I said with a smile so mischievous even Niccolo would have been jealous.
“No,” she replied.
“Say yes,” I said in a quieter, more commanding voice.
She held my gaze with playful defiance. “No.”
I stepped forward again – this time so close that I could’ve leaned down to kiss her.
I saw her eyes widen in surprise – plus a flicker of a shadow on her neck that might have been her pulse quickening.
“…say yes,” I said in a deep, seductive voice.
She swayed a little on her heels…
And then she inclined her head and gave a smile. “Alright.”
I grinned, then looked over at Han. He had watched the entire exchange like he couldn’t believe what was happening.
“I need to take the limo,” I told him. “I’ll come find you when I drop her off around 9.”
Han frowned. “I have to come with you.”
“Why don’t you just stay here and drink?” I suggested. “If Mr. Lau asks, tell him we spent the entire evening here at the bar. I’ll back you up.”
Han thought that over for a second, then nodded. “Alright. But be back by nine.”
“Yes, Grandma,” I said.
I took Mei-ling’s arm in mine and guided her away from the bar.
Han made a sour face, then turned back to his glass of whisky.
“What is he, your chaperone?” Mei-ling asked humorously.
“Not for the next three hours, he’s not.”