Jessie Slaymaker's Non-Existent Love Life (The Jessie Slaymaker Series) (25 page)

Jessie could only imagine the wealth that some of these occupants possessed. For her, coming from a working-class family from a quiet English village, this was a completely different planet. Make that a completely different universe. Mr Chan’s driver turned off the main road and headed up a steep driveway for about another kilometre before a huge imposing house suddenly appeared out of the darkness.

‘This house belongs to Sonia’s uncle,’ Mr Chan informed Jessie as she closed her mouth, finding that it had fallen wide open. The house was a boxy three-storey modern marvel of architecture. All glass and white and light everywhere. Every part of the house and garden seemed to be tastefully illuminated against the night. Jessie felt automatically drawn to it like a moth to a lightbulb, which she guessed was the point of it all. Mr Chan politely assisted her from the car and they slowly made their way to the entrance. Jessie willed herself to be elegant and she said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t fall over on the gravel. Gravel and high heels were not a beautiful combination.

The inside of the house was exactly as beautiful as the outside. All smooth lines and surfaces, and incredibly expensive-looking furniture-slash-design-pieces. The place was also teeming with people, to Jessie’s surprise. Jessie couldn’t stop herself from scanning the room looking for any familiar faces, of which there were none. She hadn’t known exactly what to expect, but she’d assumed it was going to be a relatively small soirée, rather than a full-on couple-of-hundred-people gala. Hong Kong’s finest were all before her, quaffing champagne like it was water. Jessie noticed that there was no particular demographic here. Some guests were old, some were young, some fashionable, others more fashion victims, but the
one
thing they undoubtedly all had in common was that they were all seriously loaded.

Mr Chan expertly guided Jessie to a white sofa in one corner that had just become unoccupied. Jessie perched herself down rather uncomfortably, and cast a quick glance around to see that all the other rich people in the room were also struggling to get comfy on any of the numerous white sofas scattered around the place. Granted, they looked fabulous, but you wouldn’t want to come home after a hard day’s work and flop into one of these things. They’d more likely put your back out. Satisfied that she was as comfortable as she was going to get, she gave her full attention to Mr Chan.

‘So Miss Slaymaker, have you given any more consideration to our discussion the other day? If you have any questions, then I am at your service,’ Mr Chan said with a little chuckle.

‘First of all, please call me Jessie. Everyone calls me Jessie,’ she began smiling. There had been something she’d wanted to check with Mr Chan, but she’d wanted to discuss the matter of money in person with him. A waiter hovered nearby, proffering two glasses of champagne.

‘Perfect,’ Jessie smiled graciously at him. Truth be told, she had been wondering when some of that glorious-looking bubbly would be coming her way.

‘Did you receive the documents from my assistant?’ Mr Chan asked whilst she sampled her drink.

‘Oh yes, thank you very much for being so efficient. They arrived exactly when you said they would. And also thank you once again for considering me for this opportunity. I must confess, it did come as a bolt-out-of-the-blue and I still can’t quite believe it. If I may ask for a little more time, that would be greatly appreciated. I’m seeing my family this coming weekend and I should like to discuss with them before I give you my formal answer.’

‘Of course, take as much time as you need. Is there anything I can say that may persuade you to make a decision in our favour, Jessie?’ he asked charmingly, sounding the tiniest bit shy at using her first name.

‘You’ve done so much for me already and everyone I’ve met at the bank has been most professional and helpful. I must say, the more I think about living and working in Hong Kong, the more I like the idea. There is one thing though…’ Jessie began before trailing off, as she suddenly felt awkward bringing up the subject of money. Mr Chan smiled, waiting patiently for her to formulate whatever it was she was trying to say.

‘I’m slightly embarrassed to say this, and I don’t want to cause offense, but I think the salary details that were quoted in the offer letter were wrong.’

‘The offer was most generous. How much do you want, Miss Slaymaker?’ Mr Chan said in a cool tone, reverting back to professional titles, all trace of his smile gone.

‘Mr Chan, it is quite the contrary from what you think,’ Jessie began, feeling alarmed that she hadn’t explained herself coherently. ‘I looked at the numbers, and what you’ve offered me—taking into account the tax situation here—is an eighty-six percent increase on my current salary. That’s why I thought it was wrong,’ Jessie finished, taking a deep breath and hoping she’d rescued the situation. She didn’t even know for sure if she was going to take the job, but she really couldn’t bear the thought of causing this man to lose face, or worse still, think of her as a money-grabbing little so-and-so.

Mr Chan really chuckled now. He looked at her with real admiration.

‘Jessie, you have surprised an old man. You must forgive my immediate reaction. I’ve lived in this city for too long and it seems that most people I meet these days only want more money, regardless of whether they actually deserve it or not.’ Jessie returned his smile as she breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Believe me,’ Mr Chan continued, ‘the figures are right. I know this market a little better than you do right now, and what we have offered is only a fraction above the going rate. It seems that you may have been underpaid in recent years,’ he added almost conspiratorially.

After another ten minutes of pleasant conversation, Mr Chan excused himself to go in search of Sonia’s uncle, and he encouraged Jessie to mingle and mix with people of her own age. Feeling like a bit of a lost sheep, Jessie decided to stretch her legs and go for a wander around the house and grounds. She had much to think about. Mr Chan’s offer was real. She would have been lying if she’d said the money wasn’t a factor in it. A few years on the salary that he’d offered her and she’d be in a very comfortable position indeed.

Chapter 62

Jack hated parties. He especially hated Sonia’s super-massive parties which went on for hours and had an interminable number of idiots attending, all drinking too much and making utterly banal conversation. Sonia’s parties were legendary for being long, crowded, and a veritable black hole for all the booze that was consumed. This particular party was made even worse by the fact that Jack was in a foul mood. Things were not going according to plan. Not that he had much of a plan these days.

When he’d spoken with Sonia that morning, he’d decided to take some of Jessie’s advice and come clean to her about the agreement he’d made with her father all those years ago. Understandably, she’d been shocked and hurt. She’d been more pissed off with her dad, though, and had quickly seemed to write off Jack’s behaviour as that of a young man with something to prove to his family, in need of a leg up. That wasn’t what he’d been expecting at all. He thought she would have thrown her toys out the pram and had a good old-fashioned hissy fit at him. No such luck. Instead, she’d cried a bit, said some nasty things about her father, and had then thrown herself around Jack’s neck for comfort. She started whispering things like, ‘I won’t let him keep us apart,’ and ‘Nothing can stop us from being together now,’ which had the effect of turning Jack into a mute, lost as to what to do or say next.

Peeling himself free from her, he’d suggested that maybe she should cancel her party that evening, but she’d insisted it go ahead, as it would keep her busy and take her mind off her meddling padre. So this is where Jack found himself. At Sonia’s party, unsure of where he stood in terms of his relationship with the tycoon’s daughter. He guessed that in her mind they were a developing item, seeing as she seemed to be calling him every five minutes, and whenever he was nearby she’d drape herself all over him and continually find any excuse to touch him.

For the first time in his life, Jack didn’t know how to play a woman, and particularly how to treat this woman. Especially a woman whom he didn’t wholeheartedly want, but one whom he felt sorry for and somewhat obliged to stay on her good side. He still had no clue what Mr Shum was going to do to him, or even if he knew about what had transpired between him and his precious daughter. Chances were if he didn’t know already, he’d find out soon enough, seeing as Hong Kong’s glitterati were bound to notice Sonia hanging off Jack in her uncle’s house. The chances of keeping their dalliance under wraps were slim to none, Jack concluded.

Jack felt like a trophy as Sonia paraded him around the room, introducing him to this person and that. He’d crossed paths with many of them before and it never ceased to amaze him how many people extended their hand to him and said ‘nice to meet you,’ like it was the first time they’d ever clapped eyes on him. Being British, and therefore impossibly polite, Jack played along with the charade when all he wanted to say was ‘Actually we’ve already met; three times, in fact.’ Sonia was in her element. She literally sparkled from head to toe in a shiny gold floor-length dress which dipped almost to her navel and was slit to her hip. To call it daring would be an understatement.

After being introduced to the umpteenth person of the night and making more banal conversation with someone he had absolutely nothing in common with, Jack excused himself from Sonia’s little circle on the premise that he was going to refresh his drink. That’s when he saw her. Jessie. She was sitting alone, looking a little bewildered by her surroundings. Jack was about to make his way over to her when she abruptly stood up and started walking in the direction of one of the outside terraces. He found himself almost hypnotised and unable to not follow her out in the pleasant night air. As she walked, the evening breeze seemed to rustle the hem of her dress and ruffle her hair slightly. It was as though she had her own personal wind machine following her.

Jack admired her dress—and more to the point, the body inside the dress. As he followed her, he focused on the toned sexiness of her back and the way her dress accentuated the movement of her walk. She was dressed more demurely than some of the other party guests, but as far as Jack was concerned, she looked far more expensive. He followed her out onto the terrace, then stopped a few paces from her, suddenly unsure of what to say. She seemed to be in another world as she stared out at the Hong Kong city skyline in front of her.

He was about to turn and return inside, but she beat him to it. She looked up in surprise to see him standing there gawping at her like a complete and utter clown.

‘Hi,’ she said, stopping and standing still, giving him a small smile. Her dress did that rustle thing again, the blue fabric catching the light in an almost ethereal way.

‘Hi,’ he replied, conscious that he sounded like a monosyllabic imbecile.

‘I didn’t know you’d be here,’ he added, after a long pause of empty awkwardness.

‘Sonia invited me this morning,’ she replied, taking a sip of her drink. ‘Didn’t she tell you?’ Jessie added with a hint of a wicked smile.

‘No,’ he said, narrowing his eyes at her as he realised that he now knew what to say to her. All his brain wanted to do, not to mention his body, was flirt.

‘You look beautiful by the way,’ he said, taking several steps forward until he was standing over her.

‘Thank you. You scrub up pretty well yourself,’ she responded, smiling shyly, taking in his tuxedoed glory.

‘Did you come alone?’ he asked as he suddenly realised he didn’t have a clue what
she’d
been up to over the past few days, he’d been so engrossed in his own mess. She could have well and truly hooked up with Charlie, or someone else for all he knew.

‘No, actually I came with a certain Mr Chan, not that it’s any of your business,’ she replied, looking like the cat that got the cream. Jack knew she was teasing him, but he couldn’t stop the flash of jealousy that darted through him at the thought of another man accompanying this amazing creature.

‘What have you been up to the past few days? How’s work been going?’ he asked, attempting a casual tone. He’d missed the normality and ease of their conversation, when they weren’t debating matters of what Jack considered to be his life or death.

‘I have some exciting news, Jack,’ she said, and despite the darkness he could see she was glowing. She was breathing faster as well—he could see it in the rise and fall of her chest and the slight vibration of her gorgeous cleavage. Jack remembered that cleavage, all right. He was lost in memories when she prodded him to regain his attention.

‘What is it?’ Jack asked, not one bit embarrassed that she’d caught him ogling her chest.

‘Well, it’s about my job…’ Jessie started, then stopped as Jack’s face dropped and his eyes completely left hers. His attention moved to a set of steps behind her. Jessie turned to see what he was looking at, only to be practically blinded by a vision in gold. Sonia’s dress was playing off the lights and was absolutely dazzling.

‘Bloody hell,’ Jessie exclaimed as she clapped eyes on the full brilliance of Sonia in her daring dress. Or lack thereof. ‘You’ve done all right there, sunshine!’ she joked to Jack, clearly unsure of what else to say.

‘Oh, Jack, there you are darling,’ Sonia schmoozed as she reached them after gliding down the steps gracefully. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere. And Jessie, how nice to see you again. How are you?’ she added smoothly, her smile never once wavering as she came to air-kiss Jessie on both cheeks.

‘I’m very well, thank you, and I must thank you for inviting me to this incredible party,’ Jessie answered politely—if rather stiffly, Jack noted.

‘Oh, you’re more than welcome. Now, I’m afraid I must steal Jack away from you. There is someone I’ve been dying for him to meet. Jessie, why don’t you go and find Mr Chan? I think he was looking for you,’ Sonia said as though she were addressing a minion, before she grabbed Jack’s hand and led him away.