chapter 3

Do you know who I am?

            The following day, Monday, at the Company.  James was busy the whole morning trying to get a lot of work done before his flight later in the day. Leo has also informed him that the “welcome lunch for the new employees, is booked at noon.

            Thinking of this, James once again remembered the night before when he followed his wife with that man back to where she lives.  He barely stopped himself from getting down from his car and beating that man to a pulp. He was holding the steering wheel so tightly while glaring at the two people who was saying their goodnights. It was a good thing they did not kiss, and parted with just a wave goodbye from Ai Sha as the man drive away, or he would have really lost it. 

            That was the first time he almost lost control of his himself. He is usually cool and dignified; and even when he gets angry he remains calm on the outside and appears unaffected. Last night, if not for his friend Jack’s voice of reason, he don’t know how far he would have gone.

            James has finally made up his mind, to claim his wife. However, knowing she is skittish and might run away again like in the past, he know he has to approach her carefully.

            Before noon, Ai Sha and the other four interns along with the five new employees were invited to attend a welcome lunch with the Boss. Ai Sha is not sure if she should go, but not wanting to offend anybody she could only go.

They were driven by a company van to a high end restaurant to the heart of the city. Upon arriving at the entrance to The Marco Hotel, which is one of the many five start hotels in the city, all of them could not help but looked around in wonder at the lobby while they were herded by a hotel staff into the elevators, in order to go to the restaurant located at the 30^th floor.  The interior of the Hotel lobby alone gives the impression of utter elegance, comfort and so much luxury, no wonder it’s rated five stars.

At the Restaurant, they were seated at a round table near the windows, which gives them a beautiful panoramic view of the city. To Ai Sha, this is the first time she is looking at the city from this point of view.  The height makes her a little nervous, and feeling like she have butterflies in her stomach she excuse herself to find the washrooms.

Upon returning at the table, she saw that there is only one seat left available, the seat she left earlier is already occupied.  She started to walk back towards the table, but quickly realized that the only seat available is right next to the Boss, Mr. James Go; who then turned to look at her approach.

Ai Sha quickly averted her gaze as she sat down next to James. She can feel the sudden pounding in her chest, and felt her hands getting cold and clammy but with her face feeling warm. She knows she is blushing furiously and this dismayed her as she cannot hide the blush on her face, even if she can hide any facial expression.

James on the other hand, with a smile on his face did not say anything directly to her. Instead he turned to look at all the other people with them and said “Leo already ordered some dishes, but please go ahead and order anything else that you want”

After saying this he then leaned back in his seat and put one arm at the back of Ai Sha’s chair. Everybody else turned to the menu in their hands and got busy. Ai Sha tried to do the same, but suddenly felt a breath near her right ear and heard “Do you know who I am?”

If one of her colleagues looked up at that moment they would think they were a couple. James’ pose appears proprietary.

At this soft question and the sensation of a breath near her ears, Ai Sha turned her head and realized James is suddenly very close to her, she froze for a moment before finally stammering a reply “Ahhm, you...you are Mr. James Go our Boss and CEO of the company?”

“Is that all I am?” Ai Sha’s eyes widened at this follow up question; she is not sure what the Boss is asking her, or how he wants her to answer that.

“Do you remember a few years ago?”

“I...I’m not sure what you mean Sir...I mean, Mr. Go.” Ai Sha stammered. She can’t turn her head away. She feels like a prey at this moment, caught in the stare of a predator. At this point, her pounding heart which has just started to relax is once again pounding so loudly in her own ears, she wonders why no other person is looking at her and hearing the loud sounds of her heart.

“Are you sure about that Ms. Cua? Do you need me to remind you?” James unblinking stare made her more nervous. She finally turned and bowed her head to pretend looking at the menu, but she doesn’t really see what was written on it.

“I’m really not sure what you mean Sir.” She softly answered. After everybody has started ordering, Ai Sha did not order anything as she is not sure she can even eat at this point. James then started chatting with the rest of the other employees, asking them how they are adjusting to the working environment at the Company.

James air of nonchalance, puts the employees at ease, and pretty soon everybody else are chatting while starting to enjoy their meal as soon as it was served. While chatting, James picked up the chopstick next to his plate, which was prearranged by Leo, and started putting food in the plate in front of Ai Sha.

Everybody did not seem to notice this as they were all busy eating and chatting, however Leo, who was seated in the other side of the table could not take his eyes off what the Boss is doing.  He watch in amazement as his Boss leaned and said something to the woman next to him, whose face has turned so red and seemed to be doing her best to not look at his Boss; and again as he started serving food to the woman seated next to him.

Wondering what they could be talking about as he is too far to hear their conversation. Leo can only watch in increasing wonder, as the Boss continue to keep putting food into the woman’s plate, and from time to time leaning towards her to say something or pick a food from her plate to eat himself.

“Eat, or else I’ll think you don’t like the food or you want me to feed you”. At this soft declaration from James, Ai Sha had no choice but to start eating. She doesn’t really know what she is eating, she is so flustered at this point that she just do what he told her to do in order to avoid making a scene.

She was horrified the moment she saw him serving food into her plate. She looked around to see if any of her colleagues has noticed this; she doesn’t want anyone of them thinking she is trying to get close to the Boss, or that there is anything going on between them other than an employer-employee relationship. She sigh in relief upon noting that everybody seemed busy eating or chatting.

James on the other, can’t keep the smug look off his face. He feels so satisfied right now. Its feels right to have this woman next to him and eating the food he is providing her. He has never done this for any of his past girlfriends and he never felt the urge to do so; it’s usually the woman who serves him when he is out on a date.  However this woman seemed to bring out the caveman in him. Her innocent and vulnerable appearance makes him want to take care of her and make her happy.

At the end of the meal, James instructed Leo to ride with the employees in the Company van and find out if there is anything that the new employees may want to bring up about their work. As they were exiting the Hotel to file into the van back to the company; James discreetly took hold of Ai Sha’s hand, stopping her from following the others.

“There’s not enough space there now that Leo is riding with them. Come” James then started walking towards the high end black town car parked behind the Van. Ai Sha have no choice but to follow as James have a firm hold of her hand and seemed intent on dragging her with him.

Inside the car, Ai Sha sat on one side and tried to keep her face averted by looking out and pretending to be busy looking at the scenery. After a brief look at her, James did not say anything, he started reading some documents right after the car started travelling back to the company.

Ai Sha did not know when she fell asleep, but she woke up when the car stopped and she realized she is outside her boarding house.

“Go home, get some rest. The others are all given an early off today as well.” James said while looking at her with amusement dancing in his eyes. Before Ai Sha could get out of the car, James continued

“Try to remember who I am.  Our earlier conversation is not over yet” With this Ai Sha feels flustered again. She did could only stammer a hasty goodbye before quickly getting out of the car which the driver has already opened without her noticing.

            The rest of the week at the Company went smoothly. Ai Sha, is now getting the h