Chapter 25

An hour later, once they'd finished with their meals and were now just chatting about men, Soriya brought up the name Jeremy White again. She was very persistent where her sister's love life was concerned.

"What is this?" Nikki cocked her head to one side, giving Chan a look. "You went out on a date and didn't tell us. You never go out on dates."

"Just one. Just last week," Chan said in defense. "And there was nothing really to tell."

"But we can totally tell," Dara said, "that he's really into you."

"I agree with that one," Soriya said. "He is so going to ask you out again. I can feel it in my belly."

The girls laughed at her comment.

"Your belly, huh?" Isabella asked, cocking her head to one side.

Just then, Chan's phone rang. She glanced at it and frowned because, apart from her sisters and friends who were currently surrounding her, no one had her new number yet.

Soriya leaned over to look at the name on the screen and said, "Holy shit! Speak of the devil."

"Oh my God! It's Jeremy. Pick it up. Pick it up," Dara demanded.

Nikki got excited and tapped on the table. "Talk to him, Chan."

She took a deep breath and said into the phone, "Hey."

Dara, Soriya, and Nikki leaned in, trying to listen. When Isa frowned and slapped at Nikki's arm to mind her own business, the three girls reluctantly gave Chan some space. Georgie and Alex looked at each other and laughed. Ruby shook her head.

On the other end of the line, Jeremy said, "Chan? Hi, what are you doing now?"

"I'm out with my friends," Chan said.

"Sounds like fun."

Chan looked up at her friends. Alex, Ruby, Georgie, and Isa were talking about Andy now. Nikkita, Dara, and Soriya were still watching her.

"Yeah, they're great."

She heard Jeremy clearing his throat, and then he paused. "So anyway, I was just wondering."

"Yes, Jeremy?"

"I was wondering if you would like to come out with me again this Sunday."

"You mean tomorrow?"

"Yeah, tomorrow, for dinner at The Twilight."

"The Twilight?" Chan asked. "The Twilight Restaurant?"

At the mention of this fancy eatery, the girls looked at one another, excited.

"Yeah. Are you keen?"

"Jeremy? Is it all right if I call you back?"

There was a long pause, and then he said, "Sure."

"Okay, bye then," Chan said and hung up.

"What was that?" Nikki asked. "You say yes the moment a guy asks you out. Unless, of course, if the guy happens to be a dick."

"I don't know, but I told him I'll call him later," Chan said.

"Are you playing hard to get?" Isabella asked.

"Chan doesn't have time to play hard to get," Soriya said. "The guy is perfect. He's rich and hot. I've met him."

"Ooh-la-la, Chan darling, he sounds like a catch," Ruby said, winking.

"Come on, guys," Chan said. "Can we change the subject now?"

"The subject, darling," Nikki said adamantly, "isn't going to change until—Holy shit!" She swore loudly and then disappeared under the table.

The girls looked in her direction in surprise, wondering what she was doing.

"Nikki?" Alex asked. "What the hell are you doing?"

Nikki whispered, "The door!"

The girls looked at one another, expecting the other to kindly tell them what was going on. When no one seemed to know what Nikki was going on about, they all turned to look at the door. There they stared, awestruck. Because standing there at the entrance of the restaurant was a hunky Asian. He was tall with bronze skin and jet-black hair, with a body and face to die for. He was gorgeous!

"Oh my God. That guy is like an Asian god," Dara said.

"Nikki," Chan asked, "Why are you hiding?"

"He's Ethan Taylor, my asshole boss," Nikki whispered. "If he knows I'm here, I'm screwed."

Georgie said, "Your asshole boss Ethan Taylor is super hot, Nikki. You fall for all the hot dudes. Why not this one?"

Isabella chuckled enthusiastically. "I think it's just like Ruby said. It's fate they somehow have to encounter one another again here and now."

Ruby commented, "I can't wait until he sees her."

Nikki was pissed. "Oy! Whose side are you on? I'm your friend here and need help pronto."

"All right, Nikki. I'll call out to him for you. Just hold on to your pants," Ruby said jokingly.

Nikki glared, and Chan asked, "So you're telling us you sneaked out of work without telling him?"

"Yes," Nikki said. "I asked like a week ago for a day off. The bastard wouldn't let me. So what was I supposed to do? It's our first reunion in years. Besides, it's also Chan's belated birthday dinner party. I'd do anything to be here. I haven't seen you for ages. I've missed you so much, and that bastard is not going to stop me from coming to your party."

She took another peek and saw the hot Asian was coming in. "Shit!" She ducked below the table again.

Ethan Taylor met with his friends a few tables down, and Nikkita cursed. "I want to die, like right now," she said in frustration.

The girls laughed. They found her precarious situation amusing.

"How about we continue this reunion somewhere else?" Alex suggested. "What about the bar at the hotel."

"Yes," Soriya said. "Let's go."

The girls were just getting off their seats to go and pay when Nikki grabbed Chan's arm and said, "Please, shield me."

Chan smiled. "All right. Just walk behind me and make sure he doesn't see your pretty face and sexy body, because you know he might just change his mind once he sees how delicious you look right now."

Nikki raised a brow. "Change his mind about what?"

Chan chuckled. "From being a bastard boss to a nice boss, because you are kick-ass sexy."

Nikki snorted in disgust. "Like that will ever happen." She proceeded to hide behind Chan.

Isabella shook her head in amusement, and Alex said, "I'll pay for you."

Chan gave Dara her credit card and said, "Here, go and pay while I hide Nikki unsuccessfully from her boss."

"Huh?" Nikki looked more than a little startled at the teasing.

Alex chimed in. "Don't worry. I got it. Dinner is on me." That said, she headed off to the counter to pay for everyone. A chorus of thank yous from her friends followed.

Nikki pulled Dara's arm to cover her on the other side as they headed toward the door.

"Feeling safe now?" Isa asked, laughing. "That's what you get when you lie."

"Shut up, Isa," Nikki whispered.