Chapter 22: Don’t Look At That Way
Scarlett didn’t seem to care that she didn’t have luggage on her. She took a seat next to Chuck, held up the coffee pot, and poured herself a cup of coffee. She smiled charmingly and said, “I don’t want to drag some heavy bags around. Especially not when you’ll leave me stranded and go off to talk to some woman or another.”
Chuck raised his eyebrows, “You really think I’m that kind of person?”
Scarlett shook her head and said, “I was just kidding. You’re the best friend. Thank you for doing this for me.”
Chuck took a look at her. “Come on. Don’t be happy now.”
As soon as they boarded the plane, Scarlett was ready to sleep. She had lost sleep for a few days, and now the comfort and security of leaving all those people and their rumors helped her relax. She slept, her body all twisted and awkward, in the small airplane seat.
When they arrived at the airport in Hong Kong, it was already dark outside. Scarlett pulled Chuck’s luggage reluctantly and followed him. The driver was already waiting at the taxi stand. Chuck got in the car first. The driver took the luggage from Scarlett and opened the door for her. She said “Thanks!” and quickly slipped inside the car.
Scarlett began to nod off right after she got in the car. Chuck couldn’t help but pinch her face. “Again? You just slept for 10 hours! Geez, you must really not be sleeping well these days…” Scarlett turned to Chuck and stared at him angrily, “I’d rather sleep than have to look at your ugly face, Chuck.” Chuck was stunned, “Aye, watch it.” Scarlett didn’t give in. She prepared her fist and gave Chuck a sudden punch on his left arm. When Chuck was about to fight back, Scarlett yelled out, “Gentlemen, never fight!”
Chuck burst out laughing,
“Are you a gentleman? Or me?”
“Neither…”
“Then that’s it!” Chuck kept pinching her. They fought and played just like siblings.
The driver looked at them and smiled happily, thinking of his own two children. Chuck had never met a girl as interesting as Scarlett. She smoked, drank alcohol, raced cars, and played snooker. He got along with her better than he did with any of his girlfriends. When they were together, he felt completely at ease. Chuck felt glad that they were good buds– best friends, even.
After they checked in to the hotel, Chuck took Scarlett to the top floor. There was a private and a delicately designed glass swimming pool exclusively for the VIP guests. From here, they could enjoy the perfect night view of Victoria Harbor.
Scarlett didn’t usually feel shy around Chuck. But thinking back to Chuck’s comments on her straight hair last time, she decided to just stay in her chair, all wrapped up in a bathrobe. No matter how Chuck tried to persuade her to get in the swimming pool, Scarlett stayed by the pool, just enjoying the views.
Chuck and Scarlett had great fun in Hong Kong, and Scarlett almost forgot what she’d been through at school. On the fifth night, Chuck took Scarlett to sit outside and enjoy the volcanic rock grilled steak. Chuck had put on a sharp suit. Scarlett also dressed up impressively. She ordered a purple silk dress from the boutique inside the hotel, and it suited her perfectly. She also rented a pearl necklace to accessorize the dress. The outfit added some Marilyn Monroe charm to her beauty.
Red wine, a starry sky, and endless beauty– it was like a romantic scene right out of a movie. But Scarlett and Chuck were just friends. While Scarlett’s romantic imagination went wild, Chuck couldn’t stop staring at the Latina sitting at the table next to theirs.
“Wow… you always just ignore me. Can’t you control your gaze at all?” Scarlett questioned him.
Chuck wiped his mouth with the napkin and said, “Geez, Scarlett, what do you want from me? I didn’t think you’d want my attention, especially when you can have the attention of any man around…”
Scarlett poured herself a glass of wine and knocked it back. She was angry and got ready to leave. Chuck poured another glass of wine for Scarlett and asked, “I heard you can speak a lot of languages. How about Spanish? Can you…”
Scarlett made a fake smile, “No way, dude. Don’t even think about it.” Chuck took a sip, “1, 000 dollars, deal?” Scarlett sneered. Chuck then looked at Scarlett and said, “The pearl necklace on your neck is yours, is that alright?”
“Gracias, señor.” (“Thank you, sir.”)Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Scarlett got up with a smile. She fixed her hair and followed the Latina. She whispered a few words in her ear while pointing in Chuck’s direction. The girl smiled, then turned around and gave Chuck a wink. Then she left.
Scarlett came back and said proudly, “I told that beautiful woman that you are rich and handsome and a total airhead.”
Chuck almost spat his wine out in anger. He stared at Scarlett with steely eyes.
“Don’t look at me that way. I’ve told her your room number. If she is interested in you, she will definitely come!” Hearing these words, Chuck immediately stood up and left for the hotel.
***
After about half an hour, Scarlett received a text from Chuck. “Don’t come back to the room tonight.” Scarlett stood in the lobby, dumbfounded. For security reasons, she and Chuck lived together in a presidential suite these days. Although they shared the same suite, they had their own separate rooms. But now, he was hooking up with some girl and left her locked outside. Her passport and license were both in the room, and she wasn’t sure if the front desk would give her another keycard or room without any identification.
Scarlett spent half an hour explaining to the receptionist what had happened, but she was refused. Scarlett felt desperate and gave up. She decided to sit in the lobby and wait until Chuck and the girl were done. While sitting on the sofa, she noticed that there were several pairs of flirting eyes on her. She pulled her dress and adjusted her posture to stay cold and indifferent.