Episode 10: Well, Well, Well

Part 1: Of ALL the Places

Sensing she was being watched, Nari lifted her head from the menu.

Four pairs of eyes were staring at her.

And smiling.

Confused, she smiled politely back.

Then she noticed there was a fifth person sitting at the table.

A person she couldn’t see from her angle.

The man slowly turned around.

Gray eyes met hers.

Her stomach promptly dropped to somewhere near her knees.

Then somersaulted into her throat.

Ryú.

For one suspended moment, neither of them moved.

Neither one looked away.

The rest of the café seemed to fade into the background.

Nari felt the breath leave her lungs.

Of all the cafés.

Of all the restaurants.

Of all the places in town.

How was he here?

Across the room, Ryú was having a similar problem.

He had imagined seeing her again.

He had imagined calling her.

He had even imagined himself asking her out.

He had NOT imagined turning around and finding her sitting twenty feet away looking like every dangerous thought he had had since yesterday.

The surprised look on Nari’s face was almost comical.

Surprise.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Then something else,

Something that reminded him of a startled deer contemplating whether to flee or not.

Arjun looked between them and started laughing.

Leaning towards Lakshmi, he lowered his voice.

“Oh, they are absolutely goners.”

Lakshmi’s grin widened.

“And they don’t even know it yet,” she said.

“I know.”

She glanced toward Nari.

“Look at her.”

Arjun followed her gaze.

Nari’s eyes hadn’t left Ryú’s for a second.

Not once.

Meanwhile Ryú looked like he had forgotten how breathing worked.

Lakshmi covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

“Her eyes are only on him.”

Arjun nodded.

“Yes.”

“And she looks like a rabbit deciding whether to bolt or freeze, and hoping not to be seen.”

“A very beautiful rabbit.”

Lakshmi elbowed him.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.”

Across the room, Nari finally remembered how to breathe.

Unfortunately, that only made her more aware of the fact that Ryú was smiling at her.

And Lord help her….

That smile was just as devastating as she remembered.

Collecting her thoughts, Nari took a slow, calming breath.

Then another.

She suddenly wished she had listened to her brother this morning.

Because unfortunately…

Fate appeared to have other ideas.

Straightening in her chair, she smiled warmly and lifted her hand in greeting towards the entire table.

When she did, the atmosphere around her seemed to brighten.

The smile wasn’t flashy.

It wasn’t seductive.

It wasn’t practiced.

It was simply warm.

Genuine.

The kind of smile that immediately made her patients relax and feel safe.

At the table, Sherry’s hand went to her chest.

“Oh my, she is lovely.”

Lakshmi nodded in immediate agreement.

Across from them, Newport stared for a moment before shaking his head.

“My friend,” he said solemnly.

Ryú didn’t look away from Nari.

“Hmmm?”

“If you don’t snatch that woman up, I might have to divorce the love of my life right here just to have a chance with her.”

Sherry gasped dramatically.

“Newport James Walker!”

The giant chef immediately wrapped an arm around his wife and kissed her temple.

“Now, now, my sweet.  You know you’re stuck with me.”

“I’d better be.”

“But you have to admit,” Newport continued, gesturing towards Nari.  “That woman’s smile is like nectar from the GODS.”

A low sound rumbled from Ryú.

The whole table went silent.

Newport blinked.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

His head turned towards Ryú.

Ryú finally realized everyone was staring at him.

“What?”

Newport pointed at him.

“Did….”

He pointed again.

“Did you just growl at me?”            

Arjun immediately lost all composure.

Coffee nearly coming out his nose.

Lakshmi buried her face in her hands.

Sherry looked delighted.

And Newport?

Newport burst into booming laughter.

“Oh My GOD!”

The chef slapped the table.

“He did!”

“I did not.”

“You growled.”

“I cleared my throat.”

“Like a territorial wolf.”

“Like a dragon guarding his treasure from a thief.”

Ryú glared at him.

Unfortunately, that made Newport laugh even harder.

Across the room, Nari had no idea what had been said.

But judging by the laughter erupting from the table and Ryú’s thunderous face…

She had a feeling Ryú was somehow the recipient.

And the sight of him looking exasperated while everyone around him laughed only made her smile wider.

“Serves him right.  Whatever he did.  Disturbing me before I had even had something to eat,” she said to herself.

Unfortunately for Ryú, the morning wasn’t finished testing him yet.

A single male in the restaurant saw Nari smile and immediately found himself captivated.

The kind of smile that made people want to know the person behind it.

The movement near Nari’s table caught Lakshmi’s attention first.

Her grin immediately widened.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

Arjun followed her gaze.

Then started laughing.

A man from another table not far from her had noticed her smile.

And apparently decided he needed to introduce himself.

The man straightened his shirt, ran a hand through his hair, and confidently made his way to her table.

A moment later, he was standing beside her table.

Nari looked up at him, breaking eye contact with Ryú.

“Excuse me, but is this seat taken?”

Nari glanced at the empty chair quizzically.

“No.”

“Thank you.”

Nari raised an eyebrow at his presumption as he sat down without being asked but didn’t say anything.

Across the room, four heads slowly turned towards Ryú.             

His expression had gone blank and still.

Which never bodes well… for anyone.

The man said something.

Nari laughed softly.

Ryú’s jaw tightened.

Arjun immediately lost control…again.

“Oh, this is fantastic! I am SO glad he suggested breakfast.”

Lakshmi was no better.

“This is better than television.”

Across from them, Newport pointed towards the scene.

“See?”

Nobody answered.

“See?” he repeated.

Still no answer.

“WHAT DID I TELL YOU?!?”

Sherry patted her husband’s arm.

“Hush.”

“No, I will not hush.”

He pointed again.

“I told him somebody was going to snap her up.”

The man at Nari’s table pulled out the empty chair across from her.

And sat down.

The table erupted.

“OHHHH!”

Arjun slapped the table.

Lakshmi nearly choked on her coffee.

Newport looked delighted.

Sherry looked scandalized.

Ryú…looked murderous.

“My friend,” Newport said gently.

No response.

“My friend.”

Still nothing.

“Ryú?”

Finally, he turned.

“WHAT?”

“You look like you’re about to commit a felony.”

Ryú’s gaze immediately returned to Nari.

And to the stranger who had sat down and was still talking to her.

Still smiling at her.

Still occupying a chair that Ryú had suddenly become very invested in.

A soft laugh escaped Nari.

Ryú stilled.

Another laugh came from her and that was his undoing.

Without a word, Ryú slid from the booth.

The entire table went silent.

He straightened his jacket.

Then he started walking over there with a purpose.

“Oh no,” Arjun whispered.

“Oh yes,” Lakshmi said.

Newport’s eyes widened.

“He is going over there,” Lakshmi said.

“He is definitely going over there.” Arjun agreed.

“Is he…stalking?” Newport said.

“Well, that looks definitely more than walking.”

“He IS stalking over there.”

Sherry immediately sat down.

“You’re right, this is better than television.”

“Nobody move,” she said.

The entire table watched the scene unfolding before them—a suddenly possessive man realizing another man was making a move on the woman he wanted.

Because in all the years that they had known Ryú Luòng Alexander…

None of them had ever seen him behave like this.

And frankly…

It was pure gold.

Episode 10 Part 2: WTF?

Nari saw him approaching and her smile faltered slightly.

Oh no.

He had a look about him.

It stated that he had made a decision and everyone else was simply going to have to live with it.

Before she could decide whether to laugh or run, he reached her table.

A warm hand settled on her shoulder.

The gesture was casual enough.

But possessive.

Entirely too familiar.

And devastatingly effective.

Her heart somersaulted.

“Nari,” he said smiling down at her. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

Then those cool gray eyes shifted toward the man sitting across from her.

The temperature around the table immediately dropped ten degrees.

“I’m Ryú Alexander.”

The smile that never left his face… was cordial.

The eyes, on the other hand…said leave.

“And you are?”

The young man’s face went pale.

Very pale.

“Mr. … Mr. Alexander.”

He immediately stood up.

“My name is Thomas Miyahasi.  I’m one of your junior executives in the Marketing Department.”

Ryú’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

“Marketing?”

The young man swallowed.

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Kai St. Claire is your supervisor?”

Nari nearly rolled her eyes out of her head.

He knew exactly who the young man’s supervisor was.

Thomas apparently knew that too.

“N̶ not my direct supervisor, sir, but yes.”

“Ah,” was all he said.

Ryú extended his hand.

The two men shook hands.

Then, much to Nari’s annoyance, Ryú’s hand returned to her shoulder.

Thomas’s eyes followed Ryú’s hand as it returned to her shoulder.

The look in his eyes said he understood clearly… ‘Off Limits.’

She looked at his hand then up at him.

Ryú just smiled down at her.

She squinted her eyes.

“Well,” Thomas said, suddenly finding that he needed to be somewhere else, “it was nice meeting you, Nari.”
He smiled politely, furtively glancing at Ryú, “I hope I see you again sometime.”

Then he turned.

And fled.

Absolutely fled.

Back toward his table.

Nari watched him go.

“Coward,” she said under her breath.

Then slowly turned her head toward Ryú.

Who calmly sat down in the now vacant chair.

The one Thomas had just occupied approximately ten seconds ago.

Like he was reclaiming his rightful throne.

Ryú smiled pleasantly at her.

Nari narrowed her eyes again.

“What the hell was that?”

His expression turned into complete innocence.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“That.”

“What?”

“That.”

Ryú blinked.

“I did nothing.”

Nari stared at him.

Then pointed at him.

“That blatant display of male testosterone and ‘mine, stay away’ energy you just pulled.”

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

His smile widened.

Nari squinted harder.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“You practically peed on the table.”

Ryú choked.

Actually choked.

For the first time since sitting down, his composure cracked completely.

Across the restaurant, Arjun slammed both hands over his face.

Lakshmi folded forward, laughing.

Newport nearly fell out of his chair.

And Sherry immediately demanded to know what she’d said.  She couldn’t hear a word she had said.

Ryú lowered his voice.

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“I introduced myself.”

“You marked territory.”

“I did no such thing.”

“Your hand was on my shoulder.”

“It was a friendly gesture.”

“You glared at him.”

“I did not.”

“He looked like he needed counseling when he left.”

He grinned.

“I was being polite.”

Nari leaned forward.

“So is a rattlesnake before it bites.”

For a moment they simply stared at one another.

Then…

To her immense irritation…

Ryú laughed.

A real laugh.

Warm.

Rich.

Completely unapologetic.

And damn him, she felt it somewhere in the pit of her stomach.

Just as quick, she found herself fighting not to smile.

Which only made him grin wider.

“Oh no,” he said.

“What?”

“You smiled.”

“I did not.”

“You absolutely did.”

And just like that…

The battle lines were drawn.

EPISODE 10: Part 3: He Needs Saving

Across the restaurant, Arjun watched the exchange for another thirty seconds.

Then shook his head.

“Nope.”

Lakshmi looked up at her husband.

“What?”

“We better go save him from himself.”

Newport immediately looked interested.

“Why?”

Arjun pointed towards Ryú.

“Because he looks like he’s about thirty seconds away from getting his ass handed to him.”

Lakshmi followed his gaze.

Nari was still glaring at Ryú.

Ryú was still grinning.

Neither looked remotely willing to surrender.

“Oh, this is absolutely his fault.”

“One hundred percent,” Arjun agreed.

“He started it.”

“He absolutely started it.”

Newport looked delighted.

“Then why interrupt?”

“Because I need him alive and focused to help me run the company on Monday.  I can’t have him unfocused like he has been these last two weeks.”

Sherry burst out laughing.

Lakshmi slid out of the booth first.

“Come on.”

“Oh no,” Newport protested. “I’m staying right here.”

“Me too,” Sherry added immediately.

“This is better than television.”

Arjun pointed at them.

“You two are terrible people.”

“We know.”

“We’re okay with it.”

Lakshmi rolled her eyes but smiled.

Then she and Arjun made their way toward Nari’s table.

Nari noticed them first.

A tiny flash of relief.

When Ryú saw it, he turned to follow her gaze.

His expression immediately turned wounded.

“Oh, that’s nice.”

Nari raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You looked relieved.”

“I am.”

“That hurts.”

“It should.”

A laugh sounded beside them.

Both looked up.

Arjun stood there grinning.

Lakshmi wasn’t even trying to hide her amusement.

Ryú immediately groaned.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes,” Arjun said.

Turning toward Nari, he offered his hand.

“You must be Nari.”

Nari looked at the offered hand.

Then at Ryú.

Then back at the stranger.

An eyebrow slowly rose as she shook his hand.

“Should I know you?”

Arjun laughed.

“Probably not.”

He offered a friendly smile.

“Arjun Rhaminjin. Ryú’s business partner and oldest friend.”

“Arjun Rhaminjin? The Sleeping Tiger?”

“Sleeping Tiger?”

Arjun looked puzzled.

“Kai seems to have given us nicknames,” Ryú said on a sigh.

“He says you are quiet and stealthy.  No one sees you coming until it’s too late.  He calls Ryú the Dragon of the Boardroom, unadulterated power with the finesse of a snake,” Nari provided.

Arjun blinked.

Lakshmi blinked.

Both burst into laughter.

“That sounds like Kai.”

Lakshmi stepped forward.

“I’m Lakshmi Rhaminjin, the Tiger’s wife.  It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”

Finally.

The word did not escape Nari’s notice.

“Let me guess.  Kai has been talking about me.”

Her eyes flickered briefly between Lakshmi, Arjun, and Ryú as she shook her hand.

A slow realization began forming.

“Oh, Dear GOD.”

“What?”

Nari pointed at Ryú.

“Has he been talking about me?”

The silence that followed was answer enough.

Ryú closed his eyes.

Arjun immediately started laughing.

Lakshmi looked delighted.

And Nari…

Nari suddenly understood why everyone in the restaurant seemed so interested in her.

“Please, won’t y’all have a seat,” she invited.

Ryú groaned.

A look of incredulity crossed Nari’s face.

She stared at all three of them.

Then at Ryú.

“He’s met me only three times.”

Arjun nodded.

“And he’s been talking about me?”

Another nod.

“The first time we met it ended with me being furious.”

Arjun’s grin widened.

“The second time I practically threw him out my office.”

Ryú rubbed a hand across his face.

“Nari…”

“And the third time was just yesterday.”

She looked at Arjun and Lakshmi.

Completely ignoring Ryú.

“What exactly could he have found to say about me?”

Arjun and Lakshmi exchanged a look.

The kind of look that immediately made Ryú nervous.

Very nervous.

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes,” Arjun replied.

“Arjun…”

“Mostly how beautiful you are.”

Ryú closed his eyes.

Lakshmi smiled.

“Your smile.”

“Lakshmi…”

“And how kind you were to everyone at the café.”

Ryú groaned.

Neither of them paid him any attention.

Arjun leaned back in his chair.

“Oh, and apparently your voice is like an angel.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Nari stared.

Lakshmi smiled sweetly.

“And your eyes were like molten gold when you were angry.”

Ryú looked as though he wanted the floor to open and swallow him whole.

“An angel? Molten gold?” Nari repeated.

Arjun nodded.

“An angel.”

“Arjun…”

“He said it.”

“I hate all of you.”

Lakshmi laughed.

“No, you don’t.”

“Right now, I do.”

Nari looked toward Ryú.

For the first time since meeting him, he looked completely outnumbered.

And completely embarrassed.

It was oddly endearing.

The conversation moved on after that.

At least for everyone else.

Nari found herself studying the man sitting across from her.

She still didn’t trust him.

She still wasn’t sure what his true intentions were.

She still wasn’t sure where any of this was going, and certainly not after only three meetings.

Maybe she had been wrong about him.

Maybe there was more to him than a polished businessman looking for another passing distraction.

No, she still didn’t trust him, but…

She was intrigued by this different side of him.

The embarrassed side.

The teasing-his-friends-and-being-teased-right-back side.

The side that smiled and lit his whole face up.

As if sensing her gaze, Ryú looked up.

Their eyes met.

For a moment neither looked away.

His embarrassment had completely faded.

Then that smile appeared again.

If anything, it only made that smile seem more genuine.

To her annoyance, she found herself smiling back.

Maybe getting to know him wouldn’t be so bad after all.