As he sat across the table from me, he laughed. "That’s good to know. You strike me as a woman who doesn't let anybody be the boss of her."
I smiled, glad that he recognized that in me. I needed to remember that. Sometimes it seemed like I let Noah get to me more than he should.
"Tell me in all this work you've been doing that you've been able to get out and see Hong Kong," he said as we waited for drinks to be delivered.
I shook my head. "I'm here on assignment. This isn't a vacation for me."
Marcus waived my comment away. "This is a technical issue and clearly Noah is the one who needs to be doing that. What are the odds that you will be able to come to Hong Kong again? Now that you're here, you should enjoy it."
I leaned back as the waitress set our drinks on the table.
"I would be very interested in giving you a tour of the city. And all its delights.”
As I sipped my drink, I looked over at him thinking he was very suave. There wasn't direct innuendo in his comment, but clearly, he was showing an interest in me. At least someone was, I thought.
"I really appreciate the offer, Marcus. And I'll admit I’m tempted because what I've seen so far has been fascinating. But I’m here to work and I’m very committed to Strong Incorporated."
"I wonder if Noah realizes the quality of woman he is working with?"
Again, I hid behind my drink as I t
hought Noah didn't notice anything about me. But I was pretty sure Margaret did.
"I don't work for Noah. I work for Margaret, and I feel confident that she appreciates my work."
He nodded. "No doubt. That's why you are such a dutiful and committed employee."
"I enjoy my work and who I work with." At least, most of the time.
"Surely Margaret wouldn't mind if you took a little bit of time to see the sites though. A committed employee like yourself deserves to have the opportunity to enjoy all that Hong Kong has to offer."
I shook my head. "I appreciate the offer, Marcus, I really do. But at this point I need to be focused on my work."
His phone chimed and he looked at the screen. "Excuse me for a minute I need to get this." He put some bills on the table and then he handed his card to me. "I'm going to go now but if you change your mind please give me a call. I would very much enjoy showing you the city." With that he walked away answering his phone.
I finished my drink and rose to return to my room, but then I thought, why? I'd completed all the tasks on my list already today. All there was to do up in the room was watch TV, or maybe take a soak in the tub.
Instead, I headed over to the bar and sat. Maybe I wasn't going to go out with Marcus, but that didn't mean I had to stay holed up in my room. If Noah was going out on the town to the clubs and womanizing, I could sit here and drink. I waved over to the bartender and ordered another drink.
Marcus was right about one thing. I was in a beautiful city halfway across the world. I should be enjoying it. Instead, I was feeling annoyed and rejected. Why would Noah kiss me like that and then run away? The only thing I could come up with was that he didn’t like the kiss. That thought hurt. Granted, I wasn’t like the women he normally was with, but I wasn’t inexperienced. The men I’d been with before never complained about my performance.
Of course, it had been a while since I’d dated since I was focused on my career. That had to explain why I’d even let him kiss me. I’d let all that negative energy morph into something sensual. That wouldn’t happen again. But clearly, I needed to start dating again if I was going to get into a situation in which Noah was appealing.
I thought of Marcus Chen. He was handsome and rich, just like Noah. But even better, he was showing an interest in me, I thought as I looked at the business card he’d given after we’d had drinks tonight.
I downed the next shot, disgusted at myself for pinning over Noah. I didn't even like him, so why was I so bent out of shape?
I continued to drink, switching to something less potent than shots, when I noticed a commotion on the television.
"What's going on?" I asked the bartender as I pointed to the television screen.
"There's some civil unrest, and out of an abundance of caution, the hotel is going to be going on lock down," he said in immaculate British-toned English.
"Are we in danger?"
He shook his head. "Not here at the hotel. It has nothing to do with us."
"How long will the left lockdown last?" I asked, thinking about Noah, who was at the office with Phil.