Chapter 16
16
Friday 18 March
7:20 a.m.
Woke up with a goofy grin on my face. Don’t remember the last time I had sex B.O. (Before Orson, clearly). Feels like this is the beginning of a magnificent chapter of life, one in which the cure for cancer will be found and democratized, politicians will work for the people, looted antiquities will be returned to their homelands, etc.
8:15 a.m.
Have decided that I won’t tell Linda or Melissa or anyone else I know above the age of twenty-six about my shag session, much less date, with Orson. They would never understand.
8:30 a.m.
Greeted everyone I saw in the office with a big, loved-up smile, which of course made no difference since most of my fellow lawyers are dead inside or too busy to notice a change, but my walk of triumph did not go unnoticed by Kai, who gave me an actual thumbs-up when she saw me.
Am happy for you that the “networking” session went super well *wink emoji*
, she messaged me a few minutes later.
I smiled fondly at my screen. Kai was a dear. I called her and we had a giggly five-minute call where I told her the redacted, sanitized story. I didn’t care that Suresh was in the room; I had to tell someone about my date.
Suresh was moody after that call. Instead of congratulating me, he seemed decidedly displeased. “I don’t even need to hear all the
details to know you’ve already made a mistake with that boy,” he said in this condescending tone. He’d obviously been eavesdropping on my coded conversations with Kai.
“What’s it to you?” I said defensively.
His expression was unreadable. “I’m just looking out for you, that’s all.”
“Right.” I raised an eyebrow. “I think maybe it’s inappropriate for you to comment on my private affairs. Time to establish some boundaries.”
He got up and left the room abruptly.
Men! You share an office with them and they think they have a right to stick their nose in your business.
8:50 p.m.
Had dinner with Suresh at an expensive sushi bar in Fullerton Hotel (his treat); he’d apologized earlier in the afternoon and wanted to make it up to me. He was rather quiet. Over California rolls, sashimi, and a bottle of sake, he mentioned casually that things with Anousha were going south over the proposed move to Singapore. “She’s just been offered a promotion and thinks it’s a bad time to move.”
He hasn’t seen Anousha in over two months. Hmmm.
9:45 p.m.
No text from Orson still. Hmm.
11:05 p.m.
Was flicking through Tinder profiles to pass time (Candy Crush what?) and came across one that was particularly interesting for all the wrong reasons: Jonathan Beh, Genevieve’s husband,
was on Tinder!
#shockhorrorgasp
Very cunningly he was using only side profile shots of himself (taken at least a decade ago), sporting large designer sunnies on those where he faced the cam shirtless, with artistic filters thrown in for good measure. I had only seen Jonathan twice, but I knew it had to be him. What gave him away was the last picture he took where
he was draped casually across the hood of a massive sports car. I’d recognize this car anywhere, not least because: (a) it was a customized yellow Lamborghini with black racing stripes that Genevieve had driven to the office quite a few times, and (b) it had vanity plates reading “BIGGBEHH” that he’d stupidly forgotten to blank out.
His bio claimed that he was a carefree dreamer and philanthropist, instead of the adulterer he aspired to be. “I’ll treat you like a princess . . . because you deserve it, and I can certainly afford it,” boasted his profile. “Ladies always tell me that my heart isn’t the biggest thing about me *wink emoji*—I meant my wallet, of course!”
I threw up in my mouth a little before taking a screenshot of this gift from God and keeping it in my Google Drive. Just in case.
11:45 p.m.
No text from Orson yet. Very strange. For the last week or so we’ve been communicating every day.
11:48 p.m.
I should chill. It’s only been a day.
Saturday 19 March
5:35 p.m.
Hmm. Nothing. Maybe he’s traveling and doesn’t have good cell phone coverage.
8:20 p.m.
There’s still Wi-Fi though. He should have texted or called by now.
10:40 p.m.
I have got to stop checking my texts.
Sunday 20 March
11:55 p.m.
OK, something is definitely up.