Beyond the Skyline

by Lise Gold

  “Did you buy it on your own?” She asked.

  “Yep,” Mel said. “I’ve never had any help from anyone, and I’m proud of that. I’ve worked my ass off to pay my way through university and to be able to buy my own place.” She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head. “And I’ll work my ass off for anything else that I want. Believe me. I’m the best person in the world to work with. I don’t cut corners.” Sophie laughed.

  “Well, that’s good to know. But I do cut corners. Sometimes, not always. So you’ll just have to grind your teeth and live with that.” She took the menu the attendant handed her and browsed over the selection of starters. If she wasn’t mistaken, she was starting to have a good time.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?” She asked, looking up from the menu. Mel shook her head and grinned, her dimples deepening.

  “Absolutely not. Never had one. Actually, my ex-girlfriend and I just broke up last month.” She shrugged and hastily added: “But I’m okay with it. I mean, I’m not a mess or anything. We were just too different; it would never have worked out.” Sophie tried to hide her surprise. Mel didn’t seem like the kind of girl who was into girls. But what did she know? Sophie didn’t have any gay friends in her inner circle. Most of her friends were married or engaged or pregnant with their first child.

  “I’m sorry. Were you together for long?” Mel shook her head.

  “It’s okay. We were together for a year but the past four months have just been a big blur of one argument after another. There was no fun in it anymore.” She leaned back, rearranging her pillow behind her neck. “In the end, we were living separate lives. I didn’t know what she was up to; she didn’t know what I was doing… It didn’t make sense anymore.” She lowered her voice and whispered. “We didn’t even have sex in the last four months. That’s crazy, don’t you think?” Sophie burst into laughter. She would have usually found the subject too intimate to talk about with someone she barely knew, but the champagne and the wine had already gone to her head.

  “You think that’s crazy? Are you serious? What if I told you I haven’t had sex in a year?” Mel’s eyes widened.

  “No. I don’t believe that. Why would you even do that to yourself?” She poked Sophie in the shoulder and leaned into her. “Pretty girl like you should have no problem getting laid, right?” Sophie blushed again and looked down at her menu.

  “I’m just not that bothered,” she said. “I’m quite happy on my own.” Sophie herself had lowered her voice too as if they were exchanging secrets. She couldn’t believe she was opening up to a stranger, but it felt right, somehow. Besides, it couldn’t really hurt, could it? It was just an innocent conversation.

  “My mother on the other hand,” she continued, “is not okay with it. She’s been desperately trying to set me up for the past couple of years. It’s the most annoying thing. Last week, she lured me over for Sunday lunch, and I arrived to find myself sitting next to their friend’s son, Aldo. The guy’s a total creep, but his parents were there too, and they practically cornered me until I finally agreed to go for dinner with him and his friend. He’s in Hong Kong this week too. I told him I’d bring you along if you wanted to come.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Of course, you’re more than welcome to, but I totally understand if you have better things to do. I know I don’t make it sound very appealing, but I’m just being honest here.” Mel laughed.

  “No way. Dinner with a creep? Maybe even two? Sounds tempting. Who would say no to that? Besides, it’ll be fun watching someone desperately trying to win you over all night, only to be blown off at the end of it. Great entertainment, right?” She gave Sophie a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry; I’ll come along. I can always fake food poisoning to get you out of there if you want me to. I never understood the whole concept of setting people up when they already know each other. If there’s no instant connection, chances are minimal there will ever be one.”

  Sophie was stunned by how well they seemed to get along. Mel was easy to talk to and without realizing it, she had already told her far more than she normally would.

  “So what about your family?” she asked. “Are your parents still together?”

  “Not exactly,” Mel said. “My father passed away a couple of years ago.”

  Sophie flinched. “I’m so sorry. Were you two close?” Mel shrugged.

  “I don’t know. Not close, I suppose, but I loved him. He was a good man and I know he loved me too, but the generation gap was too big. He never really got me and we didn’t talk very much. He was just someone who was always there, around the house, you know?” She noticed Sophie’s confusion and continued.

  “My mother came here from Brazil when she was twenty-one. She left her family and everything she had behind to work as a cleaner in a hotel in London. She met my father after a couple of weeks. Not in the hotel, though. They met in a pub. My father liked to drink and he spent most of his evenings at his local. I would say he was probably a functioning alcoholic. He was also fifty-two. Dirty old Englishman, basically. He left his wife for her. He didn’t have children then, or not that I know of. My mother was young and poor and lonely. It probably seemed like a reasonable solution at the time. They had me a year later and after that my two younger brothers.” She glanced at Sophie. “Sorry, I don’t usually hang my dirty laundry out, but you asked.” Sophie shook her head, gesturing for her to continue.

  “My mother stayed with him until he died of a heart attack. She’s traditional in that way. I always expected her to leave him at some point. Even at a young age, I understood that that was a very realistic scenario. But she never did. She was always loyal to him, despite his heavy drinking and gambling problems. It was a strange arrangement. My mother never seemed unhappy, just determined to make a good home for her family.” She smiled. “I’m proud of her. If it weren't for my mother, my life would have been a whole lot harder right now. That is if I’d been born at all. I would probably live in Rio, working as a waitress or a cleaner. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I’m happy I’m here.” Mel nodded, indicating she was done talking. “So that’s my story.”

  “That’s quite a story,” Sophie said quietly. “Your mother must be a strong woman. It’s a courageous thing to move to the other side of the world at such a young age.” Mel nodded.

  “She is. Now let’s see…” She studied the menu, clearly trying to change the subject. “I’m going to go with the courageous decision of having Mezze for my starter. What do you think?”

  7

  The long flight had been pleasant, and they had eaten, laughed and talked for hours on end until they both fell asleep. Mel’s presence hadn’t been weird or uncomfortable at all. On the contrary. Sophie had enjoyed every moment of it and couldn’t believe how rested she felt when they arrived at their hotel. The grand lobby was crowded with people in business attire. They were either checking in or out or were gathered around the tables with files and laptops, looking as corporate as one possibly could. Their dark suits were a stark contrast to the opulence of the large marbled room with glass chandeliers, velvet sofas and a wide ornamental staircase, which led to the dining area and terrace. Hotel porters in crisp white uniforms were running around with coats and luggage tags, collecting bags and leading guests to their rooms. In the far corner, a Chinese woman in a black sequined evening gown was playing classical music on a grand piano. The scent from the air freshener, used throughout the hotel was familiar to Sophie, although she had never been able to work out what the main ingredient was. She smiled. It felt like home here.

  “Wow. Nice place”, Mel said after they had checked in. She looked genuinely impressed. “Have you stayed here before?”

  Sophie nodded. “There’s a gym and an outdoor pool on the roof. It opens at seven in the morning. I love to have a swim before I start work. Want to go up and have a look? They’ll take our bags up to our rooms.” She gestured to the bellboys who were already stacking their suitcases onto a trolley. Mel nodded eagerly and
followed Sophie to the elevator to explore their home for the week.

  The sun had already begun to set when they finally sat down to have dinner. Sophie had asked for her favorite outdoor table, and they had a great view over the harbor and Central. She loved how the warm wind felt on her skin, welcoming her back after six long months.

  “I love it,” Mel said. “This trip is already way better than what I’m used to. And this dinner…” She grinned. “This dinner is already way better than any of the dates I’ve ever been on.” Sophie raised an eyebrow.

  “Were they that bad?” Mel shrugged.

  “The dates or my business trips?”

  “Both.” They laughed and Mel held up a finger as if she was about to make an announcement.

  “Well, first of all, I’ve never been taken out for a fancy dinner. My dates have always been more casual. You know, like the pub or a movie. Not that it bothers me, I’m not a high maintenance kind of girl.” She giggled. “But still… this is great. Even though it’s not a date, of course.” They both laughed, and Mel gazed out over the water. The reflection from the lit-up sky-scrapers on the other side of the harbor cast a colorful glow over the dark ripples of the water, resulting in a surreal-looking dreamscape.

  “It’s impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. And then there are the candles, the wine…” She pointed at the basket in between them. “And this bread. Oh my god, how good it this bread?” She tore off another piece of rosemary flatbread and soaked it in the olive oil. “And as far as my business trips went,” she continued after swallowing her mouthful of bread, “the hotels certainly weren’t as fancy as this one, and I usually had to work over the weekends. On a couple of occasions, I even worked three weeks on end without downtime. A lot of the factories we worked with in India were in impoverished regions, so it was quite a sad environment to be in. In some places, I didn’t even feel like venturing out or exploring because I couldn’t face the misery outside the walls of my hotel. It was so incredibly sad. The kids, and the animals… I couldn’t do it anymore. That’s why I wanted to leave.” Sophie noticed a tear in the corner of her eye, but Mel shook it off and straightened her shoulders.

  “Hey, you can’t help them all, right? Hong Kong almost feels like a holiday compared to my Bangalore trips.” She lifted her wine glass and clinked it against Sophie’s.

  “Well, I guess I’ve always been quite lucky that way,” Sophie smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Hong Kong is a great place. We’ll have Wednesday morning off so I can show you around if you like? Maybe take a trip to Lantau or Stanley, or go to the beach? And I know some great markets that are open until midnight. Unless you want some time to yourself,” she hastily added. “You might not want to be stuck with me all week.”

  “No, no. Not at all,” Mel said, waving a hand. “I’m so happy that you know your way around. And it’ll be fun, right? I feel like we get along." Sophie waited for the waiter to top up their wine.

  “I’m sorry if I made you feel unwelcome,” She said, shaking her head. “It was childish of me to compare you to Maggie. That’s not a fair start for anyone. But I promise you I’m not a terrible person and I’ll help you as much as I can until you’ve settled into your job.”

  “That’s okay,” Mel said. “I kind of understand. Where is she going anyway?” Sophie sighed.

  “She’s moving to New York next month. Ralph Lauren. Her boyfriend is American, so I doubt she’ll ever come back if everything goes to plan. They’ll probably get married soon and live the American dream with two babies, a puppy and weekends in the Hamptons, or whatever it is they do over there.” Mel leaned in and put a hand on Sophie’s arm.

  “Well I guess this is a new start for the both of us then, so let’s make it a good one.” She smiled at Sophie and held her gaze with her intense green eyes. Sophie felt that awkward feeling in her stomach again. It happened every time Mel looked at her in that way. Mel was stunning, and perhaps it was her ravishing beauty that made her slightly nervous. Sophie had found herself staring at her on more than one occasion during their journey, and she was afraid to come across as a weirdo. Because for some reason, it mattered to her what Mel thought of her now. She wanted Mel to like her, and she wanted them to get along. She quickly redirected her gaze towards the harbor and went to twirl a non-existing lock of hair around her finger.

  “You do that a lot,” Mel noticed. “Did you recently cut it?”

  “Yeah. Not quite used to it yet. I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself, you know?” Mel nodded.

  “I know how it feels. I shaved my head once, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a good look for me.” Sophie gasped and almost choked on an olive.

  “You? Shaved your head?” Mel’s thick curly long locks were so defining that she couldn’t imagine her without them. Without thinking, she reached out and let her fingers run through the silky hair surrounding Mel’s face.

  “I know,” Mel said. “Never again. I like short hair though. I think it looks hot. It just doesn’t work for me, so I’ll have to live with this for the rest of my life.” Sophie realized her hand was still in Mel’s hair and quickly pulled it back.

  “I love your hair,” she said. “I’ve been staring at it since I met you, wondering if it was real.” Mel looked down and smiled, rolling up the sleeves of her oversized white shirt.

  “Thanks. It’s real.” Sophie could have sworn she was blushing, but she couldn’t be sure, as their table was only dimly lit by a couple of candles and the fairy lights in the palm trees above them. Their food arrived, and Mel attacked her steak as if she was on a battlefield.

  “Sorry if I eat like a pig,” she laughed. “I’m starving. Must be the time difference.”

  “Me too,” Sophie mumbled through a mouthful of sea bass. “I’ll take you out for some great Cantonese food this week, but I was just too tired to go anywhere tonight.” A headache was threatening to kick in, and she knew it would get worse if she didn’t go to bed soon, even though she wouldn’t be able to sleep for a while. “We’ve got a busy week ahead. Tomorrow, we’ll be in the office, which is a ten-minute walk from here. It’s that tall building with the green neon lights,” she said, pointing at a skyscraper. “You might feel as if you’re working in the dark, but I’ll help you out as much as I can. After Maggie had resigned, she was immediately dismissed from the office, so she didn’t exactly have the chance to leave notes behind. We’ll both have to improvise a little bit, but I’m sure it will be fine. Then there’s the end-of-season office lunch, which is an important tradition to the employees here. It’s going to be a long one, but it’s good that you’ll get to talk to everyone and get to know the people you’ll be working with. Tuesday we’re going to one of the factories in China and Wednesday we’ve got a late start. Two pm, I think. We have to wait for the new prototypes to come in from China, so there’s no point in us being there. Thursday we’ve got another factory visit with fits in China and on Friday we’re going for some inspirational shopping to get ideas for the new season. Maybe we could visit some pop-up stores and galleries?” Mel nodded eagerly with another mouth full, and Sophie giggled at the sight of her while she continued.

  “And let’s not forget about our double date on Friday night. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but it should be interesting.” Mel laughed.

  “Sounds peachy. You seem to have a plan, so I’ll just follow you around like an obedient puppy.” After they had finished the bottle of wine, Sophie leaned back, yawning.

  “I’m sorry for being so boring,” she apologized. “But I think I need to go to bed.” To her surprise, Mel stood up from the table and gave her a hug.

  “Thank you,” she said. “You’ve made me feel a lot less nervous about this week, and I’m excited to get started tomorrow.”

  “You’re welcome,” Sophie stammered. “I had a good time tonight.” Her body seemed to react in strange ways whenever Mel’s skin touched hers. The old familiar picture of Cat’s face so close to
hers flashed through her mind, and she shrugged it off. Don’t think about it. This is different. Everything is different now. She walked away from the table and hurried to her room. She felt cold and sweaty at the same time and was dying for a shower. No point fretting over it. She was probably just jet-lagged and giddy with exhaustion. That was all.

  8

  “Did you sleep well?” Sophie asked when Mel sat down at the breakfast table on the terrace. Mel wore a sleeveless denim shirt and a frilly skirt that bounced around her bare legs when she walked.

  “Like a baby.” Mel threw a pile of newspapers on the chair next to her. She looked sleepy. “You?”

  Sophie nodded. “Me too. Woke up at six but it was kind of nice. I got a coffee and went for a walk. It’s so great to be back.” Mel’s eyes widened.

  “You should have woken me up. I don’t want to miss anything.” She put a hand in front of her mouth and looked around at the other tables. “I’m sorry. It’s only eight in the morning, and I’m screaming already. I’m way too over-excited.” She pointed at the glass doors that lead to the breakfast buffet. “Is that our breakfast?” Sophie laughed.

  “I’ll wake you up tomorrow morning, but I can promise you that you won’t feel so great then. The time difference hasn’t caught up with you yet. And yes, that’s our breakfast. I’ll watch your bag if you want to go first.” Mel seemed pleased with that. A big grin spread across her face, bringing out her dimples. She put her canvas bag next to Sophie’s chair.

  “Thanks. I’m starving. I was wondering if it was an early wedding banquet when I passed it on my way out. It looks so indulgent. They have lobster, Sophie. For breakfast!” She got up, and Sophie forced herself to focus on her mobile while Mel skipped towards the dining room, her hips shaking with every step. There was something positive and upbeat about Mel that made Sophie smile whenever she opened her mouth to speak. She stirred her coffee and quickly scrolled through her emails. There was nothing urgent, so she opened one of the newspapers from, searching for something light to read, only to realize after a while that the one she’d picked up was in Chinese. Get your act together, dumb-ass. You need to work today.