by L. N. Pearl
“What is it?” She asked, surprised.
“Your sim card. You can get one in any seven eleven. It doesn’t take more than five minutes, you see?” He said with a grin. “I’m Enzo, by the way.”
He extended his hand, and Jennifer shook it. Okay, playboy, you got my attention…
“Thank you, Enzo. That’s very nice… I’m Jennifer. Nice to meet you.”
Enzo was 32 year old from Roma, Italy. He told Jennifer he’d been living in Bangkok for seven years and was a hotel manager.
“I have to ask you: what are you doing in here? This neighborhood doesn’t suit you.”
Enzo ordered a Thai ice tea and took a sip. “You’re right. I never come here usually. It’s just that I’m off from work, and I was supposed to fly back to Italy. I came here because I heard there are good travel agencies here, and I wanted to know if I could change my ticket.”
“Why do you want to change your ticket?”
Enzo smiled and looked embarrassed. “I feel a bit silly… but I forgot to renew my passport. I’ve been here for so long I didn’t think about it. My passport is actually expired.”
Jennifer tried to keep her composure but finally laughed out loud.
Enzo threw his arms in the air. “Yeah! Yeah! I know it’s silly. I told you.”
“Yes it’s very silly, but guess what? The same thing happened to me. I was supposed to come to Thailand a few months ago, but my passport was expired.”
Enzo raised his glass. “Maybe we were destined to meet today. Cheers.”
Jennifer felt a little something in her stomach, and her cheeks felt hot. “Cheers…”
Enzo pulled out his smart phone from his pocket. “Oh by the way, do you have a Facebook account?”
“Yes, of course.” Jennifer took his phone and added herself on his profile.
They kept talking for an hour. He was very nice, funny and interesting. He had a lot of stories to tell her about living in Thailand and Jennifer felt at ease with him - he knew how to make her forget about her worries. However, she started to feel very sleepy and left him to take a nap. He was very charming and entertaining, and Jennifer agreed to meet him again later that night.
Enzo took her to a small restaurant with a live band, and made sure the food wasn’t spicy. Then, he took her to the night market, where they walked in the streets with neon signs everywhere, smelling fried chicken and noodles soups. It was incredibly lively, noisy, and dirty, but Jennifer liked it. It was about living an adventure. It was about living life.
Life in Bangkok was amazing, and Jennifer didn’t feel time passing by – for three days, she followed Enzo to every place imaginable, tasting unknown food in the streets, taking pictures with ladyboys in clubs and feeding baby elephants in Chinatown. She felt amazing.
Many times, she thought about Bruce, though. She wished he was there, spending time with her in a new city, instead of working all the time. Whatever his reasons were for getting involved with Kenichi, Jennifer was convinced that nothing good could possibly come out of their association.
She also knew that her opinion didn’t matter much; not when it came to business decisions. Bruce had been very clear about that, and Jennifer wasn’t ready to forgive him easily for the lack of respect he had showed her.
As she was thinking about Bruce, Jennifer was about to cross the street. She looked to her left – it was clear, so she stepped on the road confidently when she heard tires screeching and a loud car horn.
She looked to her right – where she should have looked first – and saw a yellow taxi charging at her at full speed. Her eyes widened, her pupils dilated, and her heart raced.
My God, I am going to die!
Suddenly, she felt two strong hands grabbing her arms from behind and felt pulled away from the road. In a split second, she was back on the pavement, shaking, feeling her back against Enzo’s body and his arms around her chest.
She was terrified. The taxi finally stopped about two meters to her left, meaning it would have completely crushed her without Enzo’s quick reaction. She turned around and looked at him, her eyes filled with tears, still shocked and unable to talk.
He took her in his arms. “It’s okay. Calm down, you’re fine. Shhh… it’s okay.” Jennifer felt surprisingly safe and protected inside Enzo’s arms. She was incredibly grateful – that man had just saved her life! He was so warm and thoughtful.
The taxi driver got out of his car and screamed at Jennifer – probably insulting her. Enzo talked to him in Thai and gave him money to make him leave.
“Th… Thank you.” Jennifer said while leaning her head against his chest. She was still shaking and sweating, breathing heavily.
“You’re in shock. You need to lie down and rest. Let’s go to my place. It’s not very far.”
Jennifer simply nodded, unable to speak while Enzo was calling a taxi and giving his address to the driver. On the way to Enzo’s place though, Jennifer realized she was going to be alone with him in his home.
She thought about Bruce. “Enzo, thank you, but I think I’m fine. Can you tell the driver to drop me at Kempinski hotel, please?”
“Why? What are you going to do over there?”
“Can you please just tell him?”
Enzo told the taxi driver to change directions. Fifteen minutes later, they arrived in front of the hotel. Enzo paid for the taxi and followed Jennifer in.
“Enzo, you don’t have to come with me. I’m fine thank you very much, but I need to be alone.”
“Why? Tell me what’s going on – I can’t leave you alone like that; not after what happened.” The look on Enzo’s face was intense, and it gave Jennifer butterflies in her stomach. She knew she liked him – she’d been attracted to him since the beginning, and the more he cared for her, the harder she fell.
Jennifer looked around, took his wrist, and went inside the mall next to the hotel. “I think we need to stop seeing each other.”
Enzo gazed at her intently and leaned in closer. “Why? You don’t like me?”
The battle inside Jennifer’s heart was unbearable. She couldn’t lie – she did like him – but she couldn’t tell him either; what about Bruce? She shifted her gaze, trying to look away from him. “It’s a mistake. I barely know you…”
Enzo took her chin in his hand and gently turned her face toward him. “Look at me. We can take our time if that’s what you want…”
Enzo leaned forward and got dangerously close to her. Jennifer couldn’t resist and closed her eyes, letting him press his lips against hers. Her knees were wobbling. The man was giving her insane butterflies and messing with her guts in a way that she couldn’t explain. She felt completely helpless and weak, unable to fight. She immediately realized that her crotch was getting soaking wet – and fast – and she felt a burning desire consuming her empty channel.
It took her several seconds to gather her thoughts and to finally find the will power to push him away. “Stop.” She was panting. “Please. I can’t. We should stop seeing each other. It was a mistake.”
Jennifer pulled away from his arms and, after turning around to see him one last time, she ran inside the hotel.
Chapter Five
Jennifer was waiting for Bruce in the hall. She had tried to call his room, but nobody had picked up. She knew she might wait like this for hours, and decided to leave a message for him at reception with her phone number.
Then, she took a taxi and went back to her hotel room. She took a shower and lay down on her bed, trying to understand what she was feeling. During these three days away, she had missed Bruce but, at the same time she had had more fun than ever with that stranger, Enzo.
She wasn’t sure if she was attracted to him because of the situation – the excitement of being in a new place, her argument with Bruce, the feeling of freedom she experienced to explore the city – or because there was really something in this man that she couldn’t resist. In either case, he was just a random guy that she’d met in a bar, and h
e wasn’t worth ruining everything with Bruce. That’s what she was trying to convince herself, that is; but another part of her was telling herself another story – maybe she was really falling for another man.
What’s wrong with me? Why am I attracted to someone else?
She kept thinking about it. Bruce wasn’t perfect – very secretive, emotionally unbalanced, slightly arrogant with an enormous ego, unable to appreciate the simple things in life – but she could accept it. After all, it was to be expected; Jennifer knew she wasn’t dating an average Joe.
Everybody has flaws, after all!
But most of all, she reminded herself, what she liked about Bruce was that he was a very unique individual with a strong personality, an alpha male who made her safe, very dominant and confident, charismatic, and smart. Surprisingly, Jennifer realized that she was also attracted to him because of his complex character – dark and mysterious, sometimes hard to understand, tough yet sensitive. He was like an enigma she desperately wanted to solve.
There’s no doubt… between the two of them, Bruce wins. And the sex with him… Oh my God, he’s just amazing – such an incredible lover!
Jennifer was lost in her thoughts when her phone rang and made her jump. She looked at the number and didn’t recognize it. Jen, why are you checking the number? You don’t know anybody here!
“Hello?”
“Jen? Is it you? Are you okay?”
The voice was deep and familiar. “Bruce! Yes, I’m okay.”
His tone changed. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere! Kenichi’s bodyguards are screening the entire city. We sent your description to the police; I called your grandmother to know if she had news from you, I even called Benny! Kenichi and I have been to nearly all the massage clubs looking for you in case you’ve been kidnapped; we’ve been to brothels asking girls if they’ve seen you – I didn’t know what else to do!”
Why did he assume such terrible things?
Bruce was understandably angry at Jennifer and his voice was trembling. Jennifer felt that he really cared for her, but at the same time, she had never imagined he could be so irrational.
“Bruce, I don’t know what to say – I’m really sorry.”
“Thank God, you’re safe! I was so worried. What the hell had you in mind?”
“Bruce, I didn’t disappear. You saw me leaving; I was mad at you. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to find me but… wasn’t it a bit too much?”
“Too much what? I’m not kidding when it comes to you, Jen. I have to be prepared for the worst. I always prepare for the worst. God, where are you?”
“I’m in a hotel in Khao San Road. It’s okay, baby, calm down. I’m leaving right now – I’ll take a taxi and…”
“No, you stay where you are.” Bruce interrupted her. “I’m coming to pick you up with June.”
Thirty minutes later, Bruce was running up the stairs to Jennifer’s room. He knocked at her door and she opened almost immediately. Before she could say anything, he rushed at her and kissed her passionately. Jennifer was completely caught by surprise and tried to break away from him.
“I can barely breathe, baby…” Jennifer said, trying to catch her breath.
Bruce was kissing her, caressing her face and her hair frenetically. “I was so worried. Are you okay?”
Jennifer kissed him back. “Yes, baby I’m totally fine, so stop freaking out please.”
Her phone rang again - it was a text message. Jennifer’s heart skipped a beat. “I hope I didn’t do anything wrong. I miss you. Enzo.”
“Who is it?” Bruce asked. Jennifer’s head was spinning, and she couldn’t say anything. “Who is it, Jen?”
She finally managed to stutter. “Err, it’s… it’s nothing, just someone who helped me find my way.”
“Let’s get out of here. June is waiting downstairs.”
They got into the car and went back to Bruce’s hotel room. Jennifer kept thinking about Enzo’s message and wondered if she should tell Bruce about him or not.
I don’t think it’s necessary to tell him. He’s been so worried already; it’s going to break his heart, and we’re going to fight again. This guy was just a little whim, nothing more. Right, Jen? Just a little crush during vacation… nothing serious. My God, what a mess!
“Bruce, I’m really sorry if I made you freak out. I really didn’t mean to. All I wanted you to understand is that my opinion matters too. We’re a couple now. I’m not working for you anymore. We must make decisions together, don’t you think?”
Bruce sat down in the sofa and kicked off his shoes. “Yes, I had time to think on my own.”
“As I told you, I don’t understand why you want to work with Kenichi in Thailand. You guys already have an official and legit partnership. It’s none of my business, and I may not be qualified to tell you what to do, but honestly, it doesn’t make sense. Anybody would agree with me, seriously. It doesn’t matter if I’m your former secretary or your chief financial officer – it’s still an illegal and risky venture. Period. I shouldn’t try to convince you. It’s obvious!”
Jennifer looked at Bruce, but he was expressionless. “You keep saying it’s personal but what does that mean? How many times did I hear you say that good business should not be driven by emotions?”
Bruce cleared his throat and ignored her question. “I feel like you kind of blackmailed me…”
“What? Blackmailed you? What are you talking about?”
“You disappear for three days, you make me go crazy, and that’s how you get your answer. Smart.”
“It’s ridiculous, Bruce. I would never do that.”
“Should I remind you that YOU wanted to teach me a lesson when I was looking for a bride? You are the one who set me up, remember? Aren’t you trying to teach me something again?”
Jennifer sighed. “Oh no, Bruce, this is completely different. I just wanted to leave. I wanted to be away from YOU.” Jennifer paused, shook her head, and crossed her arms. “I’m sorry to say that, but I didn’t ask you to come after me. I intended to come back when I was ready, and it had nothing to do with teaching you anything. It has nothing to do with you at all. It was just about me.”
Bruce raised his eyebrows. “Wow… it hurts. I guess I deserved it this time…”
“I’m not naïve, Bruce – when it comes to business, there’s nothing I can teach you. I just wanted to give you my honest opinion as your life partner. The decisions you make affect both of us now, and you can’t expect me to be a passive spectator.”
He stood up and went to the bar. He kept silent for a while, apparently thinking. “Fine, you win.”
He poured himself a glass of whisky and continued. “When I was a kid, my dad used to be an accountant for a rich guy – Cliff Hansen – who owned a factory. The man made a fortune, but one day, he got caught by the IRS for undeclared revenue. For years, he had manipulated his results and was hiding huge amounts of profits.”
Bruce paused and looked through the window for several seconds. Jennifer invited him to continue. “Okay? Then what happened?”
“Do you remember when my ex-wife showed up with the kid? I told you I grew up without my father…” Bruce took a sip. “When Hansen was caught, he didn’t want to fall alone – he dragged my father with him. Mom told me that my dad lost everything, and he couldn’t handle it. He committed suicide – he hung himself – and left me alone with mom. We were broke. It’s been very tough for my mom.”
“Oh, baby, that’s horrible. I’m so sorry…”
“It’s been my motivation, my fire, and my drive. I’ve seen my mother working two, sometimes three jobs, to feed me. I could see how tired and worried she was, but she never complained. She never – not even once – showed me she was struggling. I never asked her for anything, but I’ve always had everything I needed. She never remarried and dedicated her life to raise me as a good person. It was a very stressful period. I’ll never forget.”
&nbs
p; Bruce’s eyes were wet with tears, and he shook his head vigorously. “Anyway; Hansen got out of prison after five years. Somehow, he got back on his feet and opened a new business. I’ll admit the man is impressive – he rebuilt his entire fortune from there. A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon him at a fundraising event. He didn’t recognize me, but I knew who he was. The old man happens to be a gambling junkie now – he loves to bet and feel the adrenaline from making quick profits. That kind of person is also very sensitive to the appeal of investing and trading for easy money - especially in a country where he can avoid paying taxes on capital gains.”
It all made sense for Jennifer. “So you want to attract him as a client and…”
“Rip him off, yes. That’s my story. That’s why I’m here. Yes, it’s friggin’ personal, but I can’t let it go. I’ve achieved everything I wanted to achieve in my life but I’m not at peace. Since I’ve met him again, I have nightmares. The guy is haunting me. That night when I met him…”
Bruce was shaking and his fists were clenched. “God, I wanted to strangle him right away with my own hands. I wanted him to look me in the eyes. I wanted his face to turn purple just like my dad when he hung himself. I wanted him to suffer like I did when they showed me my father’s dead body at the morgue. Instead, I got drunk to death… and that’s how I crashed my Lamborghini – the one my insurance won’t cover.”
Oh yeah, I remember… Mike, the guy from the insurance, assured me Bruce was drunk, but he always denied it. I didn’t understand. Now I know why…
“You’re looking for vengeance, Bruce. Do you know that it clouds your judgment? Oops, sorry.”
Bip bip! Jennifer received another text message. “I can’t stop thinking about you. Please don’t ignore me like that. Tell me what’s going on. Enzo.”
Bruce frowned. “Again? What is it this time?”