The Boy Next Door

by Staci Parker

  A strange and yet uneasy sense of relief came over Lilinda. At least now she had one option. One which was preferable to vagrancy and death. The option to sleep in a stranger’s bed and not on a dirt hill.

  Her heavy breathing suppressed the grief she felt, having to walk away from the city she knew and loved. But she was all out of options and only one road welcomed her.

  Tomorrow would be a new adventure and the life of one spinster would be over. And God only knew what mess she was getting herself into.

  III

  After finalizing the website paperwork, Lilinda was transported by Train to the Casablanca Train Station, then taken via cab to Han’s Morocco Estate.

  The estate he owned was indeed a site to behold. It encompassed fifty-five acres and had horse stables with grand pastures of wealth. She saw a four-storey home and a lush forest surrounding the estate.

  She wasn’t quite sure if this “Han” fellow was wealthy or perhaps even a millionaire. She even scoffed at the idea that perhaps he was the one “kind millionaire” who would save her from a life of suffering and poverty, or some delusional fairy tale like that. That sounded nice. Better to invent a yarn of merriment and miracles than actually face the reality that a monster could be waiting for her. Someone cruel, definitely ugly, and maybe even pure evil.

  She did a double take as a man walked forward, exiting from a barn and walking over to the entrance.

  There Han stood, dressed casually, and staring straight into her face without much emotion.

  Lilinda double flinched, realizing that this must be Han’s house servant or perhaps a ranch hand or a butler. He seemed a bit too polite to be a man of any stature or great name. But she figured it was appropriate to be polite to the wait staff, as they would eventually become her trusted friends.

  “Hello!” she said happily.

  “H’lo,” he replied with a frown.

  “Oh not to worry, I can pick up my own bags,” she said with a smile as she lifted her bags proudly.

  “Okay…” he said with a shrug.

  “Or…is it procedure for you to carry my bags for me?”

  “No, it is your obligation,” he said blankly.

  “Oh…right. Not in your job description, right?”

  “Job description?” he said squinting his eyes and protecting them from the sun. He did a slow up and down stare at the modern urban clothes Lilinda was wearing. Definitely bright colored, in contrast to his sophisticated and conservative garb.

  “Well, shall we go to meet the great Mister Han, then?”

  “His name is Mister Weisheng,” he said, looking down at the floor.

  “What an odd name,” she said. “I suppose you’ve worked with him a long time, haven’t you?”

  “All my life I have worked with ‘him’,” he said suspiciously, in disbelief that she really didn’t know who he was.

  “What is he like, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “What is ‘he’ like, you ask me?”

  Han smiled to himself, “Cruel. Harsh. Sometimes he yells random statements in Chinese…which can be scary to a classy woman such as yourself.”

  “Oh, I hear you. When they have money they always have an attitude, don’t they? Say…does he have any money?”

  “Not much,” he replied with a shrug and a clandestine smile.

  “Well then, I shall put my best face forward. And press on.”

  “And carry your bags too.”

  “Yes of course!” Lilinda said, grabbing her bags and walking bravely forward.

  They walked the ranch and finally reached the yellow plantation style home with two levels and a bright and sunny ambiance to it.

  “Here we are.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry! I never asked your name. I apologize for my clumsiness. You go thirty five years without socializing outside of family and you forget all manners.”

  “My name is Han Cheung Weisheng. But you may call me Mr. Weisheng.”

  “Mister…what?”

  Lilinda flinched her panic away. The whole time, the man who met her and looked surprisingly Asian and nondescript…was in fact the Han who purchased her. What an embarrassment! She shook her head in regret and eyed him in disbelief. Was this a test? Was he testing her? Or was she just really failing terribly at making chemistry with her future husband to be?

  Just then she realized that this man, this quiet Asian man, as nondescript and unassuming as she had ever met, was her future husband. Her “love”, her soul mate, or at least that’s what it would say on paper.

  She began to take note of Han’s characteristics, realizing that indeed this was it—this was her future. She noticed his dark eyes and broad facial shape. His skin was slightly tan and he looked strong; his hands seemed mighty enough to kill a bison just on a whim. He was the type of man who worked from dawn till dusk and didn’t see much sense in relaxing. His figure was lean and his black eyes seemed distant at best.

  She had expected a black man or a white man. A Chinese man was indeed an unpredictable match.

  “I’m…so sorry. I didn’t realize it was you. I don’t know why. I guess I expected you to…wear…you know, something different.”

  “Like what?” he said, always walking a line between resentful and bored with life. “A kimono or a ninja outfit.”

  “I’m very sorry. I hoped to make a better introduction. Can we start over? I’m Lilinda.”

  “Yeah, I know. I bought you.”

  “Oh. Right. I hope my letter didn’t seem too forward...did it?”

  “I didn’t read all of it. To tell you the truth, I do not see this marriage lasting long. I only ordered you to make an appearance in front of one of my clients. In the meantime, you play the part of my fiancée and you get to live in the house. After the interview and the transaction, we can go our separate ways.”

  “Oh. All right.” She breathed in deeply, a little less apprehensive. Well at least that was kind, sort of. Or was that merely his way of saying he wasn’t attracted to her? She seemed a little perturbed that the man who “bought her” didn’t even seem interested in making love…she just figured that was part of the allure.

  “And are we…uh…sleeping in the same bed?” she asked timidly.

  Han seemed provoked by the question.

  “No. I am not looking for love. This is all just for business.”

  A strange wave of both grief and laughter hit Lilinda at that moment. Dealing with a cranky old fool and getting hardly a kind word in return. A cold, distant relationship that was one-sided and mostly involving Lilinda playing a role, pretending to be someone “special”, someone lovable.

  Just as she feared, love was cruel – nonexistent and all for show.

  IV

  Lilinda sat still on the couch and listened in silence as Han bragged about his new fiancée to his business client over the phone.

  “Of course she is here. I have been keeping my treasure secret from the media for a reason,” he said with a fake smile. You can come meet here anytime you like. She is here for a few days so pop in as you like. To you, my friend, my life is an open book.”

  Lilinda listened and smiled as Han bid goodbye and hung up the phone. “What a strange deal it is,” she said. “That you’re willing to buy a mail order bride just so you can impress one client. You should have just hired an escort.”

  “What is an escort?”

  “You know…” she said with a flinch. “A woman who specializes in…making a show.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said stoically. After the deal is done, we will both go our separate ways. And I will make sure you are well compensated.”

  “Oh…that’s nice.”

  “How much do you want?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “For helping me out. How much do you want?”

  “I…I don’t know. Whatever you can afford, I guess.”

  He smiled and nodded.

  “Say…how much money do you have?”

  “I w
ouldn’t worry about that. Just list your price for a night’s worth of great acting.”

  “My, my. I’ve never thought of myself as an actress. I didn’t even know that…you know, you had money. Most guys on those mail order bride websites only have a few thousand in the bank.”

  “A few thousand?” he said in amusement. “And does your opinion of me change knowing that I am wealthy?”

  She shrugged. “Not really. I was already figuring this would be a loveless marriage. Little did I know it wasn’t a real marriage at all. I suppose after this is all said and done I’ll be back to being poor again.”

  “You won’t be poor, my lady,” he said. “I will make sure of that. For she who does a favor for me, earns her wealth.”

  “But…”

  “But?”

  “You’re not really looking, are you?” Lilinda said. “For a wife, I mean. With all that money you have and you still don’t want to fall in love?”

  “I am…”

  “I’m sorry, I’m prying. You may have your own preferences.”

  “I am not a homosexual.”

  “Oh I see. Just enjoying your freedom?”

  “No. I am…I am not a man who dates mindlessly.”

  “Then why?”

  “Why? Why am I not married?”

  “Well yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong I’m not married either. But you have the whole world in your hands, and you’re just keeping it all to yourself. Not that you don’t have the right Mister…uh…Mister Han.”

  “My name is Mister Han Cheung Weisheng.”

  “Mister…Mister Han,” she said with a loud laugh.

  Even Han had to smile. “Don’t worry about it. We are friends. I admit that knowing you are not my wife in reality, does allow me to relax. The idea of marriage threatens me. And when I think of marriage I become anxious. Perhaps even what you might call…moody.”

  “Why’s that? Let me guess. You don’t trust women?”

  “It’s not that I don’t trust. I just…have never met the right Asian beauty, I suppose.”

  “Oh I see. You’re only looking for an Asian.”

  “Well…”

  “I see how it is. No, I feel where you’re coming from. Kind of like these people in the bars in Johannesburg. Whenever a sister brings home a white man, the brothers all behave like children, claiming they are traitors to their race. What kind of shit is that?”

  “I do not understand,” Han said.

  “Well what I mean is…”

  “I understand what you said,” he interrupted. “I simply don’t relate to that at all. I am Asian and Asian men only seem to attract Asian women. I have no doubt I could land a wife in China if I really wanted one. But you see I am not in need of flesh. I have great powers of self control. That is what kung-fu taught me as a youth.”

  “Oh I see.”

  They both smiled and continued lounging around on the couch.

  “Say, do you have anything to drink?”

  “I do have some Huangjiu. Yellow white. But it’s strong, I must warn you.”

  “I like my wine like I like my men. Strong…and yellow.”

  “Whaaat?” Han was shocked and gaped his mouth before tittering away in amusement. “You are a bold woman, Lilinda.”

  “I’m sorry. I always go there. But I don’t care. I hope I didn’t offend you.”

  “Hardly. That joke is as old as the Mongolians, where the myth stemmed from. But I don’t think we were on the subject of history…we were discussing a far more interesting subject.”

  “What I mean to say is, people in South Africa always think it’s funny when a woman dates men of different races. A lot of women stick to one race. Now I don’t really know because like I said in my ad, I took care of my parents and I don’t date…”

  “Uh huh…”

  “But I believe a man shouldn’t limit himself. I mean, I would date any man of any color. It just depends on the personality, if we click.”

  “An interesting viewpoint. But I doubt you date Asian men. Particularly, Chinese.” He laughed.

  “I’ve never dated a Chinese man…” she said cautiously.

  “I figured as much.”

  “But, if you want to be honest…a friend of mine told me that she had been with a Chinese man before. And she was black.”

  “Oh really? Well now, this story I must hear!” he laughed.

  “Now I’m not saying it’s a true story, mind you. Oh God…maybe I shouldn’t talk about this though…”

  “Oh no, I insist,” he said with a smile. “How about I pour you some wine and you tell me about it?”

  “Mmm…okay, but make it two glasses. Because I’m a little embarrassed…”

  “Oh believe me, I am not one to take offense. The Asian myth is quite ridiculous.”

  “Well…hmmm…” she shook her head. “I better just drink my wine first before I say anything else.”

  Han poured her a glass of wine and then took one himself. They engaged in some pleasantries before returning to the forbidden conversation. Han was intrigued, never having heard of a black woman who dated Asian men before.

  “The thing is…my friend says she was with this Asian guy. And she said that the penis thing is more or less true. A little smaller but that’s apples and oranges, because this sister used to date black men from all over the world, okay? Big fellas. Thing is…”

  Lilinda looked into Han’s eyes, which were intrigued.

  “She said that he was the best sex she ever had…heh…”

  Suddenly, Lilinda clammed up, a little nervous and feeling a little tipsy. She still looked into Han’s eyes and shyly looked away. “She said that when it came to stamina…there was no match for her exotic Asian beauty.”

  “Stamina, hmm?”

  “I guess it’s the martial arts, the discipline…but she says that Asian guys last a long time in bed.”

  “Wow, what pressure that must be!”

  Lilinda cracked up, a little too giddy for comfort. She suddenly became very aware of her attraction. Han’s money definitely helped. But images of a powerful, strong and long-lasting bedroom encounter began plaguing her mind.

  “No seriously though…you only date Asian women, right?”

  “My previous relationships, short-lived as they were, with were with Chinese women, yes.”

  “And are they known to be submissive? Like if you got married, would you want a submissive wife?”

  “That is only partly true. Some wives are very submissive. However, many women in China have strong personalities. My mother, for instance, was a strong-minded woman.”

  “Oh, I see. Yeah my mother was too.”

  “Of course, we teach children to respect each other and not make a show of it in public. Behind closed doors you might see more of an argument.”

  “Ah, I understand.” She laughed. “So you think you will eventually court another Chinese woman?”

  “Well…I assume so. But I’m not sure. For now, I just really want to get this deal going. I have a business-oriented mind.”

  “I see. But…well…never mind.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “No, no, tell me. You’re my guest, remember?”

  “You’re talking like marriage and stuff. But I mean…have you ever considered just…you know…having fun with a woman of color?”

  “Oh…” he smiled, only to realize that Lilinda wasn’t smiling; just staring into his face with runaway excitement, trapped in a moment of amazing and naughty visual imagery.

  “No. I really haven’t thought of doing that.”

  “Oh…okay.”

  Lilinda lost the eye contact and looked away. They engaged in more casual chat, before Lilinda was dismissed to the guest bedroom. Next week would be significant. For Monday, would be the day that Han took Lilinda to meet his boss and seal the deal on the biggest developmental transaction in Han’s career. Now wasn’t the time for silly runaway thoughts of romance. Now was t
he time to stay focused on business.

  V

  However, excising images of Lilinda proved more difficult especially as the night went on. The idea of a beautiful woman in his house, a forbidden and exotic African woman, proved to be a great distraction. He couldn’t exercise, he couldn’t even meditate as was his usual custom.

  He tossed and turned until he couldn’t take it anymore. He had to get up and walk, walk the dangerous passion away. He wore only a t-shirt and boxers as he walked over to the bathroom, eyeing himself in the mirror.

  Would a black woman think I look sexy?

  He took off his shirt in front of the mirror, revealing his physique, which was chiseled and built, benefiting from an hour of intense exercise every night. When he looked at himself half naked in the mirror, he felt a surge of confidence. Of course a black woman would want him. Any woman would want him.

  He was ashamed to admit that he was objectifying Lilinda in his mind. He thought of what it might feel like to love an African woman and how different it might be from the usual Asian courtship.

  He quietly sneaked over to her bedroom, wondering if she was having trouble sleeping. As he wandered over passed the slightly opened door, he saw Lilinda walking around. She was nude, from top to bottom and walking in front of a dresser mirror.

  Her breasts were full and just as dark as the rest of her skin, with charcoal black nipples. Her ribs were tightly fit and her legs long. Her pelvis was covered with a little furry patch. She was looking at herself in the same way, in front of a mirror and feeling a jolt of confidence and sex appeal. She wanted to look good for him, to be a temptation he couldn’t resist.

  She slept nude. He watched as she jumped under the covers, welcoming the soft blanket over her bosom and flipping around to get comfortable.

  Fixated on the scene, enthralled by her erotic and unexpected beauty, Han decided to walk inside. Still shirtless, with his boxers bulging and not too subtly indicating his growing interest in this “fake” relationship.

  “Han…” she whispered, holding the blanket over her chest and eyeing him in wide eyed excitement. “What…what’s wrong?”

  “Get up.”