Page 6 of Heart of The Night

2 | when one door closes

The interior of the two-floor restaurant was a marvel to behold. Elegant chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a soft, golden light over the intricately carved wooden screens that separated the dining area into intimate spaces. Splashes of vibrant red and gold adorned the walls, while traditional Chinese art mingled seamlessly with contemporary pieces, creating a luxurious and culturally rich atmosphere.

I couldn’t help but feel out of place. Casual, Jason had promised, yet this felt stiff. Very stiff. I was underdressed, wasn’t I? Well, at least William was too – for once.

Why had William told me to dress casually when I asked him at the office earlier? I knew he had been here before. Fusion, he had called the restaurant, while praising the chefs’ culinary skills as he led the way through Chinatown.

But then I looked at the nearest guests and noticed that, despite the sumptuous surroundings, they mostly wore semi-formal attire. I stood a decent chance of blending into that category, but William’s outfit was wholly casual. It brought a smile to my lips. For once, William was underdressed, and even more bizarre: it was a deliberate decision.

As William announced himself to the hostess, a voice filled with jubilation echoed throughout the stylish foyer. ‘William!’

A man sauntered toward us, his broad smile lighting up the room. Bald and roughly my height, he looked like he might be a few years older than William, his dark eyes gleaming with hard-earned experience.

I glanced at William, my heart skipping a beat as I noticed his confident poise. He was so effortlessly stunning, all the time. Even though he was only wearing jeans and a plain white T-shirt, he somehow managed to elevate the simple ensemble, lending a sophistication that would be coveted by all. It was as if he were a male model strutting down the catwalk, making even the most mundane clothing look luxurious. I couldn’t believe how exquisite he made the articles look – on him, they appeared more dressed up than down.

I made myself stand a little taller, trying my best to look worthy of him, to not fade completely into his shadow.

‘Jian,’ William greeted the man, his tone warm and fond.

‘It’s been too long, my friend,’ Jian said, taking William’s outstretched hand and squeezing it between both of his.

William reciprocated the gesture by placing his other hand atop Jian’s. ‘Indeed, it has.’ He released Jian’s hands and gestured to the surroundings. ‘But Fusion looks as marvellous as ever. You’ve expanded the place since my last visit, haven’t you?’

Jian’s smile widened, showcasing straight, bleached teeth. ‘Yes, we acquired the floor above.’

‘Fantastic. Business must be going well, I presume.’ William grinned. ‘And how’s your Xin doing? And the rest of your family?’

Jian stiffened slightly, as if the question, although perfectly polite and no doubt part of expected etiquette, reminded him of something dreadful. ‘Good, good,’ Jian said, his eyes falling on to me. ‘And who is this lovely lady?’

I flushed under his gaze as William wrapped his arm around my waist, tugging me closer to his side. ‘This is Cara Darby, my date.’

Jian’s dark eyes sparkled with approval as he put his right fist to his left palm and bowed slightly. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Darby. Welcome to Fusion.’

‘Jian’s an old friend of my family,’ William said as Jian led us to our table, discreetly inviting Jian to elaborate on how his family had known William’s for decades. It turned out that William’s maternal grandfather – a Michelin-starred chef – had assisted Jian’s grandfather in bringing Fusion to life, and Jian’s grandfather had subsequently gone on to earn several Michelin stars in his own right.

As we settled into our seats, Jian insisted on bringing a complimentary bottle of champagne to our table before presenting us with the menu. He emphasised that if we needed anything at all, we mustn’t hesitate to call for him.

The instant he was out of earshot, I said to William, ‘You said to dress casually.’

William glanced up at me from the menu he had opened, a vague smile stretching his perfect mouth. ‘Our date doesn’t end here. You’ll thank me later. Besides, who cares?’

I opened the menu, shifting in my seat. ‘Not you, clearly.’

He chuckled. ‘I’m always wearing suits. I saw an opportunity to wear jeans for once.’

‘So you decided to drag me down with you?’

A huge grin spread his lips. ‘Now we’re a pair of clowns.’

‘Twat.’

‘Are you actually annoyed?’

I shook my head. ‘No, not really.’

‘Good, because you look amazing. I’m the odd one out.’

He was definitely the odd one out, though not in the way he implied. I scanned him, deciding not to tell him that he could easily grace the cover of a men’s fashion magazine.

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