Page 39 of Roberto

Thatmight take some finessing.

I ordered a late lunch from room service: a bowl ofchar sui, a noodle soup with shrimp and pork. Afterwards, I rested until I felt my hangover recede.

As promised, Han knocked on my door at 5 PM sharp.

He was back to his usual taciturn self. He also looked like I’dfelta couple of hours ago, when the worst of the hangover had abated but was still lingering on the fringes.

“So, what will it be tonight?” he asked in a monotone voice.

“I’d like to go back to De Sade.”

He lifted one eyebrow. “…really.”

“Yes. Is it open this early?”

He smirked. “De Sade isalwaysopen.”

20

We entered the club around 5:30 PM.

A different woman was waiting on the other side of the red door, but she still wore a black outfit – this time with thigh-high leather boots.

She started to welcome us, but Han cut her off. “Is Mei-ling here?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have her meet us at the bar,” Han said.

The woman nodded and walked off.

“Why does everyone automatically do what you say?” I asked as we made our way to the lounge area.

Han took a second, as if he was coming up with an answer. “We send a lot of business here.”

I wasn’t sure that was the entire answer, but I didn’t really care.

“You should be nicer to the staff,” I rebuked him.

He gave me that dead-eyed look of his. “Why?”

I was about to give him an earful when he looked past me. “Save the lecture. You’ve got company.”

I turned around and had to catch my breath.

Mei-ling was walking towards me. She wore a short emerald green dress that only reached halfway down her thighs, putting her amazing legs on display. Her long, dark hair spilled down her shoulders and back, and her toned arms were bare. Completing the ensemble were silver bracelets and strappy black stilettos.

The only thing about her thatwasn’tentrancing was her pissed-off expression.

Before she could speak, I said, “I came to apologize and make a peace offering.”

She stopped in front of me and gave me a cool, appraising look. “A peace offering, hm?”

“Yes. Have you had dinner yet?”

“No.”

“Then I’d like to invite you to dinner.”

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