Page 101 of Taeja

Taeja laughed as she stood. She walked toward the wall of glass and hummed when Damon thanked her. The city looked amazing from an aerial view. The newest semicircle-shaped hotel was far in the distance. Tall leafy trees danced inthe wind. Vehicles cruised along the busy roads.

“Wow,” she breathed. “You get to look at this every day?”

“My back’s usually turned to it.”

“You should appreciate this view more.”

“How’d I be able to focus on my work?”

She looked over her shoulder at him. Damon was digging into the food while looking at one of his monitor screens. It had many tabs open, and she was in awe that he could focus on so many things at once. Even as a computer science major, she got flustered whenever she had too many tabs opened simultaneously.

“You know what they say about all work and no play…” Taeja warned.

“Leaves Jack with heavy balls?”

Her nose crinkled. “Yu know seh yu nasty, Damon?”

He looked around at her with a silly grin. “I’m only nasty for you.”

She smiled. “You’re right.” She moved to sit on a chair before his desk. “We didn’t only bring you lunch. I want to talk to you both about something.”

Damon paused shoveling a forkful of rice in his mouth, his brow raising at her. “Why don’t I like the sound of this?” His eyes darted to Zain for a quick second before returning to her.

“It’s nothing bad… Well, it depends on how you both want to take it.”

Damon dropped the fork on the plate. “We’re listening.”

Taeja gulped. “I think you should eat first.”

“I’m good at multitasking. Stop deflecting.”

She exhaled a long breath. Usually, Taeja had no problem saying whatever she wanted, but nerves rendered her throat almost useless. She had to force the words out: “I used to be an escort.”

18

The words passed fromher lips, leaving her in conflict. A weight lifted off her shoulder and a heavier one replaced it.

Damon raised his brow. “You?” he laughed, throwing his head back.

Taeja frowned, unsure how to feel. She glanced at Zain, whose head was tilted to the side. She knew many things were swirling in his mind, but he wouldn’t allow the words out. Not unless she asked him to. “What do you have to say?”

“Why?” he asked — one word so simple, yet it had her emotions skyrocketing.

She sighed and looked away from him. Her nails won her attention. It was almost time for a fill-in, but she might opt to go all natural after her next visit to Binh.

Damon cleared his throat, and Taeja looked at him. He sat more upright and straightened his suit. “I thought you were joking…” Damon said, growing serious.

“I’m not,” Taeja said.

“I wasn’t laughing at you.”

She looked at her nails. “I know.”

“I’m sorry for laughing, baby,” Damon said, his voice lowering.

It almost had Taeja tearing up. If a tear fell, it wouldn’t be because Damon always made her emotional, it was because she’d be picking at a wound that was still so, so fresh. “It’s fine, Damon,” she said, then looked at Zain. “Can I speak now?”

Zain stared at her for a moment before he finally said, “We’relistening.”

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