Page 34 of Malliko
“Good. Set it up and we’ll go together. I want him to see that you are under my protection.”
I smiled a little because the thought of this large and handsome man keeping me safe felt both flattering and surreal. Typing a suggested place and time to Evan, I waited for a minute before his reply popped up on my phone. Putting the phone down, I declared, “I have my first date at five o’clock.”
For a moment, Malliko and I sat smiling at each other.
“How do you feel?” he asked. “Are you nervous?”
“Yes, I’m crazy nervous. I’m probably going to regret saying yes a hundred times before I meet him. I wish I could go home and change my outfit and redo my make-up, but if I did, I’m afraid I’ll cancel and stay home.”
“You look fine. Don’t worry about it, Clara. He’s going to like what he sees.”
“You can’t know that,” I pointed out.
After looking around the sandwich bar, Malliko gazed back at me. “You’re the prettiest woman here.”
I laughed. “There are eight people in here and six of you are men. The only other female is at least seventy-five so I’m relieved that you at least find me more attractive than her.”
“You’re more attractive than a lot of women.” Just when he said it, the door opened and Lucinda and two of my other colleagues came in. Lucinda’s gaze glued itself to Malliko right away and she steered right for our booth. The way her hands slid through her curly brown hair to plump up the volume gave away her intentions.
“Oh, hey, did you eat already?” she asked in a sugar sweet tone.
“Yes, we had an early lunch,” I explained and felt annoyed with her intrusive behavior when she slid down to sit next to Malliko.
“So, how is your first week of work and what it is you do exactly?”
“I’m a student.” Malliko smiled politely and explained about his dissertation on human dating habits.
“Oh, how interesting. I love anthropology,” Lucinda exclaimed while putting her hand on his elbow. “I always watch dating shows because I find it so insanely fascinating how humans interact. Have you ever seenThe Bachelor?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“I’ve watched every show in every season. It’s sooo good. If you want to, I’ll be happy to invite you over and we can watch some of it together.”
Malliko looked at me for a split second, but I reached for my water bottle and said nothing. Lucinda was in her late twenties, beautiful with long curly hair and a body like a fitness instructor. There was no way I could compete with a woman like her, and feeling threatened made no sense since Malliko wasn’t really mine anyway. And yet, I sat there biting the inside of my cheekand wondering if he regretted not asking Lucinda to be part of his research instead of me.
“It’s kind of you to offer your company but my schedule is tight with all the research I’m doing,” Malliko told Lucinda and gave me a tiny smile.
She pushed her long hair behind her shoulder and with a cheeky smile she asked, “Are you single, Malliko?”
“No.” He pulled out his phone like he had done with me and found the picture of him and Tania to show Lucinda. “This is my fiancée back home in Lichtenstein.”
I got out of the booth and went to throw out the trash from our table when Lucinda looked at his phone. “She’s pretty.”
The trashcan was close enough that I saw her lean against him and whisper into his ear followed by a small giggle. It brought out all my insecurities. Lucinda reminded me of Shanice, who had taken my role as Jeremy’s partner and the primary person in my sons’ lives.
Needing some fresh air, I headed for the exit without waiting for Malliko. We were just across from the office building, and he would know how to find his way back.
He caught up to me when I entered the stairwell and began climbing the stairs to the fourth floor.
“Clara, wait up. Why did you leave so suddenly?”
“I didn’t want to disturb your time with Lucinda,” I said and instantly felt ashamed of the sour tone of my voice.
“I sense that you’re upset about something and that it’s related to my conversation with Lucinda. Can you explain to me what you’re thinking right now?” he asked.
Wishing my legs were long enough for me to take two steps at a time, I increased my pace. “Why?”
“Because I’m fascinated with how you huma… I mean women think.” Placing a hand on my shoulder, he stopped me.“Please, Clara. Talk to me.” The look in his eyes was so kind and genuine that I obliged.
