Page 41 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

I walked toward the glass room that served as the dining area. From the wooden accents and the intricate Balinese patterns to tropical-style tables and chairs and potted plants, the area was the perfect elegant Balinese experience for dining, especially when the gardens outside the glass walls were already finished.

A few servers whom my assistant had sent brought out a range of Balinese dishes, including my favorite Nasi Goreng and the black sticky rice in coconut milk that I had enjoyed during my travel there some years ago.

“Now, this is what I call breakfast,” I said, smiling.

Suddenly, the room brightened even more when I saw Leigh enter. She looked just perfect for the place, wearing a simple yellow sundress and a pair of flat sandals. Since I had on a pair of khaki shorts with a casual plain shirt, I felt as if we were on vacation together in Bali--- even for just a very short while.

“Good morning,” I greeted. I was definitely in a good mood, especially if Drake doesn’t show up. I did not intend to be a bad friend or a traitor in his eyes, but maybe just one last time, I could have Leigh for myself.

Leigh turned to me, her hair whipping gracefully around her face. “Oh, hi. Good morning.” She seemed surprised that I was there.

“I’m sorry,” I said, walking toward her. “I’m sure you didn’t expect me to be here. But I did mention to Drake that I might drop by.”

“Uh, no, I hadn’t heard from him since yesterday morning when he confirmed this meeting with me,” she answered. “And, of course, you have every right to be here. You own this, after all.”

I smiled and offered my hand to help her down the few steps leading to the dining area. “Come and enjoy a Balinese breakfast first…” I said.

She smiled back and took my hand. The moment we touched, I felt the electricity bursting across my body. And even after the steps, I didn’t let go of her hand until we got to the table with the feast.

“Wow, this is a lot,” she noted, her eyes widening at all the delicious-looking food.

“Have you been to Indonesia?” I asked her as we sat down across from each other.

She shook her head. “It’s my dream to visit Bali someday, though.”

I wanted to say I’d take her there, but I held back. “Surely you’ll be able to go there soon,” was all I said. “It’ll be worth it.”

“When did you go?” she asked.

I told her a little about my vacation there a few years ago. Actually, it was for both business and leisure. One of our hotel investors lived there, so I paid him a visit when he’d asked me. That was when I got the idea to build Bali Villas.

She said she had only been to Canada and Mexico, neighboring countries of the United States. She described to me her dream of going around Asia and enjoying the lovely beaches there as well as exploring their colorful cultures.

We became so engrossed in the conversation that we lost track of time. We didn’t even realize that we had eaten a lot until we both felt like our stomachs were about to explode.

“Gosh, I’m so full,” Leigh said, laughing. “But these are all so good. Thanks so much.”

“You’re welcome. Perhaps I should show you around now.”

“Yes, sure,” she said, standing up. Then she added, “I wonder what happened to Drake. Have you heard from him?”

I almost forgot about him. I checked my phone. There was no message or missed call. “Nothing from him,” I said with a shrug of my shoulders. “He was looking forward to this meeting, so it’s not like him to miss it at all.”

“Well, it’s fine,” she said. That made me smile.

I tried to read the expression on her face, but it was difficult. I couldn’t tell what she was feeling at that moment. Her eyes had a positive light to them, though, and I knew that she had enjoyed our breakfast together.

“This is a really beautiful, bright, and spacious area,” Leigh expressed as we stood up and admired the dining room once more. “I’m pretty sure the diners and guests are going to love it.”

“Thank you,” I said, smiling.

“And Luxe Linen can provide the tablecloths and napkins,” she added with a grin. “Perhaps bright maroon or green in a satin-like material, maybe with gold accents…”

I nodded thoughtfully, imagining what she was describing. “Yes, that would be nice.”

“Or… maybe an elephant embroidery?” she suggested.

“That’s another thought, indeed,” I agreed. “Sounds great. You can send design samples to Drake and me.”

---