I was already waiting alone at the centrally placed table when the host informed me that Nan, already fifteen minutes late, had just called to say that she was going to be yet another ten minutes late.
Nan had chosen this restaurant in the TST district of Kowloon. I had never been here before, but it was my style, quite elegant, with thirty tables draped in long white tablecloths, all located in a single large dimly-lighted room. I was a little annoyed at her delay, but the extra time did give me time to think about the events that led to my date with her.
***
My name is Louis Lai. I am 29 years old, generally judged to be handsome, a bit above average in height, and well-built from hours spent exercising. I am not a playboy, although many might consider me one. I am the heir to Lai Property and Management, LLC, which has holdings all over Asia and North America. I had spent the much of the past six years in the United States, studying for an MBA, managing our more limited number of properties in North America, and developing a successful on-line real estate company. I would judge my presence in America as successful. I had graduated with honors, I had grown the family business, and I had earned over $10 million USD selling off an Internet company that I co-founded. I had been disappointed that my parents forced me back to Hong Kong eight months ago, citing their need for my help in managing our much larger Asian holdings. I am not convinced that business concerns were the reason. I am certain that they had been increasingly worried about my behavior in America, straying from their more conservative beliefs, especially with respect to my admittedly more undisciplined approach to personal entertainment and intimate relationships. It is true that I had enjoyed going out till late at night frequently and that I had enjoyed the serial companionship of at least a dozen girlfriends in my search for lasting love, but I had not violated any serious laws nor had I created any really embarrassing situations for the family.
My personal life is certainly constrained here in Hong Kong. While I have dated a number of attractive women introduced to me through my family social circle here, two of which had stretched for a couple months, I have felt that there were implied expectations associated with all these potential relationships, as if these unions were a business arrangement and a resolution needed to be achieved within a certain timeframe. So I had decided to go my own way.
I had initially bribed the event organizers to allow me to judge the Miss Hong Kong pageant two weeks ago because I wanted an excuse to meet one Barb Wei. The business elite in this city is not that small, so it had taken a few months for the rumor that Ryan Lin, who I had met a couple of times, had broken off a lengthy affair in which she was the mistress. I had then watched her on the local news a few times and decided that she might be an interesting woman to date. Or at least fuck. After I had successfully acquired her number and a commitment to a future date, I had been accosted by the second place contestant. Nan Wen had been extremely flirty at the outset.
"Mr. Lai, I just wanted to thank you for helping become the runner-up for Miss Hong Kong."
I had not been able to tell if she were happy or upset by her placement, but I had responded as if she were happy. "My pleasure, Miss Wen. You deserve it. You are an incredible singer, the best on stage tonight, by far."
"Well, I would like to think that my face and my figure contributed to the outcome, too."
"Yes, that definitely was a strong point, as well, Miss Wen."
"What part of my physique do you find most attractive, Mr. Lai? My breasts? I know Barb Wei's are slightly bigger, but mine are quite a mouthful also, wouldn't you say? Or maybe my toned round butt? My dates have always found my ass quite fun to grope, I have to say. I tend to think my legs are both my best feature ... and my favorite part, too. Almost as long as Barb's. Quite shapely, don't you think? Especially in heels, which I love to wear all the time, even in the bedroom. And, gosh, so fun to wrap them around a lover."
I am not dense. She obviously wanted to obtain a date with me. So we had continued to banter flirtatiously for a number of minutes, ending with a general commitment to get together later. After having left me her number, she had winked at me and had whispered in my ear, "Don't forget to call, Mr. Lai. I think we could have a lot of fun together."
I had called her the next day, after having secured the upcoming weekend with Barb. "Nan. Louis Lai. I wanted to set up a date. Would you be free the weekend after the coming one?"
"So nice to hear from you, Mr. Lai. I was wondering when you would call. Yes, I think I have some time in a couple weekends, although that Sunday afternoon is my dear grandmother's 75th birthday celebration. My father and his siblings have been planning this for a few months and I have been really looking forward to it. Probably ten tables."
Her response had thrown a small twist in my plans, but I emphasize the word "small". I was free that weekend and I didn't have the patience to wait to discover what Nan had to offer to me as a woman. "Nan, please call me Louis. Actually, I meant all weekend, though. Perhaps you could let your father and grandmother know that you might be occupied that day. I have found that, with me, dates are more worthwhile for both parties if we spend an extended and concentrated amount of time together. I am quite busy and I am used to making important decisions over short periods of time. This includes my choice of companions. I would ask that you clear your schedule from Friday evening to Monday morning. The date will continue, as long as we are getting along well. If one of us decides to terminate our date earlier in the weekend, well, I think that would be ample evidence pointing to our poor prospects together. And I am sure we could both go our separate ways as mature adults."
She had hesitated before replying, "Um, yes, you do have a point, Louis. I guess I can change my schedule for you."
"Excellent, Nan. Call me on Tuesday, two days from now. I understand that I may be inconveniencing you, so why don't you let me know what you would like to do Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening, and Sunday afternoon. I will make it happen. Does that sound acceptable?"