long time to see that she had manipulated him into staying with her.
‘It’s a big city, Jessie. I’m sure our paths won’t cross, and knowing Sonia, I would think she’ll go back to Shanghai anyway. That’s where the majority of her businesses operate from.’
‘You’re kidding, right?’ Jessie asked rhetorically. ‘Sonia wants you, plain and simple. If she hears you’re back in Hong Kong, then I guarantee you, she’ll be back in Hong Kong.’
‘Then we won’t let her spoil our fun. This is about you and me, Jessie. Not her. If we do have the misfortune of running into her, then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Together,’ he added seriously, giving Jessie a meaningful look across the table. ‘You can’t let the possibility of running into one woman keep you from having a go at something you want.’
‘Ah, I’m just so tempted,’ Jessie admitted.
‘Come on then, Slaymaker. What say you?’ Jack asked persuasively.
‘What’s the time in Hong Kong?’ Jessie asked. She couldn’t help a megawatt beam of a smile from escaping her lips. This man made her feel so good. So positive about life and the future.
‘Seven hours ahead,’ Jack replied. ‘Why?’
‘I need to make a phone call and see if I can get me a job,’ Jessie said, smiling even more widely at this man who seemed to bring out her usually well-hidden impulsive side. He returned her smile, and Jessie felt her heartbeat quicken. Jessie, the safe and secure non-risk-taker, was becoming Jessie Slaymaker: brave risk-taker extraordinaire. Or at least, she was about to.
Chapter 4
Jessie had made her decision. She had called Mr Chan at the bank in Hong Kong, and he had been delighted to hear that she had changed her mind and now wanted to relocate to the region. As a result, Jessie had her job lined up, her flight booked, and her family and friends informed. Her mother took the news well, even if she was rather surprised that Jessie was leaving in a matter of weeks to go and start afresh in some far flung ex-colony with, as her mother phrased it, “ her new chap”.
There was only one person left to tell. Tom.
Apart from that one loose end, it was an incredibly exciting time for Jessie, as she planned and looked forward to this new chapter in her life. That excitement was heightened by the presence of Jack. The more time they spent together, the more she came to realise how he was precisely the right man for her. Jack was warm and caring and so easy to be around. Not only were they compatible in the all-important bedroom department, but it seemed they could really talk candidly about anything. For the first time in her life, Jessie felt unafraid to share her hopes and dreams, as well as her fears for the future. And, to their mutual delight, they found they had much in common, from books on economic history to Christopher Nolan movies. And what they didn’t have in common or agree upon turned easily into witty banter and insightful discussions.
But Tom not knowing any of the latest key developments in her life niggled her. Since they’d officially split up, there had been no contact between them. No calls, no emails, no texts—and this was a completely alien experience. Even prior to their attempted romantic liaison, they had always been in regular contact. Jessie found that she didn’t miss Tom the boyfriend. But she did miss Tom the best friend. Very much.
But she knew that the longer she put off telling him, the worse it would be. So with three weeks to go before her departure date, Jessie finally summoned up the courage to call him. It wasn’t the kind of thing she felt she should or could say by email. As she heard the ringing tone down the phone, she felt her stomach churn with nerves.
‘Jessie?’ he answered, more like a question.
‘Hi Tom, how are you?’ Jessie asked automatically. There was a noticeable pause before his reply.
‘Good. You?’
‘Same. Listen, I’m sorry to bother you, but I have
‘It’s a big city, Jessie. I’m sure our paths won’t cross, and knowing Sonia, I would think she’ll go back to Shanghai anyway. That’s where the majority of her businesses operate from.’
‘You’re kidding, right?’ Jessie asked rhetorically. ‘Sonia wants you, plain and simple. If she hears you’re back in Hong Kong, then I guarantee you, she’ll be back in Hong Kong.’
‘Then we won’t let her spoil our fun. This is about you and me, Jessie. Not her. If we do have the misfortune of running into her, then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Together,’ he added seriously, giving Jessie a meaningful look across the table. ‘You can’t let the possibility of running into one woman keep you from having a go at something you want.’
‘Ah, I’m just so tempted,’ Jessie admitted.
‘Come on then, Slaymaker. What say you?’ Jack asked persuasively.
‘What’s the time in Hong Kong?’ Jessie asked. She couldn’t help a megawatt beam of a smile from escaping her lips. This man made her feel so good. So positive about life and the future.
‘Seven hours ahead,’ Jack replied. ‘Why?’
‘I need to make a phone call and see if I can get me a job,’ Jessie said, smiling even more widely at this man who seemed to bring out her usually well-hidden impulsive side. He returned her smile, and Jessie felt her heartbeat quicken. Jessie, the safe and secure non-risk-taker, was becoming Jessie Slaymaker: brave risk-taker extraordinaire. Or at least, she was about to.
Chapter 4
Jessie had made her decision. She had called Mr Chan at the bank in Hong Kong, and he had been delighted to hear that she had changed her mind and now wanted to relocate to the region. As a result, Jessie had her job lined up, her flight booked, and her family and friends informed. Her mother took the news well, even if she was rather surprised that Jessie was leaving in a matter of weeks to go and start afresh in some far flung ex-colony with, as her mother phrased it, “ her new chap”.
There was only one person left to tell. Tom.
Apart from that one loose end, it was an incredibly exciting time for Jessie, as she planned and looked forward to this new chapter in her life. That excitement was heightened by the presence of Jack. The more time they spent together, the more she came to realise how he was precisely the right man for her. Jack was warm and caring and so easy to be around. Not only were they compatible in the all-important bedroom department, but it seemed they could really talk candidly about anything. For the first time in her life, Jessie felt unafraid to share her hopes and dreams, as well as her fears for the future. And, to their mutual delight, they found they had much in common, from books on economic history to Christopher Nolan movies. And what they didn’t have in common or agree upon turned easily into witty banter and insightful discussions.
But Tom not knowing any of the latest key developments in her life niggled her. Since they’d officially split up, there had been no contact between them. No calls, no emails, no texts—and this was a completely alien experience. Even prior to their attempted romantic liaison, they had always been in regular contact. Jessie found that she didn’t miss Tom the boyfriend. But she did miss Tom the best friend. Very much.
But she knew that the longer she put off telling him, the worse it would be. So with three weeks to go before her departure date, Jessie finally summoned up the courage to call him. It wasn’t the kind of thing she felt she should or could say by email. As she heard the ringing tone down the phone, she felt her stomach churn with nerves.
‘Jessie?’ he answered, more like a question.
‘Hi Tom, how are you?’ Jessie asked automatically. There was a noticeable pause before his reply.
‘Good. You?’
‘Same. Listen, I’m sorry to bother you, but I have
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