words. And as they sank in, he couldn’t help smiling to himself. She was right. She was absolutely right. Jessie was all his, and he truly believed that now they were together, she would never let another man touch her. The only nagging seed of doubt was his brother Charlie, who he knew Jessie had had strong feelings for in the past. But Charlie was out of the picture. He hadn’t been seen by any of the family for months, and according to their mother, he was in hiding, although reportedly still somehow living the life of Riley in South America somewhere.
As they walked on to the restaurant in companionable silence, Jessie was unable to hide her awe at the new bright sights and sounds. She couldn’t seem to shake the look of a gobsmacked tourist off her face. Meanwhile Jack found himself wondering why he was suddenly feeling slightly on the insecure side. It was alien territory for him, feeling insecure. Of course he trusted Jessie, and he’d seen other men look at her before. But he’d never jumped off the deep end in such a way as to result in physical contact. It wasn’t like him to start a fight.
He blamed his uncharacteristic behaviour on being unsettled about what he was going to do. Jessie had her job, but what did Jack have going on in that moment? He’d followed her halfway around the world so she could fulfill her dream of travel and adventure, but what of his dreams? He’d accomplished a lot when he’d lived in Shanghai, made enough money to ensure he’d be comfortable for awhile, but going back to his old business held no appeal for him now. In the past he’d always been sure of his career, and his personal life had just bumbled along from short-term girlfriend to one-night-stand to the next short-term girlfriend. Now his personal life was stable for the first time in years, and he was with a woman he envisaged being with for the foreseeable future, yet his career was practically non-existent.
Jack knew he wanted to do something. He just didn’t know what. It was hard to admit to himself, that maybe his recent tetchiness was because the stakes were higher now. He had something to prove to Jessie. He wanted to show her that he could be successful and driven. She’d only really known him so far as a lazy playboy-type character. Sure, she knew about his entrepreneurial days, but they weren’t something she’d ever actually witnessed. And now his vacation period was coming to an end, and he knew he couldn’t continue playing the gentleman of leisure for much longer. Not whilst he waved Jessie off on her way to work every day.
‘I’m starving,’ Jessie announced as she stopped outside a small, lively-looking restaurant and scanned the menu. ‘How about this place?’
‘Sure,’ Jack answered, still deep in thought, his appetite not that huge anymore. The more he thought about his lack of options, the more it weighed on him.
‘Come on,’ Jessie said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze and flashing him that natural megawatt smile that came so easily to her.
Her enthusiasm was infectious. Jack decided he could work on his master plan tomorrow. Tonight was about celebrating. It was a celebration of Jessie and Jack being together. Together in Hong Kong—fresh and new.
Chapter 11
Dinner that night had been in a cool little pizza place in the lively district of Soho, where they’d sat at the bar and chowed down on thick slices of cheesy pizza, washed down with copious amounts of red wine. Not exactly an authentic Hong Kong cuisine experience, but it was what they’d both needed.
Jack had been in an extra buoyant mood for some reason, and had continually topped up her glass all evening. Jessie knew he was just trying to show her a good time, take her mind off her lack of clothes and her disappointment in their living arrangements. And she also knew it would hurt in the morning, given her poor state of hydration after the flight. But she didn’t care. It never even crossed her mind to say
As they walked on to the restaurant in companionable silence, Jessie was unable to hide her awe at the new bright sights and sounds. She couldn’t seem to shake the look of a gobsmacked tourist off her face. Meanwhile Jack found himself wondering why he was suddenly feeling slightly on the insecure side. It was alien territory for him, feeling insecure. Of course he trusted Jessie, and he’d seen other men look at her before. But he’d never jumped off the deep end in such a way as to result in physical contact. It wasn’t like him to start a fight.
He blamed his uncharacteristic behaviour on being unsettled about what he was going to do. Jessie had her job, but what did Jack have going on in that moment? He’d followed her halfway around the world so she could fulfill her dream of travel and adventure, but what of his dreams? He’d accomplished a lot when he’d lived in Shanghai, made enough money to ensure he’d be comfortable for awhile, but going back to his old business held no appeal for him now. In the past he’d always been sure of his career, and his personal life had just bumbled along from short-term girlfriend to one-night-stand to the next short-term girlfriend. Now his personal life was stable for the first time in years, and he was with a woman he envisaged being with for the foreseeable future, yet his career was practically non-existent.
Jack knew he wanted to do something. He just didn’t know what. It was hard to admit to himself, that maybe his recent tetchiness was because the stakes were higher now. He had something to prove to Jessie. He wanted to show her that he could be successful and driven. She’d only really known him so far as a lazy playboy-type character. Sure, she knew about his entrepreneurial days, but they weren’t something she’d ever actually witnessed. And now his vacation period was coming to an end, and he knew he couldn’t continue playing the gentleman of leisure for much longer. Not whilst he waved Jessie off on her way to work every day.
‘I’m starving,’ Jessie announced as she stopped outside a small, lively-looking restaurant and scanned the menu. ‘How about this place?’
‘Sure,’ Jack answered, still deep in thought, his appetite not that huge anymore. The more he thought about his lack of options, the more it weighed on him.
‘Come on,’ Jessie said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze and flashing him that natural megawatt smile that came so easily to her.
Her enthusiasm was infectious. Jack decided he could work on his master plan tomorrow. Tonight was about celebrating. It was a celebration of Jessie and Jack being together. Together in Hong Kong—fresh and new.
Chapter 11
Dinner that night had been in a cool little pizza place in the lively district of Soho, where they’d sat at the bar and chowed down on thick slices of cheesy pizza, washed down with copious amounts of red wine. Not exactly an authentic Hong Kong cuisine experience, but it was what they’d both needed.
Jack had been in an extra buoyant mood for some reason, and had continually topped up her glass all evening. Jessie knew he was just trying to show her a good time, take her mind off her lack of clothes and her disappointment in their living arrangements. And she also knew it would hurt in the morning, given her poor state of hydration after the flight. But she didn’t care. It never even crossed her mind to say
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