Chapter 2: ...sold!
Ximen had never been so humiliated! It seemed that hell really hath no fury like a woman scorned! In his case though, it had been 'women' scorned. All his mei meis had contrived to teach him a lesson by not making a single bid at all! Only one person bid on him...and at a measly sum of $2. Two f**cking dollars! His secretary had apologized quite profusely for not arriving on time to make a bid, which would have at least helped Ximen save face as he'd been given the liberty to bid as much as $20,000 out of the playboy bachelor's own account.
Ximen had thought he'd be the one who'd rake in the highest bid of the evening given that he was the last one to be auctioned off. As it was, he'd become the laughing stock instead. Even Qing He, son of the sudden rich, had gotten a higher bid than him. It had taken every effort to joke with the emcee after being told how much he'd been sold for. He smiled until his jaw ached because he'd seen quite a number of representatives from the press and he didn't want to look like a spoilsport although he'd been sure that he would be the subject of many a columnist's editorial the following day. He'd wondered who the 'lucky' girl was though. Her refusal to come onstage had added insult to injury and many wondered if maybe she looked so hideous that she'd been ashamed to be seen in public. Even his friends had laughed themselves silly at his expense. He sighed as he again read the card he'd received early morning the following day.
"Ximen, My week with you officially starts at breakfast today.
Be at the marina by 8AM sharp.
Wear something casual and comfortable.
Oh, and bring an extra change of clothes.
You'll know where to meet me once you get there. ^_^"
He didn't know whether to be intrigued or insulted. He'd been standing on the marina for the last 10 minutes and contrary to the note, he had yet to find out where to proceed. He felt a little foolish holding an overnight bag (where his change of clothes were) and the note. He was sure someone was filming him at this very moment as he looked quite lost. As per instruction, he was wearing jeans and a plain white shirt, paired off with sneakers. He'd tied his hair back because of the wind and thought it best to wear his prescription glasses with its clip-on shades instead of his contact lenses (he was afraid he might lose them if he and his mystery lady spent the day on the water). Someone tapped him on the back and he turned to see who it was.
"Hello Ximen."
***
Lei didn't know what to think. Like Ximen, the person who'd won him also didn't meet him onstage, but he was spared being made the laughing stock because he'd gotten the highest bid during the auction. He only wished that whoever she was, she wasn't a loony. He didn't think he'd survive a week if she turned out to be the stalker type. He looked at his watch again. He was supposed to meet her for breakfast at this restaurant but she was late. Very late. He hated people who were late, which was an oxymoron as it were because he was the one who was perpetually late for any get-togethers with his friends. He also hated the fact that he'd had to cut his sleep short for this and she hadn't even bothered to show up on time.
He looked at his watch again as he felt his stomach grumble. He hadn't eaten since the night before and he was really hungry. He was so hungry even the century egg that the guy on the next table was eating had started to look quite appetizing to him (and he hated the thing with a passion). He was looking at the menu quite longingly when she finally came.
"Hi Lei."
***
Ximen had never been so humiliated! It seemed that hell really hath no fury like a woman scorned! In his case though, it had been 'women' scorned. All his mei meis had contrived to teach him a lesson by not making a single bid at all! Only one person bid on him...and at a measly sum of $2. Two f**cking dollars! His secretary had apologized quite profusely for not arriving on time to make a bid, which would have at least helped Ximen save face as he'd been given the liberty to bid as much as $20,000 out of the playboy bachelor's own account.
Ximen had thought he'd be the one who'd rake in the highest bid of the evening given that he was the last one to be auctioned off. As it was, he'd become the laughing stock instead. Even Qing He, son of the sudden rich, had gotten a higher bid than him. It had taken every effort to joke with the emcee after being told how much he'd been sold for. He smiled until his jaw ached because he'd seen quite a number of representatives from the press and he didn't want to look like a spoilsport although he'd been sure that he would be the subject of many a columnist's editorial the following day. He'd wondered who the 'lucky' girl was though. Her refusal to come onstage had added insult to injury and many wondered if maybe she looked so hideous that she'd been ashamed to be seen in public. Even his friends had laughed themselves silly at his expense. He sighed as he again read the card he'd received early morning the following day.
"Ximen, My week with you officially starts at breakfast today.
Be at the marina by 8AM sharp.
Wear something casual and comfortable.
Oh, and bring an extra change of clothes.
You'll know where to meet me once you get there. ^_^"
He didn't know whether to be intrigued or insulted. He'd been standing on the marina for the last 10 minutes and contrary to the note, he had yet to find out where to proceed. He felt a little foolish holding an overnight bag (where his change of clothes were) and the note. He was sure someone was filming him at this very moment as he looked quite lost. As per instruction, he was wearing jeans and a plain white shirt, paired off with sneakers. He'd tied his hair back because of the wind and thought it best to wear his prescription glasses with its clip-on shades instead of his contact lenses (he was afraid he might lose them if he and his mystery lady spent the day on the water). Someone tapped him on the back and he turned to see who it was.
"Hello Ximen."
***
Lei didn't know what to think. Like Ximen, the person who'd won him also didn't meet him onstage, but he was spared being made the laughing stock because he'd gotten the highest bid during the auction. He only wished that whoever she was, she wasn't a loony. He didn't think he'd survive a week if she turned out to be the stalker type. He looked at his watch again. He was supposed to meet her for breakfast at this restaurant but she was late. Very late. He hated people who were late, which was an oxymoron as it were because he was the one who was perpetually late for any get-togethers with his friends. He also hated the fact that he'd had to cut his sleep short for this and she hadn't even bothered to show up on time.
He looked at his watch again as he felt his stomach grumble. He hadn't eaten since the night before and he was really hungry. He was so hungry even the century egg that the guy on the next table was eating had started to look quite appetizing to him (and he hated the thing with a passion). He was looking at the menu quite longingly when she finally came.
"Hi Lei."
***
