Meeting You Was Fate

"Show me how strong you are," Mandy challenged him.

"You've gotten so bold now!" Amused, Nathan laughed heartily.

Steam wafted up in thin clouds from the warm water, engulfing them in a mist.

"I'll let go of what happened tonight. Next time, I'll ask your permission first whenever I want to visit Lisa. Or I'll ask you to come with me, okay?" She tried to make a deal with him and felt herself blush.

"You're quite prepared." Although his anger had abated, he still did not agree directly with her request. He angled a speculative look at her, and an enigmatic smile broke shallowly across his face.

Unfortunately for Mandy, you would not try games of one-upmanship with Nathan.

"I learned from you," she said softly as a sly smile scored her beautiful face.

The next morning, Serge brought a change of clothes for Nathan and Mandy. Fred also came.

Promptly on cue, the doorbell rang. Nathan went to the door wearing a bathrobe and opened it. Mandy was still in the bathroom, getting ready.

"Good morning, Mr. Jin!" Serge greeted in high spirits and handed a bag of clothes to Nathan.

"Good morning!" Nathan gave a curt nod to the two men.

"Mr. Jin, the private jet is ready. When do you want to leave?"

"I'll set out after breakfast."

with her business, Mandy walked out in a daze wrapped only in a flimsy satin bathrobe that revealed her slender legs. The door at the end of the hall was open, and Nathan stood in the doorway.

shoulder and saw Mandy, who looked every bit enticing. He abruptly closed the door and

you wearing the same?" She innocently blinked as she

just now. They might be my men, but they are still men anyway. Do you

senses, she snapped, "You're just saying that because

I'm a male chauvinist?" asked Nathan knowingly, pretending not to

you want!" She pulled on a set of clothes and then started down the hall. Before she could step away, Nathan grabbed her hand

male chauvinist, I order you now

words to sink in and another few to process them. Seeing his

a chauvinist, so he deliberately pissed her off. He wanted her to be irked because he sure as hell was annoyed.

of me, and I'll do the same. Isn't

made a small sound of disbelief. Now she was in for it. The man unnerved her, but then, she married this

her teeth and endure silently.

trip came to mind. "How long will you be

a week. Can you take care of yourself?" Nathan became grave, and there was a glimmer of trepidation in

not a kid," Mandy

to the trip, and an inner voice of warning pinged in his head. Fearing that some people might be plotting against Mandy, he asked Serge to stay in City A

breakfast, Nathan departed on his private aircraft

reflected the shadow of the jet across the sky. Overhead, the sunlight glowed

take Adrian to kindergarten. The little kid had just finished his breakfast and was tidying in front of the mirror. He twisted and turned, checking out his uniform from every possible angle. And then a smile crossed his face as he was pleased,

the scene. Adrian's chubby body, coupled with the way he fussed with his appearance at such an

down the stairs and joined them. She did not sleep well

looked up and saw Nacy was not her usual glam self. She seemed weary,