I perched on a bar stool and nattered to my friend. I had positioned myself so that I could see both Alpha and the door leading to the bathrooms. If Green Eyes returned, I would know.
My god what a predicament! I just had to hope that Green Eyes would keep his mouth shut. I'm not so naive and stupid that it never occurred to me that I would get caught. I had just hoped that Green Eyes really was leaving Beijing forever. Next time, if there was a next time, I would have to be more careful.
I saw Green Eyes enter the bar again. He looked directly at me and then away again as if he had been scalded. Even as sticky as this situation was I felt a stir of devilment: add men who are both frightened and turned on by my sexuality to the list of things that bring out the naughty in me.
Green Eyes walked over to the other men and said goodbyes. From the half eye I had on them I could see the other men were professing surprise at Green Eyes leaving so early. I held a whispered and hurried conversation with my friend, telling her that I was looking for a job and hoped Green Eyes could get me one in his company. Frankly I didn't know what Green Eyes did for a living - he could sing naked for cents in the Forbidden City for all I cared - but I knew it would get rid of this friend fast. The feminist in her hates my Kept Woman status. She squeezed my hand hopefully, wished me an earnest "good luck, darling, you need this" before she rushed off, beaming with satisfaction.
Green Eyes stopped short when he realized that he would have to pass me on his way out and that there was no way he could not stop to say goodbye without looking insufferably rude. I smiled coyly at him and he reluctantly walked over to me. He wasn't quite sure what to say and I waited patiently with one eyebrow raised until he managed to stammer out:
"I'm sorry."
"What for, darling?" I drawled.
"For telling everyone about you..."
"About me what?" My voice was hard and sharp now. "About you and me or about you and some girl in a lift." Green Eyes blushed bright red. Thank god I hadn't seen this whipped puppy aspect to him before or I would never have taken him on that night.
"About me and... some girl." His voice geared up into a whine as he started to defend himself. "I didn't say you, I would never have said your name, and you didn't tell me Alpha was your fiance! I would be dead if anyone found out that we..." I cut in.
"So lets make sure they don't, hmmm? I think it's in both of our best interests that it just stay our little secret. Oh and you're right: he would kill you. Now smile please, give me a nice kiss on the cheek and off you go. You told me you were leaving Beijing - is that still true or will I often have the pleasure of your company?"
"No, I'm leaving at the end of next week. I'm being sent back to the US and changing department. It's a promotion actually. They wont send me back now. I only came tonight to collect my phone; I had left it at the bar last night."
I smiled winningly and felt the tension leave my body.
"That's good, I'm really pleased for you. I am pleased, honestly, and I'm sorry this didn't work out," I gestured widely, trying to find the right word: as we had planned? hoped? wished? thought? I finished lamely. "I'm sorry this didn't work out."
He smiled back at me, the Green Eyes I had met and slept with was back. He kissed me on the cheek and walked from the bar without looking back, confidence springing his step. I suppressed a vulgar shrug and finished my drink. I barely noticed the tall, dark man slip into onto the chair opposite me.
"That was foolish." My head snapped up and I looked with some anger and confusion and this unwanted intrusion.
"Beg pardon?"
"Women such as yourself shouldn't play with little boys. They get hurt. They get involved. They need mummy to come make it better."
"What?" He laughed and the sound was rich and deep. I shivered a little as if trying to shrug off a wet coat.
"That's better, you have forgotten him already. See? You shrug him off so easily! This is why strong, beautiful women shouldn't have boys. They need men." I laughed back at him, the best remedy I know for arrogant men.
"I already have a man." I pointed at Alpha. The man sitting with me turned to look at him. He considered Alpha for a moment before turning back to me.
"Yes, this is a man, but why do you play with boys when you have a man already."
"Why don't you tell me? You seem to know so much!"
"It is true. I do." It clicked and I realized I hadn't being paying attention: he was French, his accent and idiom obvious now I was listening. He looked slowly up and down my body.
"I think you played with boys because your man... hmmm..." He looked at Alpha again. "Too busy? Too boring? Bad in bed? No." He looked at me again and then his eyes lit up. "Yes! Too good! Not busy, not boring, not bad in bed, but too much! Too good! Too wonderful!" He laughed, thrilled at his discovery. I tried to shush him, worried that Alpha would be watching.
"I am right! Am I not, coquette?" I stared at the bar, trying to imagine a place where this bloody frog didn't exist. His voice softened, alarmed. He titled my chin up to look at him.
"Do not worry, coquette, your secret is safe with me. Now relax! Let there be no more talk of love... tell me instead of yourself."
I smiled in spite of myself. I love a man who can really flirt and, trust me, anyone who wants to know about you can really flirt.
Alpha was smiling at me from behind the Frenchman's shoulder. I smiled back before turning my smile on the Frenchman. The evening, I decided, was looking up.

