"Uh… hi Camilla, how are you doing today?" he bestowed his bright smile upon her .

Camilla fluttered her lashes in return . So he had finally discovered her, huh! Only to frown at his next words .

"Per chance, did you get to see who sent those lovely flowers to Ms . Lin?" he asked, his wide smile still intact .

"I am paid to work here, not snoop into other people's business, Sir . I have no idea who sent her that bouquet," she replied, with her teeth clenched .

He was put out by her reply . Why did she have to sound as if the milk had curdled in her mouth . He tucked his smile back in and walked away .

"So the jealous lover has come snooping on his girlfriend's activities . Do I look like his personal detective? Why the h.e.l.l should I bother with either of them?" she harrumphed and went back to playing 'Angry Birds' on her mobile .

"Would you like me to pick you up from work?" Wei was calling to check on Jia Li .

It was 6:30pm and she was ready to leave office . She told him that there was no need . She would see him directly at the pre-decided place .

Wei disconnected the call and his phone trilled back immediately . He hesitated, looking at the screen .

"Hey Tang, what's up?" he asked cautiously .

Tang's cheerful voice came through, "just called to check on Uncle w.a.n.g . How is the recovery going? When are you guys coming back? The city and its weekends feel a bit boring without you here . "

Wei felt a sliver of guilt go through him as he replied, "he is doing well . I am, umm… have just stepped out to grab a bite . The doctor has given him at least a two-week recovery period before he can travel . So you will have to be at the helm of matters, single-handedly, a little longer . "

Tang a.s.sured him that it wasn't a problem and he needn't worry about it . He put down the phone and thought back to the previous night when he had been framing the mail to Jia Li . He had wrestled with himself before writing the words which informed her about Wei's presence in London . He didn't want to be defeated by the demons of his past . Wei had been her good friend and could probably use her support right now .

If he was going to lose in this quest of love, it would be because of Jia Li rejecting his affection and not because of another person . He wanted to be brutally honest with himself and her . Nothing else mattered . Brave sentiment but was he capable of seeing it till the end?

London

"You look lovely, albeit a little different . I don't think I have ever seen you in formal office attire . It suits you, makes you look the part of the Boss Lady," Wei said as she walked in to the restaurant .

She made a face at his words and said, "there was no time left for me to change clothes by the time I reached home . So I quickly freshened up and left . In hindsight, I should have chosen a place close to home . But then I have been meaning to come and eat at this Mexican place for really long . And from what I remember, you like the cuisine too . "

Wei's heart smiled at her words .

"Ah, so you still remember something about your old friends . That's a relief . Here I had braced myself for starting afresh with you," he said in a serious voice .

"Stop pulling my leg with every sentence . Oh! Before I forget, thank you for the flowers but can you not send them again to my work place? Please don't misunderstand my words . It's just . . . just that Earthly Matters is a small office with a close knit community and I don't want to attract unnecessary attraction towards myself . I am trying to create an ident.i.ty for myself there as a serious, committed employee and…" her voice trailed off, looking at Wei's reaction .

"You have changed," he said cryptically, without offering any further explanation .

"Ok, no more flowers . Now, can we order . I am starving," he picked up the menu and started to browse through .

Jia Li breathed in a relieved sigh and paid attention to the menu card in her hand .

"Surprise surprise… how did our dear Jia Li land up here, so far away from home?" a familiar voice made her look up .

"Eric! This is indeed a surprise . You had raved about this restaurant all those weeks ago and since then I wanted to come here . I finally made it today," she got up and told him with a smile .

After discussing a few work related things, he walked away from her desk and went straight to the receptionist . Time to turn on the famous charm, which the men in his family were known for . Uh… hi Camilla, how are you doing today? he bestowed his bright smile upon her . Camilla fluttered her lashes in return . So he had finally discovered her, huh! Only to frown at his next words . Per chance, did you get to see who sent those lovely flowers to Ms . Lin? he asked, his wide smile still intact . I am paid to work here, not snoop into other peoples business, Sir . I have no idea who sent her that bouquet, she replied, with her teeth clenched . He was put out by her reply . Why did she have to sound as if the milk had curdled in her mouth . He tucked his smile back in and walked away . So the jealous lover has come snooping on his girlfriends activities . Do I look like his personal detective? Why the h.e.l.l should I bother with either of them? she harrumphed and went back to playing Angry Birds on her mobile . Would you like me to pick you up from work? Wei was calling to check on Jia Li . It was 6:30pm and she was ready to leave office . She told him that there was no need . She would see him directly at the pre-decided place . Wei disconnected the call and his phone trilled back immediately . He hesitated, looking at the screen Hey Tang, whats up? he asked cautiously . Tangs cheerful voice came through, just called to check on Uncle w.a.n.g . How is the recovery going? When are you guys coming back? The city and its weekends feel a bit boring without you here . Wei felt a sliver of guilt go through him as he replied, he is doing well . I am, umm… have just stepped out to grab a bite . The doctor has given him at least a two-week recovery period before he can travel . So you will have to be at the helm of matters, single-handedly, a little longer . Tang a.s.sured him that it wasnt a problem and he neednt worry about it . He put down the phone and thought back to the previous night when he had been framing the mail to Jia Li . He had wrestled with himself before writing the words which informed her about Weis presence in London . He didnt want to be defeated by the demons of his past . Wei had been her good friend and could probably use her support right now . If he was going to lose in this quest of love, it would be because of Jia Li rejecting his affection and not because of another person . He wanted to be brutally honest with himself and her . Nothing else mattered . Brave sentiment but was he capable of seeing it till the end? London You look lovely, albeit a little different . I dont think I have ever seen you in formal office attire . It suits you, makes you look the part of the Boss Lady, Wei said as she walked in to the restaurant . She made a face at his words and said, there was no time left for me to change clothes by the time I reached home . So I quickly freshened up and left . In hindsight, I should have chosen a place close to home . But then I have been meaning to come and eat at this Mexican place for really long . And from what I remember, you like the cuisine too . . Weis heart smiled at her words . Ah, so you still remember something about your old friends . Thats a relief . Here I had braced myself for starting afresh with you, he said in a serious voice . Stop pulling my leg with every sentence . Oh! Before I forget, thank you for the flowers but can you not send them again to my work place? Please dont misunderstand my words . Its just . just that Earthly Matters is a small office with a close knit community and I dont want to attract unnecessary attraction towards myself . I am trying to create an ident.i.ty for myself there as a serious, committed employee and… her voice trailed off, looking at Weis reaction . You have changed, he said cryptically, without offering any further explanation . Ok, no more flowers . Now, can we order . I am starving, he picked up the menu and started to browse through . Jia Li breathed in a relieved sigh and paid attention to the menu card in her hand . Surprise surprise… how did our dear Jia Li land up here, so far away from home? a familiar voice made her look up . Eric! This is indeed a surprise . You had raved about this restaurant all those weeks ago and since then I wanted to come here . I finally made it today, she got up and told him with a smile .