"There is nothing colorful in my life."

Mi Rae had been coming down the stairs when she heard this statement and was at loss on how to interpret it.She felt as if she was intruding on a personal conversation.She was about to turn back when Neil said the next line."I need to talk to you about Onita."

Deciding this was the prefect time to make her escape,Mi Rae went down and said,"I think I should leave now.Neil,thank you for your help and hospitality.And Mrs Long,Thank you to both of you for the scrumptious breakfast and for these clothes.I have ordered a can and will return the suit to you soon!It was a pleasure meeting you."

Alicia smiled a genuine smile at her and said,"Call me Al.And it was a pleasure meeting you too,Ms Zheng!We must meet up for lunch some time soon!Please give me your phone number!I have only returned to the country and it will take time to catch up with old friends and new!"

Though Mi Rae was doubtful about ever being able to meet for lunch,she did not think it was a problem to have the number of the wife of the most powerful businessman.So she exchanged numbers and with a casual goodbye left Neil's house.

Alicia turned to Neil and then raised a brow as if telling him to continue.Neil made her sit down and then sat opposite her."Al,You may need to convince Onita to go back to country A."

Alicia who had not been expecting that,felt aggreived!She had just met her friend and Neil was asking her to separate again!why?She waited for Neil to explain who just pleaded,"Can you just listen to me this once and not ask questions?"But Al just shook her head.

Sighing,Neil answered,"Chances are Onita's sister Omaya was murdered.I suspected that first also but with the addition of Hu Ge and Hu Wei,My instincts are screaming at me.Not just Omaya,my gut says that even Hu Wei was murdered.And I cannot be sure that Hu Ge is not involved.I am going to push for the case to re open and close within a day but she needs to escape after that.!

Alicia was sitting in the same terrified posture ever since Neil said murder.She was worried sick and had no idea how to react.There was only one thought in her mind.Her friend and that little child were in danger.She needed more information before she could arrange protection.She was already planning to talk to Ryu when Neil continued,"I have secretly arranged security for them both.But I doubt Onita has an inkling as to what could have happened.And the fragile state she was in I did not want to burden her.So just talk to her.I have sent Omaya's laptop for recovering data and I will check if I can find anything related to them but there is no guarantee..."As Neil explained everything he had discovered and all his suspicions,Alicia nodded her head indicating that she understood.She had to be the bearer of bad news as well as a pillar of support for Onita.

Neil thought with Onita's matter,he had successfully diverted her attention.But once the discussion was over,Al went back to the topic in her mind with the tenacity of a bull.

"Neil,when are you going to get cured?"

Neil was amused at her words and said,"Cured of what?I do not have any disease.You can check my body if you wish though I am sure if you do that your husband will not leave me alive."

Alicia narrowed her eyes at him and said,"Ha ha Neil.I know your body is perfectly fine.I am talking about your mentality of being the knight in s.h.i.+ning armour and rescuing damsels left and right!"

Still continuing to joke Neil said,"What are you talking about?"

"Me!Your personal a.s.siatant a few years ago,Onita,Zheng and many countless women that you have rescued!I am talking about them Neil!Helping every woman in need will not bring that woman back!"

"So being helpful makes me sick?Onita was your friend.She fainted at my doorstep!I should have turned her away?Zheng was stuck in the middle of nowhere!I should have abandoned her there!And you too would have been struggling if I had not played that role.Would that make you happy?"

"No Neil.You could have helped them.You could have been Onita's lawyer and handled it professionally but you got involved emotionally!And if you tell me know,then please tell me why is the picture of little Al your screensaver?And Zheng?You could have taken her to a hotel nearby and dropped her there but you brought her home!And me!I can never be thankful enough but Neil you paid the most price by my going away!You are only torturing yourself Neil!And I want you not to do that!Please."

Finally,Neil's mask of the jovial guy had fallen off.And his tortured face was visible to Al.Though she had known about it all along,she still hurt everytime he acted like this.But she had to be on his case otherwise he would convince himself that all was fine and never seek help.Alicia wanted to go and give him a comforting hug but knew he would not welcome that gesture at this moment so she kept to herself.Observing him she saw that he had taken into account what she had said so she decided to change the topic.So in a sudden change of mood,Al said,"By the way Neil.While I saw you today I realized that I have been a bad friend.The least I could have done is teach you to cook!But worry not!It is never too late!So I bought these for you!"Taking out an envelope,she pa.s.sed it to Neil who hesitantly accepted it!He was always wary of her gifts..After handing him the envelope,Alicia said goodbye to Neil and went away.

She did not want to go back and take a chance that Neil would return those to her!Actually she had bought those for herself and Ryu but since this morning had decided to gift it to Neil.

Neil pened the envelope and stared at the two tickets of a cooking cla.s.s.They were a couple ticket...But what was worse and what he did not know was that It was not just any cla.s.s!It was a cla.s.s that involved aphrodisiacs with the specific intention of increasing intimacy between couples..