"I'm sorry. He's an old acquaintance." Christopher looked at Emilia apologetically.
"It's alright." Emilia shrugged focused on the food that was just being served. "I find it interesting. It's nice to get an insight into what your mysterious life is like, including the blast from the past and all the people involved in it."
"Like the glitter bombs?"
"Exactly." Emilia hesitated. "Although…"
"Yes?"
"If we are to be diverted in the next five months, is it wise to show that we are indeed married?"
"We are married though. Even if for now."
"Will people not be more curious as to why we've split up if they knew me?"
"Likely. I will cross that bridge when I get to it. And don't worry. I will not slander your name after the divorce. I will come up with a reasonable excuse as to why we've split up that won't pinpoint any blame on you."
"Okay." Emilia nodded but still not fully reassured about the plan. "I feel like I need to force myself to watch all of the Twilight movies now, through all that cringe, to see if you're really Edward." She changed her topic which lightened up the mood again.
"I do not sparkle in the sunlight." Christopher's smile returned to his face and it was breathtakingly stunning. Emilia could feel her insides warm up and it wasn't just because of a delicious pasta that was just served. She enjoyed seeing that side of Christopher that seemed to be reserved for her eyes only.
"I will have to find out for myself. Although, I don't think this country has the weather for it."
"Certainly not." Christopher automatically looked outside which has progressively gotten gloomy throughout the day. "Not in here. But, Caribbean should be having a 30 degree Celsius weather. Or Singapore? Or Bangkok?"
"Don't most of them have rainfall season in November?"
"They probably do."
"That's a shame. I would to see you blinding everyone in a five mile radius with your glittery torso. It would be magnificently amusing."
"I am not a vampire."
"You are yet to prove it."
"You've seen me out in the sun!"
"And you were fully dressed. In a suit. Even at the beach. All the evidence suggests that you might be a vampire." Emilia teased him.
"What evidence do you have?"
"Lives in a castle - check. Hides in a dark - check. Avoids people as if there was a risk of drinking their blood - check. Rich beyond reason - check."
"I should have never told you about it." Christopher mumbled under his nose.
"Oh, but I loved hearing that story!"
"I'm glad that I can be your entertainment."
"The pleasure is all mine."
"How is your food?"
"Delicious."
"But is it the best food you've ever had?"
"It does compete against the food my grandma used to make, which is an unfair contender. I'm afraid, it is not quite there. But almost. A solid second."
"That's a shame. Oh well, Friday night plans seem to be shaping."
"And what are they?"
"I'll make some dinner with a glass of sparkling grape juice, and then we will watch all five Twilight movies."
"I'm sure that there's a better use of your time."
"Hardly. Unless you have other ideas."
"Not for this week but the masquerade sounds like a lot of fun."
"Do you want to go?"
"I am curious. I've never been to the elitist club before."
"I haven't really been to anything like it before either."
"So, what is it? Are you an introvert or do you hate people?"
"That's an interesting question. I'd say that I'm an introvert with a dislike for most people. What about you?"
"I'm an introvert who loves people."
"Counterintuitive."
"I love being between people but it depletes my social battery very quickly."
"Ahhh… no, I struggle with a lot of people."
"Why?"
"I don't really like wasting my time on trivialities."
"Like lunch with me?"
"In full honesty, I don't mind it."
"I suppose that if your entire fortune relies on someone staying married to you, you'd want to keep them close." Emilia said with a shrug.
"Besides financial gain, is there anything you're getting out of this?" Christopher asked Emilia so directly that her eyes widened in surprise.
"A personal business coach? I am hoping to truly get that nepotism going." Emilia answered lightheartedly. She didn't like that question. She couldn't tell Christopher that having lunch with him was exactly what she hoped for in the last few months. She blushed as the memory of the passionate kiss from before her abductions resurfaced again. She yearned for it. But she was too cautious to take a leap and ask him if he ever meant it. He was drunk when he kissed her. She kept reminding herself.
"You're not even interested in business."
"I suppose I am not. I-…" Emilia thought carefully as she chose her words. "I had a rocky start to my career. After a PhD I was due to start a postdoc but it was cancelled last minute leaving me with nothing. I have gone through tens of applications and a few interviews before I found something somewhat suitable. I was progressing well within the company. I became a project lead within months because I've poured my heart and soul into work. My team made a few brilliant breakthroughs. But it wasn't enough. The company went bust due to unpredictable market changes and I was out of job again. I've lost a job a week before Mr Cosby told me about a 'job'." Emilia did the air quotes as she spoke. "Throughout that week I've applied to nearly hundred companies. I've heard from five. I had two interviews. Both were unlikely to lead to employment. One was in a very old-fashioned company and they were worried that having a female project lead will mean that no subordinates will do work and report to me correctly because of the embedded culture. The latter… it was equally bad if not worse. At the time, the job of being an event assistant for the next twelve months was a godsend."
"Is that what you thought the job was?"
"Don't laugh. I know that it was stupid. And I was desperate. My saving account was going to be fully depleted in less than a month to cover the expenses I had."
"Cosby really used you at your most vulnerable."
"See, I don't think it's as simple as that."
"Why are you defending him?"
"Because that night when he told me about it he was drunk and in a state I've never seen him before. I met him in the corner shop by the apartment block and he was just in a shocking state. When I spoke with him, he said that he was sure that he was getting fired. He couldn't recruit anyone and he was getting fired. He was so sure of that. I think that he was just very desperate to get what you wanted because he was terrified of the consequences if he didn't."
"He did mention that you were acquainted when I asked him how he knew you."
"Somewhat, yes. He lives two floors below me. We regularly spotted each other in the corridor or in the corner shop when we both were getting instant noddles for dinner after long days at work. We mostly shared a small talk and not much beyond it. I don't think he ever really spoke to me about his personal life aside of superficial things. And most that I know about him comes from Mrs Kowalski who lived in our apartment block since her birth and she somehow knows everything about everyone."
"Then why are you so concerned about him?"
"Because I get it. A fear of being unemployed at any minute because you can't complete an impossible task is paralysing. And you can be quite terrifying."
"Terrifying?"
"Intimidating?"
"Am I?" Christopher's eyes widened. "Right now, am I intimidating to you?"
"Not right now. But you're different when you're here, alone with me. And you are very different in front of other people."
"How?"
"You are…" Emilia considered her words carefully. "Hmm… I suppose you make it very clear how much you dislike people. You seem quite unapproachable. Cold. Even just the way you speak shows how little you think of others around you. We're like cockroaches, swarming under your feet."
"You cannot really think that!" Christopher was shocked by the picture that Emilia described to him. His body tensed up. Last thing he wanted was to be seen as intimidating and unapproachable by someone like Emilia - by Emilia. He still hoped that within the next five months he could make her see him in a positive light that might make her want to stay with him. They were perfect together. Emilia brought out the best in him.
"I- I-." Emilia stuttered nervously. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"No. It's alright. I'm just surprised." Christopher tried to relax as he said it. "I never considered that this is how people see me."
"It's not necessarily a bad thing. You are held in a very high regard by a lot of people. It's also a good reflection of you."
"Is there anything I can do to break that barrier? Especially with you?"
"Tell me more stories. Tell me about the glitter bombs." Emilia answered honestly. "When I first thought this was a job, I did a very deep dig into who you are searching through every crevice of the internet. There was nothing out there that made you seem like a person I can empathise with or relate to. I even bothered Cosby to learn more about you and even he barely knew much of you outside of work. I guess, for me, it helps to know that you're a person too. A person who went to school and was teased by peers. A person who went to prom." Emilia smiled. "And also, I want to know more because I am nosy."
"Only if you share your stories with me too."
"Seems like a fair deal." Emilia agreed. She then looked at her phone realising the time and how quickly it had flown with Christopher. "I'm afraid the next meeting is due to start."
"It's a shame. I wouldn't mind a dessert."
"You didn't strike me as a sweets guy."
"They do a cheese board."
"You know, there's an artisan market near where my mum lives. They do an amazing vintage cheeses. I can pick some up for Friday night?"
"The question remains, what would you like me to cook for you?"
"Cook something that is your specialty. A chef's special, please."
"A chef's special. That's a challenge." Christopher smiled as he got up. He paid on the way out without giving Emilia an opportunity to offer to pay.