Chapter 9 --- A Night Together

      While Tik was taking his nap before dinner, Kat was walking around the hotel and asked for information about things to do in China. She was making plans on how to make the night nice and cheap. After hours of planning things it was time for them to go. He was dressed up casual like always and she was wearing jeans and a sweater. They were ready to go, until she told him he had to change. When she bought her cheap clothes she also bought him something too. She got him some jeans that were perfect, not tight and not too baggy. It was just loose for him to look decent. She also got him a thin jacket and a hat. He had never worn a hat before, and by wearing all these things it brought back old memories of how poor he used to be. As for her, she always thought he was rich and got all his money by inheriting it. She never knew he once had a hard time in life.

She was excited to see him looking like a normal guy on the street, not an upper class businessman that made tons of money.

"Ahhh.. You look great, just perfect. No need to worry about looking different from other people tonight.�

Tik felt uncomfortable because he hadn�t worn these types of clothes for a while, so when he wore it, it felt funny; and when he looked at himself in the mirror he thought of his old life and how much he suffered back then. �Ummm� Why are you making me wear this, I don�t feel right; I never wore this type of clothing in my life,� denying his past, �Do I really have to go out looking like this and what about this hat? Why do I have to wear it? I don�t wear hats.�

"Don�t complain like a little girl who has to wear a dress to go to church. Tonight is my night, so you have to listen up, and don�t worry about paying anything at all,� Kat spoke as if she was the boss.

He looked at her and wondered what exactly what she was thinking about. The type of women he knew were the ones that only wanted to go to expensive places and look nice, expecting him to pay for everything.

"Ok, do whatever you want, just make sure its safe and relaxing.�

She was surprised that he didn�t argue back. She felt kind of uncomfortable spending time with him, but she wanted to show him money was not always happiness. It�s about the person you are with, and the places you go and how you make it fun.

Smiling like always Kat spoke, �Ok, let�s go Mr. SaPone�

"No, wait� he quickly answered, �Call me Tik for tonight. You can call me Tik when we are alone or having lunch or dinner. You can call me Khun Tik or Mr. SaPone when we are working together. But at times like this, just call me Tik� He finished with a relaxing tone and it seemed like it was genuine. She didn�t know what to say, she hesitated to say anything, but managed to get out, ��o�k�.� and smiled.

The two walked out the door and were ready for a night they would never forget.

      The first place they went to eat was very small restaurant that was very close to a theater that they were to go next. The family-owned restaurant was very crowded and the aroma of home cooked dished filled the air. Kat thought the food was delicious; she didn�t really know how Tik felt about it. He hesitated to eat it at first but once he had a taste of it, he finished his meal.

"How�s the food? Did you like it?� She asked him.

He smiled at her, �It�s great, I haven�t had this kind of food in the longest time�

She had a questioning look on her face, �What you mean the longest time? You mean you�ve had this type of food before? I thought you only eat best of the best food.�

He didn�t want to tell her anything so he had to cover up, �I mean I haven�t had home cooked food for awhile. My mother use to cook, but she hasn�t been cooking for a while now. She has her own personal helper that does it for her.�

Listening to his reason Kat responded, �Oh ok, I see. Anyways, don�t worry about tonight�s meals. It�s all on me. Beside its cheap, I can afford it.� Kat smiled and paid the waitress for their meal.

      Tik wasn�t happy to see a woman paying for his meal, but she insisted to do so. She then took him to a Chinese show, they were beautiful in their costumes singing and dancing. It was a show for poor people around the neighborhood who couldn�t afford to go to the theaters. After the show, they walked around the area because there was a celebration for something that she didn�t exactly know. They walked around and saw people selling things on the sidewalk, Kat wanted to buy jewelry and hair accessories that Chinese people wore back in the days. She picked out a beautiful hair clip and wanted to put it in her hair, she then picked up a matching bracelet but before she knew it, Tik was already paying the vendor.

"What are you doing paying for it? I just wanted to look at it� Kat spoke with a questioning tone of voice.

"It�s pretty, I think you should wear them, just say they�re a gift from me in exchange for dinner and show. I think the hair clip matches the bracelet and it�s pretty just like you, so keep it on,� he said it with a cool tone of voice.

      He then turned and looked at her, they made eye contact. She was blushing because of his comment that he just made about her looking pretty. Suddenly, there was a popping sound that sounded like a gunshot. After one sound popped Kat got scared so she jumped and got closer to Tik. His arms were wide open for her to grab on, he was holding her and protecting her from all danger. There were more popping sounds, and this time it was lots of if. It took them a while to realize it was a sound of firecrackers. The firecrackers were to celebrate a grand opening of a big restaurant opening in that area. There were lots of people crowded in there, more firecrackers were lighted, they even lighted fireworks and there were two Chinese dragons dancing in and out of the restaurant.

      Tik and Kat both looked up and were in awe of the beauty and color of the fireworks exploding in the sky. They were enjoying the people around the area and seeing them crowded in the restaurant at the same time. It was a while until they noticed that they were still holding each other tight. He was holding her as if they were in the middle of a jungle and had to protect her. She was holding him as if asking for help, and for once she wanted some protection and tired of always being strong. Tik looked deeply into her eyes but still did not let her go. She didn�t want to feel uncomfortable so she was ready to let go, but he bent down and kissed her on the lips before she could move. They were kissing like they were in their own little world, forgetting that they were in China, forgetting he was her boss and she was his helper, forgetting they were out in public in the middle of no where, they just felt the passion of one another.

      When she realized she was kissing her boss, she tried to stop and get out, but he kept kissing her without letting her go. She didn�t want to do it in public, she didn�t feel right; not only in public but it was her boss. He grabbed her and took her in a little dark ally and continued kissing her. He started to kiss her cheeks, moved to neck, and back to her lips. He was kissing her passionately. He was happy that he could enjoy the night, with his old lifestyle where money couldn�t buy his happiness. He was feeling like he could be his old self again, and that she would accept him for who he was.

Things were moving so fast for her, she didn�t know what to do, she couldn�t think. But she managed to break it. Both of them were breathing hard and looked at each other. He was looking at her like he looked at other women.

"How much?� Tik was angry that she broke his passionate kiss, he haven�t kissed any woman like that ever since his ex girlfriend.

He continued, �Stop teasing me, and be honest. How much do you want for tonight? Just one night, and no strings attached. I know you�re the type that looks innocent, but really you�re just teasing me because you want the price to go higher. And I�m a fool because I am falling for it.�

      Kat slapped him so hard that even people who were sleeping would hear it. She was angry with him and the things he said. She just lost herself for the moment and he accused her for being easy again. Just when she thought she could show him a good time without spending much money.

"How could you say that to me, what kind of a person you think I am? I want to help you see things differently. Not make me in to something I am not.� She said bitterly.

He grabbed both of her arms and with an aggressive tone of voice, �I know you want me too, you can have both. You can have me and my money. Stop acting so innocent. I�ve been through women like you and all are just talk and no action. So you can stop it with the act.� He was trying to kiss her again, but she was struggling to get loose, turning her head left and right so he couldn�t touch her.

With a loud and angry voice Kat screamed, �STOP, Mr. SaPone! Don�t forget we are in China, you are my boss and I am your secretary helping you with your work. I don�t have time for this mess. Once I�m done, I will quit if you do anything else to me. I was just lost in the moment and one thing led to another. I didn�t mean for this to happen, and if I could turn back time I wish we never kissed!�

He let her go, and said, �Let�s go back to the hotel, I�m tired. We have a long day tomorrow.�

He started walking towards the light and headed back to the hotel, forgetting what just happened between them. Tik didn�t touch her the entire night; he kept their conversations short. He was acting the same way like he did when they were both in his place back in America. He just completely forgot whatever happened and played it cool.

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