****************END OF FLASHBACK****************************************

Overcome with emotions, Louis leaned over Anne’s face and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

She didn’t move.

He then stood up from the bed and walked to the night table. He took the gift box from the table and held it in his palm for a while and then?he unwrapped it. He then moved back to the bed and placed it on his pillow right beside Anne.

He quickly changed and took his suitcase with him and before he left the room, he turned back to look at her one last time. And he closed the door.

At the soft thud of the main door closing, Anne opened her eyes. His kiss had long awakened her.

Anne reached for the gift box that Louis had thoughtfully placed beside her. Hesitantly, she opened it. Inside was a gold necklace with a little key pendent. Anne gently ran her fingers on it, tears welling up in her eyes as her mind drifted back to the past.

Inside Louis?office

A young man in his early twenties with his hair neatly kept at shoulder-length, sat before Louis with a number of files in his hands.

Stephen: Louis, I think that this is truly a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. GRII (Grand Resources International Investment Corporation) from China is really interested in cooperating with us on real estate development over there.

Louis: I’ve thought about it Stephen, but this is a really big and time-extensive project that we are dealing with. If we cooperate with them, we will have to gather all the company’s assets into this one project and I’m afraid it will slow down our growth process in the local market. And with all the concurrence that we are already facing, that does present huge problems for the company’s standing in Hong Kong.

Stephen: I agree that the project does present some risks. But Louis, there is a whole growing economy in China that we could find nowhere else because over there, unlike any other place, the market is still pretty much untapped. I really do think that this is our perfect opportunity to step into the international market.

The sounds of someone knocking on the door suddenly interrupted their conversation.

Before Louis had the chance to say “come in? Sunny had already opened the door and invited himself in. A young man dressed in a black suit and white shirt followed Sunny inside the office.

Sunny (courteously to both Louis and Stephen): Am I interrupting anything?

Stephen: Of course not, Mr. Chan. Anybody else would have been kicked out of here already but of course, you’re an exception. Special treatment for special people.

Sunny (smiling, his face leaning close to Stephen’s): That’s why I always tell people that you, Mr. Fung, is a very easygoing boss.

Stephen glared at Sunny.

Sunny (turning to Louis): Mr. Koo, (pointing to the man that is now standing beside him) here is your new bodyguard.

Nic (extending his hand): Hi Mr. Koo, my name is Nic Tse.

Louis shook his hand.

Nic: From now on, I’ll be your be your bodyguard and your driver. I’ll be standing right before your door. Whenever you need me, just call me in.

Louis: Sure.

Nic left the room.

Stephen (to Sunny): I knew Mr. Chan always takes the company’s interests very much to heart, but I never thought that you’d also take up the job of hiring a bodyguard for Louis. I thought that was Joyce’s job. You’re not missing work, are you?

Sunny was about to say something when Louis cut in.

Louis: Stephen, hand me a more detailed plan for the project and we’ll discuss it at a later time.

Stephen (standing up): No problem, I’ll give it to you tomorrow.

Sunny: Mr. Koo, I think I should go and take care of some things as well.

Stephen and Sunny both turned to leave, Sunny leading the way. Sunny opened the door and stepped aside gesturing with a smirk on his face for Stephen to pass first. Stephen walked through the door without giving him a second glance.

Outside Louis?office

Nic was standing before Louis?door observing the surroundings when Joyce approached him.

Joyce: You’re?

Nic: I’m Mr. Koo’s new bodyguard.

Joyce (extending her hand): Nice to meet you Mr ?

Nic (shaking her hand): I’m Nic.

Joyce (smiling): I’m Joyce, Mr. Koo’s personal assistant. If you have any questions just ask me, ok?

Nic (did not return the smile): Thank you.

Joyce then excused herself to go back to her office.

At lunch time

As Louis walked out of his office, Nic followed him.

Louis (turning around): You don’t have to go with me, I’m just getting something for my wife.

Nic: Sir, Im strictly here for your security.

Louis: Well ok, if you insist.

Inside Louis?car

Nic: Where to Mr. Koo?

Louis: Restaurant “Saigon at Stanley? 90 Stanley Main Road.

20 minutes later

Nic (stopping the car): What do you want to buy, I’ll go buy it for you.

Louis: I’ll go alone, just wait for me here.

Before Nic could say anything else, Louis was already out of the car and crossing the street directing himself towards the entrance of the restaurant.

Since it was lunch time, a lot of people were already waiting in line. Louis patiently queued behind all the others.

Looking at Louis through the window, Nic wondered how Louis could stay outside for so long in such a hot weather. Even sitting in the car with the air conditioner turned on nearly to the maximum, Nic was sweating.

After an hour, it was finally Louis?turn to order.

Cashier: May I help you Sir?

Louis: I’d like to have sticky rice served with ice-cream and sliced mango, to go.

Cashier (he’s been waiting all that time just for that????): That’s all? Anything else, Sir?

Louis (smiling): That’s all, thank you.

Louis took the dessert and left to go find Nic.

Inside the car, Nic had fallen fast asleep.

Louis opened the door to the backseat and settled inside. He then tapped on Nic’s shoulder. Nic immediately woke up.

Nic (straightening up): Sorry Sir.

Louis: It’s ok, I was the one who made you wait for a whole hour.

Nic looked at the small bag in Louis?hands wondering what was inside it that could be worth so much waste of Louis?precious time.

Wealthy people are bizarre sometimes, he thought.

Afterwards, they went back to the company and Louis resumed working for the rest of the day with Nic standing before his door at all times.

8 p.m. at Louis?house.

The doorbell rang.

Jessica: Cecilia, can you get the door for me? (she’s in the shower)

Cecilia (watching TV in Jessica and Louis?bedroom): Ok!

Cecilia hurriedly jumped off from the bed and ran down the stairs to open the door.

When she opened the door, the only thing that was in her view was a small white bag with a little plastic bowl inside it.

Louis (finally deciding to show his smiling face): That’s for you sweetie! (his face turns a little disappointed at seeing Cecilia instead of Jessica)

Cecilia (chuckling, she takes the bag with both hands): Oh, thank you so much! How nice of you, Louis! I’m so touched!

Louis (taking the bag back and playfully hitting on Cecilia’s head): That’s not for you! If you want one, just go buy it yourself.

Cecilia was wrestling against Louis for the dessert, when Jessica walked down the stairs.

Jessica (amused): What’s this all about?

Cecilia: Jessica, your husband is SUCH a gentleman! (hitting on Louis)

Louis (shielding himself): She wanted to take YOUR dessert!

Jessica: Sorry Cecilia, can’t be on your side this time. After all, it’s MY dessert that we are talking about. (she smiles)

Cecilia (releasing Louis and the bag): OK, since I’m so not welcomed here, I’m LEAVING. Bye!

Louis and Jessica both laughed at her childishness.

Jessica: Ok, ok. What about I give you half of my dessert?

Cecilia: I don’t feel like it anymore. Eat it all, just don’t give any to Louis, he was so mean!

Louis: Sorry little baby!

Cecilia (making a face at Louis, and to Jessica excited): Before I leave, show him your present!

Jessica smiled and then ran upstairs to her bedroom while Louis just looked on with curiosity. Jessica came back with a black sweater.

Jessica (handing the sweater to Louis): Try it on.

Louis (quickly putting it on): That’s quite nice. Where did you buy it?

Cecilia: Who says that she bought it? Didn’t I tell you Jessica? Men are so absolutely clueless most of the time.

Louis looked puzzled.

Cecilia (sighed): Don’t you feel especially warm in it? She knitted it for you!

Louis stared warmly at Jessica. She blushed.

Cecilia (looking at her watch): I have to leave now. I’m seeing a movie with Stephen. (she runs back into the living room to get her coat and purse)

Meanwhile

Louis (looking at the sweater that is now in his hands): Thank you Jessica.

Jessica: No really, it’s nothing.

Cecilia who is now ready to leave heard Jessica’s words as she walked towards them.

Cecilia: What???? Nothing? (to Louis) She dragged me to 9 different stores just to get the right type of wool for this sweater!

Jessica: Hmmm, I think you’re late Cecilia. Stephen’s gonna be mad?

Cecilia: Bye! (she fast waved to them and immediately stormed out of the house)

As Cecilia left the house, Louis held Jessica’s hand with one hand, (the other one still holding the sweater) and they walked together to the living room. They sat down on the sofa, Jessica was now eating the dessert.

Louis (still staring at the sweater): Why do you always treat me so nicely?

Jessica (she looks up and then at Louis smiling): Silly! What kind of question is that? You’re my husband, of course I should pamper you. If I don’t, who knows? You might find another woman to do it in my place.

Louis (soft tone, he’s trying to smile in a “joking?manner): What if I really do? What would you do?

Jessica: I would?

Just then, Gigi’s loud cries echoed throughout the house from upstairs.

Jessica immediately put the bowl of dessert down on the table and rushed up the stairs.

Before Louis could follow Jessica, his cell phone rang.

Louis: Hello.

Sunny: I found it.

Louis: I’m coming. (he hung up)

Inside the baby’s room

When Louis got to the room, Jessica was holding Gigi in her arms. The baby had just woken up and Jessica was attempting to calm her down by singing a lullaby to her. Jessica’s soft and gentle voice was slowly putting the baby back to sleep as Louis stood at the doorway for a long time just gazing at her holding GiGi, their 6 months old baby.

Jessica was obviously the perfect woman, the perfect wife and the perfect mother, Louis thought.

But he…he was simply not the perfect husband.