Chapter 19: 19 The World of Fancy

I lowered my head and hid my body behind Frade's clothes. He gave me a curious look, and it was clear to him that I was running from someone. So he whispered something to the restaurant manager in a kimono, who then led us in the other direction.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jenny talking to a man. Luckily, she didn't see me. She and the man went in the opposite direction.

"Who is that woman?" Frade sat on his tatami, his upper body standing upright, with a languid nobility.

"A clerk from my husband's company!" I took a sip from my white ceramic teacup. From the wooden sliding doors, we could vaguely see people passing by, but at least no one outside could see me in the room.

That was a relief, and I'm still worried about being caught with Frade by someone I know. The feeling of cheating bothered me. Frade seemed to guess what I was thinking. His hand crossed the table and stroked the back of my hand.