บท 26: Dinner with Erik

After lunch, Aryana hailed and taxi and went back to Sky Residences. She has already changed into comfortable clothing when she heard a notification from her cellphone.

It was her Chinese friends. She created a group chat so it is easy for them to communicate and for her to conduct tutorial classes.

Flora Lao: Congratulations on your graduation.

Mu Chen: Come to China. We will sponsor your vacation. This is our graduation gift.

Aryana: Really?

Mu Chen stopped texting and initiated a video call instead. Aryana alternated conversing between English and Chinese. Eventually, she happily agreed to go on a trip the following week.

"It's settled then. I'll send you the flight details and hotel booking soon." Mu Chen said in perfect English.

"Your English is getting better. You are a fast learner Mu Chen. Good job." Aryana praised him.

"It is only because I have a great teacher." He said bashfully.

The group conversed for some time before ending the call.

At six pm, the doorbell at unit 1602 buzzed. Emma ran to the door to get it. She stood frozen when she saw two handsome men standing at the door, one definitely more handsome than the other.

Erik cleared his throat and she regained her senses.

"Come in and make yourself comfortable. I'll get Arya…" but before she can finish speaking, the door of one of the master's bedrooms opened and Aryana came out together with Aunt Elena. She was wearing a simple sleeveless black floral dress. The squared-neck dress is fitted at the waist with a dark pink belt accentuating her small waist and curvaceous figure.

"You're here Erik, Marlon." Aryana greeted them cheerfully. She was like the sunshine that brightens a dull day.

"Did we keep you waiting?" She asked while grabbing a pair of black sandals from the shoe rack.

"Not really. We just arrived." Marlon answered before Erik can open his mouth.

"Let's go," Erik said as he lead them to the door.

Emma walked beside Aryana and whispered to her. "Oh my gosh, Erik is so handsome up close."

Aryana glanced at her and signaled for her to keep quiet.

Erik brought them to a first-class restaurant at the heart of the city. The waiter handed them the menu.

Aryana looked at Erik who was seated across from her and asked for his recommendation. He recommended the Chef's special which was a set menu consisting of steak, mashed potato, mushroom soup, and greens as a side dish and dessert. In the end, all of them ordered the same food.

The food was served quickly. Erik also ordered two bottles of expensive red wine.

"What is your plan Yana?" Erik asked while swirling the wine in his glass.

"I'll try my luck at the Capital. I can apply at an international school or another private school." She said her eyes twinkling. It showed how excited she was to embark on a new journey after her life as a student ended.

"Or maybe I can enter the corporate world. I think I can work in the training or marketing department." She added.

"Why not become a model or join the entertainment industry," Marlon interjected but he became silent when he felt a chilling gaze from his left.

"Well, why not? I can be a model as a part-time job." She beamed at him.

"You can join the marketing or the training department of Gaeya Corporation. And you can still be a part-time model. You still have a contract remember?" Erik said matter-of-factly.

Marlon almost spat out the wine he was drinking. 'Is Erik wooing her?'

Aryana was speechless for a few seconds. She was in deep thought when she said. "I think that's a good idea."

Erik's lips curved upwards a little bit.

"But does that mean I got into a big company because I have good backing? How can I prove my ability then?"

Erik's half-smile was erased and replaced by a frown.

Marlon coughed. 'Is she rejecting Erik?'

"Yana, that's a great opportunity knocking your way. Why not grab it?l" Emma who was silent since they entered the restaurant blurted out.

"Yana, that's a good offer. If your father is here, I am pretty sure he wants you to work for Erik as well." Aunt Elena added.

Aryana paused. She wanted to join the academe first.

She looked at Erik and said gently. "Can I think about it and give you my answer when I am back from my trip."

"Trip? Where are you going?" Erik narrowed his eyes at her.

"My friends who were also my students invited me to go on a trip to China, all expenses paid." She said excitedly.

Erik frowned.

"Really? Isn't that dangerous? Who are you with?" Marlon asked. The concern in his voice was evident. Being trained in the military he could hear alarm bells in what Aryana just shared.

"Well, Emma can't accompany me because she is going back to her parents in the US…"

"When is the trip?" Erik asked.

"Next week."

"What a coincidence. I have a business trip scheduled for next week. We can go together." Erik's voice was very casual.

Marlon who has just taken a big bite of the stake choked. He coughed vigorously.

Aryana handed him a glass of water while Aunt Elena patted his back gently.

"Are you alright? Why did you choke?" Aunt Elena asked with concern in her voice.

Erik looked at Marlon coldly.

"Have you booked your flight and hotel?"

"My friends will book for me and they will share the details when it's done,"

Erik looked unhappy. "You trust your friends so much. Do you know them for a long time?"

"Uhmm, three months. I get to know them when I was on Paradise Island."

Erik was speechless.

"Three months! Are you crazy Yana? Don't you know that the world is a dangerous place? And that is another country! What if they have evil designs on you." Marlon scolded her.

She thought that Marlon was done, but he added… "And knowing you… you have the propensity to attract danger!"

The attention of the four people was on Aryana.

'Marlon makes sense, but I just can't let this opportunity pass. Besides I trust my friends.'

"Your worry is unfounded and Lady Luck has favored me. Didn't Erik just say that he is attending a business conference there and we can go together? I'm pretty sure that you and Ace will be coming as well." She said cheekily.

Before anyone can react, she hastily added. "You can accompany me as my bodyguard if you are really worried about me." A naughty grin was painted on her face.

Erik's jaw dropped.

Marlon was speechless.

"Yana!" Aunt Elena called her out, alarmed at her cheekiness.

Emma was also dumbfounded. 'Is she drunk?'

"He he he, I am just joking."

Erik looked at her, amusement in his eyes.

'This girl is getting more interesting and daring!'

After dinner, Erik asked Ace to send back Aryana, Aunt Elena, and Emma to Sky residences while he and Marlon proceeded to a bar called Neon. He needed to meet a business partner for a theme park project in Green Heights.

"Erik, you don't have an upcoming business trip to China. Why did you tell Aryana that you have one? Marlon asked him when the traffic light turned red.

"Tell Camille to accept the invitation from the Ty family and schedule it for next week. Mr. Henry Ty is looking for a local partner for his mall expansion project. It's about time." He said while browsing the photos he took during the graduation event earlier.

Marlon took a quick peek at the cell phone of the man on the passenger side. The traffic light turned green and he reluctantly reverted back his gaze to the road.

"Looks like you fancy her. Do you like her?"