Baddest Nice Guys

After Mia left, Dean trailed behind David into his office. "She's..." he began. "Don't say it," David raised an eyebrow to him as a warning. "...has the most beautiful porcelain skin I have ever seen..." Dean smirked as he corrected himself, "Just like a Japanese doll."

David sat down behind his desk and clasped his hands together, "Leave her alone. She is a client, and she is Beverley's best friend," he cautioned with clenched teeth. Dean sat on his desk with his arms casually folded, turning his torso to face him. "David, I am not that stupid as to pine after a client. But you have to admit, she is cute. How old do you think she is?"

Rubbing his stubble in thought, Dean began talking to himself, "Asian girls always look so young for their age. You said she's high school friends with Beverley? So, she must be the same age as her and therefore us. So, she's about 27..."

"I'm warning you, Dean. Keep it professional. Keep it in your pants," David seethed through his teeth. Dean always knew how to torment him.

Dean laughed hardily ignoring his scorn, "I am just playing with you! Gosh, I just think she's cute and goodness knows we don't get that walking through our doors very often. It will be a very refreshing change for once."

David growled and tried to shoo Dean away, "Go away and leave me alone. I'm going to call the real estate agent now."

"Wait, I should be hearing this. Aren't I going with you to inspect the property for architectural issues?"

David scowled and proceeded to call the real estate agent while Dean gave him a mocking grin.

---***---

Mia stepped out of the air-conditioned foyer of the Taipei Sky into the humid heat and started to walk in the direction of her Xinyi store. Each day, she made sure that she visited one of her stores. Her staff appreciated that she visited them herself to provide them with her feedback and news from headquarters. In turn, she gets a feel of how the staff treated their customers, what type of customers were visiting, and the feel of the layout from the customer's point of view.

Once she was in a steady stride, she took out her phone from her bronze clutch and speed-dialled Beverley's number. "Hi, you have reached Beverley Chen, please leave a quick message. Thank you."

"Hello darling, I just left T&W Associates. They were great, I think. But they look super expensive. Anyways, I need to grill you about David. Call me!" Mia was disappointed that Beverley did not pick up but shrugged it off as her being busy.

---***---

Mia arrived at her Xinyi store which was situated at the intersection between Guangfu Street and Xinyi Street. It was a modern white and steel standalone space that had its own front terrace where the in-house café was situated. She looked at her vintage steel Mickey Mouse Rolex. "11.45, Time for Lunch."

As Mia entered the café, she greeted the cashier staff warmly and sat down at the counter just inside the terrace. In front of the open kitchen, the scent of the delicious Italian dishes being prepared filled her nose making her stomach growl. Without consulting the menu, she speedily ordered a spaghetti marinara with lots of fresh chilies and took out her tablet to read messages.

Suddenly, she heard buzzing in her clutch. Hoping that it was Beverley, she picked up her phone immediately. "David Tsai" appeared on her phone screen. She frowned but answered, "Hello?"

"Hi, Mia. It's David Tsai."

"Oh, hi! How are you? Did you need something from me?"

"Ah no. I just rang to tell you that we have arranged to inspect the Fujin Street property Thursday morning. That means that we should be able to provide you with a proposal COB next Monday. How does that sound?"

Mia replied in a stern voice, "As soon as possible would be great, David. I don't know who else is looking at the property, but the agent did tell me that he had other interested parties. So, I do want to put in an offer as soon as we possibly can. But, not without sufficient scrutiny, of course."

"I understand." David thought for a moment and then replied, "I will aim to get you the proposal by Friday morning. It should be a straight-forward case if we don't find any structural or foundational issues."

Mia voice became softer, "That is great, David. Thank you."

"Not a problem. Oh, by the way, I am assuming that you have your finances in order for the purchase?"

"Yes, I have funds put aside."

"Ok, great. That will speed things up."

Mia could hear another call coming in and glanced at the phone to see who it was. Beverley. "David, I've got to go. I will be in touch soon?"

"Yes. Of course. Speak soon."

Mia pressed the End/Accept icon immediately on her phone, afraid that she would miss busy-bee Beverley. "Hello?"

"Hi, Mia. How are you? How did the meeting with David go?" Beverley's voice sounded strangely restrained.

"Oh, it went well. David and Dean seemed really professional and nice..." Mia cut to the chase and asked hungrily, "How is it that you have never mentioned David before until now? He was your college friend and you never mentioned him? Why? He's so good-looking! Did you give him a chance at all? Were you dating him? Are you dating him?"

"Calm down, Mia! Keep your voice down. People can hear you through my phone." Beverley demanded. Mia was taken aback. "What was with that tone of voice?"

"I can't tell you over the phone because it's a long story. But, in short, David and I are just friends. Always have been and always will be." Realising that she may have been a little harsh with Mia, Beverley sighed and continued softly, "Mia, it's just not a topic I like to talk about. I promise I will tell you all about it next time you and I have drinks, ok?"

"What, no Abi? Why can't you tell Abi?" Mia said sulkily.

"You know what she's like. She will just cast judgment." Mia more or less knew what she meant but she still frowned to think that there was something that Beverley did not want to tell Abigail about.

"Well, I'm free Friday night. Do you want to go to Logi?"

At this, Beverley's voice became more cheerful, "Ohhh, sounds good. Let's have a date!"

"Alright. 6pm."

"Sounds good! I can't wait! I am sure I will need wine by Friday!"

"As if you don't drink every day," Mia scoffed.

"I'm hanging up, dear," Beverley said in her cheerful sing-song voice.

"Ok bye! Friday 6pm Logi."

"Ok. Mua!"

---***---

After David hung up the phone call with Mia, he went to convey her urgency to Dean.

Drawing near his office, David overheard Dean having a heated argument on the phone. "Listen to me carefully, Bruno. We gave you the specifications, no translation required. Plain numbers in metres. Something that I am certain that you are familiar with. If you don't send me the new marble with the correct specification, this will be the last time that we will be dealing with you for our clients across the whole of South-East Asia. Are you listening?!" Silence. David's hand was on the doorknob, waiting.

"That's right, Bruno. You understand. Send me the shipping papers." David heard something being thrown onto a desk. It was safe to enter.

"Tough Italian?" David mocked as he entered. Dean rolled his eyes in response, "What's a few metres here and there, he said." Slamming a fist down on his desk, Dean declared, "Once we get the new marble, cut ties with these guys." He walked around to sit down at his desk, still fuming. He glanced at David who was standing quietly with his crooked smile, "What's up?"

"I just finished the call with Mia Chou about our timelines." At the mention of Mia's name, Dean sat up. "Yeah? What did she say?"

"Obviously, this is a property that she wants very much, so I promised..." Looking intently at Dean, David continued cautiously, "that we would give her our proposal and estimates on Friday morning." Wait for it.

"What?! You've given me one afternoon to make the assessment and quote?! What is wrong with you? I have three plans my team has to get drafted and out the door by Friday!"

David put up his hands, "Calm down. Calm down. We looked at the initial plans and you said so yourself that it would be a straight-forward case. That's why I said what I said."

Dean huffed, "At this rate, I'll just tell her to knock the damn thing down!"

"Now. Now. I know you're in a bad mood. But don't we want to do all that we can for our pretty lady?" This silenced Dean and got the effect that David had hoped for, or so he thought.

Dean narrowed his eyes and fixed them on David. "Wait. Why are you so eager to please her?"

David had a simple explanation, "She is Beverley's best friend. You know I would do anything for her. This will put me in the Very good books if I get Mia's dream property for her."

"Good books for what?"

"For when I have a favour to ask her."

Dean was suspicious. "Right..." he said slowly.

David turned to escape and called over his shoulder, "Don't forget, Friday."

Dean bellowed after him, "You bastard!"