The Drive Home

After Kai-Lin left the building purchase party at Simplesmente, Mia conversed with her circle of staff whilst glancing at Dean now and then to see if he was alright. Her staff was quizzing her about Dean and David. They were curious as to how she got to know them.

They exclaimed, "I didn't expect an architect to look that handsome!"

"Nor a lawyer!" They laughed.

Mia warned them in a whisper, "Shhhh. He can understand Mandarin..." They stopped laughing and glanced over at Dean. She followed their eyes and caught Dean looking back at her with a smirk. She rolled her eyes at him, knowing that he had overheard them.

As the night progressed, a few of her staff started to leave. Mia could see that Benny would not leave Dean's side. So, she went over to see what was going on. As she approached, Benny hurried away to another group of people leaving Dean alone with her. "What were you talking to Benny about?"

"He said that he was interested in working at my firm..."

Mia gave him a frown, "Oh..."

Dean shrugged, "Let him be. He should try many things before he settles on his career. Product design can be many things."

Annoyed, Mia challenged him, "Well, what role can he take in your firm? I want him to be part of my design team because he has really good taste...And I need a bit of diversity in my team."

Dean looked back at Mia with a mixture of confusion and amusement, "He would also join our design team as an intern..."

Mia demanded, "Well. What products would he be designing for you?"

Dean extended his eyebrows and retorted, "There are many facets of design in our firm, Mia. From constructions of structures to the design of specific interior fixtures..."

"Well, I want him to stay on my team." Mia blurted out and stubbornly walked away. Dean understood suddenly what he had done and called out, "Mia..." But she continued to head towards her popcorn machine. She was going to get a big container of popcorn after that conversation.

Dean hesitated but followed her. Standing next to her, he said in a low voice, "Don't be angry..."

Mia still fuming, did not reply. Dean sighed and said, "I won't touch him, ok?"

Mia sulked openly, "Do what you want to do. It's obvious that you have already proposed the idea to him. He's probably looking forward to it now."

Dean sighed. "I gave him my number. So, I will have a serious talk with him and let you know, ok?" He added, "I'm sorry. I was wrong to offer him the internship..." Trying unsuccessfully to catch Mia's eyes, he exhaled heavily. "I probably should get going..."

Mia did not answer as she continued to look forward. Dean started to look at the popcorn machine as well. "How are you getting that home tonight?"

"Uber."

"Are you crazy? I will take you and the machine home...Where do you live?"

"...Songshan."

"Oh really? I live in Songshan too..."

Mia's expression changed from annoyance to suspicion, "I thought someone like you would live in Xinyi?"

Dean could not help but snicker, "Why? Because it's new and shiny?"

Mia chortled, "Something like that."

Dean laughed, "Mia, you're wrong. I don't want to live in shiny and new. I want to live in calm and peace." He shyly continued, "You should come and visit my place sometimes. It is very tranquil. But of course, stylish and high-tech." A little startled by his comment, Mia's face turned red. She started to babble, "Um. Really, I can call an Uber. I always do. It's ok. I still need to take out the popcorn and let it cool before we can take it..."

Dean smiled softly at Mia, "I can wait... It will be my punishment for trying to steal your staff."

---***---

The caterers and staff gradually left the premises. Only Evonne, Mia's secretary, Dean, and Mia remained. Evonne was busy sweeping the floor, Mia was wiping the tables down, while Dean was scooping all the popcorn out of the popcorn machine.

"Done!" Dean called out and went over to the kitchen sink to wash his hands.

Mia looked up from the table, "Oh, thank you, Dean."

He walked over to Mia, "Shall I unplug it and put it in the car first?"

Mia nodded, "Ok. That would be great."

Evonne heard Dean's comment and looked at Mia with a sheepish smile. Mia pretended that she did not see and finished wiping the tables.

Dean picked up the machine and walked over to Mia. There were deep creases between his eyebrows, "Um...Mia. Um...On second thought, this might not fit in my car..."

Mia tilted her head to one side, "What do you mean? This fits even in a small boot."

"I have a front storage."

"What's a front storage?"

"My trunk is in the front of the car."

"Huh?"

Dean gestured for her to come with him to his car outside. He had parked on the opposite side of the street and his orange Huracan Evo was glistening in the moonlight. Mia could not help but exclaim, "Oh my goodness...That's the most outrageous car I have ever seen. An orange Ferrari."

"It's a Lamborghini."

"Oh sorry."

Dean opened the front storage as they approached. Mia thought he was right to be skeptical. The space was small. She clasped her hands together nervously as she watched him struggle with the popcorn machine. However, after considerable effort and a few "Ouch!", he was able to fit it in.

Mia exhaled, "Oh, thank goodness." It was getting late for her to call a car at this stage.

Wiping his hands together, Dean asked, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, let me go back inside to get my things." Mia ran inside.

"Evonne, are you ready to go?"

"Yes. Is there space in the car?"

"Ah. I'm so sorry. I thought there was but there isn't. I'm so sorry. He drives a two-seater sportscar..." Mia gave Evonne an apologetic look, "Let us organise a car for you to take you home."

Mia came outside with Evonne, and Dean realised as they came towards him, "Oh, Evonne. Are you ok to get home?"

"Yes. Yes. No problems. Mia called a car for me already."

Together they waited with Evonne until her hired car came. Mia took a photo of the car registration and planned in her head to give Evonne a call in half an hour. Dean observed her with a smile as she did this. When she finished and the hired car was out of sight, she turned towards Dean. He was holding the passenger seat door for her with a nervous grin. Goosebumps travelled up her body and she felt like it was déjà vu.

She hesitated but stepped forward into the low car. As she sat, she realised her ruffle skirt moved upwards around her thighs. Dean became aware of it too and cleared his throat after slipping into the driver's side. Mia was looking here and there at all the buttons and screens, everything looked complicated in his car. In the background, she could hear music playing, "Velvet Underground?"

"Yeah, you know them?"

"No. Not really. It says on the screen. But it's nice."

"What kind of music do you listen to?"

"Hmm. Jazz mostly and Bossanova."

"...Nice..."

Dean avoided eye contact with Mia and concentrated on the road. He was becoming more and more aware of her closeness as he inhaled her rosy scent. He felt like a wild bird caught in a cage.

After a moment of silence, Mia leaned back and stretch out her body. Dean glanced at her legs but quickly looked away, "Wh-What's your address?"

"Nanjing Road East Section 4, is that far from you?"

Dean chuckled, "It's so close to my place. I'm on Jiankang Road."

"Oh really! That is close..." Mia wondered if they had ever crossed paths in the neighbourhood without realising.

"My place is across the street from the Earth Gym Club. Their kanban is hideous. I mean their wall-to-wall advertisement. But at least, my apartment doesn't face them."

Dean laughed and said in Mandarin the gym's motto, "Taiwan's biggest healthy brand. Come join us!" Mia cracked up. "You know it. Do you go there?"

"No, I have a gym in my building. Then I go to my boxing gym on the weekends, near your place actually."

"Oh ok." Now Mia understood where he got his physique from.

"Do you go there?"

"Earth?"

"Yeah."

"No. I don't go to the gym. I prefer to walk as exercise."

"Hmm..." Dean said with a corner of his mouth turned up.

"Why?" Mia asked warily, feeling conscious.

Dean snickered, "Nothing. You look...you look...good." His cheeks heating up as he glanced at Mia's legs sideways.

"Oh...Thank you...I don't do very much...I wish my arms were more slender...And I don't really have much core muscle still...I have bad posture too..."

"Stop talking!" Mia thought to herself. Her face started to heat up. She refrained from talking and looked out the window to quiet her mind. Dean, on the contrary, began to feel at ease and was smiling to himself.

"Dean..."

"Hmm...Do I turn here...?"

"Oh, yes...and then a right."

All too soon, they had arrived in front of her apartment. She had wanted to ask him about collaborating with Kai-Lin in the car. Dean stepped out of the car to open the door for her. It was just as well as she took a while trying to figure out how to do it herself. He peered in and held out his hand. Mia took it and clumsily rolled out of his car.

Dean let go of Mia's hand when he felt she was stable enough and then went to retrieve the popcorn machine out of the front storage. She held out her arms to take it from him, but he gave a tuck. "No. I will walk you up."

"Is it ok to park there for a little bit?"

"Yes..." Mia did not resist as she knew how awkward it is for her to carry the popcorn machine to her floor even though she has done it a million times before. She was grateful for Dean's help and was already preparing her gratitude, "Thank you, Dean. I am so sorry."

Dean chuckled and replied, "It's quite alright. I wouldn't want you to dirty your pretty little dress."

"Oh, and getting your shirt dirty is ok?"

Dean laughed, "It's fine. I'll get it laundered."

"I'm so sorry, Dean."

"Stop saying sorry!"

"But I am!"

He gave her a cheeky sneer, "Well, treat me to coffee and cakes again next time."

Mia giggled, "Of course! Done!" She then clapped her hands together, "Oh, do you have a coffee machine at home?"

"I do..."

"Oh..."

"Why?"

"I wanted to give you something...No, let me think about it..."

Dean laughed, "No gifts. Really Mia. It's no big deal. We live in the same neighbourhood." Warmth filled his chest as he said this.

Mia had a solemn look as they reached the lifts. She was overwhelmed by what was happening. She caught his eyes and grinned. He smiled back, "What?"

"Thank you, Dean... You're very kind."

Dean snickered, "It's fine...But don't forget my coffee and cakes."

"Of course!" Mia covered her chuckles with her hand.

After Mia let Dean into the apartment, he placed the popcorn machine onto her kitchen table. He glanced around her living room with his hands in his back pockets. He nodded, "Nice...Did you decorate it yourself?"

"Thank you. Kai-Lin helped..." The corners of his mouth lowered at her answer.

Mia remembered the topic that she wanted to discuss with him, "I was going to ask you about Kai-Lin, actually..." Still frowning, Dean turned to face her. "How do you think we should go about the collaboration?"

Dean's eyebrows knitted, "I don't know, Mia. I don't know if it's going to work."

Mia's heart sank, "Is there no way to amalgamate the ideas? Are they really so different?"

"I really see no way forward unless I lead. Also, I don't want him to take credit for something that I create."

"He won't."

"How do you know?" Dean raised his eyebrows at Mia. Then he touched his forehead and let out a heavy sigh, "Besides, I don't have time to deal with ambiguity. This side of the year is usually very busy for us."

Mia felt a pang in her heart but her voice was sharp, "So you will only do it if you lead, or are you saying that you're not interested at all?"

Dean widened his eyes, irritated by her tone of voice. They stared at each other for a moment, neither backing down. Then Dean said firmly, "Only if I lead the project."

Mia recollected and sighed. She was the cause of this conflict between Dean and Kai-Lin and she needed time to think things over, "How much time do I have to make my decision?"

"When the building settles."

"Three weeks?"

"Three weeks."

Mia focused on the wall behind Dean in contemplation. His eyes never left her face. Watching her expression become gloomier, he felt compelled to speak up, "I'm not trying to make it difficult for you, Mia. But you need to understand that my reputation keeps my business going. It's a competitive world out there. I need to make sure that I remain highly sought after, after each project. So, every single project must be done to perfection. I can't have someone lead my project astray. You of all people should understand that." He continued decisively, "Either you like my designs or you like Kai-Lin's. It is all up to you. If you choose Kai-Lin, I will leave you with a blank canvas and state very clearly in all communication and documentation that the interior design is not ours."

Mia lifted her chin and closed her eyes. She wanted to cry as she did not know what to do. She opened her eyes and saw Dean staring at her with a concerned look. She breathed, "I understand." He searched her eyes, but Mia straightened herself and stared back at him with the blankest expression that she could manage. He conceded and whispered, "I better get going..."

"I'm sorry, Dean."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I feel like I put us in this situation...Let me have a think about it."

"As I said I'm not trying to be difficult. But you must understand where I'm coming from. And..." Dean flashed her a weak smile with one hand over his heart, "If I see you use French shutters and a water feature without me, I will be very hurt..." Mia laughed nervously but understood.

Dean reached out and gently rubbed Mia's shoulders as if it was the most natural thing to do, "You have three weeks to think about it. You don't need to give me an answer now. It's late. Let's leave it at that. We've both had a long day." Then, he moved towards the door while Mia trailed behind him. He reached out and opened the door for himself, "Good night...Speak soon?"

"Yeah...Thank you again..."

"You're welcome...Good night." Before Dean closed the door, he turned one last time and said, "And Mia. Call me about this ok. Don't call Bryan. Call me."

Mia scrunched up her nose and replied, "Oh, I'm confused now. Shall I call Bryan to call you or shall I call you so that you can call Bryan to keep him in the loop? Is this what I'm paying for? Geez!"

"Don't talk nonsense. It's late. Just call me!" He smirked, "Good night!"

Mia answered in a loud whisper, "Good night!"

Mia caught herself smiling at the door long after Dean had left. She thought that he was a funny character. She smiled and murmured to herself, "So 4D[1]..."

Footnotes

[1] The term 4D is an Asian slang used to describe someone who has a complex personality.