Chapter 42 Part III Current Situation-5

What the hell did he see? Then he put down the match, smiled at me and said, "Just a moment, please." He got up from the table and walked towards the back of the restaurant, and I took another sip of champagne.Then resting his head on his hands, he sighed softly.Well, I told myself, just leave it to fate! Maybe I'll win £5,000 in a raffle or something; maybe Derek Smeez's computer will crash and he'll have to delete all my debts and start over; Maybe some completely unrelated stranger has mistakenly paid all the money owed on my VISA card. Maybe Taxin will propose to me when she comes back from the bathroom.

I raised my head, and inadvertently, my eyes fell curiously on the checkbook that Taxin put on the table.This is the checkbook of the 15th wealthiest single man in the country! Wow, I would love to know what it looks like inside.Maybe he always writes big checks? Maybe he spends more in a day than I do in a year! On impulse, I took the checkbook and opened it.I'm not too sure what I'm looking for.In fact, I just want to see some exciting big numbers.But the amount on the first check stub was only £30.Poor! I dug back and found £520, paid to Arundel & Son, not sure what that company does.Then, after turning over a few more, it was £7,515 paid to American Express.Oh, that's about it.However, this amount is far from thrilling and exciting! Such a checkbook could belong to anyone, and it is not surprising that it actually belongs to me.

I closed the checkbook, pushed it back, and looked up.Suddenly, my heart seemed to have fallen into an ice cellar.Taxin was staring straight at me. He was standing on the edge of the bar, led by a waiter to the other side of the restaurant.But he didn't look at the waiter.He is looking at me.When our eyes met, my stomach twitched.Oh damn! Damn! What the hell did he see? I quickly withdrew my hand from his checkbook, took a sip of champagne, and looked up again as if I had just seen him.I gave him a big smile, and he hesitated, then smiled back.Then he disappeared again.I sank into my chair, my heart pounding.

It's okay, take it easy, I told myself.Just act natural, he might not see you at all.Even if he did, it wouldn't be a heinous crime to go through his checkbook, right? If he asked what I was doing, I'd say I was... I was checking his check stubs were filled out correctly.Yes, if he brings it up, that's what I'll say. But he didn't.When he came back, he just put the checkbook in his pocket without saying a word, and asked politely, "Have you eaten yet?" "Okay," I said, "yes, I'm done, thank you." I tried to sound natural—but I knew my voice was guilt-ridden, and my cheeks were flushed.

"Well," he said, "I've paid my bill... Shall we go?" That's all.This is the end of our date.Tachin led me out the gates of the Hyde Park pizzeria, hailed a taxi and had the driver take me back to Fulham, prepaid, all done with impeccable courtesy.I didn't even dare to ask him if he'd like to come back with me, or somewhere else to sit and have a drink.A chill ran down my spine, making it impossible for me to say these words.We parted with just a kiss on the cheek and he told me he had a great evening and I thanked him again for the wonderful time he had given me.

On the way back to Fulham in a taxi, my heart was full of uneasiness. I wondered what Taxin saw? The taxi pulled up in front of our apartment, and after saying goodnight to the taxi driver, I reached for my keys.I was thinking that I should take a hot shower first, then sit down, calm down and think about what happened in that place just now.Did Tasin really see me flipping through his checkbook? Maybe all he saw was me helping him put the checkbook away, maybe he didn't see anything. If so, why had he become so cold and polite all of a sudden? He must have seen something, or had become suspicious of something.Then he will notice that my face is blushing for no reason, and I dare not look him in the face.God, why am I always acting like I've made a mistake? I'm not even doing anything, I'm just curious.Is that also guilty?

Maybe I should hurry up and say something - say a few jokes and make it a lighthearted incident.But what kind of jokes can you make about the fact that you're going through someone's private checkbook? God, how could I be so stupid? Why would I even touch the goddamn thing? I should just sit there and be silent Champagne tasting. But then I thought about it again... he himself left the checkbook on the table, didn't he? Which means he thinks it's nothing to keep secret.Besides, I don't know if he actually saw me flipping through it, do I? Maybe he didn't see anything; maybe it was all just my wild guesses.

I actually felt better when I put the key in the lock.Well, even if Taxin's attitude just now was not friendly, it might be because he felt uncomfortable, or there were other reasons.Or maybe it's just because he doesn't want to rush me.All I need to do is send him a thank you card tomorrow, in addition to saying thank you again, and suggest that we go to a Wagner concert together.What a great idea! And I'll be familiar with the part about the overture so that if he asks me again which overture it is, I'll know how to respond.Yes, everything will be fine.I have nothing to worry about.

I pushed open the door, unbuttoned my coat, and my heart skipped a beat.Suzy is waiting for me in the living room.She was sitting on the stairs—with a strange expression on her face. "Oh, Becky," she said, shaking her head reproachfully, "I just finished talking to Tachin." "Really?" I tried to sound as natural as possible, but knew my voice was sharp with fear.I turned around, took off my coat, and slowly untied the silk scarf, trying to delay the time.What did Taxin tell her? "I don't think there's any need for me to ask why you did this anymore?" she said after a pause.

"Hmm..." I stammered, feeling terrible.God, let me have a cigarette! "I'm not blaming you or anything. I just don't think you should..." She shook her head and sighed, "Can't you be a little more tactful about saying no to him? He sounds very upset. Poor guy I really moved my heart for you, you know that." What does that mean? A more tactful refusal? "What the hell did he..." I licked my dry lips, "What did he say?" "Well, he was just calling to tell me you left your umbrella," Suzy said, "obviously the waiter found it and chased it out. But of course, I asked him how his date was tonight... "

"Then...then what did he say?" "Well," Suzie shrugged, "he said you had a great time—it's just that you've made it very clear that you don't want to see him again." "Oh." I sat down on the floor, feeling very tired.I see.Tasin did see me flipping through his checkbook.I ruined all hope that I might be with him. But he didn't tell Suzy what I had done.In order to protect me, he pretended that I didn't want to continue the relationship.What a gentleman he is. In fact, he was very gentlemanly all evening, wasn't he? He was very nice to me, being polite and charming.And all I did was lie to him the entire date. Suddenly I want to cry out loud! "I just think it's such a pity," said Susie, "of course I know it can't be forced, but you know he's such a nice guy. He's been in love with you for a long time! You two should be happy together." A pair." She glanced at me, and then asked a little unwillingly: "Is it true that you two won't go out together again?" "Honestly...that's not what I think." My voice trembled. "Susie...I'm a little tired. I think I should go to bed." I stood up and walked slowly down the corridor to the bedroom, not daring to meet her eyes. bank of london london building Mill Street EC3R 4DW To: Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood Unit 2, 4 Burnie Road, London SW6 8FD Dear Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood: Thank you for writing to apply for an Easifone loan from Bank of London. Unfortunately, "buying clothes and cosmetics" is not a valid reason to apply for this large unsecured loan, so your application has been denied by our credit review team. Thank you for your patronage to Bank of London. Yours sincerely margaret hopkins loan advisor Endwich Bank 23rd March 2000 Fulham Branch 3 Fulham Road, London SW6 9JH To: Ms. Rebecca Bloomwood Unit 2, 4 Burnie Road, London SW6 8FD Dear Ms. Bloomwood: Just to confirm that we will meet at the Fulham branch office on Monday 27th March at 9.30am.Please contact me at the reception desk at that time. Please visit us then. Yours sincerely derek smeez manager March 24, 2000