The Stranger (con'td)
by: Chin Pen Len

‘‘I care because you’re staying at my resort and I take my responsibilities
seriously,’’ he said, taking advantage of Su Ling’s sudden stillness and quickly
applying the lotion on her back.

So, he owned the resort, did he? Su Ling thought.  That didn’t give him the right to
right roughshod over his guests!  She told him so in no uncertain terms but he
merely grinned.    

‘‘There, all finished.  That wasn’t so bad, was it?’’ he asked mockingly and handed
her the lotion.  ‘‘Now, apply it on your face.  I would love to do the honours but I don’t
think you would want me to touch your beautiful face.’’

‘‘You’re damn right, I don’t,’’ Su Ling snapped, snatching the tube from him and
squeezing a small amount into her palm.  She then applied the lotion on her face,
very aware that he was watching her closely, a lazy look on his face.  Wanting to get
rid of him, she thrust the tube into his hand and turned her back.  He took the hint
and left.                                           
                                                                                                     
That evening, as Su Ling was having her dinner, she saw the ‘‘owner’’ making his
way towards her.  Oh no, not again! She groaned.  It was just her bad luck to be
meeting him again after this afternoon’s encounter.   

‘‘Can I join you?’’ he asked, taking in her Oriental beauty.  She was dressed in a
red cheongsam and her lipstick matched her dress perfectly.  He too looked very
attractive dressed in a white dinner jacket and black trousers.  ‘‘By the way, I’m
Maxwell Shapero.’’  He held out his hand.  ‘‘And you’re --.’’  

‘‘Ju Su Ling,’’ she replied.  ‘‘You don’t need my permission to sit down.  It’s your
resort.  You can sit where you
please."                                                                                                                         
‘‘Contrary to what you might think, I’m not normally so overbearing,’’ he stated.  ‘‘If
you’d rather be alone, I’ll leave.  Far be it for me to force my company on you.’’  He
was  about to leave when Su Ling spoke up.                                                 

 ‘‘Wait, please don’t go.  I would love the company.’’  What was the harm in having
male companionship while she ate?  She was leaving in two days’ time and they
probably wouldn’t set eyes on each other again.  She could afford to be pleasant.  
Little did she realize how attracted she would be to him.                        

‘‘Glad to hear that.’’  Maxwell sat down and signaled for the waiter.  ‘I see you’re  
having the steak.  I’ll have the same, cooked well done, though.’’  The waiter came
and he gave the order.  He also ordered a bottle of the best wine.  ‘‘I feel meeting
you is a cause for celebration.  You’re such a refreshing change from the ladies I
usually meet.  Beautiful and headstrong.  What a combination.’’  Su Ling took that
as a compliment and smiled.  An arrested look came over his face.  ‘‘You have a
beautiful smile.  Smile at me more often, okay?’’ he asked huskily.           

Su Ling looked at him and their eyes met and held.  A heat of attraction flashed
between them and her eyes dropped to his lips and she wondered what it would
be like to held in his strong arms and kissed by him.  Sensual, heated, if the look
he was giving her was any indication.  

The arrival of the waiter broke the spell and Su Ling looked away, blushing.  What  
had  come over her? she wondered.  She felt as if he was weaving a spell on her
with his  words.  She concentrated on her food while Maxwell took a sip of the wine,
looking at her over the rim, eyes half-closed.  Suddenly, she felt very self-conscious
but she told
herself not to behave like a schoolgirl with her first crush.  He was just a man.  Oh,
but what a man!  All male and sexy, the type she should be avoiding at all costs.      

The waiter arrived with his steak and he dug in.  Su Ling was glad his attention
was  diverted.  Anymore of that heated look and she would burst into flames.  She
pushed her plate away and took a sip of the wine.  ‘‘Mm, not bad,’’ she murmured.   

‘‘Glad you approve,’’ he said.  ‘‘So, tell me about yourself.  What are you doing here
in Penang island all alone?  We have many lovers or couples here on their
honeymoon.’’

‘‘Oh, I just needed to get away from Hong Kong , from my domineering father.  I
come from a wealthy family and he’s always telling me what to do.  It’s like he
wants to control me.’’  She shuddered.  ‘‘It’s so scary.  Now, he wants to pair me off
with this American businessman.  Naturally, I ran.’’

A strange look crossed over Maxwell’s face.  ‘‘You might discover that you share
the same interests.  Why not give the man a chance?’’

Su Ling was disappointed at his answer.  She had thought he was attracted to her
and wanted to know her better.  Obviously, it was all one-sided.  She stood up,
intending to leave.  He guessed her intention and pushed his plate away.  
‘‘Goodbye.  Nice meeting you.’’   

‘‘Wait,’’ he said, taking her hand and caressing it.  ‘‘Let’s go dancing.  There’s a
nightclub on the second floor.  What do you say?’’ he asked, sipping his wine, his
eyes never leaving hers.     

Su Ling wanted nothing more than to say yes.  But then she caught herself up
short.  He was probably out for a one night stand and she wasn’t the type who
could just walk away after a fling.  It would hurt too much.  ‘‘No, thanks.’’  She
tugged her hand free and walked away, aware of his eyes following her.        

 Unable to sleep, Su Ling was at the swimming pool doing laps when there was a
splash.  She wiped the water from her eyes and looked at the intruder.  She wasn’t
really surprised to see that it was Maxwell.  Her sixth sense had told her he would
follow her.  

‘‘You’re wasting your time following me.  I know what you’re after but I’m not the
type for a one night stand.’’   

 Maxwell swam towards her and caught her up into his arms.  ‘‘Neither am I,’’ he
rasped before taking her lips in a sensual kiss.  She couldn’t help it.  She moaned
and gripped his hair, opening her mouth for the invasion of his tongue.  He tore his
mouth  away and began raining kisses over her face and neck.  Slowly, he lowered
the straps of
her bikini top, exposing her soft, creamy breasts to his heated gaze.  He then took
the rosy  tip into his mouth and began suckling hard.  He came up for air and said
huskily,  ‘‘I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you.  Tell me you want me
too.’’   

 Blushing, Su Ling hid her face in his chest  and Maxwell laughed softly.  His hand
began to slide down her leg, coming to rest at the edge of her bikini panties.  He
was about to pull it away when Su Ling stopped him.  ‘‘No, I can’t.  It’s too soon.  
We’ve only just met.  I hardly know you.’’

He joked, ‘‘I can’t tell you my life history now, Su Ling.  How about a nightcap and I’
ll tell you what you want to know?’’ he asked.  He pulled up the straps of her top
and covered her breasts, giving it a lingering caress.  He swam towards the edge
and pulled himself out.  ‘‘I’ll meet you at the lobby in twenty minutes.’’         

In the end, Su Ling didn’t show.  What was the point in starting something when
the outcome would be the same?  They were merely ships that passed in the
night.  Her life was in Hong Kong and Maxwell’s was in Penang .  She had heard
about long-distance relationships but knew they seldom worked out.  It was better
this way.  At least, she
hadn’t gotten in too deep and wouldn’t feel too hurt when the time came to say
goodbye.  She hadn’t bargained for Maxwell’s persistence, though.  He showed up
at her door with a bouquet of roses, wanting to know why she hadn’t met him last
night.  Su Ling told him there was no point in starting something when she was
leaving soon.  He said mysteriously, ‘‘Come, I have something to show you.’’  Su
Ling followed him, curious to know where he was taking her.  He led her to his
suite and shut the door, saying, ‘‘Finally, you’re where I want you to be.’’  

Su Ling was about to ask him what he meant when he sat down on the bed and
patted the space beside him.  Heart in her mouth, she sat down.  He then took out
his wallet and showed her a picture.  She gasped when she saw who it was.  The
photograph was of her, taken when she was twenty one.  ‘‘I don’t understand.’’

‘‘I’m the American businessman your father is pairing you with.  Your father and I
met two years ago in Hong Kong at a party.  He was very proud of you and showed
me your picture.  I fell in love with you then.  You looked so sweet and alluring and I
knew I had to have you.  I told him I wanted to get to know you and he said he would
set the whole thing up.  We hadn’t bargained on your reaction, though.  You ran and
I followed
you.  It’s as simple as that.’’      

Su Ling didn’t know whether to be angry or happy.  No wonder he had told her to
give the American businessman a chance.  It all made sense now and was like a
dream come true.  Now, there was no stopping Maxwell and her from getting
together.  If she would accept him, of course.  The choice was hers.  She asked,
‘‘Is this really your resort
or is it a lie?’’  

‘‘This is one of my resorts which I own all over the world.  Luckily, you picked mine
and not the others.’’  Maxwell looked at her gravely.  ‘‘So Su Ling, have I put your
fears to rest?  Or do you feel angry that I followed you?’’          

 Su Ling smiled.  ‘‘I’m very flattered that you went to such lengths to know me.  
How can I be angry when I feel the same way you do?  You have made me feel
more in a day than any man ever did.  I think I could love you, given time.’’  

 Maxwell’s answer was to pull her into his arms.  ‘‘You won’t regret it, I promise.’’  
He took her lips in a deep, sensual kiss which fueled the fire in Su Ling’s blood.   It
was a long time before they resurfaced to face the world.