The Lonestar Illuminates Me Ch. 02

2. Meeting

I work at an insurance company in L City, under a white American male boss. I've been here for two years and my performance has been quite good. Because I can speak English and write fluent Chinese, the company decided to transfer all the insurance policies for Chinese clients in L City to our brokerage, totaling over 800 policies. During busy times, I also help lighten the workload of my colleagues by handling some English-speaking clients' policies.

I don't know how much longer I can stay at this company, as I signed a contract with the brokerage that doesn't include bonuses, meaning my income is a base salary plus commission, and not every policy I write has a commission attached.

My white boss is quite nice; he not only taught me all the insurance knowledge step by step, but also often shares methods for team management, seemingly hoping to groom me to become the office manager. Regardless, I'm a naturally inquisitive person, and I'm always happy to learn new knowledge, no matter what it is.

Today is Sunday. Originally, I had planned to have a buffet lunch with my girlfriend at the Rio hotel, then go to the Caesars Palace to get a large margarita, and finally go to the Bellagio to watch the fountain show. However, since I accepted an invitation to dinner from a girl from a Japanese ramen shop, I had to come up with a reason to tell my girlfriend that I had to go out alone today.

I'm not someone who enjoys lying; I dislike being deceived by others, even if it's a white lie. Therefore, I generally avoid deceiving others. After some thought, I decided to provide my girlfriend with a vague explanation: "I have a last-minute appointment with a friend tonight. We can go for the buffet, buy margaritas, and see the fountain next week; how does that sound?"

"You're meeting a friend?" My girlfriend raised her eyebrows slightly and asked.

"A friend set up a date with me," I replied.

"Alright, then. You go ahead. We can do those activities next week," she said understandingly.

At that moment, I suddenly felt uncertain about whether to go to the dinner date. Just then, my phone received a text message from the ramen girl: "Are you ready? I'll be there on time."

Thinking of the girl's face, I wavered again, and quickly replied, "I'm getting ready to head out. See you soon."

I turned to my girlfriend and said, "I'll head out first. I'll see you later tonight."

She nodded.

I grabbed my coat and walked out. Today I am dressed in a white T-shirt, gray jeans, and a black long-sleeved jacket. I think I look presentable.

After a thirty-minute drive, I finally arrived at the Korean BBQ restaurant where the girl had arranged to meet. I arrived 15 minutes early and found the girl already sitting at a table in the corner, drinking ice water. When she saw me, she waved and motioned for me to join her.

I told the hostess, "My friend is already here," pointing to the girl, and the hostess indicated for me to go over on my own.

I took a deep breath, steadied my emotions, and walked over to the girl.

As I approached her, the girl smiled and asked, "Do you want to sit next to me or across from me?"

I felt a flicker of unease and replied, "I'll sit across from you."

She smiled and nodded, then looked me over and said, "You look handsome today."

"You look good too," I replied with a smile. From the perspective of onlookers, we seemed like a couple. We indeed looked quite compatible together, with no hint of awkwardness in our interactions, as if we were well acquainted.

"Derek, I'm Jessica," the girl said, looking at me with a smile.

"Hello, Jessica. I forgot to ask your name; that's quite rude of me, I'm sorry," I said with a smile.

"It's fine, just call me Jess," she replied amiably.

I nodded, thinking to myself that her face was indeed very attractive.

At that moment, the waitress approached our table and asked for our order. I gestured for Jess to order first, and she said, "A plate of beef, a plate of pork belly. I'd like a steamed egg; do you want one?" She glanced at me while smiling sweetly.

"I'd like one too," I replied.

"Then let's get two steamed eggs and add a salad, thanks." Jess smiled at the waitress.

"Sure, I'll bring it right out," the waitress said with a smile before walking away.

"So familiar with ordering; do you come here often?" I asked Jess.

"Occasionally on my own," she nodded, a slight smile on her face.

"Come sit next to me, Derek," Jess invited again, and after some consideration, I complied and moved to sit beside her.

Shortly after sitting down, Jess casually brushed her hand against my face and said, "You're really handsome, and your skin is great."

My body stiffened instantly. Facing such bold teasing from someone I just met made me a bit uncomfortable. "Jess..."

I softly called her name, and she obediently withdrew her hand. I turned to look at her, but she didn't meet my gaze. Her elegant profile and perfect curves made me sigh internally. If I didn't have a girlfriend, perhaps I wouldn't feel so restrained. After all, I always remembered that I had a girlfriend.

Soon, the dishes we ordered began arriving one after another. Jess handed me a steamed egg and skillfully placed the meat onto the grill. I said, "Let me do it." Then I took the tongs from her hand and started flipping the meat to ensure it cooked evenly on both sides.

"Wow, you're so skilled. Are you this handy with everything?" Jess teased, looking at me.

I knew there was a double meaning in her words and chuckled softly, replying, "I guess so. You won't know until you try."

Jess laughed, seemingly pleased with my answer. During the meal, we chatted about trivial matters. The conversation didn't have any particular relevance, yet we spoke with the ease of old friends.

After about 40 minutes, we had eaten enough, and I went to the front to settle the bill. Just as I stepped out of the restaurant, Jess's hand casually landed on my back, gently caressing me.

My body tensed again; such intimate gestures made me alert. I felt that if this kept up, something was bound to happen. So, I asked Jess, "Where did you park?"

Jess pointed to the parking lot downstairs, where a white BMW SUV came into view. "This car looks nice," I commented.

Jess smiled and nodded, then turned to me and said, "Come with me, I have a gift for you."

I was taken aback and felt somewhat at a loss, yet I followed her to the BMW. She unlocked the door, and I sat in the passenger seat while she went around to the driver's side.

As I sat in the car, I felt a bit anxious waiting for Jess to bring out her "gift." However, instead of retrieving a gift, she turned around and kissed me.

I didn't have time to react; her soft lips pressed against mine, exuding an irresistible fragrance. I felt myself close to breaking down, overwhelmed with pride as I realized I had never cheated. Someone once told me that cheating once would create a tendency for it to happen again.

I grabbed Jess's arm, trying to get her to stop, but my body was no longer listening to me, lacking even the courage to halt. I leaned in for another kiss, my tongue sliding into her mouth and exploring recklessly. She let out a soft sigh as if her breath ignited desires buried deep within me. All reason and thought evaporated in an instant. I was completely immersed in this irresistible intimacy, pulling her closer, seating her on my lap, kissing and caressing her fervently.

Her body pressed against me, her breath soft, she buried her head in my neck and whispered seductively, "You're so hard. Is it big?" In that moment, her teasing tone completely robbed me of my ability to think. My rationality vanished like the wind, leaving behind only long-suppressed desires.

I desperately kissed every inch of Jess's skin until my hand moved to unbutton her jeans, and only then did she stop, her gaze flickering with complex emotions. I glanced at her in confusion, and Jess calmly said, "Once the bow is drawn, there's no turning back. Once you do all this, you really will have cheated."

Leaning against her BMW, I felt utterly dejected, my spirits low. The reality of our kisses was inescapable; realizing that claiming I hadn't cheated was merely self-deception. However, Jess's stopping gave me a moment of reflection. In the end, I chose to halt my actions. Looking into her eyes, I said apologetically, "I'm sorry."

Jess shook her head, seeming to have anticipated it, and then pulled out a small keychain from the side of the driver's seat, handing it to me. It was engraved with only her name, lacking any brand logo. "Keep this as a memento," she said.

A wave of panic surged through me; Jess's tone made me feel that we might not see each other again. This sudden sense of discomfort left me feeling suffocated.

I forced myself to maintain composure, took my own name, Derek, off the keychain, and handed it to her. "What a coincidence," Jess said softly.

"Yeah," I replied.

After receiving the keychain, Jess gently bid me farewell. I opened the car door and stepped out, the cold wind hitting me helped bring back a hint of clarity. However, an indescribable wave of sorrow surged within me, leaving me feeling helpless.