19 Thorin vs Darren

"Waa…what are you doing here?" she asked him, her pulse racing at the sight of him. Thorin had changed out of his formal office attire and is now dressed casually in a shirt with the top few buttons undone and tight jeans. His glossy hair was no longer slicked back but was instead flopping on his forehead in loose waves.

He looked utterly deliciously gorgeous. Like a model out of the cover of a magazine. She suppressed the urge to reach out and bury her hands in his hair, brush it aside and maybe pull him down to kiss her. She pushed that thought out of her mind.

Thorin was studying Darren and the young man was studying him in return. Sizing each other up. Thorin pulled out a chair, placed it next to Zi Mei and lounged in it casually.

"So, what's with the money and pushing it about?" he asked, looking at both their hands still on the table in the midst of pushing the money to the other. "Is this some sort of new gambling game?" he asked.

Zi Mei immediately dropped her hand.

"Who are you? Zi Mei, who is this?" Darren asked, suspicious.

"So…er…" she cleared her throat. Should she introduce Thorin as her 'employer'?

"I'm Thorin Loong," the dragon interrupted and held out his hand to Darren to shake. Darren took it cautiously and shook his hand.

"I'm Darren Xing," he responded politely. Good upbringing meant he has to be polite to someone who is obviously older and had politely offered his hand to shake.

"So, I'm Zi Mei's…benefactor, you could call it that," Thorin continued after releasing Darren's hand. He used the tip of his finger to push the stack of money back to Darren.

"Obviously she doesn't need this. I will be settling all her debts," he said.

Darren's eyes widened in surprise.

"What…benefactor? What do you do? What do you mean settling all her debts? In return for what?" he asked suspiciously. "And what do you want from Zi Mei?"

Thorin threw his head back and laughed, his white teeth glinting in the light, the laugh a deep rumbling sound that seem to make Zi Mei's heart thump and the butterflies in her stomach flutter furiously.

"That's a good quality young man. You do care about your friend here but you don't have to worry, I will take good care of her and maybe, one day we can arrange a nice party at my place and invite you over," Thorin said, a steely glint in his eyes, despite the friendly smile on his face.

"While it's been fun, I am afraid Zi Mei has to go back to her…er…job," he added. He stood up and offered Zi Mei his arm. "Shall we?"

Flushing slightly, her pulse still racing, she stood up and took his arm. She knew very well what he meant by 'job' and she was not really looking forward to it. Part of her was dying for him to touch her again while another part was scared and nervous of what was to come.

"Wait, wait…Zi Mei? He is not forcing you into anything is he?" Darren stood up and took hold of her arm. He was looking at her worried.

"Darren, don't worry. He's not forcing me into anything," she replied. She gestured to the money on the table. "Please do return the money to Sheena and Jazzmine for me,"

"But…Zi Mei!" he exclaimed, refusing to let her go.

She gently extricate his hand and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't worry please, Darren. I am fine and Thorin has been… really kind to me," she said. "Look, I have to go, maybe we will catch up soon? I promise I will stay in touch," she said, smiling.

Darren reluctantly nodded.

"You know what to do if you need help," he said. He slid a sideway glance at Thorin. "I will always be on your side, please know that,"

Thorin made an exasperated sound that sounded like 'fork'.

"Oh for dragons' sake…she's not dying or being sacrificed at some altar, really…what's with all this drama? You can still keep in contact with her and like I just said, one of these days, I will arrange a small party and you will be invited. Now can we go?" Thorin said.

Then he was pulling her away as Darren looked on, still worried. After they stepped out of the cafe, Thorin turned to her.

"What did you even see in that pathetic human? Really…how annoying," he said.

She got irritated. How dare he call her friend pathetic? Darren has been so good to her and he even offered her his whole savings to help her! She pulled her hand away from Thorin.

"He is not pathetic! You are pathetic. Darren is the kindest, nicest and most gentle person ever!" she said defensively.

Thorin gave her a nonchalant shrug.

"Whatever you say little Zi, he is still pathetic to me and honestly…the value you humans place on money is just so amusing," he said. He put his hands in his jeans pockets and strolled along casually. As if they are out on an evening stroll together.

"That's easy for you to say…you can turn things into gold! Why don't you give away your whole fortune and try living with only 10 dollars a day without using your magic and then you come and tell me about your lofty ideas of money is not important blablabla," she shot at him.

"Ahhh…..been there done that my dear…frankly, it was quite boring," he said. "It was no fun when I can't throw money at humans and have them at my beck and call," he added mischievously.

She rolled her eyes at him. She didn't have a witty respond to that. Thorin snapped his finger and a door appeared on one of the walls of the houses they were walking by.

"Come, lets go home," he said. "My parents wanted to meet you," he took her hand and dragged her through the door.

"Your what?" she asked once they are inside.

"My parents. You can't honestly think that I don't have parents, do you? I didn't just appear out of thin air," he said.

"I would think you hatched from a rock what with your 'stony' personality," she mumbled under her breath.

"What did you say?" he stopped and asked, looking at her.

"Er…nothing," she smiled innocently at him. She followed him down the series of corridors and hallways, that have changed and looked different again, holding his hand and marvelling at the smooth feel of his hand. She is certain his hands are smoother than hers. He probably never washed a single plate or cup in his life. In short, his hand is smoother than a woman's. He has womanly hands, she thought and almost giggled. He would be offended, even angry, if she told him that.

They came to an opulent dining room and inside, there seems to be a small dinner party going on. A few people dressed in formal gowns and tuxedoes are mingling about while waiters are going around with trays of wine, champagne and hors d'ouvres. Zi Mei gaped at the sight.

Then she looked down at her own attire. Her thin worn-looking t-shirt and ratty sweatpants. She looked like what the cat dragged in. No, no, she looked like what the dragon dragged in, literally. She is so underdressed for this, she is sure someone will turn around and tell her to go away somewhere else to beg for alms.

Except that Thorin is still holding her hand and he is pulling her to a glamorous looking couple at the far end of the room. They looked like they are in their 40s, barely old enough to have a 30-year-old son. Then again, she remembered that they are dragon shapeshifters so obviously they can look whatever age they chose in their human form. His parents must also be thousands of years old too.

"Wait, wait, wait…" she stopped walking and pulled at Thorin. He stopped and turned.

"What is it? Nervous? Don't worry, they don't bite, at least not that I know of," he said.

She gestured at her attire.

"I don't exactly belong, I am so not dressed for this," she said. She noticed a few people have now noticed her and Thorin. A few women are tittering and giggling while pointing at her. She felt so self-conscious now.

Thorin looked confused for a split second and then realisation dawned. He grinned. Then he snapped his fingers. Suddenly, she is in a gorgeous tight fitting red cheongsam with a slit up to the top of her thighs while he is in a tuxedo.

"There, problem fixed," he said. He pulled her hand into the crook of his arm. "Let's go meet my parents now," he said.