51 Lunch With Antonia

"Have you eaten yet?" she inquired.

"I was just about to have a break actually. I got a bit lost in the project I was working on this morning. That's what happens when you enjoy your work I guess," she smiled.

"And I came and took up your break time," Antonia said with a little remorse, "Well, I will take you out for lunch, you can keep me company while I wait for them."

"I am not sure..." Changying began, but Antonia cut across her words.

"Those boys know it pays to keep me happy. They will not mind trust me," she smiled beneficently.

"Well in that case," Changying did not want to cause waves with a potentially valuable customer, so she began to repackage the mask for her.

"Don't bother with that. You can keep it until you have definite answers for me," she waved her hand dismissing the debris of packaging on Changying's desk and stood waiting for her to follow.

They walked through the large showroom and Antonia stopped and told the manager she was taking Changying to lunch. Then they walked two blocks down to a small restaurant where they were seated like royalty.

"Anything you don't like or are allergic to?" Antonia asked as they took their seats.

"No, I eat most things happily," Changying smiled letting herself enjoy the break from work and meeting a new person in the form of Antonia, who obviously had good taste in antiques so they would have something to talk about.

Antonia looked up at the waiter, "The usual then, for two." Within minutes, Changying had a glass of wine in her hand and was clinking it to Antonia's as she gave a salute. "You haven't worked at the House of Lorraine long you said?"

"Only a couple of weeks, but it's my dream job I am so grateful they hired me," Changying said with feeling.

"Why did you leave your last job was it so very terrible?" Antonia asked.

"Quite the opposite really, I was very happy there. I met the man of my dreams and fell in love there," she stopped herself and smiled self-consciously, "I sound dreadful don't I, the man of my dreams and the job of my dreams, but life is pretty good for me at the moment."

"Life is always better when you are in love," Antonia laughed, "Me, I have been married so long but still we love with a passion. Tell me about your love, I would like to hear happy thoughts while we eat."

As the plates of food came and went and their glasses filled up many times Changying talked about meeting Wang and her initial impressions, of how he took her from the dungeon up to her own office and the fateful day where he scalded her with pasta, though to the date, and the lightning bolt moment where she just knew that he was the love of her life.

Antonia listened and asked questions and added to Changying's story with little anecdotes of her own. Relaxed with the good food and the wine Changying really enjoyed herself and was genuinely disappointed when she looked at her watch.

"Oh gosh, the time has flown so fast, after telling you what a dream job I had, I may not have it much longer if I take lunch breaks this long," she smiled crookedly, "I have had a really nice time though; it was just what I needed. I miss my friends that I used to eat lunch with."

"Oh, sit down," Antonia commanded, "Just relax you're with me." She pulled her phone from her bag and dialled a number. "Benedicto, tell your brothers, the girl won't be back to work this afternoon and she switched to speak Italian, "Tell your stupid sister she is wrong,... Yes, that's the one,... Yes, I know they are all stupid at times," she laughed and hung up the phone.

Changying sat wide eyed through the whole conversation; she had just told Wang's mother how they met and fell in love, "wholly shit!" she said to herself over and over again as her mouth opened and closed again as words failed her.

"Oh dear, that was a bit mean of me not telling you who I was exactly but I didn't't want to make you nervous," Antonia explained.

"I am sorry, if I had known I would never have told you about..." Changying gulped realising what she had said about Wang, and while she hadn't gone into details she made it very clear that he rocked her world. "Oh God," she blushed deeply.

"That's the best part," she grinned, "Now I know you satisfy each other on all levels. Love should always be passionate."