places sound exciting and provide many opportunities for my business as well.” They were all places she longed to visit on shopping trips. She just hadn’t planned on taking months off to make them.
“Very true. While I’m in meetings, you can tour the shops and factories for your treasures.”
She chose to ignore the hint of condescension in his tone. “Okay, it’s possible I’ll have to delegate more. Hire a designer to pick up my slack.” If she had another designer on board, she could reduce the wait time for her services.
“Very wise.”
“You’re being very reasonable.” It took effort, but she kept the sarcasm from her tone. Did he not think she’d fight to keep her business? Wouldn’t he?
“I’m doing my best to see your side of this. I’m fairly set in my ways. Marriage is a big change for both of us. I’ve left it rather late, as my parents keep telling me.” His lips tilted in a wry smile.
“Which leads us to the topic of children, I suppose.” No, she really didn’t want to go there, but it was the logical next step.
“A natural consequence of marriage, if all goes well. Why do we work if not to make a better life for our future family?”
“Neither of us had difficult childhoods. Mine was about as perfect as one could be.” Although she had to admit, her mother didn’t work outside the home. Rather she’d participated in charities, volunteered at school and the food pantry. But she’d usually been nearby, especially when Meilin didn’t want her around.
“To be fair, so was mine. Good schools, supportive family, even if they did make it clear what path I was to follow. Not all was rosy, of course.”
“Is that why you’ve put off marriage so long?”
He shot her a sideways glance and navigated the junction of one freeway to the next. “When I joined the family business, all was not well. My father did the best he could, but the economy and technology were changing and business had to change with it. The last twenty years have involved long hours, hundreds of thousands of miles of travel, more e-mails and phone conferences than I can ever hope to count, and as little sleep as I ever got in college. Things have turned around now and business has grown. I can make time for the important things in life.”
Shan reached for her hand and she let him take it. He rested her hand on his knee, his over hers, keeping his options for grabbing the steering wheel open if needed. His thumb stroked the ring he’d placed on her hand a week ago. The two carat diamond was hefty without being garish. Elegant. A classic solitaire set in platinum.
“I hope you’re not disappointed with the plain setting.”
“It’s classy without being ostentatious. I’m not a high maintenance woman.”
Shan smiled. “I’m a man who likes simple things.”
She gave him a look of disbelief. The Aston Martin, the Breitling watch on his wrist, the suit and shoes custom made in Hong Kong were not the simple possessions of a simple man.
“Sure you do.”
Shan picked up on her slightly sarcastic tone with a brief smile. “Quality has everything to do with simplicity. The higher the quality, the easier life is.” His hand tightened over hers. “Which is why when I see you working too hard, I’ll step in. Your first job is our marriage. My business will fund our life together. If your business draws too much of your energy, I will put my foot down. However, until we have children you should be able to handle your new duties easily enough.”
Meilin swallowed deeply. “I see.” A hint of ice shimmered in the air, not that Shan seemed to notice.
“I’ve been over your financials. You do all right, but you’re not raking in a large profit. Barely enough to cover your expenses and make your payroll. The apartment you live in is barely acceptable. It’s small and middle class, sliding downward in value every year. The building needs many improvements, and with the seniors populating it, the
“Very true. While I’m in meetings, you can tour the shops and factories for your treasures.”
She chose to ignore the hint of condescension in his tone. “Okay, it’s possible I’ll have to delegate more. Hire a designer to pick up my slack.” If she had another designer on board, she could reduce the wait time for her services.
“Very wise.”
“You’re being very reasonable.” It took effort, but she kept the sarcasm from her tone. Did he not think she’d fight to keep her business? Wouldn’t he?
“I’m doing my best to see your side of this. I’m fairly set in my ways. Marriage is a big change for both of us. I’ve left it rather late, as my parents keep telling me.” His lips tilted in a wry smile.
“Which leads us to the topic of children, I suppose.” No, she really didn’t want to go there, but it was the logical next step.
“A natural consequence of marriage, if all goes well. Why do we work if not to make a better life for our future family?”
“Neither of us had difficult childhoods. Mine was about as perfect as one could be.” Although she had to admit, her mother didn’t work outside the home. Rather she’d participated in charities, volunteered at school and the food pantry. But she’d usually been nearby, especially when Meilin didn’t want her around.
“To be fair, so was mine. Good schools, supportive family, even if they did make it clear what path I was to follow. Not all was rosy, of course.”
“Is that why you’ve put off marriage so long?”
He shot her a sideways glance and navigated the junction of one freeway to the next. “When I joined the family business, all was not well. My father did the best he could, but the economy and technology were changing and business had to change with it. The last twenty years have involved long hours, hundreds of thousands of miles of travel, more e-mails and phone conferences than I can ever hope to count, and as little sleep as I ever got in college. Things have turned around now and business has grown. I can make time for the important things in life.”
Shan reached for her hand and she let him take it. He rested her hand on his knee, his over hers, keeping his options for grabbing the steering wheel open if needed. His thumb stroked the ring he’d placed on her hand a week ago. The two carat diamond was hefty without being garish. Elegant. A classic solitaire set in platinum.
“I hope you’re not disappointed with the plain setting.”
“It’s classy without being ostentatious. I’m not a high maintenance woman.”
Shan smiled. “I’m a man who likes simple things.”
She gave him a look of disbelief. The Aston Martin, the Breitling watch on his wrist, the suit and shoes custom made in Hong Kong were not the simple possessions of a simple man.
“Sure you do.”
Shan picked up on her slightly sarcastic tone with a brief smile. “Quality has everything to do with simplicity. The higher the quality, the easier life is.” His hand tightened over hers. “Which is why when I see you working too hard, I’ll step in. Your first job is our marriage. My business will fund our life together. If your business draws too much of your energy, I will put my foot down. However, until we have children you should be able to handle your new duties easily enough.”
Meilin swallowed deeply. “I see.” A hint of ice shimmered in the air, not that Shan seemed to notice.
“I’ve been over your financials. You do all right, but you’re not raking in a large profit. Barely enough to cover your expenses and make your payroll. The apartment you live in is barely acceptable. It’s small and middle class, sliding downward in value every year. The building needs many improvements, and with the seniors populating it, the
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