He was in need of something to distract his thoughts. A man can only balance so many things before something falls. Tseng was concerned that the thing that fell would be the one and only thing that currently held his genuine interest.
He'd left the office in Elena's capable hands though not in the best terms with the young woman. Tseng sighed as he put his car in park outside of Lulu's place. He made sure that his jacket and tie were in order after he got out and made it to her front door. He wasn't sure what he was really in for here either. But like many things, he would just have to face it and find out. Tseng knocked on the door and waited politely for her to answer. When she did she was given a smile and a slight bow of his head. "Miss Lulu. Thank you for having me over on such short notice."
Lulu answere the door and greeted him likewise, inclining her head as she stepped aside to allow him entrance. "It's a pleasure," she demured. "Thank you for coming by."
Closing the door with a soft click, she gestured toward the sitting room, where she'd had just enough time to set out a few bottles of wine and a pair of crystal glasses before he had arrived. "Make yourself at home," she said, "I know I promised you the Chiante, but I also have Berollo, and a Pinot Noir if you prefer."
She paused, watching his expression as she turned toward the kitchen. "If you give me just a moment, I can bring out some crutite as well, unless you'd like to accompany me on the grand tour."
"Chiante would be wonderful. Thank you." Tseng comes to stand before a chair but has second thoughts about actually sitting down. "Please, allow me to escort you." She'd told him to make himself at home but obviously that isn't something Tseng does with ease.
Tseng goes to stand at her side but allows her to lead. "That's quite a selection." He complimented. "Tell me Miss Lulu. Do you have a favorite?" For once he was asking something with a genuine interest and not an ulterior motive.
Lulu nodded, allowing Tseng to accompany her, her movements both elegant and efficient as she slid her sleeved out of the way and took a appetizer tray laden with cheeses and fresh vegetables from the refrigerator.
"Oh, I'm partial to the Chiante myself," she replied, removing the celophane wrapping and adding some savory crackers and flatbread to the tray. Nodding when she was satsfied with the presentation. "For a dessert wine I also like a sweet, white Riesling," she added as they made their way back to the other room, "But I think my favorite is imported Ume plum wine from Japan."
Skillfully pouring two glasses of the Chiante, she smiled as she offered one to Tseng. "What about you, sir?"
Tseng watched her movements with interest and waited patiently until she offered him a glass. "Oh. I'm not as spoiled as you might think." He smiled thinly and took a sip of the Chiante before continuing. "A good red wine will suffice. Though the Ume plum, you have good taste Miss Lulu." But he thinks he's told her that before. And if not him then undoubtedly other men have.
Tseng placed his glass down and reached for a cube of cheese. It would be rude not to sample after she went to the trouble of making it. "I hope this isn't an unpleasant subject, but I do hope Reno wasn't too abrasive with you." His eyes rested directly on her with the words.
"Hn," Lulu hummed in affirmation, "Thank you." It was true, plenty of men had told her all kinds of flattering things, but it was always appreciated when they were said with some sincerity. She though maybe...but the jury was still out on Mr. Liu.
She was a little surprised that he didn't enryo, and refuse out of politeness, but then again, Hong Kong was a little dfferent culture from Japan, and another still from Reggio Calabria--and no doubt Mr. Liu was well acquainted with the ways of the world
( ... )
It's true that Tseng has learned a number of cultural mannerisms over the years. So much so that he sometimes forgets where one ends and another begins. But he was more weary tonight than normal. His guard was simply a little more down
( ... )
Lulu only nodded, not really caring to elaborate on how neither family had been kinds to her after her lover--her sponsor--her beau had defected, preferring to think to the future instead. She was successful--independent--now. For the most part.
She waited quietly, listening with pursed lips, as Tseng alluded to his reasons for putting enmity in the form of another woman between Reno and Elena. It was as she had suspected all along--though the bit about claiming what was rightfully his still puzzled her. Hadn't Reno been there first?
"If so, then I have failed as well," she said with a wry laugh, "And here I thought there was no such thing as loyalty anymore." Or maybe Reno was just damn stubborn. She smiled though, watching his eyes, and the way his expression warmed. "So what now?"
Maybe Tseng is just selfish enough to assume that anything he wanted was rightfully his. Or maybe there's more to the story that hasn't come to the surface. It's of little consequence now. "Things change." An answer to her what now? inquiry. "I admire them." Each one of the Turks possessed something special. Something that Tseng himself was lacking. Secretly he's proud to call himself one of them. He hopes he can continue to do so.
"Loyalty that can't be bought or threatened is exceedingly rare." He agreed. "As for Elena she's made herself rather clear on the subject." Against Tseng's advice. "She'll be foolish like girls her age are. She'll make mistakes." Tseng stopped suddenly. "Enough. Let's not talk about them anymore." He hopes he told her enough to answer her questions. "Tell me about your trip. I believe you said it was business?"
Lulu nodded, sensing there was probably more than Tseng was telling, but not really needing any further elaboration on the subject. She'd played her part while it lasted, and whatever their little love triangle--quadrangle?--pentagon? Whatever it was, it was little of her concern.
She hoped she hadn't burned the bridge behind her when she'd exited stage sinestra, because she too had seen admirable qualities in each of the Turks--present company included--but if so, she'd burned bridges before and learned to swim. She could do so again.
"Very well," she said, letting the matter drop at Tseng's request, taking a sip of Chiante before answering his question. "It was a business trip," she said, "Although my job was mostly to accompany my client on a tour of of his family vineyards while he performed inspections and gave his annual reviews and reports for the fiscal year." She paused, glancing at him through her lashes before she went on, "I did assist him with some bookkeeping as well."
"You're multi-talented." It was a statement more than question. Tseng smiled lightly at her before asking the question that's been on his mind for quite some time. "Tell me. How did you come to be in this business?" Not that there was anything wrong with it. He was merely curious. "You have more talents than meets the eye Miss Lulu." He was just referring to the bookkeeping she'd mentioned however. "I wouldn't be surprised if there were others."
Lulu shook her head, but her realxed smile said she didn't mind his observation, or the following question.
"I lost my parents when I was young, raised by relatives on the Vescovo side of the family, and they would have trained me in the family business...which, I'm sure I don't have to tell you, was a front for all kinds of espionage," she said, "But unfortunately...there was an incident...and they were also killed
( ... )
Tseng listened quietly. He was a good listener and an observant one too. He could tell the difference between what she was saying and what she meant.
"Incidents can be tragic. But they happen." He's given the order for many of them while back in Hong Kong. But this was Italy. Practically another life.
The story that she told was an unfortunate one but Tseng's expression remained largely unreadable. Once she'd finished he gave her a nod. "He took his chances. And he paid the price." He didn't mean for that to come across as cold. "I'm sure he wouldn't have had it any other way. Brave young men rarely would." He was quiet for a long moment before speaking again. "I envy him that." Tseng took a deep breath before speaking again. "Are you happy with your life this way?"
Lulu nodded slowly, quietly, understanding that Tseng was a businessman and knew well what went on behind the scenes as such. It was just life--and sometimes you had to turn it a cold shoulder to survive. Not to get burned.
"I'm successful," she said finally, "Independant, debt-free, and for the most part I thrive on the energy of my work." All of that was probably more than a lot of women in her position could say.
"But I wonder, sometimes, if I've isolated myself a little too much with all the bridges I've burned."
Tseng nodded. All the things that she mentioned were important and not things that everyone was afforded the luxery of. Her last words made him pause for thought however.
"Most bridges can be rebuilt." He commented at length. "More than once I've thought I burned them behind me. And yet somehow I find myself back on the other side of the shore." He doesn't mention them by name but this was especially true of the Turks. More than once he thought he was at his limit with Reno and Elena only to find himself more on their side than ever now. "I'm sure you're more than capable if it's really what you wish."
Lulu tilted her head thoughtfully for a moment before taking another sip of wine. What did she want? She had thought she'd wanted to let that past stay buried--to burn every bridge behind her--to have no attachments to anyone, anything, or any place. But life had a way of changing one's plans.
"People have called me shallow, and asked if I've ever just tried to be a friend," she mused, "But I don't think there's a person in this town who hasn't had to sacrifice some part of themselves to keep doing what they have to do."
She sighed. "Those of who manage to find true friendship? They are truly fortunate people."
He'd left the office in Elena's capable hands though not in the best terms with the young woman. Tseng sighed as he put his car in park outside of Lulu's place. He made sure that his jacket and tie were in order after he got out and made it to her front door. He wasn't sure what he was really in for here either. But like many things, he would just have to face it and find out. Tseng knocked on the door and waited politely for her to answer. When she did she was given a smile and a slight bow of his head. "Miss Lulu. Thank you for having me over on such short notice."
Reply
Closing the door with a soft click, she gestured toward the sitting room, where she'd had just enough time to set out a few bottles of wine and a pair of crystal glasses before he had arrived. "Make yourself at home," she said, "I know I promised you the Chiante, but I also have Berollo, and a Pinot Noir if you prefer."
She paused, watching his expression as she turned toward the kitchen. "If you give me just a moment, I can bring out some crutite as well, unless you'd like to accompany me on the grand tour."
Reply
Tseng goes to stand at her side but allows her to lead. "That's quite a selection." He complimented. "Tell me Miss Lulu. Do you have a favorite?" For once he was asking something with a genuine interest and not an ulterior motive.
Reply
"Oh, I'm partial to the Chiante myself," she replied, removing the celophane wrapping and adding some savory crackers and flatbread to the tray. Nodding when she was satsfied with the presentation. "For a dessert wine I also like a sweet, white Riesling," she added as they made their way back to the other room, "But I think my favorite is imported Ume plum wine from Japan."
Skillfully pouring two glasses of the Chiante, she smiled as she offered one to Tseng. "What about you, sir?"
Reply
Tseng placed his glass down and reached for a cube of cheese. It would be rude not to sample after she went to the trouble of making it. "I hope this isn't an unpleasant subject, but I do hope Reno wasn't too abrasive with you." His eyes rested directly on her with the words.
Reply
She was a little surprised that he didn't enryo, and refuse out of politeness, but then again, Hong Kong was a little dfferent culture from Japan, and another still from Reggio Calabria--and no doubt Mr. Liu was well acquainted with the ways of the world ( ... )
Reply
Reply
She waited quietly, listening with pursed lips, as Tseng alluded to his reasons for putting enmity in the form of another woman between Reno and Elena. It was as she had suspected all along--though the bit about claiming what was rightfully his still puzzled her. Hadn't Reno been there first?
"If so, then I have failed as well," she said with a wry laugh, "And here I thought there was no such thing as loyalty anymore." Or maybe Reno was just damn stubborn. She smiled though, watching his eyes, and the way his expression warmed. "So what now?"
Reply
"Loyalty that can't be bought or threatened is exceedingly rare." He agreed. "As for Elena she's made herself rather clear on the subject." Against Tseng's advice. "She'll be foolish like girls her age are. She'll make mistakes." Tseng stopped suddenly. "Enough. Let's not talk about them anymore." He hopes he told her enough to answer her questions. "Tell me about your trip. I believe you said it was business?"
Reply
She hoped she hadn't burned the bridge behind her when she'd exited stage sinestra, because she too had seen admirable qualities in each of the Turks--present company included--but if so, she'd burned bridges before and learned to swim. She could do so again.
"Very well," she said, letting the matter drop at Tseng's request, taking a sip of Chiante before answering his question. "It was a business trip," she said, "Although my job was mostly to accompany my client on a tour of of his family vineyards while he performed inspections and gave his annual reviews and reports for the fiscal year." She paused, glancing at him through her lashes before she went on, "I did assist him with some bookkeeping as well."
Reply
Reply
"I lost my parents when I was young, raised by relatives on the Vescovo side of the family, and they would have trained me in the family business...which, I'm sure I don't have to tell you, was a front for all kinds of espionage," she said, "But unfortunately...there was an incident...and they were also killed ( ... )
Reply
"Incidents can be tragic. But they happen." He's given the order for many of them while back in Hong Kong. But this was Italy. Practically another life.
The story that she told was an unfortunate one but Tseng's expression remained largely unreadable. Once she'd finished he gave her a nod. "He took his chances. And he paid the price." He didn't mean for that to come across as cold. "I'm sure he wouldn't have had it any other way. Brave young men rarely would." He was quiet for a long moment before speaking again. "I envy him that." Tseng took a deep breath before speaking again. "Are you happy with your life this way?"
Reply
"I'm successful," she said finally, "Independant, debt-free, and for the most part I thrive on the energy of my work." All of that was probably more than a lot of women in her position could say.
"But I wonder, sometimes, if I've isolated myself a little too much with all the bridges I've burned."
Reply
"Most bridges can be rebuilt." He commented at length. "More than once I've thought I burned them behind me. And yet somehow I find myself back on the other side of the shore." He doesn't mention them by name but this was especially true of the Turks. More than once he thought he was at his limit with Reno and Elena only to find himself more on their side than ever now. "I'm sure you're more than capable if it's really what you wish."
Reply
Lulu tilted her head thoughtfully for a moment before taking another sip of wine. What did she want? She had thought she'd wanted to let that past stay buried--to burn every bridge behind her--to have no attachments to anyone, anything, or any place. But life had a way of changing one's plans.
"People have called me shallow, and asked if I've ever just tried to be a friend," she mused, "But I don't think there's a person in this town who hasn't had to sacrifice some part of themselves to keep doing what they have to do."
She sighed. "Those of who manage to find true friendship? They are truly fortunate people."
Reply
Leave a comment