Page 94 of The Friend Zone Experiment

“I don’t know why you mind so much,” said Su Khoon. “It’s not like you’re picky when it comes to men.”

Heat rose in Renee’s face.

“This isn’t about me,” she snapped. “I was being professional. Andrew’s the one who keeps going over the line. I shouldn’t have to put up with this behaviour.”

“You knew he was coming when you asked to join,” said Su Khoon. “If you weren’t prepared for it, you shouldn’t have come.”

“Er Ge—”

“I am not going to let you fuck this up for me,” said Su Khoon. “Whatever shit you have with Andrew Yeoh, deal with it, or I’m telling Dad this is over.”

He ran his hands through his hair, shaking his head. “I should have known this was going to happen. Dad wants Da Ge to win, that’s why he stuck me with you. But there has to be a limit. He can’t blame me for you being uncontrollable.”

A woman coming along the street glanced at them and crossed to the other side, casting a curious look backwards. Did she think they were a couple having a tiff, or a boss giving his employee a dressing down?

Renee said, with a composure she did not feel, “Let’s not do this here. It’s been an emotional day, and—”You’ve had a lot to drink,she almost said, but cut herself off just in time. “And we could both do with a break. Let’s have the weekend off. We can talk about this on Monday.”

“There’s nothing more to talk about,” said Su Khoon. “You’re coming back with me to apologise to the Freshview team.”

Renee stared, but he was serious. “Are you kidding me?”

“Why did you think I came after you?” said Su Khoon. “Come on. They’re waiting.” He turned, not even checking she was following.

“I’m not coming,” said Renee.

Su Khoon stopped. He turned his face up to the sky, as if seeking celestial intervention.

“This is the only way to fix the relationship,” he said, with strained patience. “I know you’re busy throwing a tantrum right now, but we are talking about half a billion pounds here. If you’re not willing to swallow your ego for that, you might as well go back to selling overpriced dresses to aunties. Don’t fool yourself that you’re ready to run a business like Chahaya.”

He was probably right that she was putting the deal at risk. Renee had no doubt Andrew was petty enough to use what clout he had to knock them out of the running. Chahaya needed her to turn back with Su Khoon and grovel.

Chahaya had loomed like a mountain over the landscape of her childhood. She had spent the past few weeks labouring in its shadow. But at this moment, it seemed tiny, insignificant, her work to win it meaningless. Renee thought of Andrew’s fingers, digging into her knee, and opened her mouth to throw it all away.

Then she heard the clicking of heels. Behind Su Khoon, Linwas approaching. She had Renee’s camel hair coat folded neatly over her arm.

“Mr. Goh!” she said. “Miss Goh forgot her coat.”

Lin was breathless, her hair tumbled by the wind. She held the coat out to Renee.

“I—thank you,” said Renee.

Su Khoon, too, seemed disarmed by the intrusion of a stranger on their fight. He cleared his throat and tugged at his jacket, shaking out the sleeves.

“Yes. Thank you,” he said. “We were just coming back. Sorry to keep you all waiting.”

Lin glanced from him to Renee. “Miss Goh is coming, too?”

They had been on first name terms, earlier.

Su Khoon said firmly, “Yes.”

Renee was about to disagree, but Lin’s expression was so transparently relieved that it gave her pause. Lin threw a glance backwards. There was something hunted about the turn of her head, as though she thought someone might be in pursuit. She hadn’t followed them simply because she was worried Renee might get cold.

It didn’t take any extraordinary insight to guess what shewasworried about. Renee could imagine what it would be like for Lin, returning to all those men. Andrew would be fuming, and Andrew was her boss.

Renee would have left Su Khoon to work things out on his own. She wouldn’t go back for him, or Chahaya, or herself.

Even now, her stomach turned at the idea of trotting back, docile, to abase herself to Andrew.Apologise to the Freshview team,Su Khoon had said, to make it more palatable, but they both knew what he meant.