Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
The reporter straightened, and a ghost of a smile tipped up the corners of his mouth. His lips were thin and there was something unpracticed about that expression, as if he didn’t smile often. Jin’s fingers itched to reach out and hike that smile even higher, but that was silly. No touching the handsome, sad man.
“Thank you. I understand you are quite busy, but I am wondering if there is someone I could speak to about scheduling a little time with you. I’d be happy with just a few minutes.”
Jin perked up. “Oh! You can just talk to me. No reason to trouble my assistant since I’m right here.” One of John’s eyebrows jumped higher, and his eyes widened. That was the wrong thing to say. All important leaders in the US had people to handle things like appointments. Their people probably had people.
Well, he had someone to do that too, but handing the reporter off to Qin meant he didn’t have a reason to linger in the shop any longer, talking to the man.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. After a few taps on the screen, he had his schedule up, which was a nightmare as always. He scrolled back and forth through the week. There was no point in looking farther out. John probably wasn’t staying that long.
Lunch!
Someone had been kind enough to schedule a lunch break for him tomorrow. He could skip that. This was far more important than eating. He could find something to eat while walking to his next meeting after this interview. Yes, that was a wonderful idea!
“How about tomorrow? At one?” he suggested.
“Really? Are you sure?”
Jin’s heart gave a ridiculous skip at the sound of shock in his tone. “Yes, really. I will have only an hour, but I can squeeze you in.”
“Wonderful. Yes, tomorrow at one.”
“How about we meet at the West Gate Gardens? I believe the weather will be nice tomorrow, and the fall colors are settling in among the trees.” That way, they could go for a pleasant stroll, get some fresh air, and he could show off the gardens that exhibited influences from both America and Western Europe.
John bowed to him a second time. “Yes. I’ll be there. Thank you again.”
“Of course, I—”
“Dianxia!” Qin’s exasperated tone cut off what Jin was about to say as the smaller man darted into the shop with an irritated expression twisting up his flushed face. “We need to get moving. We’re going to be late for your first meeting. If we are late for this one, we will run late the entire day.”
That wouldn’t do. This was why he depended on Qin to keep him on schedule. He liked to linger and talk to people, but it meant that he lost track of time. If not for his personal assistant, he’d be running late constantly, and that was just disrespectful. Even for the crown prince.
“Yes, of course. You’re right.” He tapped on his screen, updating his lunch break to an interview with Mr. West in the West Gate Gardens. Shoving his phone into his pocket, he wished the reporter a good day and then smiled at the four women hanging on every word of the meeting. “Thank you, ladies, for the introduction. I’m sorry I don’t have time to chat today. Please look after Mr. West for me and see that he is taken care of.”
Auntie Su took one of his hands in both of hers and squeezed. “Don’t worry, Dianxia. We’ll take care of this poor boy for you.”
With a wave, he turned and followed Qin back out of the shop. It was only when he was on the sidewalk that he glanced at his empty hands and sighed. He forgot his green tea, and now he was out of time. Well, meeting someone as handsome as John West was a pretty good trade-off for green tea. He might have even come out ahead in that deal, since it meant he got to see him a second time.
Before he could take another step, the door of the tea shop opened. “Dianxia!”
He turned to find the shop owner holding out a reusable travel cup filled with his usual green tea.
“You almost forgot!” she said with a giggle.
Jin laughed with her and accepted the cup. “Thank you so much! I would be lost without you.”
She shook her head at him and slipped inside the tea shop. Jin climbed into the back seat of the silver sedan while Qin jumped behind the wheel. Before his assistant started the car, there was a ping from his phone. He glanced at it and then at Jin in the rearview mirror.
“You changed your lunch tomorrow to an interview,” Qin observed. His tone was half statement and half question.
Jin tried to give his most innocent look, smiling around the pink reusable straw as he took his first sip.