Surviving Gangster's Love

Bed Tea

Waking up snuggling into a man's chest is a singular feeling; warmth of skin touching the skin, soft sound of breathing and morning light trickling in from the windows. There was no other sound except of us breathing and the clock ticking. It was very strange to see Mr Xi asleep so soundly, without a care in the world, so vulnerable. He was supposed to be a dangerous person and I was supposed to feel scared. I was being held captive. I had tried to escape the other day and was knocked out in the middle of the road and brought back here. I still had the cast on my broken nose. Yet, I was lying on the bed next to Mr Xi, feeling almost peaceful. How strange. Was this what they call Stockholm syndrome?

"Morning, Mrs Clements." I heard his husky voice.

"How does it feel to wake up in another man's bed?"

"Aren't you a bad married woman?" Mr Xi's face was half buried in the pillow, he had not even opened his eyes yet, and was still spouting such things first thing in the morning.

The peace I was feeling moments ago crumpled as I heard him. I started feeling ashamed for some reason. As if I had commited adultery. I thought of getting out of bed, but as I started to move, he held me back, trapping me with his left arm and leg, hugging me sideways. His face close to my nape, nuzzling.

"Tea or Coffee?" He asked, his voice so close to my ear that it tickled.

I was hesitating because I did not want either of them, I just wanted to get out of bed, away from his embrace.

"What is it, Mrs Clements? I'll get it for you. Or is it you don't like bed service?" He scooted even closer and stuck to me like a kaola.

It was perplexing. He was breaking whatever character stereotypes I had in my mind for a Mafia sort of person. I had imagined a cold, aloof and very serious person, but Mr Xi's clingy behavior in bed was so out of place. I was confused.

He got up a few minutes later. "You are no fun, Mrs Clements, don't you know how to play along?" He sighed as he poured himself a glass of water.

Play along? What sort of nonsense was that? I was not in a game. It was not a fun situation for me, being held and threatened. In a way, I was taking this very calmly. If Katy had been in my place, she would have kicked a rukus. I remember contemplating doing some drama. Would it make any difference if I were to cry and act pitiful?

"It isn't exactly a very pleasurable situation for me, Mr Xi. I would like to settle things with you and go back to my life." I had said, and was surprised by my own voice, somehow it sounded very confident. But I regretted it as soon as I said it. The expression on Mr Xi's face had turned cold.

"Alright then, Mrs Clements, let's talk business." He sat on the couch with his glass of water.

"I am interested in you, but it doesn't seem like you are the entertaining type, so it is not like I have much to gain from you." He was sitting with his legs crossed and arm resting on the handrest of the couch. His demeanor was oppressive, his eyes mean.

"Your absconding husband has caused me some serious loss. You might guess it is not a small amount from the way I am going after him. So you see, you have to put in a lot more effort if you really want to "settle" things with me."

His voice seemed to be coming from some dark cellar. All the confidence and peace and warmth that I had felt moments ago felt like a hallucination, a dream. I was humbled very quickly by his words.

"What do you mean by putting in more effort? If you could make it clear what exactly you are expecting from me, it might be easier for me to try doing it." I said, now in a very uncertain tone, all my confidence gone.

"Ah! It is like talking to a kid." he said, as if disappointed.

"I am interested in your body, Mrs Clements, and I have a very particular s****l preference. If you can cater to it, I would consider my losses settled."

"In a simpler sense, if you are able to provide for my needs whenever I demand it, you can very well go back to your life."

I remember feeling particularly nervous. It was clear that what he was talking about was not a one-time thing. I was considering whether to tell him that I was not good at matters of bed. The fact that I had never even done s*x before was a big problem. I would not even know what to do, let alone be good at it. And what was with "whenever I demand it?" Was I needed to be on standby twenty-four into seven?

"I can't guarantee being any good at it" I said, after thinking for a while.

Mr Xi looked surprised for a second listening to what I said, then he broke into laughter. He kept laughing for a good while. It was the first time I saw him look like that. He looked young and homely when laughing. He looked like someone you could be friends with. Like if I had met him in school, I would have been his friend, which was stupid, because he was at least five-six years older than me and I was not someone who ever had friends.

"What's funny?" I said, now embarrassed.

"You are so funny, Mrs Clements. I was wrong to think you are not entertaining."

"You are worried about not being good. Do you even realize what kind of things I am thinking of doing with you?" He had stopped laughing and looking at me with strange eyes.

It was so hard to follow him, his expressions were so confusing. He would talk meanly one moment, then turn gentle the next. He would act cold then laugh so warmly.

"I don't want to get involved with your world, Mr Xi. I am willing to cooperate with you because I don't see any other option for me. I don't know what you have in your mind, but I would request you to sympathise with my situation."

If there was one thing my Papa had taught me, it was to read the room and act in accordance to one's position. Working in sales all his life had made him pick the nuances of interacting with people. He taught me the basics of interaction back when I had a hard time making friends in school. It did not help me with making friends, but it did work well for staying away from trouble. I think that was essentially what my father was teaching me.

With people in power specifically, they like to crush people into obeying them. That is their only joy, but if you lie flat on your own, they lose interest in you. That is what I was aiming for with Mr Xi.

He was smiling slightly after hearing me. "I sympathise with you, Mrs Clements. I do."

It did not sound very convincing.

"So, now that we have come to an agreement, can I go back to my home?" I asked cautiously.

His smile deepened. "Of course, but let me remind you, Mrs Clements, I know where you called that evening. I know your parents are at your Aunt's place, at her farmhouse in Taro. I know where your friend Katy is hiding. I know your Aunt's son is working at Gilda Intels. I think you are smart enough to understand what I mean. I am not a fan of chasing and I hate to loose my things. I would advise you to stay put." He was fixing me with a very intrusive gaze.

I nodded yes, gulping my nervousness down my throat. He looked at the clock on the wall and stood up with purpose. "I don't have much time. I'll ask my people to send you to your house after you have your breakfast." He was taking off his t-shirt as he walked towards me. I was seized by a sudden panic. I must have been watching him all surprised because he gave a chuckle.

"You were not thinking I'd leave you without even getting a taste, were you?"