The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 3i

He leads me out of the building and takes me to a restaurant and bar called Brown's Social, not far from campus. The hostess leads us to a table, and Adrian stares at me intently with his jaw tight and his face impassive.

"Why are you staring at me?" I ask.

"You are very beautiful." He shrugs as if it's obvious. It makes me giggle with a touch of embarrassment. "Tell me about yourself." He takes off his suit jacket and places it delicately on the back of the chair.

'"Uh, ok. What do you want to know?"

"Tell me about your family." His gaze never wavers from me.

"Uh well, my parents died over a year ago. My sister became my legal guardian until I turned eighteen. We moved here after I got into Columbia."

"What does your sister do for a living?"

"She's a waitress. She works really hard to support me through school." The waiter comes, and we both order some drinks. "I want to know more about you now." I turn the tables. "Tell me why you always wear a suit."

"I don't always, just whenever you seem to be around."

"Is that a coincidence?"

"How could it not be?" He tilts his head as if he's flirting with me. "Are you suggesting that I deliberately prepared a selection of outfits that I would wear specifically on days when you and I are likely to cross paths?"

I think about that for a second. "Did you?"

He laughs, amused by my egotism. "No. No, I did not. My family is very old-fashioned. My father taught me that appearance is the first thing people use to judge each other and that I should always make sure my appearance exudes power. It's something that's always stuck with me."

"What is your family like?"

He takes a deep breath before answering. "My parents live in Shanghai, and I have a brother living in Sydney. My sister, she moves around a lot for work, but she's in town right now."

"Wow, you're a really lucky guy. I've always wanted to have a large family like that. And what do they do?"

"My dad is a businessman; mom is semiretired. My sister is... uh... well, she works for my dad. And I have no idea what my brother is doing right now. He calls himself an entrepreneur."

"Do you keep in touch with them regularly?"

"Only my sister." He drinks his entire glass of vodka in one gulp. "Would you like to hear a riddle?" He asks.

"Sure." I reply. "I love riddles."

I am a currency that has no value though I am worth more than silver or gold.

I will protect you from Satan, but you will never find God.

All men are born with me however no man ever dies with me.

And there is always so much yet never enough of me.

What am I?

The logic enthrals me. In my mind, I turn over the words again and again, searching for the right orientation of the pieces. The seconds tick by in calculated silence as Adrian patiently awaits my answer. The sweetness of deciphering Adrian's riddle tantalizes me, and I can taste the answer on the tip of my tongue.

And then, as if fate is deliberately trying to piss us off, Josh walks into the restaurant with three other guys. They are all laughing like a bunch of frat boys and settle down at the bar. Josh sees Adrian and me together, and his expression becomes less cheery. Adrian notices them too. "Do you want to go home?" Adrian asks.