Secret Designs (7 page)

"We're just going to that Japanese over there," he answered, pointing to the place.

"Surely Ari deserves something better than that, Dylan," Trey chided.

"Oh, but that place is perfect," Ari said, giving Dylan a quick glance and blushing. "We only want something light and quick."

"I know a more perfect place. Somewhere you'd really enjoy, Ari. You wouldn't mind if I join you guys, would you?" Trey asked with a glint in his eye.

Dylan frowned at this friend.
What the hell is he up to?

"Would you mind, Ari?" Trey asked again with a charming smile.

"No, but it's up to Dylan," Ari said cautiously.

"Oh, that's very kind of you to leave the decision to him," Trey commented curiously.

"Well, my purse is back in the office and he offered to pay so I think it's just fair he decides where to go," Ari responded.

"Don't worry, Dylan won't mind," Trey said smoothly, putting a hand on Ari's back and leading her past the place they originally planned to go to. "You don't mind, do you, Dyl? I'm sure Ari would prefer the place I have in mind," Trey said, winking at him.

"And which place is that, Trey?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral although he felt like throttling his pal.

"I thought we'd go to Eiko's," Trey replied with a hint of challenge in his voice.

"Eiko's?" Ari asked in surprise. "We're only after a light lunch. That place is mega-expensive."

"They have plenty of light things on the menu," Trey said with an engaging smile.
 

Dylan frowned. Either Trey was trying to impress Ari or he was playing the ISAG—the 'Is She A Gold Digger?' scheme Dylan, Trey and Adam had concocted a few years ago. Judging from Trey's expression, it must be the latter.

He mentally shook his head in displeasure. Trey didn't have any business putting Ari through it without asking him first. In fact, the ISAG was originally only created for Trey. Wasn't Trey the one who wanted his potential girlfriends tested for signs of being a gold digger after Trey was jilted at the altar by a then-fiancée to whom he had been ultra-generous when she asked for a new car, and even money for her family's holidays?

Okay, granted that the ISAG became a must-be-applied-at-all-cost scheme for all three of them because of
his
actions. But Trey must know by now he preferred the freedom and simplicity of casual liaisons after his unpleasant experience. When he jeopardised hundreds of thousands of dollars of his, Trey's and Adam's money because of his feelings for a woman, he had readily agreed with Trey and Adam to check out any woman the three of them got serious with, whether they liked it or not.

So he couldn't believe that his buddy was even thinking of putting Ari through the ISAG. It wasn't warranted. First, this was just a friendly, innocent lunch between friends. Second, Ari wasn't even that kind of person. He may not have known her long but he could tell. Trey shouldn't be too quick to judge.

Ari glanced back at him in concern as he lagged behind.

"Coming, Dyl?" Trey asked, turning to give him a sly grin.

Dylan took that opportunity to slide in between Trey and Ari, giving his friend a little warning nudge on the side. He wished he could inform him in no uncertain terms that there was no need for the ISAG with Ari.

*******

"Ari, what would you like?" Dylan asked.

Ari was still staring at the menu, looking dismayed. "You know, just one of their sushi rolls would be fine."

Dylan had a feeling she was scanning for the cheapest item on the list. But even the least expensive dish at Eiko's was quite pricey compared to what they could have ordered at the restaurant he had suggested earlier.

He wished she would relax and not worry about the cost. He could bloody well afford it.

He reached for her hand under the table. It was cold. "We could order different dishes and share. How about that?" he asked softly.

"Okay," she replied warily.

Trey rattled off a couple of items he'd like to order. They were among the most expensive on the list, guaranteed to impress any woman—well, someone easily awed by money, anyway. But it had the opposite effect on Ari. She looked worried.

"You're joking, aren't you, Trey?" she asked.

Trey raised his eyebrows. "No."

"Well..." Ari started, then closed her mouth.

"Well, what?" Dylan asked.

Ari puffed out a sigh. "Well, Trey seems to think I would prefer it here. It's sweet of him to think so, but it's not really fair to you," she explained to Dylan.

"Oh, is that what you're worried about, Ari?" Trey asked and leaned closer to her. "Don't worry. I meant to foot the full bill from the start. I did suggest we go here, after all."

"Don't be ridiculous, Trey. I'm happy to get this," Dylan said, bristling. The last thing he wanted was for Ari to think of him as cheap. Or worse, that he didn't consider her worthy of a place like this. He could really wring Trey's neck right now.

"No, no, Dylan. I insist," Trey said.

"No. I insist," he answered.

"Maybe we should just leave. We haven't ordered yet," Ari suggested dryly.

"Sorry, Ari. We'll shut up now. I suggested this place, and I'm paying, so let's order and enjoy ourselves," Trey said decisively.

"Trey. . ."Dylan said with exasperation.

Trey gave him a knowing look. "Dylan, please let me, okay?"

Dylan took a deep breath, lips pressed in a tight line. Trey meant to play the ISAG to its fullest. He really must have a private word with him.

*

Ari excused herself to go to the bathroom and Dylan took the opportunity to straighten things out with his meddling pal.

"Trey, there's no need for the ISAG with Ari," he said with a scolding look.

"And why's that?" Trey asked.

"While I do want us to be good friends, I have no intention whatsoever of having a serious relationship with her."

"So why were you holding her hand earlier?"

"She looked like she was having a bad day. That's also why I thought I'd take her out to lunch," he justified.

"How did you know she was having a bad day? Did you talk on the phone or something," Trey prodded.

He sighed. "No. I had to pick up my wallet from her. I left it at her place last night."

"Ah! You've had sex with her. And here you are taking her out to lunch. Which proves my point that she needs to be put through the ISAG," Trey said triumphantly.

"What do you mean?" he scowled.

"Dyl, you usually wait at least two weeks before having any further communication with girls you've had one-night stands with. If they're too keen to communicate, you usually stay the hell away from them. If they're cool with your silence, they become your chums. Wasn't it you who said that that time frame helps them understand you have no other motive apart from friendship? But we're talking one day here with Ari. In fact, not even one day. Half a day," Trey said emphatically.

"I told you I had to get my wallet back from her. Back off, Trey. I mean it. You're making her feel uncomfortable," he said earnestly.

Trey sat back in his chair and stared at him with concern.

"What?" he asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

"You're sounding like Adam," Trey said quietly.

He gasped. "I am not!"

Trey shook his head, astonished. "You are. That's why I have to continue with the ISAG whether you like it or not. That's the promise we made to each other."

"She's not like that!" he said in a half-shout, making a few heads from nearby tables turn their way. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. Damn it, Trey was annoying the hell out of him.

Trey snorted. "I seem to remember Adam having this exact same reaction when
you
tried to tell him what you thought of Sandy."

"Ari and Jasmine are best buddies. I just want to be good friends with her since we'll probably see a lot of each other in the future," he muttered.

"Then why have you changed your MO with her? If you want to be good friends, shouldn't you be staying away for a while until the afterglow of your one-night stand has well and truly faded?"

He fidgeted in his seat, unable to meet his friend's questioning gaze.

Trey's eyes widened. "You've already had sex with her more than once."

He laughed. That was the funniest comment. Even during his first night with Ari, he'd had sex with her more than once. Several times, in fact.

"Dylan? Is this serious?" Trey asked with a shocked expression.

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed. "We're just...friends with benefits."

"And how are you going to make that work exactly?"

"Ari's different. She knows where I stand."

Trey shook his head in resignation. "You've lost the plot."

"Don't be so dramatic."

"Now you can't expect Adam to listen to you when you're just as bad as him."

"Ari is different from Sandy," he said in a miffed tone.

"Yeah, she probably is. It wouldn't hurt to prove that though, would it?" Trey challenged.

"She doesn't deserve that kind of treatment."

"Exactly what Adam says about Sandy. And you know damn well that woman is more interested in Adam's money than anything else, even though Adam's too blind to see it. This is for your own good, Dyl."

He exhaled loudly. "Ari
is
different."

"Why are you afraid of testing her, then? Scared she won't pass?"

"No. I'm sure she'll pass. There's just no reason to do it. I'm not interested in a relationship."

"But you plan to continue seeing her casually?" Trey asked pointedly.

"Maybe," he lied, knowing full well he did plan to see Ari again.

Trey smirked. "Adam told me you only had eyes for Ari last weekend when you guys had lunch with Jasmine's friends. He thinks there's something between the two of you."

"There isn't. Apart from some lust," he insisted.

"So what's the problem with testing her then?"

"I told you already. There's no need. I'm not interested in Ari besides the sex," he said heatedly.

"Okay. The problem is I don't believe that," Trey stated.

He rolled his eyes in frustration. How the hell would he get Trey off Ari's back?

Ari groaned as her too-bright bathroom caused her head to pound harder. She mentally added 'buy dark curtains for bathroom window' in her to-do list. She grabbed the sink for support as she trundled to the toilet.

What a time to have a migraine. Today was her last day at Eros and she wouldn't be there for the design team's big farewell lunch. Fortunately, her manager had been sympathetic when she called in sick.

She was going to miss her workmates, and what was more, she was going to miss having a job to go to. By the end of the day, she would officially join the ranks of the unemployed.

After two weeks of desperate searching even for lower paid positions, she hadn't had any luck. She hadn't even been offered a single interview. Her impeccable reputation in the industry was now her biggest drawback. She was overqualified for the vacant positions that were available.

She finished peeing and tried to fight off her nausea as she washed her hands.

As she crawled back to her bed, she forced herself to relax. She only had occasional migraines, but when she got them, it was almost debilitating. They were usually from extreme stress, and lately she was having a hell of a time of it—what with worrying about Kenny and how she would afford her bills and...not hearing from Dylan.

She left a message in his voicemail three days ago to see if he wanted to get together at her place. Heck, asking guys out wasn't something that came naturally to her, but she reasoned Dylan could be waiting for her to make the next move. He hadn't contacted her since they'd had lunch at Eiko's with Trey.

Well, obviously, he just didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore. He hadn't called back.

She didn't know what had gone wrong. Wasn't he the one who'd suggested the "friends with benefits" arrangement? Had he met a new "friend" who gave better benefits?

She let out a small whine and pressed her hand against her temple as the throbbing in her head increased. She only had herself to blame. She should have known she was someone who could only sleep with a guy if she really liked him—yet she went and had casual sex with Dylan not just on one night, but two. Now she hurt at the thought that he was done with her.

No job. No Dylan. Little wonder her once-in-a-blue-moon migraine had flared up.

She moaned in agony as her phone rang. Keeping her eyes shut, she groped for it on her bedside table. She opened an eye to peep at the screen. It was Jasmine.

"Hey, Jaz," she answered miserably.

"Gosh, Ari, are you okay?"

"Migraine."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're at home, I take it?"

"Uh-huh."

"You sound terrible," Jasmine said sympathetically. "Why don't I go over there and give you a hand with whatever you need?"

"No, I'll be fine, thanks. I just need to stay in bed until it passes. What's up?"

"I was calling to see if you're available for dinner tomorrow night? But if you're not feeling well, we could do it some other time."

"Oh, I'll be fine by tomorrow night. This darn migraine should be gone by this afternoon."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, positive," she assured Jasmine.

"Well, Kane's mum invited us over to her place because she wants to talk to you about making her an outfit for both Faye's and my weddings. Apparently she's had a look around, but hasn't found anything special enough for her liking."

Ari felt the zing of excitement in spite of her pounding head. "Wow. She hasn't even met me yet."

Jasmine chuckled. "She's seen me in a couple of your designs. Plus of course, I've talked you up."

"Thanks, Jaz. If I didn't have this blasted migraine, I'd sound more enthusiastic."

"Oh, Ari. Do you want me to come over? I have some time."

"No, thank you. I'll get better quicker if I lock myself in my room in peace and darkness."

"In that case, I'll let you go. I'll text you Kane's parents' address. Can you get there by six-thirty?"