Mai answered in her normal sultry voice “chào”. Up until this moment Bill had been feeling confident, but now his confidence eluded him momentarily as he stammered, “Ah, hi this is Bill”…
Mai smiled to herself knowing that her intuition had been correct, and that he worked fast. “So nice of you to call me” she purred in perfect english. Well, thanks he said almost apologetically. Taking the initiative “So, Bill when am I going to see you again?” she said matter of factly
Still off kilter he paused then said, “Ah, whenever you want”. “Why don’t you come over to my place so we can get acquainted” she said breezily. Bill’s heart began to race; “sure what’s the address?” he asked nervously
Mai laughed, “I’m sure a journalist of your stature already has my address”, now it was his turn to smile although he blushed uncontrollably on the end of the phone as he heard the distinctive click on the other end of the line.
Phuong in his usual thorough manner had given him Mai’s phone number but Bill had also done a little investigative research of his own and after a few twists and turns had found her address in Tây Hồ which was about 20 minutes by taxi from the Old Quarter.
Quickly exiting his office he hailed a passing taxi and gave the driver the slip of paper with the address neatly written on it. The driver nodded, looked at Bill in the rear vision mirror and moved off. Bill sat in silence as the taxi driver navigated the crowded and congested streets of the Old Quarter with its cacophony of horns ringing in his ears, not that he noticed.
Arriving at her address on the quiet street, he paid the driver and walked to the front door, his palms sweating profusely and butterflies dancing in his stomach as he knocked lightly. Mai opened the door dressed in a bright blue sarong that was tied above her breasts. In her hands she held a glass brimming with bubbles. “Champagne?” she said with a mischievous look in her eye.
He stepped across the threshold into the cool of the house and took the glass from her hand, her smile lighting the room…
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