Jin Ma stomps on the gas pedal as soon as the barrier goes up. The car engine revs to life and sails through the gantry. I clutch my seatbelt for dear life and nearly miss his question of, “Do I know the person you’re planning to meet?”

“You’ll know when we get there,” I mock.

He grunts something undesirable and falls silent. Hah, how does it feel to be given a dose of your own medicine?

I cross my arms. I dislike being rude to anybody I have a good relationship with, but his attitude hasn’t improved since leaving the hospital. My attempts to make friendly conversation were coldly shot down. If I were in a forgiving mood, I would fuss over his strange attitude, but with everything I have going on, I really can’t be bothered.

Jin Ma navigates through the parking lot. The vast expanse of space is completely filled – vehicles jammed into spaces the size of two office cubicles. Unprepared visitors will find themselves dizzied by the sheer number of reflective surfaces and jutting angles.

The way this place is built promises yelling matches and accidental fender benders. This is must be the hunting ground of car insurance salesmen.

I peer out of the car window to search for signs of Ling Ge. The car continues to wind through the crowded lot. After two minutes of not blinking, I’ve yet to find a hint of Ling Ge’s presence. The vehicles trapped here are the kind you regularly see on the streets. Mid-range brands, colour running the gamut of baby blue to coal black.

Ling Ge’s favourite mode of transport, his obnoxious golden Ferraro, is nowhere to be seen.

I check the digital display on Jin Ma’s dashboard.

The digits blink: 14:02

It’s already time. Why isn’t he here yet?

I drum my fingers on the plasticky window armrest before a realization hits me. We aren’t supposed to be here. Therefore, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to proclaim his existence in a car flashy enough to make eyeballs pop. This thought sooths my burgeoning worry, easing it into relief. I need to take it easy. I’m too young to get high blood pressure.

“Hey,” Jin Ma says. “Did you hear what I said?”

I half-heartedly glance at Jin Ma from the corner of my eye. “Not at all.”

His face screws up in exasperation. “I’m asking you to tell me who you’re meeting here, and for why. I deserve to know that much for bringing you here. This isn’t the kind of place you decide to visit out of nowhere.”

“My friend circle still has a body count of one. Who else would I be meeting if I had time?” I don’t answer the second part of his question. One answer should be sufficient to distract him.

“Oh.” Jin Ma nods sagely. “You’re meeting Apea.”

“For god’s sakes, her name’s Athea. We’ve been best friends for nearly five years and you still can’t get her name right.”

The main building inches closer. We’re almost under its shadow.

“It would be easier if she had a normal name. She should have adopted one by now, especially since she managed to get permanent residence.”

Not this topic again. Jin Ma doesn’t bother to cover his biases, and it’s one of the few points of contention between us. I personally don’t see the difference between someone who was born and bred here versus someone from another country deciding to settle down here.

“Don’t expect me to argue with your twisted logic,” I tell him. “Why should she change her birth name to make up for your piss poor memory?”

We finally make it out of the sprawling lot. Jin Ma’s car is engulfed by the shadow of the bank’s main building as he drives down the road leading to the drop off point.

I start to unbuckle my seatbelt. Against my expectations, the car jerks to a stuttering halt. I loosen my grip and brace myself against the dashboard when I fall forward. My hands meet the dusty surface in a solid thud.

I bite down a curse, thankful to find only my wrists aching and nothing else. “Are you trying to kill me?” I squeeze out, trying to calm my heart.

Jin Ma wipes off the sweat beading his forehead. “Don’t be ridiculous. It was an accident.” He says it incredulously, like he didn’t almost send me straight to Hades’ doorstep. “Since you love to complain, you can just get off here.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I point to the drop off point meters away, positioned under an reflective metal awning. “There’s designated area right there.”

“Leeches don’t get to choose.” He reaches over to unlock my door. I refuse to look at it, staring straight at him as if I could run him through with my gaze.

“Listen,” I say. “I don’t know why you’re mad at me. But at least try to be less explicit about getting revenge, because this is going from annoying to pathetic.”

My words seem to fracture his fragile ego. “It’s easier for me to leave the carpark this way,” he bites out. “Can’t you help me out with this one thing? Why do I need to be the one to bend to your whims?”

His words cement my decision to hunker down and piss him off a little more. Let it be known I follow through whatever I start.

“You can literally exit right over there after you drop me off.” I point towards the exit gantry, a stoic structure defending the gates leading out into the main road. “Listen Jin Ma, you can do worse if you wanted to get back at me. I’ve gotten pretty resilient after years of enduring Shi Ning’s plots. On a scale of one to ten, I’ll score this gaslighting effort a negative twenty.”

“Fine.” Jin Ma slams his foot on the pedal. The engine revs. The car jolts forward in short bursts. The erratic movement makes my head bobble back and forth. By the time we make it to the drop-off point, the creaking of my abused neck is almost unbearable.

Jin Ma drums his fingers on the steering wheel. “Now, get out.”

“Childish bastard,” I bite out. “I hope you hit an old lady crossing the street and have to pay to feed her fifty housecats.”

“We’re going to be held by security if you don’t leave.”

“And whose fault do you think it is?” I don’t bother waiting for a reply and kick the door open. “See you at home, asshole.”

My sudden appearance drives the approaching figure a step back. Great, I’m going to be thrown out of here before can step into the building.

In front of me stands a severe woman dressed in a two tone suit. She radiates a no nonsense aura and looks like she could stare a tiger into submission. Adding to her intimidation factor is her muscles that visibly strain against her clothes. I find that she looks familiar, but it might be in the way all fierce looking people do.

Are banks so particular about their security that they’re willing to hire a vicious bear in human form…?

I don’t want her to take offence at me staring, so I avert my eyes and say in the most polite tone I can muster, “Sorry for the disturbance. My brother’s having a bit of car trouble.” Her brows knits as she pins me with a thousand yard glare. She doesn’t respond, and I step to the side to give her a wide berth. “Right. Sorry. I’ll just… get going.”

She doesn’t justify me with a reaction and instead, strides towards the other side of the car. Then, her mouth pulls up into a smile. Actually, calling it a smile might not be accurate. It’s more welcoming than her previous imitation of a gargoyle, but it’s fierce and darkly satisfied. She looks how people feel when their enemies are wracked with suffering.

Her face is obscured as she bends down. Why she does it, I’m not sure, but I can easily imagine Jin Ma cringing as she gives him a stern warning on how to drive.

I decide not to stay any longer and sprint through the bank’s automatic doors. I clear the distance and feel the cool air wrap around me like a silken scarf before I break out shivers.

Sorry, Jin Ma, but I’m not staying to face her. You brought that upon yourself.

I gather my composure and walk deeper into the customer waiting area. It’s overflowing with people. I cringe at the rumble of noise and wonder if I should grab a queue ticket. Waiting will take forever. I doubt Ling Ge would bring me here to wait in a line for hours. Should I just show an employee the card Ling Ge gave me and bring up his name?

I feel a faint pressure on the back of my neck. I rub the tingling area. What is this? Is someone looking at me?

I casually glance around.

At first, I assume the culprit to be one of the bank tellers. There are six counters, though only four are in use. The women manning them have immaculate hair, and upon closer inspection, wear white frilled blouses with the bank’s name stitched in gold thread on their left breast. Their makeup isn’t slapped on, but sparingly applied in a way that brings out a mature, professional flair.

I force myself to turn away before anyone catches me staring. I think I see now why Ling Ge frequents this bank.

I give up on being discreet and cast my gaze further to pinpoint the source of the stare. I find the culprit standing at the fringes of the waiting area, in the mouth of a doorway decorated with an arch of artfully trimmed leaves.

The woman is dressed like the rest, but without a counter to obscure her lower half, her form fitting miniskirt snug around her waist. Her lashes flutter as she holds my stare. There is a knowing set to her lips, and it’s the confirmation I need. She’s definitely on Ling Ge’s payroll.

I approach cautiously. I keep an even pace, trying to seem casual by playing with my phone. I don’t want to fiddle with the hem of my top and seem too anxious.

I end up aborting the movement and reach up to scratch my head. I do this partly from frustration and embarrassment – because yet again I’ve neglected to remember what happened to my device. I convince myself my actions can’t be helped to lessen the force of my embarrassment.

“Good afternoon,” I say as soon as I’m close enough to make out the shade of her lipstick. “I’m waiting for someone. Have you seen him?”

A slow blink. “Might I assume you are Lady Han?”

“Lady Han’s my mother.” I somehow manage to stop my mouth from curling in distaste. It’s not her fault I’m averse to even thinking about that woman. “Mei Ling is fine.”

The woman nods, her smile never waning. “The person you’re looking for told me to inform you that he’d be running late. I’ve been instructed me to get you settled in the meantime. If you would follow me.”

Great, the womanizer’s been delayed. I don’t doubt for a second that he’s tangled under a skirt somewhere.

“Did he tell you when he’d be arriving, Miss…?” I look askance at her.

“Shueqi.” She says, dipping her head. “And yes, he said he’ll be here within the hour.”

It’s not like I can do anything but wait. “Well, alright then.” I nod at her. “So, where are we going?”