11 - Felicity

"I don't think I've ever eaten anything quite like that," I say as I dab my lips with the table napkin. "Is this what you eat all the time?"

"Not all the time," Shawn answers. "But it's one of my favorites. The chef who designed this, he was serving his food in a small hut when I first met him. Now he has an empire not just all, over Asia but all over Europe, to — "

"And he's here?" I ask with arched eyebrows.

"No. He hates flying, But the chef who cooked for us this evening trained under him, among many others. He's very skillful,"

I put my hands up. "No need to convince me. If the next dish is as good as this, I'll be very happy."

Shawn grins. "I think you will be."

Moments later, the second course arrives — a pair of pot stickers with a bit of salad on the side and a dark dipping sauce.

The moment I see it, my chest tightens. I grip it as I draw a deep breath.

"Is something wrong?" Shawn asks me.

I shake my head but fail to conceal my emotions. "It's just that this is one of the th