3. The Guide

Melainy waited at the lobby of the high end service apartment. She did not dress up - just her normal university student look - white T shirt and denim shorts. She looked simple but confident, while women walking inside and out are usually dressed exquisitely, as if the lobby is the high fashion runway. It’s hard to ignore her though, as her eyes are bright and crystal, and her skin naturally glowing. 

Vincent did not make her wait for long. He wore a white polo t-shirt from Burberry, with beige bermuda shorts from Tommy Hilfiger. He looks healthy and elegant. The white color top matches Melainy’s. You would almost mistake them as a couple. 

As they walked out of the service apartment, Vincent asked, “So where do you plan to bring me to? ”

“Why don’t you make a guess?” Melainy walked slightly ahead of him, towards the MRT station. 

“Marina Bay Sands? Or…Sentosa?”

“That’s all you know about Singapore?”

“Of course not. I also know the Merlion statue.” 

Melainy stopped and looked at him, “I thought you said you would be in Singapore for long.”

“Yes, indefinitely.”

“Then you should learn to live like a local.”

Vincent nodded agreeably. He just realized that the talks with this young girl has always been very interesting. 

Melainy took him to a Yakun, the franchised local coffee shop. 

“Singaporeans like to start their day with coffee and toast in a local coffee shop. Not the western coffee brands like Starbucks or whatever, the local coffee. Do you usually like black coffee or with milk?” Melainy took a seat and the two of them squeezed around a small white table. 

“I am actually a tea person…but…” Before Vincent completed his sentence Melainy smiled back, “No worries! We have local tea too! With or without milk?”

“With milk, less sugar.” 

“That’s called Teh C Siew Dai here. Teh - C - Siew - Dai.” As Melainy repeated each word a bit extravagantly, Vincent appreciated her rosy lips making different shapes. Her teeth are neat and pearly white. 

Melainy soon carried a small tray back. 

“This is Teh C Siew Dai.” She pointed at the small ceramic cup, “And I’ve bought the eggs and kaya toast. Now, open the egg, pour it into the small plate and add a bit of soya sauce and pepper.” 

He followed her suggestions and tasted the egg. It’s a weird taste but surprisingly he likes it. 

Melainy took out her phone and sent him a link - “how to order coffee and tea like a local in Singapore”. As she explained each line of the article, their heads were so close and their knees touched. She moved her chair slightly back. 

When they walked out of Yakun, it started to rain. Luckily, Melainy brought an umbrella. She opened it and Vincent held the umbrella for her. The two of them walked inside one blue umbrella quietly, as if they had known each other for years. 

Melainy did this “part-time local guide” job for a few weekends, bringing Vincent to various places in Singapore. They usually spent good time together, and departed on Sunday evening when Melainy headed to her math tuition part-time. 

It’s a rainy day again. After having lunch at Lau Pa Sat hawker center, they walked into an office building lobby - it’s so empty over the weekend. 

“May I ask you a question?” Vincent turned to Melainy while Melainy was checking G****e Map on her phone, “Why do you seem to be not interested in me at all? You’ve never asked me any questions.”

Melainy took her eyes away from her phone and looked at Vincent, “I just take this as a part-time job. I am your local guide - you don’t want your guide to ask you personal questions or know too much about your personal life, do you? After all, you are just paying for a service.”

Vincent nodded, “Fantastic. Now, are you interested in another part-time job? Something that require a bit more commitment, but you will get a lot more in return.”

“Which is..?”

“Marriage. I mean, I need someone to play the role of my wife, for at least a couple of years. You do not have to be my real wife - I will give you a contract which details out your rights and duties.” Vincen talked calmly, as if he was just commenting on the weather. 

There was a long pause. After a while, Melainy murmured, “Again, am I in some TV series?”

“No, I know it sounds ridiculous. But I need such a service. Would you consider it? In terms of reward…it can be millions of dollars.”

“Oh…may I see the contract first?” Melainy’s economics major mindset started to run.

“Definitely. I will get my lawyer to send it to you by tomorrow.”

“Excuse me but…in order for me to consider this offer seriously, I need to know a bit more context, if you don’t mind.”

Vincent took a seat at the coach in the office building lobby and signaled her to sit too. She sat on the opposite side. 

“Do you know why I was in the group president’s office of Vaxo?”

“I thought…you were doing academic research as the economics professor.” 

“I’m the son of Jerald Chou, the chairman and founder of Vaxo Group. So to put it in simpler terms, I’m the heir of Vaxo Group.”

Melainy raised her eyebrow, but didn’t seem to be very much shocked, “And? Why do you need a contractual wife?”

“It’s a bit complicated. I was born in Singapore but grew up in the UK with my mom. Three years ago, my mom passed away. It was only until then I found out that my father has been living with his mistress for years in Singapore, and they have two kids.”

Melainy did not interrupt but gazed at him, so that he could continue. 

“When it comes to huge assets, such things as love affairs and illegitimate children usually become very complicated.”

“So you want your assets as the legitimate child and chase the mistress and her children away?”

Vincent did not directly respond to her, “I have my plan. In my plan, I am the assistant professor, very enthusiastic about my academic research, and enjoy the simple but sweet love life with my wife.”

Melainy shrugged, “Usually in TV shows, the heir wants a contractual wife because the will says he could only get the family asset if he was married.”

Vincent finally smiled, “All I have to say is, I wish it’s as simple as the TV show.”

“How long will your plan last?”

“I’m not sure. A couple of years I guess. But we could put a two year term in the contract first. Two years later, we can review the contract and see if there is a need to renew. How about that?”

“And the payment has to be made monthly. I can’t wait till the end of two years.”

“I will pay you a monthly salary for this ‘part-time job’. But the real bonus can only be paid upon the 2-year contract ends.”

“Alright…alright…” Melainy nodded with some thoughts going on in her mind, “I will have to take a look at the contract before I make the decision…But last question…why me?”

Vincent looked back at Melainy. The rain has stopped and the sun shines in. Her face was so young and innocent with the golden outline from the sunshine. Very rarely, he kept silence and did not respond. As they walked out of the building, he took a long blink.