Su Wanting paused at the glass door of the high-rise office, her reflection caught in the polished chrome of the handle. She smoothed the hem of her black pencil skirt, feeling the whisper of nylon at her thighs. The black stockings were a deliberate choice—she had told herself they were for confidence, for the corporate presentation she was about to give. But deep down, she knew better. The faint sheen of the stockings caught the fluorescent light as she stepped inside, her heels clicking a staccato rhythm against the marble floor.
The receptionist waved her toward the conference room at the end of the hall. Su Wanting walked with measured steps, her hips swaying slightly, the motion both professional and provocative. She had never met Wang Hao in person, only exchanged emails and heard his voice on conference calls. He was a major investor in her husband’s startup, and today’s meeting was supposed to finalize the funding. Simple. Businesslike.
She pushed open the heavy wooden door and found a man sitting at the head of the long table, not standing to greet her. Wang Hao was younger than she’d expected—maybe thirty-five, with sharp features and a calm, assessing gaze that traveled from her face down to her heels and back up again. He didn’t smile.
“Mrs. Zhang,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “Please, have a seat.”
She chose a chair two seats away from him, setting her leather briefcase on the table. He watched her cross her legs, the black stockings scissoring together as she settled. The skirt rode up an inch higher than she’d intended, and she tugged at it, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.
“Your husband speaks highly of your negotiation skills,” Wang Hao said, leaning back. He didn’t open any files or papers. “But I wanted to meet you myself. To see the quality of the person behind the proposal.”
Su Wanting forced a professional smile. “I’m happy to answer any questions about the financials or the expansion plan.”
“I’m sure you are.” He stood, circling the table toward her. His cologne—something woody and sharp—filled the air between them. He stopped beside her chair, close enough that she could see the flecks of gold in his irises. “But I’m more interested in the person right now. Tell me, do you always dress so… deliberately for first meetings?”
Her heart stuttered. “Mr. Wang, I think we should stick to the agenda—”
“Oh, this is the agenda.” He reached down and placed a hand on the arm of her chair, leaning in so his mouth was near her ear. “I can smell your perfume. Floral, but there’s something else underneath. Nervousness, maybe. Or anticipation.”
Su Wanting’s breath caught. She should stand up, walk out, call her husband. But her body stayed frozen, a strange warmth pooling in her stomach. “I don’t know what you mean,” she whispered.
Wang Hao straightened, a flicker of triumph in his eyes. “Of course you don’t.” He returned to his seat, pulling out a tablet and scrolling through documents as if nothing had happened. “Let’s go over the proposal. I’ve already approved the funding. Your husband will receive the paperwork by end of day.”
The meeting lasted another forty minutes. Su Wanting answered questions mechanically, her mind replaying the moment his breath ghosted over her skin. When she finally left, her legs felt weak, and the elevator ride down seemed to take forever. She leaned against the mirrored wall, staring at the woman in the black stockings and heels. That woman looked flushed, lips parted, eyes dark.
At home, Zhang Ming was in the living room, surrounded by wedding photos spread across the coffee table. He’d been scanning them for the album, his favorite pastime lately. He looked up as she walked in, already smiling.
“How did it go? Did he sign?”
Su Wanting slipped off her heels, wiggling her toes against the carpet. “He approved everything. The contract is being sent over.”
“That’s my girl.” Zhang Ming patted the couch beside him. “Come look at these. I found this one from the ceremony—your veil was blowing, and you looked so happy. Remember?”
She sat next to him, letting him pull her close. He smelled like the fabric softener she always used. Safe. Familiar. She looked at the photo: a younger version of herself, radiant in white, her belly still flat, her eyes full of faith in a future that now felt paper-thin.
“I remember,” she said.
Zhang Ming kissed her temple. “I’m so lucky. A beautiful wife, a successful meeting. Today is perfect.”
Su Wanting nodded, but her fingers brushed the hem of her stockings beneath her skirt, remembering the heat of Wang Hao’s gaze. Somewhere deep inside, a door she hadn’t known existed creaked open, and something hungry slipped through.
She pressed her thighs together and said nothing.