A Lover's Wish by Kadian Tracey

from her.
    “Please?”
    Inhaling deeply, he turned and walked back and by her into the room. Sometimes he wondered why he bothered trying to understand women. It felt to him that since the beginning of time, men have been trying that and so far they all failed miserably. Silently, he walked over to the window. “Get dressed.” He stared out the window. It would be better to say nothing at all.
    “Why are you being like this?”
    Dao didn’t move. “Being like what?” “Silent.”
    “I don’t know what to say around you, Kianna.” His voice was soft yet tight. “I keep to myself and that way there’s less of a chance of me offending you. Now please, get dressed.”
    “I can’t live like this.”

    Dao turned to face her. “Then I will get you a ticket and you can return home.” He turned toward the door.
    “Is this because of the kiss?”
    He stopped in his tracks. “It never happened, remember? How is this because of something that never happened?”
    “Then maybe I should go home because you’re a disagreeable jerk that treats women like crap for no reason!”
    “I see. Well good news, Kianna Sanderson, you just got your wish, report to the front desk once you have gotten dressed. Your ticket home will be waiting for you.” He placed some money down on a table in the room and glanced at her. Dao frowned and walked out the door, closing it behind him.
    There were certain things he did not need at the moment with what was ahead of him. It felt strange for him. He was giving her space, being a gentleman and yet she accused him of ill treating her. What more could he have done? He stayed out of her reach. He didn’t speak unless spoken to. All he wanted was an assistant to keep track of things for him while he was out of the country. That was it. He had no intentions of fighting with anyone, except maybe his mother once he told her she was moving back with him, away from her beloved China.

    Kianna felt utterly defeated. She saw what he was trying to do, but she wasn’t used to being around someone and not speaking to them. He was staying away from her—giving her space, but she didn’t feel like she wanted it. What did she want? She wanted him to hold her like he had on the plane, and kiss her. She wanted him to touch her, whisper to her, protect her from the sadness that now swept through her. As she heard the door click shut behind him, it took a while before she even thought to move from the spot that she was glued to. Her brain wasn’t communicating to her legs.
    She was going home. Just like that. He had given her such a wonderful opportunity and hadn’t asked for anything in return. She had cut into his time to get to his family and he never complained. He never once talked back to her. Rubbing a hand over her face, she became unglued and rushed to put her clothes back on. Kianna then breezed to the elevator and stood there, jabbing her fingers against the down button over and over. When it didn’t come as fast as she wished, she stomped her foot in frustration like an insolent child and began pressing the button over and over.

    The ping sound finally came and she rushed into the elevator, shoving past those who exited. They spoke in utter disbelief at her rudeness, but she simply frowned and smacked the lobby button. Once more the damn metal abomination that was the elevator stood there with the door open. She wanted to go down—now! She jabbed her finger into the close door button over and over until the door slid shut.
    All the way down to the lobby, she paced the small space of the elevator. What was she going to say to him? Would she be on time? So many thoughts rushed through her mind that she wanted to wince and cringe into a corner. But she had to be strong. If not, she would then spend the rest of her life wondering what the possibilities would have been. Bursting out the elevator once the door opened, she caught Dao leaving the hotel via the front door. “Dao!”
    He stopped and