Second Chance is on Apple iBooks

Second Chance is now available on iBooks! 

I apologize I do not have a link. If interested, you can search for "Second Chance by Ong Xiong" and my book will come up on your iBookstore.

Here's some more from Second Chance:

Chapter 5

Three days had passed since her exciting first day in New York. Michael was picking her up for dinner. They were heading to Shinobu New York and would be meeting Katie and Patrick at the restaurant. After that first day with Michael and Lily, Sue had spent the next 2 days resting, unpacking, spending time with Tony, and exploring the neighborhood. The night before, Michael had stopped by with an array of fruits and crackers. They had made fondue with the giant Hershey’s candy bar and spent the evening at the townhouse. Michael spent time in his office, working. Sue spent time with him in his office, reading.

This morning, Michael had invited her to lunch, but she had declined. She wanted to go to the American Museum of Natural History and didn’t think he was interested. She spent most of her day there, taking her time to explore all their exhibits.

Tonight, she was heading into the heart of the city and was deciding what to wear. “No scrubs. No sweats,” Katie had ordered so the only sweats she packed were the ones she wore during her travel. Looking through her luggage, she picked a knee-length, spaghetti-strapped, royal blue chiffon dress to wear for dinner. She wore her hair down. The last time she had done that was many years ago. She picked a silver bangle, which she slipped onto her left wrist, then decided that the silver-strapped heels would look best with her outfit. It hadn’t snowed and the walk ways were clear so the heels would be safe to wear. Besides, she wanted to wear something nice and heels made her feel … sexy.

Sue threw her head back in laughter when she saw Michael. “We match,” she explained when he looked confused. He wore a white dress shirt, a blue and gray striped tie, dark navy slacks with a matching blazer and shiny loafers. His hair was conservatively cut and combed, making him look like a Tommy Hilfiger model she saw on billboards.

They had reservations but there was a private party being held at the restaurant, and they had to wait for their table. While they waited, they heard other patrons whispering that the restaurant owner/chef Shinobu Matshu was present, personally catering to an important client.

“Who do you think is here for the chef to be in New York?” Michael asked Sue.

“Don’t know,” Sue replied. “Maybe, Ms. O?”

“Ms. O? Hmm, maybe we’ll get to meet her. Are you a fan?”

“Somewhat.”

“Either you are or you aren’t.”

“Well, since I only have two choices, I’ll go with are.”

“Up tight are we?”

“Just hungry,” she replied. “Feed me and I shall be content,” she added with a sweet smile.

“Is that a way to a woman’s heart then? Through her stomach?”

“Why yes, Michael,” Sue replied, bringing her hands to her chest in a mock display of utter surprise. “Feed her food and you will find that a woman can be quite placid and agreeable.”

“I thought a diamond was a way to a woman’s heart and food was a way to a man’s heart? Was I wrong then?”

“A diamond is a woman’s best friend. Food, especially chocolate, is a way to a woman’s heart. Whoever told you that it was only to a man’s heart told you only half the truth, I’m afraid.”

“I see. And you are an expert in this observation?”

“I’m a woman, aren’t I?”

“Somewhat.”

“Either I am or I’m not.”

“Well, since I only have two choices, I’ll pick the safer answer and say am,” Michael replied grinning. “Happy now?”

“Once I’m fed, yes.” She grinned.

“Did I reach your heart with that giant candy bar then?” he teased.

“Straight to the heart…all five pounds worth.”

“What did we miss?” Katie asked as she and Patrick approached the laughing, handsome couple.

“Hey, Mike. Sue.” Patrick waved.

Michael acknowledged the greeting with a nod. “Food is a way to a woman’s heart,” Michael answered Katie with a grin as his gaze reverted back to Sue. Michael gave Sue a conspiring wink. Sue smiled.

“Who told you that?” Katie asked Michael.

“I did,” Sue answered. Patrick grinned as he greeted her with a hug and a kiss on her cheek.

“Ignore her, Michael. Diamonds will get you there faster.” Katie handed Patrick her purse and she took off her coat. “And chocolate,” she added. “Hi hon. Glad to see you out of scrubs.” She hugged Sue.

“Really?” Patrick asked. He turned to Katie. “Is that why you agreed to marry me?”

“Of course. Why sweetheart, when you presented me with this engagement ring, I had to say yes,” Katie answered, holding out her left hand for Sue. “See why I agreed?” On her forefinger was a three-carat, princess cut, canary diamond ring set in platinum.

“Yes, I see,” Sue said. She turned to Michael, “Diamonds are another way to a woman’s heart.” She laughed. “Especially one like this. Although, you know, Patrick, chocolate could have done the job. You didn’t need the ring.”

They were laughing when their waiter approached to announce their table was ready. He showed them to their table and apologized for their wait. He also pointed to a screen and explained that the private party was larger than expected and screens were placed close to their table. He apologized for any inconvenience while he handed them their menus, then took their drink orders.

Everyone ordered sake except for Sue. Sue was seated across from Michael while Katie and Patrick sat across each other.

“So, tell me Sue. You don’t smoke. You don’t drink, and you don’t have casual sex. So… what do you do for fun?” Michael asked, placing his menu on the table.

Patrick and Katie exchanged looks then turned their heads to Sue, waiting for her reaction.

“Well, Michael, first of all I don’t have to smoke or drink to enjoy life,” she replied. “Secondly, how do you know I don’t have casual sex, which,” she said with emphasis, “is none of your business and lastly, I read for fun.”

“Really?” Michael replied, leaning toward her. “And what do you read?” he asked.

“Comics,” she replied in a mater-of-fact tone. Michael laughed.

Katie and Patrick looked at each other again. Grinning, they returned their attention to their menus.

“You’re lying again, aren’t you?” Michael asked Sue.

“Lying? Again?”

“There is no such country called Hmong.”

“I could have told you that.”

“But you told me Hmong was a country between China and Mongolia.”

Sue shrugged. “Had you asked me if Hmong was a country, I’m pretty confident I would have told you the truth.”

“Pretty confident? You suffering from chronic lying?”

“I’m afraid so. T’is an affliction I suffer from since meeting you. Don’t worry though, it’s not contagious.”

“Is there a cure to, ah, this affliction of yours?” Michael asked grinning.

“I’m afraid not.”

“Surely there must be treatments to ease my discomfort?”

“There is actually,” she said smiling sweetly.

“Oh? And what might that be, doctor?”

“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies,” she quoted, still smiling.

“Touché,” Michael said as he leaned back into his chair. “Touché.”

While this conversation was going on between Sue and Michael, Katie and Patrick watched in amazement. No woman had ever talked to Michael this casually, and Katie was still surprised to find her friend flirting. Although Sue and Michael kept their tone formal and businesslike, as if they were discussing an actual disease, they were smiling and relaxed the whole time. Katie and Patrick exchanged more looks, not that Sue or Michael noticed.

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly with conversations of wedding plans.

“Michael, will you remember me in a week?” Sue asked unceremoniously as they finished their dinner.

“Yes,” he said, sipping his sake.

“Will you remember me in a month?”

“Yes,” he said, placing his sake on the table.

“Will you remember me in a year?”

“Yes,” he said, wondering where she was heading with these questions.

“Knock, knock.”

“Who’s there?” he answered automatically without thinking.

“So much for remembering me,” Sue said solemnly. Then she burst into laughter at the look of disbelief on Michael’s face. Michael’s lips slowly formed a lazy grin then his shoulders shook with laughter.

Katie laughed and Patrick choked on his sake. Some sake from Katie’s cup splattered onto Sue’s white cardigan and her dress. Katie apologized and handed napkins to Sue at the same time Michael handed his napkin to Sue. Sue automatically took the napkin from Katie. She didn’t notice Michael’s gesture.

“Did you learn that one from your comics?” Michael asked as he retreated his hand.

“Of course,” Sue replied, dabbing the sake from her dress. She was lying. Her niece told her that joke during the holidays. She didn’t read comics either. For some reason, she had just blurted it out. She was turning into a chronic liar like Michael said.

Michael laughed. “What else did you learn from your comics?”

“I did learn some poetry as well. Would you like to hear some?”

“Yes,” Michael said.

“No,” Katie and Patrick said at the same time.

Sue grinned. “I do have to apologize, Michael. I must obey the bride.” Placing the napkin on the table, she leaned toward Michael and shielded her mouth with her hand. “Bridezilla,” she whispered as if that explained it all. Michael laughed and nodded in understanding. Patrick gave Michael a warning look while Sue laughed some more.

“Don’t listen to her Michael,” Katie said grabbing Patrick’s hand from across the table. “Honey, tell him I’m not.”

“She’s not,” Patrick said with a grin.

“Thanks honey,” Katie said.

Still grinning, Sue excused herself to use the ladies room. As soon as she was out of hearing range, Patrick turned to Michael.

“What do you think of her, huh?” Patrick asked.

“She’s stunning. I’ve not met a woman that could make me laugh so much in one day,” Michael replied.

“Michael, don’t pursue her if you’re not serious,” Katie warned. “I don’t want to see her hurt again and if you hurt her you’ll never hear the end of it from me. Got that?”

“Hurt again? What are you talking about?” Michael asked.

“Well, I can’t say. She’ll tell you when she’s ready,” Katie said. “I’m warning you.” She pointed her index finger at Michael. “I only agreed to allow this because I know you’re a great guy so don’t hurt her.”

“Relax, Kate,” Michael said, his gaze upon Sue’s empty seat.

In the short time he had come to know Sue, he was already falling for her. Perhaps it was her cuteness. Maybe it was the way she was toward him—honest and true. No false laughter. No false pretenses. She didn’t even want his attention. In fact she had made no attempt to capture his attention. If anything, she was trying to avoid him. She loved children and he knew if she were to love him, she would with a fierceness that would match his. He wanted that kind of love. That unconditional love.

Michael stared at Sue’s empty seat, thinking that if Sue didn’t come back soon, he would go after her.

Chapter 6

Behind the screen, Khyba’s drink arrested partway to his lips at the sound of a woman’s laughter. He glanced at his drink, thinking he must have had more to drink than he thought. He walked to the screen. “Yes, I see,” the voice said. “Especially one like this. Although, you know Patrick, chocolate could have…” His eyes followed the sound of her voice and when his eyes caught sight of the beauty whose voice summoned him, he smiled.

He called for a waiter and asked a table be cleared for the four waiting individuals by the door. His eyes followed her to her seat and stayed on her.

“Going to join your own celebration, Hyung?” Jackie asked. “Something more interesting caught your attention?”

No response from Khyba.

“What’s so amusing?” Jackie asked when Khyba laughed. In the time he had known Khyba, he had never heard him laugh like this. Curious, he followed Khyba’s gaze. He looked back at Khyba with amusement then back at the image Khyba was so intently focused on.

Jackie had known Khyba since the beginning of his career when he was assigned to oversee Khyba’s singing lessons. The guy could dance, but his singing needed development at the time. Soon, Khyba became lead singer of Eastern Tides and the group soared to popularity. Four years ago, Khyba went solo and Jackie followed. Since then, he had never seen Khyba pay this much attention to any female.

Watching Khyba pay this much attention to any woman could only mean that he had found her.

“Sorry Jack, change of plans,” Khyba said, handing his long forgotten drink to Jackie without averting his eyes. He was afraid she would disappear. “Instruct Ty to prepare the limo.”

Stunned, Jackie watched as Khyba approached the beautiful woman in a blue dress.

“Ahn-nyung (Hi) Shorty.”

Sue’s body stiffened and her heart began to race. Was she hallucinating? She must be. He was from another lifetime, from somewhere on the other side of the planet. No, it can’t be, she thought as she continued walking toward the bathroom.

“It’s been a long time, Suzy.”

Sue whirled around so quickly she almost lost her balance. Her eyes widened in surprise, recognizing that bump on his nose, those brown eyes, and those lips. “Jae?”

“The one and only,” he replied, still grinning. “How are you, Suzy?”

Sue didn’t reply.

“Looks like you haven’t grown an inch since the last time we met,” he said.

Silence.

He had anticipated her to be surprised, maybe even angry. He even hoped she would be happy to see him. But he hadn’t expected what happened next.

Jae watched the play of emotions in Sue’s glistening brown eyes. Then, without saying another word to him, she raised her hand. Thinking she was going to embrace him, he took a step forward just as her hand made contact, slapping him across his face. She silently turned and walked away.

Sue walked to the bathroom as calmly as she could, restraining the urge to break into a run. She didn’t think she would ever see that man again. The world with him was far away, in another lifetime she would rather forget. She hated him. He was grinning wily, that grin that had haunted her for so long and all she wanted was to run into his arms. She wanted to hurt him, too. In the spur of the moment, she decided he deserved the latter.

She was still trembling when she reached the women’s bathroom. Once safely inside, she collapsed against the door.

Oh God, I slapped him.

She fought the knot in her throat.

Oh God, I slapped him.

She went to the sink and looked into the mirror. An uncertain reflection stared back at her. Her hands were shaking and she clenched them tightly together to stop the tremor. She took a deep breath, counted to 10 then stared back at her reflection. Not satisfied with the expression staring back at her, she took several more deep breaths, then prayed he would disappear when she left the bathroom. She must leave.

“Sorry I took so long,” Sue announced when she returned to the table. Her party was ready to leave. “Something came up and I’m afraid I must call it a night.” She gave Katie an apologetic look. “Enjoy yourselves and I’ll see you tomorrow evening.” She turned to Michael and gave him a polite smile. “Thank you for the ride this evening. Good night,” she said as quickly as she could before he could protest. She muttered something about grabbing a taxi and for him to not worry.

Before she could turn to walk away, Michael caught hold of her elbow. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m just not feeling well. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she replied, trying to free her arm. He wouldn’t let go. Instead he gently pulled her toward him. Something had happened to scare her.

“Tell me. What’s wrong? You were just fine moments ago…”

“Please unhand her,” Jae said, his voice low but threatening.

Michael felt Sue stiffen at the sound of Jae’s voice. He turned to look at Jae then back at Sue. “Did he hurt you?” he asked as he nodded toward Jae.

“No,” she answered. Don’t make a scene. Don’t make a scene.

“Michael, this is Jae,” Sue said as she turned to look at Jae. “Jae, this is Michael.” She smiled as if nothing happened.

Michael slowly released her arm but still stood by her protectively. Sue backed away from Michael, bumping into the table. Remembering Katie and Patrick, she turned to them and smiled. “Katie, Patrick, this is Jae. Jae, I would like you to meet my best friend Katie King and her fiancé Patrick Jacobson.”

Jae nodded to acknowledge the introduction. He wondered why she chose not to introduce his relation to her. He acknowledged her friends then turned his full attention to her. “Will you join me tonight?”

“I’m afraid I can’t,” she politely replied with a smile. “I was just saying goodnight.” She turned to her friends. “Goodnight everyone.” She turned to Katie, silently communicating she needed to leave. Katie nodded in understanding.

She walked out of the restaurant so quickly she forgot her coat and purse.

 “I apologize for interrupting your evening. Do not fret. I will be taking her home,” Jae said courteously and gave a slight bow to mark his departure.

Michael was about to go after them but Katie stopped him. “Let her go. She’ll be fine.”

Michael scowled. “Do not fret? Who’s the schmuck?” Michael asked Katie. “Now’s the time to talk, Kate.”

“Calm down, Mike. There’s no need to use that tone with Katie,” Patrick commanded sternly.

Katie sighed and told Michael the relationship between Sue and Jae. Katie did not go into detail, only enough to explain Sue’s reaction to Jae.

“The man could be a psycho and we just let her go…with him?” He ran a hand through his hair.

Katie scoffed. “I’ll have more fear for him than for Sue. Sue has so much pent up anger toward the man, she could cause some serious harm.” She hoped she was right. She wanted to stop Sue but she could see the longing in Sue’s eyes, the pleading. Sue needed to heal and perhaps Jae could help her. Katie glanced at the exit and wished her friend well. (End of sample)