Love's Wild Card

"Not just high standards—impossibly high standards," James continued with a rueful shake of his head. "Your requirements may sound simple, but in reality? Maybe ten or twenty years ago you might have found one or two women like that. But our generation? We're all children of privilege. How many modern women can actually cook like our mothers did? Some of them can't even tell Coca-Cola from soy sauce when they're in the kitchen!"

"You sound like you're speaking from experience, James," Alex raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. "Has Lisa..."

"Ah, you should have seen the culinary disasters early on," James sighed, though his expression was fond rather than truly pained. "She's trying to improve now—bought a whole collection of cookbooks. These past few months she's actually managed to learn a few decent dishes. But when we first got married? Let's just say there were tears involved—mostly mine!"

"Lisa doesn't seem like that type," Alex remarked thoughtfully.

"Oh, you should have seen her early experiments! But that's the thing about women—it's not whether they can cook, it's whether they're willing to learn. And she's been wonderful about that," James smiled, contentment evident in his expression. "I really lucked out with her. But your requirements, Alex? You're basically looking for a unicorn. This isn't the old days where you could have multiple wives to cover all the bases. You need to be realistic."

"The problem is, I haven't even found anyone who comes close," Alex sighed into his drink. "Though maybe there was one, once..."

His thoughts drifted to Jennifer Blake. According to campus legend, she'd been the complete package—beautiful but humble, devoted to her parents, often cooking dinner when they worked late. While Alex had been carelessly spending his family's money, she'd been working summer jobs to help pay her tuition. Being named Columbia's Student of Excellence hadn't just been for show. Among all the women he'd known, only she had come close to meeting his standards. But she...she hadn't even given him a second glance.

'If I ever run into you in Manhattan again...' Alex's thoughts took a darker turn. 'I'll make you mine this time.' Though six years had passed, though Alex had changed in many ways—changes that could be traced back to her rejection—this particular wound to his pride still burned.

Human nature was peculiar that way. Out of a hundred people who might worship the ground you walk on, you'd forget them all, fixating instead on the one person who dared to resist. Their rejection became a thorn in your pride that demanded vengeance, demanded their eventual submission. Such was the case with Alex and Jennifer Blake.

If he hadn't run into Wang De yesterday, Alex might have kept these memories buried deep, might have eventually forgotten about her entirely. But that despicable encounter had brought Jennifer's memory rushing back, along with a sudden burning curiosity about what had become of the woman who had dared to defy him.

"Hey, where did you go just now?" James asked, noticing Alex's distant expression.

"Oh, nowhere important," Alex shook his head, forcing a smile.

"You know, you and Grace seem pretty close," James ventured with a knowing look. "Are you two...?"

"Please, spare me," Alex cut him off with a grimace. "Being good friends is one thing, but romance? That's something else entirely."

"But you two get along so well!" James persisted with a grin.

"Brother, you don't understand," Alex sighed. "Our relationship is... let's just say I see her as one of the guys, and she sees me as one of the girls. We're close, but the thought of dating her would make me laugh!"

"You're impossible to please! What about Rachel or Jackie? They're both lovely."

"Haven't you heard? Rabbits don't eat near their burrows," Alex replied with a wry smile. "Besides, I just see them as adorable little sisters. They're not my type at all."

"Then—"

"James, please stop trying to play matchmaker. I'm only twenty-five—still young! If I'm not worried about it, why are you? And let's make this the last time we discuss this topic!"

"Alright, alright! Young people these days..."

"Brother, you're only a year older than me. Drop the wise elder act—I've seen how your eyes follow pretty women!"

"You brat, can't you say anything nice?" James gave him a playful shove.

"Fine—James, you're incredibly handsome! Better?"

"Much better!"

"Though it pains me to lie so blatantly..."

"You little...! I give up arguing with you!"

"Alex!" Grace's distinctive voice rang out across the store. No one else would call for him so imperiously.

"What now? Do you need fashion advice on how to dress yourself too?" Alex called back, watching her wave frantically.

"Be nice!" Grace shot him a look before holding up a black triangle bikini. "Want to see how it looks?"

"Whatever you want," Alex shrugged. After all the times she'd wandered around his apartment in her underwear during her stay, a bikini was hardly shocking.

"Oh, you want to see? Then I won't show you—just to drive you crazy!" Grace declared triumphantly.

"Please, when did I say I wanted to see? Wear it or don't—I'll end up seeing it eventually anyway," Alex replied dismissively, unimpressed by her attempt at teasing.

"You really aren't a man!" Grace huffed, disappointed by his lack of reaction.

"And I suppose you're a woman?" Alex countered with a raised eyebrow.

"You... I'm not stooping to your level!" Grace glared at him before grabbing Emma Winter's arm. "Come on, Emma, let's go try these on!"

"Mm-hmm!" Emma nodded, glancing briefly at Alex before following Grace to the fitting rooms.

With Alex's earlier advice, the selection process had been greatly simplified. Everyone had a clear idea of their preferred styles, and now it was just a matter of trying things on for size.