Lindy had been anticipating a few days of relaxation during Chinese New Year. However, her plans were derailed when her boss’s mother passed away and she was expected to pay respects at his home. She never cared for her boss, Ah Huat; he reminded her of a sleazy old man who would hang out at coffee shops, drinking beer and trying to take inappropriate photos of women. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she found herself caught in a game of ‘in-between’ with her colleagues, and things quickly took a turn for the worse when her boss started pressuring her to drink and gamble. It soon became clear that this seemingly innocent game had taken on a more sinister meaning.
Never in my life would i imagine myself having to attend a wake on the first day of Chinese New year. The call came in the afternoon. I saw my wife answer the call and her jaw just dropped.
Lindy : What!
There was a short pause and i could hear the reluctance in her voice when she say she will drop by in the evening.
James: What happened?
I asked, munching on pineapple tarts. I was looking forward to binge watching movies on netflix and just chilling at home with my wife after a morning out visiting relatives.
Lindy : My boss’s mother passed away. Everyone will be going over to his place this evening to sit for a while.
James : Oh my god…How unlucky is this? Having to go to a wake curing Chinese new year.
Lindy : Sigh.
Before we knew it, both of us were standing at the gate of a opulent house located on 2nd Avenue in Bukit Timah. The tentage for the wake has been set up on the sprawling ground of the estate. We signed the guest book, dropped in a token sum for the condolence money and took a seat at the table where the colleagues were gathered.
As we approached the table, i noticed the way the men were looking at Lindy. You see, my wife works in a logistics company and she is the youngest and prettiest one around. At 28 years old, she is like the baby girl of the company especially when the 2nd youngest staff is 48.
Yes, she work with uncles, and the only ladies are her, the 70 year old pantry auntie and a 60 year old in finance.
Being the only eye candy in the office, i can understand the lewd looks the men are giving her. She is just so hot and irresistible.
Her attire was a careful composition of professionalism and respect—a pristine white, ribbed v-neck top that hugged her slender frame, suggesting a formality softened by comfort. The top was neatly tucked into a high-waisted black skirt, the fabric hugging her contours with an assurance that spoke of a meticulous choice, fastened at her waist by a sleek, patent leather belt with a delicate buckle that caught the light in a silent glimmer. Her legs, toned from her disciplined morning jogs, ended in a pair of pristine white sneakers.
From the expression on everyone’s faces, i can tell no one wants to be there, it’s Chinese New year. We should all be at home with friends and loved ones. However, it is also clear that attendance was not merely a courtesy but a necessity for one’s career it seemed.
Most of the guest came for a few minutes before quickly leaving, only the table of employees stayed longer like there’s some unspoken rule.
My wife made small talks with her colleagues and i could not help but felt uncomfortable at the way her uncle colleagues are holding their phones. It’s like they were taking photos of her discreetly. Not just above the table, but underneath it as well.
And they even had the audacity to check on the photos after they were done. I looked at Lindy who seemed oblivious to what was going on and wondered if i should tell her about it.
Before i could come to a decision, her boss, Ah Huat came over to the group. Everyone extended their condolences and i thought we will be able to leave soon but Ah Huat decided to drop a bomb.
Since he need some time off, he wants a quick meeting in the house to delegate out work after Chinese New year. I wonder how everyone still manage to force out a smile after that revelation.
We entered the elegant house and i sat at a corner while the group gathered at the dining table. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes and Ah Huat refused to let anyone leave unless they have some drinks with him.
Ah Huat : My mother just passed away! You all sure you want to leave without having a few drinks with me?
He said it like a threat coming from an old, unstable man and obviously, no one dared to leave.
He brought out a few bottles and the smile on everyone’s faces were underscored with reluctance.
Lindy gestured for me to join them and 20 minutes into the drinking session, a few colleague made some excuses and they started leaving. I motioned for Lindy to do the same but Ah Huat quickly gave the order for her to stay.
Ah Huat: Lindy ah! You and your husband, no kids, already finish visiting. You all cannot leave so early ok! Drink with me. i’ll pay for your Taxi! ok? And basket, the rest leave so early, haven wish me happy new year! What kind of shit employee don’t wish their boss happy new year!
Ah Huat, a little tipsy, dug into his pocket and gave out red packets to the remaining staff, he even gave one to me. I took a peek and my eyes immediately widened to twice the size. There’s a stack of fifties in there and both Lindy and i got not just one, but two each.
Ah Huat : THose that left, too bad for them! GIve you…give you!
I did a quick count in the bathroom and there’s $680 in one red packet. The only red packet i received that year was from my parents and it was only $88.
Having received the red packets made it harder for Lindy and i to leave early.
AH Huat kept refilling everyone’s drinks and by 11pm, there’s only Ah Huat, Lindy, me, Soon Heng and Jason left.
Ah Huat sat back on his chair and said that Lindy, being the only lady and the youngest, should serve all the men drinks. It was a rather sexist comment but i guess my wife was also too tipsy to be bothered by it. She just want to get it over and done with. Huat promised that they can leave once they finished the drinks on the table.
Lindy, trying to maintain her composure despite the uncomfortable situation, took the bottle of alcohol and started walking over to each man. As she poured them drinks, her movements were slightly unsteady from the effects of the alcohol she had imbibed under Ah Huat’s persistent refills. The V-neck top that had come loose earlier now clung to her, revealing more than she intended as she leaned forward to offer each man a drink. Her bra peeked out from beneath the fabric, a glimpse of intimacy in an otherwise tense atmosphere.
Soon Heng and Jason exchanged knowing glances, their eyes lingering a moment too long on Lindy’s exposed skin. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, a protective instinct rising within me as I observed the men’s lecherous stares. Ah Huat, oblivious to the discomfort he was causing, encouraged Lindy to continue serving drinks with a boisterous laugh.
Then when it was Lindy’s turn to pour drink for Ah Huat, he slid his hand up my wife’s skirt.
Lindy : GASP!
My wife was shock and she froze.
I watched in silent discomfort as Ah Huat chuckled lecherously, his gaze predatory as it swept over my wife. The atmosphere in the room had shifted from one of reluctant obligation to something darker and more sinister.
It suddenly dawned on me that all the guest that came to the wake is gone, and only the few of us remained with Ah Huat in the house. My wife looked at me but i was too shocked to react and to my horror, Au Huat did it again, reaching his hand up my wife’s skirt to squeeze her buttocks.
When i saw the smile on Soon Heng and Jason’s face, i can’t explain why i felt this erotic swell in my pants. Instead of getting angry or upset at the men laying hands on my wife, i was getting aroused.
Very aroused.
Coming soon