The following morning, Nina woke up with a sensation that hinted she had dreamt something pleasant. Although the dream itself had slipped from her memory, a feeling of buoyancy and uplifting excitement swirled in her stomach. Reaching for her phone, she read a message from Emmi:

"I hope you've already accepted the job. Don't you dare hesitate, I'll be checking in on you!"

Nina's memory was jogged by a goal she had set for herself – to make a decision about getting a tattoo today. With the benefit of a night's rest, it seemed only logical to accept the job, especially since she had been contemplating a tattoo for some time now. More importantly, she couldn't find a single rational reason to decline. As she was about to reply, the now familiar instance of concern – visualizing herself lying on the tattooing table, her stomach exposed – caused her mood to plummet back into a spell of uneasiness and fear.

Then she remembered Emmi's claim from the day before:

"You don't have to go for a large piece in the most prominent spot. Perhaps, think of something small for your first time, on your hand or shoulder. It'll be over before you know it, and you'll have a job. A Tattoo and a job, two in one."

Nina realized she wasn't compelled to immediately commit to the original grand tattoo concept. More satisfied with the thought of a modest-sized tattoo, though uncertain of the specific location, she decided she'd choose the spot later. It was time to embrace the job offer and begin working on the design for the website. Her creative impulses lifted her spirits at the thought of the site's creation, excitement once again made up her emotional climate.

After opening the messenger application, she paused, evaluating the prospect of text-based communication, which could only prolong her anticipation for Bo's response – no telling how long that might be. No, this pivot in her professional journey warranted a real-time discussion. To her surprise, Bo answered the phone after barely two rings.

"Hello, Nina. I was hoping you'd reconsider," he responded, oozing self-assurance that Nina both noted and lightly admonished in her own thoughts.

Clearing her head, she said, "Good morning. Well, you're right. I'm calling to say: I accept the job! I mean, the opportunity. I'll start working on the first draft today and –"

"I take it you're set for your first tattoo, then. Let's see," he interjected, pausing for a heartbeat. "I'm free Monday afternoon, I'll text you the exact time when I have a better look at my calendar. That gives you five days, will it be enough?"

"Well, typically, I don't work on weekends."

"Really? Heh, we might have a problem then; I'm flying back to Chengdu on Tuesday and won't be around for the next two weeks. I'd like to see that first draft before I leave."

Nina hesitated, but only slightly. Now that she decided she would accept the opportunity, she wasn't going to let it slip through her fingers. "Okay, got it. Monday. I'll have the draft."

"I appreciate your flexibility," he pointed out, humor lacing his words.

"For my clients, always. Wait and see – "

"Nina, I'm sorry for cutting this short but I have to hang up now. I'm in traffic, heading to a meeting. Looking forward to Monday. Take care!"

"You're In traffic, and you still picked up? Fair enough, Monday it is. Bye!"

Nina wondered why she felt like her life had spiraled into high speed ever since the previous morning. Now that the decision about the tattoo was made she felt it was time for a legitimate cup of coffee, and then a deep dive into work. Her other clients would have to pause until Monday, but the procrastination felt uncontroversial as she was nearly finished with other pending tasks. She was resolved to impress Bo, no matter what it took.

The next few days flew by as swiftly as scrolling through memes on Instagram at 3 a.m. Nina was determined to maintain her focus and decided to work from the coworking office offered by the building where she had rented her apartment. Once a day, she stepped out to clear her mind and grab something healthy to eat, spending the rest of her time surviving on coffee and ham and cheese toasties made in her tiny kitchenette.

By Saturday, she found herself working until three in the morning, unable to sleep until she had completed a design for a feature specifically designed for Bo. By Sunday morning, she was pleased with her progress and decided to treat herself to a more relaxed afternoon at Z Coffee Roastery, enjoying her favorite coffee while putting the final touches on the draft.

Just after five in the afternoon, her phone lit up with a message from Bo. "Hi Nina, how's it going? Hope the draft is ready! I'm free for you tomorrow at 6 p.m. See you in the studio?"

"Free for you", Nina contemplated those words briefly but the excitement over having completed her vision took over, and she replied: "Hi Bo, I'm good. The draft is just about finished and I am really excited to show it to you. See you tomorrow at 6."

She wasn't expecting a reply. Her eyes widened as an unexpected incoming call lit up the phone screen.

"Hi Nina, are you really done already? I'm a bit surprised, and very much curious. Can you send me a few screenshots so I can get a preview, a trailer if you will?" from the sound of his voice it was obvious Bo was in a good mood.

"I was inspired and motivated," Nina chuckled. "Sure, I can send you some photos, but I'm thinking about developing some new features, and I'm not sure how clear it will be on a small screen without any explanations."

"I understand," there was a pause. "What are you doing now?"

"Right now? I'm finishing up the work. I'll soon head home though, I need to get some food in me."

"How about dinner?" he asked.

"Now?" She paused, thinking. Her stomach growled at the thought of food. "I mean I am pretty hungry."

"Ok, are you in the same place we met last time? I'll come pick you up, we can go together, I know a great place."

"Pick me up? On your bike? Oh, no no no," she said with a laugh, trying to hide how nervous the thought made her. "Just send me the location, and we'll meet there."

"Why? Are you afraid of bikes? I'm a very responsible driver."

"I'm not afraid, but I think it will be simpler this way, really, just send me the location."

"Okay. I won't insist" he finally resigned. "Sending you a text now, I'll see you there in an hour." He hung up without waiting for her reply. In the restroom mirror, Nina took in her outfit made up of jeans and a dark blue hoodie. She winced and once again promised herself she would start paying more attention to her appearance.

At least her sneakers were clean. She applied her signature red lipstick in an attempt to elevate her look a bit. She let her hair down from the ponytail and applied the only thing she had with her, a dark brown mascara, which her best friend Ana always said complimented her green eyes. "This will have to do," she concluded, nodding at her reflection in the mirror. Then she wondered why it was so important for her to look good. This is business, she thought, I'm a web designer, not a hostess. She entered the destination into the Grab app and left the air-conditioned interior of Z Roastery for the warm Bangkok evening.

When she finally reached the restaurant's doors, she faced an obstacle. A beautiful Thai woman with sleek black hair, dressed in a refined traditional dress adapted to modern style, insisted that entrance to the restaurant was not possible without a reservation.

"But almost all your tables are empty," Nina said in a pleading tone, looking over her shoulder to the pleasantly lit restaurant.

"We're expecting important guests," the hostess was firm. Nina reached for her phone to suggest another location to Bo when her face was suddenly shaded, and Bo appeared out of nowhere beside her.

"She's with me. We'll take the usual spot," he said casually, nudging Nina towards the door. She almost swooned from his scent. It wasn't strong, but it was very distinct, hinting mildly of mimosas and oranges, pleasantly sweet, a scent Nina would more readily associate with a young teenager than a grown man.

"By the way, how old are you?" she asked just as they reached the door.

"Oh hi, nice to see you too. Are you always this direct?"

"Yes," she replied. "Where's your bike?"

"Why do you ask, do you need a ride home?" he retorted with a teasing tone.

As they sat down opposite each other, Nina admired his clothing. He wore wide dark blue trousers, a white shirt, and a dark blue vest. She congratulated herself inwardly on landing such refined clientele.

"I'm thirty-three, the age of Jesus, right? Ah, here comes shampoo, right on time," he said, pulling out a chair beside him. Nina turned to see a young Thai woman in her twenties approaching their table. She wore high-waisted black jeans torn at the knees and a colorful vintage Pink Floyd T-shirt, with chunky ankle boots adorned with metal studs. Her hair was cut short, highlighting her smooth, unblemished face. Her bushy eyebrows must never have seen a tweezer. Nina thought she was beautiful. Under her short sleeves, Nina noticed elegant tattoos that for some reason reminded her of Michelangelo and his sketches.

When she saw Nina, the girl frowned, and the expression didn't leave her face as she introduced herself with a polite, brief handshake:

"Chompoo."

"Hi Chompoo. I'm Nina. Nice to meet you."

"Shampoo is the youngest and newest addition to our tattoo studio," Bo said proudly. "Don't let her age fool you; she's incredibly talented. Especially with color tattoos. I invited her here because the kid has style. I'd like you to continue collaborating with her while I'm in Chengdu. Shampoo can answer all practical questions, and if you ever need to come to the studio, just let her know to arrange a time. Also, I trust her, so please take her ideas seriously," Bo added.

Nina looked at Chompoo and noticed how much the young woman appreciated this compliment from the boss. Despite her initial reservation, she couldn't hide her smile.

"Boss, please, I'll get conceited. And stop calling me shampoo!"

"So get conceited," Bo said, disregarding her protest. "And now, let's order, someone here is starving," he said, looking at Nina with an innocent expression, tossing her a wink.

Chompoo took the menu and started perusing it while Bo leaned back and relaxed. Soon after, she called the waiter and spoke with him in Thai, pointing at sections of the menu while the waiter quickly took down her orders. After he left, Chompoo turned towards Nina.

"Hope you like spicy food," she said with a slightly mischievous grin.

"Did you order for all of us?" Nina asked, finding it a bit unusual.

"It's okay, Nina, trust me. Since the first lunch I had with Shampoo, I let her order for me all the time, and I've never regretted it once.

"I see," Nina said, feeling a growing concern in her stomach. Croatian cuisine wasn't exactly known for its abundance of chili or ginger.

"Okay Nina, let's see what you've got!" Bo said excitedly, unbuttoning the top of his shirt. "I expect it'll get hot here soon," he replied to Nina's questioning look.

Nina nervously took out her tablet and turned it on, typing in the access code. As she showed and explained the concept, her confidence gradually returned. Even Chompoo couldn't hide her delight, interrupting Nina now and then with questions or suggestions. Bo mostly listened quietly, but an approving smile never left his face. Occasionally, he would nod thoughtfully. When three waiters appeared and started placing trays in front of them, they had to pause the meeting. Nina was satisfied; she had shown most of what she planned and was reminded once again how much she enjoyed working on this project. Although she had to work closely with the client, she had complete creative freedom and absolutely no one to tell her to make something more standardized or suggest some "banker blue" color instead of the one she had carefully chosen.

The dinner stretched on, but Nina hardly minded, especially given the sheer volume of dishes they had ordered. Just as they finished one plate, as if by magic, it was replaced by another, boasting either steaming grilled prawns, a beautifully seasoned spinach variant, or rice served in a hollowed-out pineapple.

Bo abstained from drinking, and Nina initially followed his lead, not wanting to seem unprofessional in front of her new client. But at one point, Chompoo protested, and Nina agreed to share a glass of champagne with her to celebrate their future collaboration. Once Bo declared the official part of the evening over, he ordered cocktails for both ladies, overruling Nina's protests by insisting she couldn't leave his favorite restaurant without trying its signature drink.

"You can't push drinks on someone while sticking to water yourself," she objected.

"You're totally right, it's high time to switch to green tea," Bo laughed, then added: "I'm driving, remember?"

Nina was glad she relented when she saw and smelled her basil cocktail. Despite not being a big fan of the herb, the cocktail was divine, and after one sip, she declared, "I don't want this to ever end!"

Shampoo burst into laughter, heartily agreeing, while Bo looked pleased watching the girls enjoy themselves. When it came time to part, Chompoo quickly said her goodbyes. Nina was entering her apartment address into the Grab app when Bo finished paying.

"What are you doing? You're not seriously thinking of taking a taxi home at this hour, are you?"

Nina glanced at her watch and realized it was just past midnight. "No way I'm letting you go home alone; you're coming with me. Come on, get up, where's your jacket?"

"Jacket? In Bangkok, I only wear a jacket if I plan on riding the BTS," Nina laughed. "Sorry, but exactly how fast do you drive to need a jacket in this heat?"

"I don't need one, but some people find it chilly on the motorcycle," he muttered.

"I won't be chilly because I'm taking a taxi," Nina replied, looking back at her phone.

In the next moment, the phone was snatched from her grasp and vanished into the depths of Bo's pants pocket. "Over my dead body, young lady," he said, heading towards the door and nodding goodbye to the attractive hostess who watched him leave. Nina stood frozen for a moment but soon realized she had no choice but to follow him.

She stepped out of the restaurant just as Bo started the motorcycle. His helmet was already on, and he was holding another one out to her when she approached. "I promise this will be over before you can say 'Gamut'," he said with a tone that promised anything but a tame ride.

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of!" she said. "Speed isn't what I value in a motorcycle ride."

"Okay, okay, since you don't have a jacket, we'll make it a leisurely ride," he said, offering the helmet again. Nina was too tired to protest further and secretly curious, she had never ridden on anything as serious as Bo's bike seemed to be. She accepted the helmet.

"Fine. As long as you promise to go slow. I live near the Z Coffee Roastery; you can drop me off there."

"I'll leave you at your doorstep and nowhere else, but we'll talk details as we get closer. Hop on," he said after she hesitantly put on the heavy black helmet. She was unsure how to mount the bike, and Bo had his gaze on the road, offering no guidance. Carefully, she gripped his broad shoulders and swung her leg over the seat, moving as far back as she could, so as to not cling to him. She held onto the rear handles and murmured, "I'm ready."

"No chance you're ready," he laughed heartily, then suddenly accelerated, whisking them through the lit streets into Bangkok's night.

Bo drove fast, and Nina's heart raced, but she soon relaxed enough to enjoy the ride. City skyscrapers whizzed by, and she enjoyed being part of the river of motorcycles flowing to their destinations. Just as she almost fully relaxed, Bo abruptly braked at a crossroads, sending her flying forward. Her helmet collided with his, and her chest pressed against his back. Her hands slipped from the handles, instinctively wrapping around his waist.

"Uh, sorry!" he said. "I got a bit distracted. But now you see, the brakes are really good." He caught her hands in his. "Still, maybe it's better if you keep holding onto me, just in case."

Nina wasn't sure if that was really better. What she was sure of was her heart pounding so loudly Bo must have noticed. He moved closer to her on the seat and continued weaving through the city traffic.

Despite all her protesting, she couldn't help but enjoy the ride. Through her thin sweater, she felt Bo's warmth, and the wind streaming past her body gave her a sense of freedom, while the flashing neon lights made her feel like she was part of a movie scene.