“That’s the problem, isn’t it?” said Renee. “Er Ge. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped underestimating me?
“You think of me as your dumb little sister. That’s normal, everyone’s like that about their siblings. But it’s making you make mistakes, like letting me talk to Eva without you around.”
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Maybe I haven’t made this clear enough. I want to work with you. I don’twantto be gathering blackmail material, or upsetting Jessie and the family. It’s not how I do business.”
Su Khoon stood immobile. His head was bent, his face in shadow. Renee couldn’t make out his expression. He might have been about to slap her, or weep.
Finally he collapsed back onto the sofa. “So what, you want us to shake hands and be friends, just like that?” He gazed at her blearily. He looked rough in the cold white lighting Dad favoured, older than his thirty-nine years. “Look at it from my point of view. I’d be stupid to trust you, no?”
“Why don’t you try pretending we’re not related?” said Renee. “Give me the same chance you’d give any lateral hire Dad brought in.”
Though she couldn’t imagine Su Khoon being helpful to any hire of Dad’s that he hadn’t approved himself. She hurried on:
“Dad wants us to prove we can work with family. Whoever wins Chahaya is going to have to do that, whether they like it or not. It’s in both our interests to do a good job. Can’t we put aside our personal shit for once and focus on work?”
Su Khoon rolled his eyes. “Don’t try and fool me. Like this whole business isn’t personal for you. You expect me to believe you won’t be trying to sabotage me?”
“No, of course not,” said Renee, exasperated. “I’m not anidiot. We’re competing. But we can either cooperate and get the Freshview deal nailed down, or we can keep squabbling. Then you might as well wrap up Chahaya and give it to Da Ge with a bow on top.”
Mentioning Su Beng had the desired effect. Su Khoon went quiet, frowning.
“What happens?” he said. “If I don’t agree to work with you.”
Renee blinked. “I told you. We both individually try to get Freshview on board. They get a terrible impression of Chahaya as a result and swear off working with us, leaving Dad absolutely delighted with you and me.”
“You know what I mean,” said Su Khoon impatiently. “What are you going to do with what you got from Eva?”
“What, this?” Renee rummaged in her bag and produced a crumpled Post-it note, placing it on the coffee table.
Su Khoon picked it up gingerly between his index finger and thumb, as though it might explode. He read off the scribble: “‘Kip’—what?”
“We were talking about Austrian food. I said I’ve only had it at the Delaunay and would she recommend anywhere else,” saidRenee. “Eva said I should try this place, Kipferl. It’s in Angel.” She plucked the piece of paper out of his hand and put it back in her bag.
“You were right. I don’t have evidence,” said Renee. “I didn’t ask Eva for anything on you guys. I’m not planning to report you to the family. If you don’t want to work with me, I’m not going to force you. You have to be willing, or it won’t work.”
Su Khoon was silent. Was he actually looking ashamed? Had she somehow managed to prick his conscience? She wouldn’t have bet on either of her brothers having one of those.
It should have made her feel triumphant. Instead she felt deflated, grubby and sad. She wished she was home, or on Nathalie’s sofa with her feet up, drinking cocktails, or anywhere but here. In this family home nobody lived in.
“I liked Eva,” said Renee. “We had a nice chat about her studies. She’s obviously bright.” She studied Su Khoon, trying to figure him out, as she had done with both her brothers so many times in the course of her childhood. “Jessie’s clever, too. You’re drawn to smart girls. Why do I piss you off so much?”
There was a long pause.
“You don’t piss me off,” said Su Khoon.
Renee raised her eyebrows. “Sure.”
“It’s nothing personal.” He was softening, becoming almost human.
So Renee didn’t say,Can’t you see, that makes it worse? If everything you do to meisn’tpersonal. If you’re not doing it because you hate me or you’re mad at me, but simply because I’m in your way.
She held her tongue. And her family claimed she had no self-control.
Su Khoon tipped his head back on the sofa, letting out a windy sigh. “Dad pits us against each other. Survival of the fittest. Then he expects us to hug and kiss and pretend everything’s fine.”
Renee’s therapist had once put forward this analysis of why her family was so dysfunctional, but it startled her to hear it fromSu Khoon. She’d had no doubt he resented their father for any number of reasons. It had never occurred to her before that any of those reasons might be legitimate.
“I don’t think normal siblings kiss,” she said. “Hug, maybe. Notkiss.”
