I was in my teens when I first met, let’s call him G.

My hair was short like a boy’s and I was working at a posh cabaret club as a captain aka team leader of servers. Most of the servers were male and I was the rare female. Our uniforms were the usual white shirt black pants and bow tie combination. To distinguish my position as captain, I also wore a tie and vest. I figured the vest gave me the illusion of a flat chest. I also chose an ambiguous name, Terry, so some may have to guess my gender. The boss of this establishment most likely wanted to protect me by letting me use that name. You may think I digress but I for the life of me, don’t understand G’s fascination with me because, I looked like a cute boy. G will play an important part in this tale.

This club had hostesses and singers who were paid handsomely by the hour to accompany guests in the many private rooms and hall. The hall was huge with a stage in the center where singers and a quartet performed. It was a very glamorous setting with many wealthy and famous customers. The ladies of the establishment were all fabulously gorgeous (So why me, right?) and the servers, dashing. The parking valets got the chance to drive many prized and expensive cars which I just loved admiring during my smoke break.

I met G in a more casual setting. I was taking a cigarette break at the smoking corner for staff and admiring the cars when G came to join me. We exchanged nods and I just continued puffing on my cigarette. After stubbing my cigarette out, I lit another. It was an hour to closing and I knew I would not have the chance to smoke again for a while. That was when G started talking to me.

G: Wah, you smoke a lot. Let me try your brand of cigarettes.

I nod then shook a stick out of my pack and offered it to him. I helped him light the cigarette and stepped away thinking that was the end of it.

G: Why is a girl like you working here pretending to be a boy?

Me: I’m not pretending, I just look like that.

G: My friends even had a bet guessing your gender. We asked all the staff and even the owner but nobody told us.

Me: So did you win the bet?

G: I didn’t bet but most of them bet that you are a boy. You like that?

I shrug. Stubbed out my cig.

Me: okay Mr. G, I have to go back to work. Excuse me, sir.

I resumed work and that was that.

It started right after that night. He began coming more often, sometimes 5 times a week. I found out that he asked my manager to inform him about my weekly off days and he permanently designated me to serve him. His tips started to become bigger and bigger that it was astonishing. A few hundred dollars almost everyday. There was even a thousand dollars on an occasion when they celebrated a successful business deal. Crazy, right? He stopped requesting for ladies and often requested for me to drink with him. With permission, I did drink with him without sitting down. It’s lucky I can really hold my alcohol well because he requested that often. This went on for awhile and his intentions weren’t that obvious yet.

He began to follow me around the club, especially when I went for my smoke or snack break. He bought me a carton of my brand of cigarettes every week and was ever attentive to where I was in the club. He would come during the club set up which is around dinnertime with extravagant food and drinks. He waited for me outside the employee restroom to corner and talk to me. He waited for me to wrap up my work station after work and always offered to take me home, which I never accepted. We had company transport. The staff and regular customers all knew about him being sweet on me so they teased us endlessly. He was 10 years older than me and I shall grudgingly say that he was quite good looking. Still, I knew too many good looking men in my many experiences in the entertainment industry that I wasn’t in the least bit attracted to him. I was pretty touched with his many efforts to impress me though. My boss decided to celebrate my birthday at the club after closing and invited G to stay. He gave me a cash present of $8888. 8 being a lucky number, eh? I tried to refuse but he insisted and had my boss also tell me to accept graciously. He also gave me extravagant presents for Christmas and New Years. Valentine’s Day came around and he had 101 red roses delivered to me at the club. He then brought me outside the club and to his car. Opened the boot and it was totally filled with red roses. Well, I prefer white roses ha! I thanked him and sweetly asked if I could hand out the roses to the ladies and customers. He couldn’t refuse me ha!

I did realize that G was becoming more and more obsessed with me but I had a history of many suitors so I was pretty spoiled with attention (I’m not trying to blow my own horn but maybe cute and aloof was in!) that I didn’t bother pondering too much on it. The boss and some of the staff did try to help him court me by including G at after hours parties or supper. At this stage, we have gotten very familiar with each other from seeing each other so frequently but our only close contact was quick hugs on occasion and a lone kiss on the cheek on my birthday.

I am certain that I never led him on or gave him the impression that I’m a frivolous person but he made me a proposal that surprised me. He came to the club alone and was in a private room. I served him his bottle of cognac and was about to leave when he asked me to stay because he had something to talk to me about. Would I like to be his woman? He’d give me a generous allowance which I should give a number to, credit cards, an apartment or a condominium whichever I preferred and a car if I have a drivers license or chauffeur. He would not stay with me but he would visit. I should quit work. Make sure to have dinner with him some days of the week and so on. I was speechless at first with weird thoughts swirling around in my head. Is he married? Me, a mistress? Huh? Tomboyish me? Something came over me and I started chuckling like crazy. You joker, you! Hahahaha! I made light of it all and left the room with a quick, “ I need to pee….” I scurried to the employee break room and just sat there for awhile. That was just weird!

He did ask me again by saying that his proposition was a totally serious one and that I should really consider it. Sorry Pa, I used your name this time. I told him that it was not possible because my father would likely disown or kill me. That was that. Time passed without more incidents but he was still very sweet to me until I resigned. He contacted me once in awhile and appeared out of nowhere near my home or just anywhere. I received cards and packages on occasions in the mail from him. I must say that he was very dedicated, even remembered my birthdays. All that slowly died away and I thought he was over me. Life went on.

Years later and I met S. We had a whirlwind romance and shotgun wedding. I suppose things started turning sour within the first year of the marriage and we were not happy. After giving birth to my lovable son, I started working as an executive assistant to the general manager at a shipping firm. I had suspicions that S was fooling around behind my back but it was just that, suspicion. It was a very normal work day and probably an hour or so before lunch. My phone rang and I answered with the usual greeting. A man asked to speak to me. I said…

Me: Yes, I am. How can I help you?

Man : I have an important report for you. We were directed to run surveillance on Mr S on behalf of Mr G.

I was like HUH???

Me: What do you mean?

Man: Mr G has requested that we contact you directly with this report. About half an hour ago, Mr S rode his motorcycle bearing the number plate XXXXX to a house at adresss XXXX and phone number XXXX which is the home of XXXX family. We believe that he is visiting the daughter of this household XXXX XXXX. There is one car in the driveway bearing the number plate XXXXX. We have photographs of her meeting him at the door and them kissing in greeting like lovers. He has not left this house. Mr G wanted you to have this information and the photos will be provided to you for your records. Are you clear with this report? Would you like me repeat the report?

Yes, I did. I noted the phone number down and took action but that’s a tale for another time.

Apparently, G had an ongoing surveillance on me for a long long time. When he got the report about my marriage, he started another ongoing surveillance on S. Though strange, just like a guardian angel. What’s even more strange is that until now, he has not contacted me in person at all.

PS: On second thought, now I know how he managed to get my exact address to send all those cards and packages. Why did I never wonder how?