Jessica stood her ground. “I will continue to support your cause. But I will not be bullied into talking about any subject I do not wish to discuss.”

Omala looked like she was about to launch into another volley of persuasion when Kuan Eng lifted a hand to stop her.

“Let Jessica’s silence be her statement.”

All three stared at Kuan Eng.

“What Migrant Workers Count Too lacks is a face. The public needs to put a face to a cause. Over the years, we have tried unsuccessfully to zoom in and focus on selected case studies of individual migrant workers to highlight their plights. It did not work because there is this unbridgeable gap that exists. When the average Singaporean looks at a news photo of a migrant worker who has suffered, they may sympathise and be moved to make a donation. But at the back of their minds, they think, ‘This man is not one of us.’ He looks different, dresses differently and talks differently. The difference is what stands out.

“This time around, we will offer the public one of their own and give them a face they can identify with. Jessica is now a face they recognise as a victim of a riot. We are going to change that. Jessica will help front our efforts to petition for the migrant workers. Her continued, sustained presence and her refusal to behave like a victim will be a strong statement. We want her magnanimity, equitability and courage to inspire the public to do the same.”

There was a moment of silence as the three ruminated. Jessica stole a glance at Kuan Eng. The man was unlikely to turn heads but what he lacked in looks he made up for with a sharp sense of dressing. Both the clingy sky blue stretch-cotton shirt and the pair of dark blue slim-fit chinos he wore looked like they were tailor-made. He sat close enough such that the glint from his cufflinks caught her attention. Although he had picked a simple design, the craftsmanship looked as exquisite as any from Gucci or Dunhill. Omala had mentioned that Kuan Eng worked as a corporate lawyer; the man could certainly afford the high life. In spite of that, he had maintained a behaviour that was as unassuming as his dressing was unostentatious. Jessica instinctively felt that she could trust his judgement.

“What do you have in mind?” Omala asked.

“Some publicity project that will allow Jessica to interact with migrant workers, that captures her as an ally, not a victim,” Kuan Eng said. Turning to Krison, he asked, “Do we have any ongoing projects that we can tap on?”

“Actually, yes,” Krison nodded eagerly. “There is this pet project that Siow Har has been working on on her own. She had wanted to keep it a secret but one of the migrant workers told me and I asked her about it.”

“Tell us!” Omala urged.