Jessica & Priscilla

CO- BROKERING THE DEAL

Their conversation moves at lightning speed, its direction unclear as it meanders, swirling around everything that comes its way: Priscilla is supposed to go to the gym but is now rethinking her plan. She’s dolled up for the shoot and doesn’t want to waste the makeup. Jessica, on the other hand, is mulling lunch over. They briefly agree on the venue and then just as quickly call it off because there are chores that need seeing to.

They’re having fun around the set like two schoolgirls to whom the hours don’t matter but they’re in fact two mothersslashbusinesswomen- slash- wives on a very tight schedule.

High tea is mentioned. They decide they would go together. The prospect of tea – and champagne, Jessica adds only halfjokingly – is too tempting to pass up. Then they return to their places in front of the camera after a change of outfits and a touch up, temporarily heartened by the promise of an afternoon refreshment. These women – girls for the time being – are real troopers.

We invited Jessica Lim and Priscilla Lai, friends for 11 straight years, to a joint interview and pictorial. They agreed without much prodding, although I may have committed to send for a bottle of champagne during the shoot.

They first met in 2012, two real estate agents specialising in prime landed property co- brokering a major sale. Jessica was the seller’s agent and Priscilla the buyer’s. “We were both the gung- ho agents who were extremely eager to close the deal,” recalls Jessica. They’ve been inseparable since, frequently meeting for meals and drinks, and getting to know each other. “We discovered that we have similar interests in wine and food so we constantly jio each other to try out new restaurants,” Jessica explains.

In the mid-‘ 90s, Jessica launched Salut and a little later, Au Petit Salut, two pioneering fine dining establishments that she would eventually sell. Many years later, she realised that the brand has remained strong so she got together with her former chef, and now business partner, Karl Dobler, to set up Salut Private Dining. And since day one, Priscilla has been one of her most avid supporters.

“I worked in IT after I graduated from the university,” Priscilla, a self- employed business consultant and part- time real estate agent, says. “But I switched to real estate in 2011 as I needed the flexibility to spend time on family commitments. Jessica, on the other hand, has been a veteran in the F& B and service industries. Frankly, we are like chalk and cheese with no common social circles,” Priscilla says in mock confusion. “How we became good friends is a miracle by God’s grace.”

“But our differences work in our favour,” Priscilla continues. “I’m IT savvy, methodical and structured….”

“Except when expensive shoes and bags are concerned,” Jessica interjects and they both laugh.

“She is my creative guru who is also business minded. We leverage our respective strengths to help each other,” Priscilla says.

While Jessica is laid back – she calls herself bo chap – Priscilla is assertive and likes to demonstrate her strong convictions. “But we complement each other especially when we need a different perspective on some issues. Both of us have our strengths and weaknesses, and after 11 years of friendship we could read each other like a book,” Jessica says.

“We chat about anything under the sun,” Jessica continues, “especially about our children ( Priscilla has two daughters while Jessica has two sons). We enjoy doing things together, attending events, and planning parties for ourselves and our friends.”

Priscilla believes that their shared faith is key to their strong bond. “Both of us are Christians,” she says.

Although they come from different denominations and attend different churches, Jessica clarifies. “Our families are out top priority. We believe in honesty, integrity, and respect for each other’s life choices.”

“I like to think that we both believe in equality,” Jessica adds. “Priscilla and I are both very strong women who aspire to earn respect for our contributions to our professions and the community. We believe in setting a good example for our next generation.”

But like many other friendships, theirs was once put to the test.

“I was staying in Shanghai when it happened,” Jessica opens up. “We were on the phone talking about a family issue and she raised her voice at me.” She refuses to provide any more details.

Jessica thought hard about what happened and decided to put it to the distance that separated them. “We only talked on the phone during that time and couldn’t see each other as much as we used to,” she says. “I understand that she was flustered. There was bound to be some misunderstanding.” But a few weeks later, Priscilla decided to take a break and booked a flight to Shanghai to be with her friend. “We spent a wonderful week together,” Jessica recalls, “and those precious bonding moments were among the best in my three- year stay in Shanghai.” And just like that, the whole incident was forgotten.

“We never drifted apart in those three years that Jessica was living in Shanghai. She would live with me whenever she visited Singapore and we were constantly talking on the phone when she was away,” Priscilla says.

“Priscilla is someone I cherish and trust. I often seek her opinion whenever I’m about to make a crucial decision, and usually her opinion would have some weight to the final decision I make.”

Priscilla adds: “Like what we sometimes say, ‘ We can’t choose our family, but we can choose our friends’. I have chosen to have Jessica to be in my life. She is the sister that I never had.”