“Come in,” she heard him call from inside.
“Hey, hope I am not interrupting or anything,” she said as she poked her head through the doorway.
“Hey, Athena…come in,” Mason said as he looked up. “I didn’t know you were still here?” Mason asked as he looked at Athena. “You work harder and longer than the people I actually pay to be here.”
“I was working on the Fielder depositions. It took a bit longer than I thought,” she said as she leaned against the doorpost. “Can I come in?” she asked and Mason nodded.
“Sure.”
“So, this is the big finish as I call it. All the paperwork you might need for the Fielder deposition and the paperwork needed for the Vasquez and Daniels merger dissolution.” She placed the files down on his desk. “It’s a good thing that we stalled on the merger because as it turns out Phillip Daniels has been embezzling from the company for years.”
Mason opened the file and looked through it. She could tell by the way he had an eyebrow raised over the other that he was impressed.
“You did this?” he asked and she nodded. “How come no one else caught this?”
“In everyone else’s defense, it wasn’t easy to catch. The money was hidden in shell companies under more shell companies…” she shrugged. “It was really well hidden.”
“Wow, Athena….” Mason smiled and nodded. “This is amazing.”
“Thank you. That means a lot coming from you, Mr. Alexander,” she said and he smiled.
“Whoa, Mr. Alexander?” he asked and she nodded. “Athena, it’s just us here.” I mean, I saw you go to high school and college.”
“Yes, and I have to maintain professionalism before I call you out by your first name at the next meeting,” she said smiling.
“Yeah, I guess,” he said in a soft voice.
“So, unless you have anything else for me, maybe I should turn in,” she said and he shrugged.
“I don’t normally do this but I am going to do it anyway.”
She shook her head.
“Do what?” she asked.
“Have you eaten yet?” She shook her head.
“No, I was going to pass by a pizzeria or a KFC on my way home,” she said and he shook his head.
“Both tasty but terrible ideas.” He shut down his computer and pushed his chair back. “I have a better idea. Get your stuff,” he said as he put on his jacket and she shook her head.
“Wait, what?” she asked as he walked towards her.
“Get your stuff. I am taking you for dinner,” he said as he led her to the door. “I mean, I haven’t eaten anything either and I obviously need to reward you for saving my client and putting more money in my pocket.”
“Mason…you really don’t have to,” she said as she looked at him.
“Actually, I really do. End of discussion,” he said as he held the door open for her.
“But my car…” she started as she looked at him.
“I can get someone to get it to your place. Right now, if you want,” he said. She took a minute before she shrugged.
“Fine,” she said in a soft voice.
“Great. We’ll take my car,” he said.
“You mean we’ll take the car being driven by your driver outside?” she asked and he smiled at her.
“I thought that was obvious.”
*****
Athena had always known that Mason had good taste but it was not until that evening did she realize just how good his taste really was. He had taken her to Luca Jean, one of the most popular spots in town that only a select few managed to get into. It was not just a five star spot, but also impossible to get a reservation there. After a long day, an ale braised beef short rib accompanied by a thousand dollar cabernet sauvignon was exactly what she needed.
Dinner took longer than she expected and even though she already knew that he was an interesting man, she was finding herself getting more and more interested in him as the time went by. By the time they were done, it was almost eleven. Her heart was racing as she drove in the back of his town car. She was surrounded by his scent, his expensive intoxicating scent. She guessed that it was probably Bvlgari…she could tell that much since that was also her father’s brand. She looked at him as the town car approached her apartment building.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said in a low voice. “It’s not every day I get to sample the finer restaurants in life especially since…you know.”
She didn’t want to say what was on her mind. She was all done recounting the wrongs that her mother had done to her. The arranged engagement, getting her on a forced diet so that she could attain the ‘ideal’ weight and even cutting her out, financially.