“What are you talking about?” I take a large gulp of my orange juice and contemplate just how I am going to answer him.
“Your ‘representative’ who offered me work at the charity gig. I figured it was your way of trying to see me again,” oh shit, did I really just say that out loud? I must sound like such an idiot “and it turns out you weren’t even there at all, rather I was hired as a charity case to throw a little work my way.”
I don’t quite expect what Gideon does next; he lets out the loudest laugh I have ever heard, a laugh which simultaneously leaves me embarrassed and wanting to laugh myself.
“I swear to you that I had absolutely nothing to do with that whole set up. Whoever called you to offer you the job wasn’t anything to do with me, perhaps the planning committee, but I rarely have time to grab a quick lunch these days, let alone set up secret deals to hire you. No offense. Besides, do you really think I’d invite you to the seedy bar in the basement for a second night of fun? I mean, as great as it was, the basement bar isn’t exactly my style of seduction.”
“It worked well enough the first time.” I smirk at him and take a sip of my juice. “I’m sorry, I just thought…” I feel like a complete idiot and find myself wrapping a strand of my long dark hair around my fingers nervously. God help me if Gideon Lambert thinks I’m some unstable nutcase who goes off on tirades when she feels slighted.
“Mmhmm. Look, if you are looking for work I do have something in mind but it sure as hell doesn’t involve holding drink trays.” He gives me a wink and a brief smile, the type of smile that a fox would give a rabbit before consuming it, if foxes could smile.
“I don’t know that I am. I just, I got my wires crossed, sorry.” I can’t help but wonder just what kind of position the elite Gideon Lambert could have for me, but I certainly don’t want to seem overeager, particularly after my little outburst. He flashes me another wink and I smile back but still can’t help obsessing over the type of work a girl like me could do for a man like him. Even for Gideon Lambert I don’t think I could sell out to the corporate world. Sure, it’d make my mother happy and it would mean that I could see him again, but would I compromise the ethics that I’ve spent so long broadcasting from my soapbox? Would I choose a man over my crusade to ‘do the right thing?’
“Hungry?” Gideon grabs a menu from the side wall, it’s covered with a thick film of fingerprints and who knows what else.
“No, thank you.” I dare not risk the food in a place like this, although Gideon seems quite confident in their culinary abilities.
“Ah, well, at least I could order you another drink.”
“Okay but just orange juice please, I’m driving.” He smirks at me, and I know in that instant that there is no way that I’m driving home.
“Oh, I’ll see to it that you get home safely. I want to pick a drink for you.” I’m hesitant about that; I haven’t touched a drink since the last time I saw Gideon and the man left me with one hell of a hangover. “Good, the ‘sex on the beach’ it is.”
I’m a) fairly certain that he’s trying to shock me with the name of the drink he’s ordering and b) completely certain that he’s trying to get me drunk. I can’t help it though; there is no feasible way to say no to Gideon Lambert. I know now why the man is so successful.
When Gideon returns to our table with the drinks in hand I take a sip and nearly choke on the sheer alcohol content.
“Wowwwwwwwww, that’s strong!” He flashes his sexy smile and sets a glass of water down on the table. “Wait, you’re drinking water? Great, now I look like a lush.” He laughs.
“Well one of us has to have some judgment or things could get terribly out of hand.” The sound of things getting ‘terribly out of hand’ didn’t actually seem all that bad.
“Would that be such a bad thing, Mr. Lambert? I sort of enjoyed myself the last time things got out of hand.” He flashes me a look of disapproval and leans in, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Rule number one, you call me Ricky.”
“Why? It’s not like you don’t own the building across the street…”
“No, as far as these people are concerned” he motions his hand to incorporate everyone in the room, “I work in the building across the street and I’d really like to keep it that way. I like to keep a low profile Melissa, the last thing I want is tabloids and paparazzi showing up at my home putting their noses in my business.”