"Wow you guys own that. That's awesome. Can I buy stock or something?"
"Well you could, but it's a privately held corporation."
"Do you like your job?"
"Yeah, its demanding, but I don't have to work the hours that I use to. It's a really great team there."
"It sounds great. You're management staff sounds good. Your staff that I have had limited dealings with are great. What about your bosses, and his boss, are they okay to work for?"
"Yes, I find the senior managers to be great and approachable."
"That is truly rare. I am actually new to the management role. Would you mind if I bounced some scenarios off you sometime. I want to be the best manager that I can be. I can't make everyone happy. I've learned that. But I don't think I have to make everyone unhappy. I want to really nurture people that I work with."
"Well that is the right attitude to take. You are only going to be as successful as your people will allow. The catching flies with honey is my motto. And the importance of how you say things. You know, I am surprised that you would ask my opinion on this?"
"Why? From my vantage point and what I was able to see, or spy. You have been a manager far longer than I have."
"Men don't always deal well with women in positions of authority. You seem very comfortable dealing with me on that front. That is very refreshing. It's nice to meet a guy that is secure enough to respect my abilities. It's actually an attractive quality."
"I am very secure in myself. I cried when I saw Beaches/" Luke quipped tongue in cheek.
"I'm sure you did."
"How long have you been in management?"
"Well to be honest, it's been 8 or 9 years."
"What, 8 or 9 years, that means you've been a manager since you were 23 or 24? With looks like yours and you're brilliant as well. Wow."
She blushed, "Brilliant is definitely off base. Probably lucky. And what do you mean looks like mine?" That cute eyebrow arched at him.
"Fishing for compliments huh? You must know that you are absolutely stunning. That every man and woman in this place gawked and drooled when you walked in. And I was probably the biggest drooling idiot around. But I am pretty sure brains played a big part in your luck."
She blushed again.
The appetizers came. He nibbled and laughed to himself as she gobbled them up.
"This is great." She said between bites.
"Oh, oh" Lucas whispered.
"What's the matter?" Jessica asked looking around in a worried voice.
"I'll take care of it." Lucas took his napkin leaned in close to her. To smell her perfume, and her hair and her own unique sweet smell and wiped the crumbs from the side of her lips.
She jumped a little at the feel of his hand on her face, and looked flushed when it was over.
"Thank you" she whispered back.
He told her about being an only child. About his good friends who were more like brothers than friends.
"I remember just waking up and saying that there was more to life than this. Then I decided to stop playing it safe and decided to take chances and start making some noise."
"Wow that is a heck of a life change. It's worked out well for you. I feel sorry for the folks that don't ever have that moment of clarity."
"It has worked out well. Work is the least of it. If I were to get fired, so be it. I know I will find another job. But I am more confident in my own skin, more comfortable I guess is a good word for it."
She was looking directly into his eyes. She was listening to his words and nodding. How did she seem to understand him so well.
"You know I remember you."
"I would hope so." Luke fired back.
"No, I meant I tried talking to you months ago. And you seemed completely disinterested in talking to me."
"I know, I remember that day very well."
"Yet, you said you have seen me for over a year. Which by the way is something else I want to talk to you about?"
"Oh, oh. One thing at a time. You remember my previous hang up with brunettes. Well combined with that, you were so intimidatingly pretty that I felt complete unworthy and inadequate talking to you. That probably sounds stupid."
"No not stupid. But it sounds like someone that is at a real low point."
"Yeah that was me. And I think that low point lasted about 4 years." Lucas said with a bark of laughter.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I think I prefer you now."
"No offense, I prefer me now. I refuse to go back to that person. Like I said, I will give up everything before resorting to being that man again. But enough about me. I prefer talking about you. I am taking notes you know. Planning to use them later."
"Use them later, for what might I ask?" she asked innocently.
"For the seduction portion of the evening. I really want that rental space."
"How ambitious of you. The sacrifices you make for your ambition." She tsked.
"Do you want to discuss that rental space?" Jessica queried.
"Nope. I don't want to. I want a reason for you to see me again?"
"Why do you want that space anyway?"