"So, where is this boss of yours?" Jack asked Leia.
"He's a very busy man, sir", Leia answered him. "Aside from Ben Archi, he has other businesses, mostly outside of the country. I don't even know where he is half the time." she smiled. "He's rarely ever here and he has given me authority over any transactions for Ben Archi. He knows I'm good and trusts me to do my job and do it well."
"Is that so?" Jack said.
Leia simply nodded. "Anyways, sir, what can I do for you?" It was Leia's turn to ask. "I'm sure you didn't make an appointment to make small talk?"
Jack regarded her for a moment and said, "Well, I really just wanted to meet your boss and finally get to know my best rival."
Leia smiled and thought, "You've already met her." She said instead, "Oh sir, your firm is still the best and the biggest in our field. We are merely a small company trying to do business."
"You are too modest."
Leia laughed. "Not at all sir," she said. "Just being honest. Since we are here, let's have lunch. I was given the go signal to treat you to lunch." she said, smiling sweetly.
"Well, my dear," Jack said. "I will not say no to a free lunch."
Leia smiled and motioned for the waiter. They gave their orders to the waiter and while waiting to be served, Leia said, "So, sir. I am also free to answer all your queries about Ben Archi, did you want to know something about us?"
"Nah, I already know about your firm," he said. "I really wanted to get to know your boss. Find out his secret," Jack said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Secret? What secret?" Leia asked him, her heart in her lungs. In her mind she is thinking, "does he know my secret?"
"How he got so far, so fast, without anybody getting to know him," he said. "Well, except for you maybe."
Leia let out a breath and thought, "whew, it really is hard when you know your guilty of something, you get so paranoid." Feeling the relief, she laughed, she was ready for these kinds of questions. "Well sir, I can say, you and me both. I hardly know Mr. Archibald but I'm lucky to be trusted by him. As I said, he's very busy," she started. "He's almost always out of the country and he communicates with me through email since he's mostly out of the country." she continued. "He believes in me and trusts me to do right for the company. I think so far, I've done a good job and he has nothing to worry about." she completed.
Jack nodded. "I agree, you are indeed doing a good job."
"Yes sir," she continued, "You know it sir." And then she played her ace. "You know my status very well. And Mr. Archibald's absence in the country is to my advantage. I have no reason to convince him to spend time here. For now, he's busy with his other businesses abroad. He doesn't have time for my personal drama, you know" she continued. "I'm glad he isn't from here, he saw me for my talents, my abilities. I know I have proven myself to him, without the shadow of my father over me. If and when he decides to stay here and finally find out all that garbage. I'm hoping I have proven myself enough that it wouldn't be something he would even take a second look upon." she ended her tirade.
Jack nodded, looking like he finally understood. "I guess I know where Ben Architecture's success comes from." He said. "It's actually from you and not from him. Why didn't you apply at my firm before?"
"Actually, I did," she countered. "But your HR manager didn't think I was good enough for your firm."
"What!?" he was shocked. "I would have to talk to Gerard about that."
"You do that sir." she said smiling at him.
Their order finally arrived and they ate in comfortable silence which was only broken by small talks here and there, nothing really out of the ordinary. When you look at them, they even look like a lovely couple enjoying a meal together.
During their lunch, Jack got to have a close look at Carlson's illegitimate daughter for the first time. Oh he'd see her from time to time when he attends parties hosted by the Clark's but never really up close. And to his surprise, he found her very beautiful, simple yet classy. She wore little makeup but her skin was flawless and flaunts of a natural beauty undisturbed by make-up and she wore corporate attire but you can very well see that a very sexy body exists underneath all that clothes. Definitely his type and he knew himself enough to know that he was feeling a certain attraction for this beautiful woman in front of him, but he tried to quell it. Not only was she a rival, she was also the daughter of one of his friends. He can only imagine what Carlson will feel if he finds out that at the moment his friend is imagining taking the clothes off his daughter and taking her right here in the middle of this busy restaurant. He smiled at the thought. He also realized that now, there were two puzzles that he had to solve. Ben Archibald and her very attractive, enigmatic top architect.
At the end of their meal, Jack extended his hand, "Well, Ms. Clark. It has been quite an interesting and revealing afternoon. Thank you for the delicious meal."
"Nice to meet you too Mr. Garlan," she accepted his hand. He couldn't help himself and held on a second longer. She looked at him quizzically and he let her hand go and shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll definitely see you again Ms. Clark," Jack thought as the valet brought his car in front.