“Do you always have burgers for lunch?” He asked.

“Do I always have burgers for lunch?” I echoed back to him, unaware of what I was even saying because I was completely taken in by the big bite he took of the burger. Mustard and ketchup sat at the corner of his mouth, a testament to his effort.

“Fiona?”

I blinked back into the present, and pointed to the side of his lips. “I don’t always have burgers. Pizza here, chicken nuggets there. I like to diversify my food choices.”

“It does sound like you’ve been eating all the delicious food.”

I nodded in agreement. He’s always eating things that would build up his muscles. The efforts were paying off, but I couldn’t imagine this life for me.

“I feel absolutely jealous of you.”

“Well,” I said and shrugged, “people whose staple dishes consist of grass and smoothies made of more fruits and grasses tend to feel that way around me.”

Christian laughed, raising his hand to cover his mouth. I beamed with pride and took another bite of my burger. It was tasty, and I loved it. And I loved it even better that I was the reason he’s smiling.

“But you’ve not really changed since we were kids. You are still the Fiona I have always known.”

The blush sat comfortably on my cheeks, and I wondered if he had ever thought of me during the years we were apart.

“I spoke with Allison last night,” I said in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

“Oh, we’ve not talked in a week.”

“Yes, she said she’s usually caught up with work and hardly has time for herself these days.”

“I seriously warned her not to accept the offer, but she didn’t listen.” He shrugged. “She doesn’t think she’s worth more. She should have stayed back in Laketown; she was a queen here.”

“Why did she leave?” I inquired. Allison never truly told me her reason anyway. Or it was more like I didn’t find her reason consequential.

“She wanted to get away from our parents.” Christian gulped down his drink.

“I had always known Allison to be adventurous, but I never thought she was running away.” At that moment, I felt low.

“Yeah. Did you tell her you accompanied me to golf?” He switched the topic.

“Yes,” I chortled. “She promised to play a game when she’s in town.”

“Cool.” He twitched a small smile just as his phone began to ring. He stared at the screen of his phone and quietly tucked the phone away.

“Aren’t you going to pick the call?” I asked.

“No,” he looked up at me. “ It’s not important.”

I suspected Aurora was the caller, so he didn’t answer.

“What do you do in your free time, if I may ask?”

He chuckled softly.

“I play games.”

“Cool, perhaps we could play a game one of these days.”

“Hm.”

I could spot warmth in his eyes. His eyes were the kind that made you want to sit down and talk for hours. I felt light-hearted talking to him and hoped to lighten up his mood, too.

“I think we might have exceeded lunch hour.” He cleared his throat.

“Oh,” I sprang back to life. “I’m sorry about that.” I immediately stood up, cleared the table, and prepared to leave.

“Thank you,” his voice came low and gentle before I could exit his office.

“I’m honored to have had lunch with you.” I knew I was definitely grinning from ear to ear.

He smiled.

I was totally going to make partner at this point.

*****

An idea crossed my mind as I rounded off for the day. I could really help Christian by getting to know the things he liked and the things he disliked.

I would also get to know him better. So, I interrogated Liam after he parked the car in the driveway. In a cool, concerned as a PA type of way.

“Well, I’ve been working with the CEO for over five years now, and I know that he takes yoga sessions and goes to the gym frequently.”

He wouldn’t have those crazy biceps had he been sedentary.

“Also, he loves a good book. He sometimes reads in the car, on his way to business meetings,” Liam added, gently rubbing his blond stubble.

I knew all this already. The urge to roll my eyes made its way up, but I shoved it down. I liked Liam, but I would like him more if he said more exciting stuff.

“And?” I said, taking note of what he had said.

“He likes old movies?”

“Now we’re talking. Give me more.”

“We haven’t gone there in a while now, even before you were hired, but he visits a resort, to get away from things,” he mentioned. “Not just any resort; it’s a particular one at the outskirts of town.”

I thanked Liam and kept him company as he wiped the car down for the night. A waste of effort, especially since he was going to repeat the task tomorrow. But routine and whatnot.

I intentionally ambled into the house when Liam left to check up on him. When I entered, he was not in the living room. However, a yell erupted from an inner room. It was so loud and frightening that I staggered back.

“I’m done with you, and I’m done with this relationship. Do you really intend on driving me crazy?” His voice was soaked in anger and frustration. “Listen, let this be the last time you’d spew this trash. I’m no longer going to waste my time on this. We’re through.”