A lovely time to lunch

Chris sees how upset I am after our horrible encounter with Frank. “Listen, it’s nearly lunchtime. Why don’t we go have a long, boozy lunch and call it a day? Ciru can handle anything that comes up.”

“But, like, how do we leave the office in the middle of the day and not return?!” I yelp. “What if someone looks for me?”

“Like who?” Chris laughs. “The boss? YOU are the boss now, Liz. As long as the minions have their instructions, you can go out and network.”

My eyes open wide. “Isn’t that absconding?”

“No, it’s networking,” he laughs. “Now stop thinking like a slave and call Ciru and tell her to only direct to you very urgent matters, you will spend the rest of the day in meetings outside the office.”

I do as I am instructed, for I am, currently, still Chris’ minion. I speak to Ciru in a shaky voice – my confidence to give instructions in my new position is still lacking – and when I am done, Chris gives me a satisfied nod. “Shall we?” he asks.

I nod and head to my office where I pick up my handbag and my laptop and join him the basement downstairs where we both get into his car.

“How about the place with the lovely garden where they serve that great South Indian food you like?” Chris asks. I nod absently.

MIND IN THE OFFICE

“But how do I justify this as networking if all I am doing is spending the afternoon with you?” My mind is still in the office. Chris, meanwhile, has taken off his tie and tossed it in the back seat, freed himself of the encumbrance that is his jacket, and loosened the topmost button on his shirt.

Then he leans over to give me a long, lingering kiss on the lips. “You will be networking,” he says, pulling back, “with me.”

And so we set off for the restaurant in general silence as I go through emails on my phone and he hums along to the song playing on radio while tapping the steering wheel of his car. We continue like this for the entire ride – which isn’t too long – until we find ourselves nicely settled in the garden of this lovely restaurant as I peruse the options. Eventually, I settle on some yummy rice and lentil curry while Chris orders chicken and a huge bottle of red wine to wash down all the spicy food with.

“So now that we are done with the boss-employee dynamic, can we talk about the situation we were arguing about the other day?” I pose as I watch our waiter fumble around with the cork and screw; he must be a trainee.

“Look, Liz as far as I am concerned there is nothing to worry about. Even if you said you were quitting your job tomorrow I would continue to keep you in the style you will be accustomed for the rest of your days.”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow. “I am not concerned about your finances, Chris. I just don’t want you to be bored and unoccupied. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop, you know.”

Chris laughs. “If that’s the problem then I am sure I can find ways to keep myself busy. I might even babysit all the kids we have.” He laughs while I gasp; I would like children – but I don’t want a legion! Then he suddenly turns somber. “The girls are coming in next weekend.”

“Your daughters?” I ask. He nods. “It will be nice to see them again.”

“They still remember you. You had quite an impact on them the last time.” I blush, not knowing what to say to that. “And you did a good job with them even though it was so short a time.”

Thankfully, our waiter has figured out how to open the bottle by now and he pours us each a glass. I pick mine up and sip gratefully.

Meanwhile, Chris reaches out for my other hand, lying on the table. “I just want to say thank you Liz, for everything you are and have been to me.” He stares me deeply and earnestly in the eye.

In that instant, I am transported back to all the years we have known each other – and how the last time we dated, it ended with him going back to his wife. And that’s when the mood at the table changes.