Luke was just about to get up when he saw Dr. Oliver walk into Java's and head straight towards his table.
''May I'' he pointed his head towards a free seat wearing his usual ill-tempered expression.
Before Luke could answer he sat down and looked directly at him.
''I need your money.''
''Excuse me?'' Luke eyed him up and down, an amused smile on his lips.
''I need a donation from your fund for the hospital. Do you think there is anything you can do?''
''Well thanks for asking so friendly and considerately but you're wasting your time with the wrong guy.''
Dr. Oliver furrowed his brow, piercing Luke with a questioning gaze.
Luke calmly stuffed a few dollar bills into his wallet and then leaned over the table with a provocative look on his face. ''Richie is not rich anymore.''
''What happened.'' Dr. Oliver sounded irritated as he tried to figure out the piece of information.
''I broke bonds with my father.'' Luke said the provocative tone fading away. ''So if you want money you'll have to go see him but be aware it comes at a price.''
Luke gathered the newspaper and notes he had spread over the table and got up.
''I guess we're done then.'' he said turning around to leave.
''But it's your foundation right?'' Dr. Oliver had gotten up as well and was now facing Luke again. There was no way he would let him get away with that little of an explanation.
''Yeah and my father's money.'' Luke began to sound impatient.
''So you really throwing away millions of dollar just because you had a little fight with daddy. You really are stupid.''
''What is so hard to get here? It's not my money to throw away. Yeah big surprise I have lived with the silver spoon in my mouth for a long time and now that I spit it out trying to make it on my own with nothing but my own money suddenly I'm stupid.'' Luke looked at him for a few second and then turned away.
''You know what? What do I even care? If you want money go see my father.''
This time Luke rushed right to the door not giving Dr. Oliver a chance to say another thing.
Luke let the door of his apartment fall shut and rushed down the two flights of stairs. As he stepped onto the street his first thought was Java's. There was no way he would start a day like the one ahead without a decent cup of coffee.
When he entered the place a few minutes later the warm sugary smell of coffee wrapped all around his senses and immediately lulled him into a better mood. Since it was sonly 08.30 the business crowd was already gone and the students were not there yet.
Having the room all to himself Luke picked a seat in the corner and threw his stuff on the table to get comfortable in the large fluffy couch. When he was half way through with his coffee he snapped open his laptop and placed it on his knees. The last week had been really exhausting and he was not nearly half way through his duty plan. He had a busy day ahead with finding a job and taking care of his school application being the top two priorities.
The initial enthusiasm faded away quickly and as the minutes began to drag out to twice their length Luke moved his gaze away from the screen and placed his head in his hands rubbing over his burning eyes.
Another half an hour later he felt physically and emotionally drained and it was only 10 in the morning. An annoyed sigh on his lips he snapped his laptop shut and silently cursed his inability to write this damn motivation letter.
The rest of the morning was a depressing, nearly humiliating odyssey through several banks and other administrative offices and the fruitless quest for a job. The second half was a little less frustrating but still utterly exhausting and by six in the evening he just wanted to sit down at Java's with nothing but a window to look through and a cup of coffee in his hands.
Due to the after work rush he had to queue quite a long time and when he had finally bought his coffee and sandwich he could not spot a free table by the window so he decided to just turn around and leave.
''Hey Mr. Snyder.''
Luke turned around and furrowed his brow at the sight of Dr. Oliver sneaking up behind him.
''What do you want.'' His voice sounded resigned and annoyed at the same time.
''You should really sit down to eat. All this self made stress is going to cost you your youth faster than you can watch it happening.''
''I don't need your advice and we don't have to get along anymore since Noah and I broke up so to put it in your words get lost.'' Luke pulled a face and rushed forward to squeeze past the man blocking his way to the door.
''Wow you're even more pouty and whiny than usual. What's the occasion?''
''What do you care?'' Luke moved forward again, another attempt to make his way to the door.
''I'm just asking. Maybe I can help.''
''Like I said you don't have to be nice to me. I don't sit on the money anymore.''
Dr. Oliver tilted his head and eyed him up and down.
''I know I'm being nice to you cause you look like shit and I know that you like to share what's on your heart so sit down and spill your guts.''
Luke peered at the older man through narrowed eyes.
He might not have been his first choice for this matter but his life was weighing heavy on him right now and it was true that he would have liked to get rid of some thoughts torturing his mind.
So he pulled back a chair and dropped down on it exhaling sharply.
''So what is it Mr. Snyder?'' Dr. Oliver sat down across the table and leaned back in his chair looking at him expectantly.
''Everything. There is not one single thing in my life that is working or that I have even remotely under control right now. I mean I just try really hard and everyday seems like a never ending fight and when I look back nothing has really changed and when I look forward I see even more stuff, worse stuff. It's like a bottomless pit and just too much at once but I need to do it all and…''
Luke paused, his facial expression twitching as he looked down on his hands.
''Why are you doing this?''
''I told you.''
Luke looked back at him shaking his head with disbelief.
''Yeah but you don't do nice. And you know that there is no money to take. So what are you up to?''
''There is nothing on TV and listening to your drama is more interesting than sitting in the dark alone.''
Luke pulled an offended face and leaned back in his chair.
''Are you making fun of me?''
''No I'm not.'' Dr. Oliver's voice sounded all matter of factly not tainted with any kind of emotion.
''I'm just telling you what this is doing for me. Most people wouldn't admit. They would probably come up with some stupid, obvious, sugar coated lie and tell it right to your face.''
Luke frowned until his eyes were half shut and turned his head slightly towards the side.
''You do know that no human being ever does anything without a personal benefit. Please tell me you're not that naive.''
''That has got nothing to do with naive.'' Luke had gotten over his first surprise and was now darting forward on his chair as he tried to defend his point.
''Yes it has Mr. Snyder. I give you credit for believing in the naturally good human being that tells me you are one of them but sadly so you are walking in very slight company, maybe even alone.''
''Why are you so bitter and misantrophic?''
''I'm not. I'm just too intelligent to be fooled by the masquerade they put up and believe me that's not always funny either. I bet the world is a nicer place seen through your puppy eyes.''
''Are you done?''
Dr. Oliver waved his hand encouragingly.
''By all means go on.''
''You are really not a friendly person.''
''I'm just not in the position where I have to kiss anybody's ass. I could easily see though why that would annoy people who might not be able to afford that.''
Luke shook his head again crooking up his left cheek.
''I don't know what to say to that.''
Dr. Oliver waved his hand again nodding his head.
''Go on spilling your heart. I'm listening.''
Luke remained silent for a while studying the expression on Dr. Oliver's face.
''I don't know where to start. It's really a lot and I just don't know what to do first. I try to get back into school but I am not sure that's going to work for the upcoming academical year… Or ever for that matter.''
Luke took a moment to swallow the pain those words triggered and then sighed out his despair.
''Maybe I have to drop that plan but I'm not ready for that and even worse I have got no backup plan. I don't care about doing some stupid aimless job for the rest of my life. I wanna go somewhere.''
''Then go. If you have a plan in mind there is no reason why you should not go after it until you have what you want.''
''Well that's easy for you to say.''
''No it's not. Do you think I didn't have stones put in my way? What makes you think the road has always been smooth for me?''
Luke swallowed as he let his gaze travel over the still emotionless face. He pushed his bottom lip forward and slightly tilted his head as his thought began to move into a different direction.
''So what if the road is a little bumpy you just do what you have to do and if you fail you try again. Whining is the only thing that is surely not going to be of any help.''
''You sound so determined. How can you never be insecure?''
''I didn't say that. I just don't let it get to me.''
Luke kept staring at the man sitting across the table his eyes moving quickly along with his thoughts. He just sat there silently for a few moments before he went on.
''I can't find a job. I don't want to sit around doing nothing. It gets me into a strange mood.''
''What is it you want to study?''
Luke's expression changed to surprised at this supposedly irrelevant question.
''Screenwriting. Why.''
''Good.''
Luke shook his head slightly, still expecting an explanation.
''Then write. That should keep you busy till you find a job.''
''I haven't written in a while.''
''Well then it's about time you pick it up again.''
''What about the money? I don't have the financial means anymore to support Noah with his hospital bills.''
''I'll treat him for free.''
''Come again?'' This time Luke's face was more a grimace than just filled with mere surprise.
''Under one condition.''
''Which is?'' Luke looked up dragging out the words.
''You sleep with me.''
The hysterical burst of laughter had come over Luke's lips before his brain had even caught up with the words.
''Yeah, very funny.'' He now giggled under his breath.'' You know I would not have expected you to have a normal kind of humor.''
''I'm not joking.'' Dr. Oliver had not moved an inch and was still facing Luke with the same matter of factly expression on his face, his voice sounding business as usual.
Luke shook his head, the smile frozen on his lips.
''You're really serious.''
''Yes I am.'' Dr. Oliver had now bent forward and was leaning on the table eyeing him from under quirked eyebrows.
''So are you taking the offer?''
Luke burst into awkward giggling again.
''You can't do that.''
''Well let's see. Considering the fact that you first got dirt on my name, unrightfully. Then blackmailed me after bribing didn't work and then kidnapped me and held me hostage in this terrible brain frying white bread community to perform surgery on your boyfriend I would say we call it even after this one.''
Luke moved his head back a few inches searching his brain for the best answer to this one but there was just nothing he could really think of right there. He looked Dr. Oliver up and down a few more times sure to find the sign that he was joking if he would just look for it careful enough.
''You can't do that. That's blackmail.''
''You know it's really fun to hear you say that Mr. Snyder. And besides it's not. I have all the right in the world to refuse to treat Noah if he can't pay and if I am kind enough to offer you a way out that is actually really nice of me.''
''I'm pretty sure that is illegal on some level.''
Dr. Oliver simply shrugged before he replied.
''I'm pretty sure if I file a suit for illegal restraint, blackmail and slander you will get about as many years as I will. Don't initiate a game you can't play at Mr. Snyder.''
''Are you doing this to get back at me. Cause if you do it's a pretty cheap shot.''
Dr. Oliver shook his head and leaned forward across the table.
''I'm doing this because I think you're hot and I have been wanting to get into your pants for a long time now so I'm grabbing an opportunity if it shows.''
Luke still peered at him through sparkling eyes, his lips twitching with the bitter knowledge that the Grimaldi inside him had obviously messed with an equal this time.
''Alright.'' He said trying to keep up a pokerface. ''Talk business then.''