"The meeting passed on in a blur beyond that. Her mind whirring to life. Her notes held out in front of her, her pen writing notes in her own margin. Names, places of where she could get to work. Her hand cramped twice because she was unable to keep up with her train of thought. The tap on her shoulder made her jump. Glancing up she realized she was alone sitting at the long table. How much time had passed? Looking up over her right shoulder stood none other than her new business partner. Up close she filled in the new blanks. Grey eyes, sharp almost transparent. His dark brown skin making them stand out. His mouth was full, turned up in a polite smile. But the small faded scar on his jaw caught her attention. It was to big to be a cut from a shave. His shoulders were wide, arms long. His posture was relaxed. Something about him made her both and anxious.

"Already hard at work I see." His voice was warm, casual and somehow, made her want to smile. Since we don't have long to start changing lives, I figured it was best to get underway Mr. Owens". He frowned. "So Formal. You can call me Nathan. Nathan Owens. And what is yours miss Liang?" He smiled as she gathered her papers and watched as he outstretched a hand to help her from her seat. His other hand deep in his pants pocket. She took his outstretched hand but gasped when he hauled her up from her chair so she stood close. Nearly chest to chest. Her papers mushed between the two of them. His eyes on hers, widened and lessened his grip on her hand. "I'm so sorry. I. I didn't think you'd be so light. I should have. Wait." He leaned in closely, causing her to move her head backwards. He seemed to close his eyes in such a focused way she nearly flinched. He held an intensity about him when he stood this close to hear it made her heart beat a little to fast. "What…Are your eyes?" He asked letting her go when she stepped out of his hold. Her heart was racing. Why? Wait. What was his question? Shoot. If he wasn't so... Attractive this would be a cinch. Focus Lily.

"My eyes?" At his nod, she couldn't help an awkward laugh. "They help me see." He blinked and a rumble from his chest made her heart do a stupid flutter.
"I'm glad we came to this conclusion together. You see, I had no idea what in Gods name what other people were using them for. Do you wear contacts?" He asked as they started for the door. "No. Well that's not true. I am wearing contacts, but only because I couldn't find my glasses this morning." She let him grab take door handle. "Why?" She asked as he opened a door for her. "Your eyes. They're…They're Purple." They're blue." She
"They look purple."

"Well, on my license it says blue" She walked passed him and soon enough, he caught up with her.

"I didn't catch your name in the meeting." He kept pace with her. Though his legs were indeed longer, she moved fairly fast.

"My name is Lilian. And my name wasn't a topic that was brought up." She admitted. His huff of air caught her attention. Its being brought up in this one. And, nice to meet you Lilian. Or do you go by something shorter like Lil's?"

"Sometimes, yes." Why was he still here?

"Don't call Me Lil's. Or Lilian" Turning the corner to her booth she opened the folder

"Why not?" He asked.
"Lil's or any nickname is for friends. And that, which we aren't, is why. And only my boss or Mother calls me Lilian" Sitting down at her desk now, she opened up her email list. She needed to contact people. Organize a few phone calls for a few major and she was going to have to arrange meeting with each of them if she could manage it. Or since it was so late, she should just wait till Monday."

"Okay. Liang it is." He said after a minute.
"I agree to your earlier statement. To formal" She spoke half mindedly. Her brain trying to formulate a plan. Maybe she could
"Okay, then Lils."
"Don't call me 'Lils'." She huffed. When he threw up his hands she looked up from her computer. The look he gave her nearly made her flinch. His eyes were hard, his mouth was tight. His easygoing posture was strained.

"What?" She finally asked when he continued to stare. "I don't know what to say to you. I don't. I am trying my damn hardest to get on some type of... Civil, is the word I would use, and have co-worker relationship let's us work smoothly. You don't like when I call you by your last name, even in a respected manner. You say it's too formal. Alright then. You don't like when I use your first name, cause we're not on a friendly first name basis. You don't like nicknames and I won't call you ma'am because you are not over the age of 40."

"Thank you?" She said quietly. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. His voice held purpose and a strength in it that matched the cold eyes. They pinned her to her chair.

"I want to help" He continued, pressing his fingers to his temple, pressing on "but you won't have it. I have been assigned to help, but you're trying to subtly refuse it. All due to the fact that, what I am willing to bet on, is that you don't know why I for one agreed to be apart of this. Though, I shouldn't have to explain why I am excited about his project." His hand dropped from his face and his eyes settled on her again. Well... His idea was better than simply stating that she didn't want to work with him because he was attractive. He was a distracting. Plain and simple. But she wouldn't admit it that way. So instead she went with his idea. You we're assigned to this Mr. Owens. It's not like you asked to be a part of this." She pushed a stand of hair away from her face, admittedly it was more or less a nervous gesture.

"And you think I didn't?" /span/p
"You never verbally vocalized any my thing in our meeting." She stated.

"Mr. Smoke caught me giving him a nod." What? She was confused.

"Is that meant to mean something to me?"
"It's a guy thing. Look, the point is, he got it. That's why he assigned me to this and that's why I didn't argue it."

"That still doesn't help me understand why you would even want a part in this. And until I do, you and I will have a very… Strained relationship." There. The truth. Not to hard to understand. Right? "If I tell you, can you, at least give me a name to go on?" He put his elbow up on the corner of her cubicle. The contrast between the cream coloured paneling and how dark his skin was, was something that she couldn't help but... Admire. How he stood out. Not in a bad way. But... In a pleasing way. Like looking at a sharp black and white vintage photo. It's sharpness being amplified in the right setting. Okay brain. Get back on track. Name. Question. Right. "Sure. But I want full honesty. Anything but, and you will get very little leeway with me. He nodded after a moment.

"I know how hard life can be without the best kind of ways to... Let's say cope, with bad things that happen. And it happens to everyone. But music? Music played a big part in when I grew up. It helped shape me into the person I am today. My mother sang in the choir of our church. She helped me learn to play the piano so I could help them rehearse when the main pianist got sick. And when I could have been busted for being part of the black 10% of an all white neighbourhood, I was participating in a school band for football games. My father loved playing Whitney Houston while dancing with my mother in the kitchen. Or hearing Stevie Wonder on the radio while I helped out at my father's repair shop in the summer. Their laughter mixed with music of love and soul. Music reminds me of my family. Music made my family happy. And with this project, I can only hope to extend that kind of feeling I get to others like me." He paused. She couldn't help the flutters in her chest when he smiled when he had talked about his parents. Or how his fingers had bounced, like they itched for the ivory of a piano.

"But." He went on." Your lack of being able to meet me in the middle here, is going to tear this project's throat out. So, I am going to ask this, and keep your 'I can handle it by myself attitude to yourself. I can tell you can get this done, I simply am trying to do my own job and you are hindering me by not allowing me to do so. Now what do you want?" He asked.

"You want to know what I want?"

"I do". He was quick after her question. She had to give him that.
"I want you to give me advice, but still considering my opinion when I ask for it. I want you to help me decide with all the care in the world, because that's who we are hoping to help. I want you to help me without smothering me. I want you to see my point of view and not squash it. I want you to feel confident in talking to me without having to lie. I want you to be close so you can help if I need you, without suffocating me when I work. I want us to be able to be confident in our work and think of it more than just a cheque that we get at the end of the day. Because that's what it is to me." She finished. He looked shocked for a second, then a small smile pulled the corner of his mouth.

"Okay. I can work with that." Dropping his arm, he turned to head out of the cramped hall. "And Owens?" She called. He turned around and she couldn't help the flutter in her chest. "You can call me Lily. You've earned that respect" His smile was wide, showing teeth. Turning again he walked down and out of sight. But not out of mind.