Ch 6
River stepped out of the transport pod, fixing her hair as she gave the hostess her name. She was then lead passed tables full of other dining parties, the place smelling of spices and meat. Her reservation was in a more private area near the back where the man from the phone was waiting.
"Hello, Mark." River smiled, her voice already taking up a flirty tone. It was a habit, but not one she felt like breaking.
"Professor Song," He rose from his seat to greet her. "So glad you changed your mind."
"Well, I wouldn't say I've changed my mind quite yet." She teased, "I only agreed to dinner, nothing more."
"Dinner is a perfect gateway." He pulled out her chair for her.
She hummed, sitting down, "You've picked a lovely place."
"It's a few kilometers away from the first expedition you lead." He sat down across from her.
"Well, someone's done their homework." She leaned against the table.
"I like to know whom I'm hiring."
A waiter came by with waters for them and asked if they were interested in other drinks. River ordered a glass of wine, watching the man across from her carefully. He ordered the same thing.
They'd only actually ever met in person a handful of times. Him being the head of the University Board and her being a time traveling archaeologist and mother of four left little room for things like this. Most of their correspondence was over email and phone calls. She had to admit he was rather handsome and she could see why her colleagues, especially the single ones, actually looked forward to their meetings with him.
She leaned back and relaxed, "Well, since you already know so much about me, I think you should tell me a bit about you."
"Of course. What would you like to know?"
"Everything you're willing to tell me."
"Everything? Oh, that's quite a lot. Well, I'm a Luna alumni, to start."
"Are you really?" She raised an eyebrow.
He nodded. "I went in thinking I'd be a doctor, but ended up majoring in business."
She hummed, "No interest in archeology then?"
"I can't say I don't admire the skill, but it's not my forte."
"Understandable. Not everyone finds studying dusty old books interesting." She shrugged, "So you graduated from Luna, how did you end up as the Head of the Board?"
"Ah, well, that story's a classic I started at the bottom and ended at the top." He began, going into more detail as the waiter came back with their drinks.
River patiently listened to the whole thing, his story keeping her mind off the situation at home. "That's quite the story." She commented once he had finished.
"Thank you." He smiled. "Not too cliche I hope."
"Not at all." She shook her head.
"Good." They ordered their food.
"Now, I suppose we should get down to business." She murmured once they had ordered.
"Not so keen on the bantering, Professor?" He teased.
"Well, if you want to banter, we could do that as well." She shrugged, "And please, call me River."
"Well, River, it's your turn to tell me how you got into the archeology business."
"Well, I wanted to become an archeologist because I've always loved history." She lied, "It's what felt right and so I enrolled at Luna and...well, I'm sure you know the rest."
"Mostly. There was a large amount of time between your doctorates and professorship. Care to share what that was about?"
"I was traveling in that time." She shrugged, "The universe is amazing, so many places to see and study. Once I had been to a lot of the places I had always dreamed of seeing, I decided to become a professor and travel became more of a hobby than a lifestyle." The last bit wasn't entirely true, it was more like the other way around with travel still being her lifestyle and teaching being a hobby, but she didn't need her employer to know that.
"Then how is it that someone with a mind as brilliant and beautiful as yours doesn't say yes to the position I'm offering you?"
"Because, in case you've forgotten, I have a family, and they're my priority now." She sighed, her mind drifting to the Doctor.
"Your family should be happy and supportive of you that you've got such an opportunity."
She smiled weakly, "Yes, well, my life at home is a bit complicated right now."
Their food arrived at that moment, blocking Mark from pressing on that subject. "I can only keep the position open for so long. There needs to be a history department head and soon. You're more qualified than anyone."
River sighed, she really wanted to take the job, and after what had happened earlier with her husband, she wanted the distraction as well, "I suppose you're right. And an opportunity like this doesn't arise often..."
"Could very well be a once in a lifetime chance." He added.
She was quiet for a few minutes, "Alright, I'll take it."
Mark's face brightened tremendously. "See? Dinner always works magic."
She laughed, "I suppose it does."
"I'll be pleased to tell the Board." He raised his glass to her.
She smiled, clinking her glass with his, "I'm excited to get started. Thank you for the opportunity."
"You can start as late as the 20th or as early as tomorrow. And there will be plenty of chances to work from home."
"Well, I'll have to check my children's schedules but I'm sure I can start by the end of next week." She nodded, "And I'm guessing this higher level position will mean I'll be working more closely with you?"
"An added benefit." He grinned.
She smiled, "Well aren't I a lucky girl."
Their conversation flowed rather easily as dinner went on and grew progressively more flirtatious. River was having fun being a big flirt and was having a bit more to drink than she probably should have been having, especially at a professional engagement.
Eventually, the waiter came over with a check for them. River offered to pay, reaching for her purse.
"No, no, please," Mark insisted. "Let me get it."
"If you insist." She shrugged, letting him pay. He took care of the bill and soon they were strolling out of the restaurant.
"That was quite a fancy pod you send for me." She commented.
"I didn't want you to be uncomfortable." He hummed.
"Oh, was that the reason? Are you sure you weren't just showing off?"
"Modesty forbid." He laughed.
She laughed, touching his arm, "I had a lovely time tonight."
"Me, too." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"I do hope you won't mind giving me a lift home as well?"
"Of course, I've ordered your transportation pod again."
"Not up for taking me home yourself?" She teased.
"I'm afraid my car can only drive in the 51st century." He chuckled.
"Well, I do have an apartment in this century, you could drop me off there." She had her vortex manipulator in her bag, so getting home wouldn't really be a problem.
"Don't need to rush home to the kids?"
"Not tonight." She purred, "And that doesn't happen very often, so one could call this a very rare opportunity."
He was hooked easily. "My car's this way." She took his arm, following him to his car.
He opened the passenger door for her. She slid into it, using the side mirror to fix her lipstick. He got into the driver's seat. "Where's your apartment?"
She gave him the address, "I hope it's not too far for you."
"Gives us plenty more time to talk." He hummed.
"Yes, indeed. This is a very nice car." She commented, "My son would love it, he's going through the car-obsessed phase right now."
"Mhh-hmm." He nodded, though didn't seem too interested in hearing about her kids, rather going into talking about the car's make and model. River really couldn't care less about the car, but she pretended to be interested as he was clearly trying to impress her.
He finished his car ramble and there was a beat of silence before, "You know, I had to pull a few strings to make sure you got this position."
"I thought you said I was the most qualified." She raised an eyebrow.
"You are." He insisted. "But I wanted to make sure no one else had a chance."
"Ah, I see. Well then perhaps I should have paid for dinner." She murmured, this new information making her frown a bit.
"Nonsense. It was my idea anyways."
"That's very kind of you. I'll have to find a way to repay the favor in the future."
"I'm sure you'll think of something good." He said knowingly.
She hummed, another moment of silence passing through the car, "So do you live around here?"
"About forty minutes from your apartment." He nodded.
"Forty minutes? I didn't realize you were going so out of your way."
"Ah, it's nothing compared to your coming across time for dinner."
"Please, I needed a night out. My husband..." She trailed off, shaking her head.
"Your husband?" He urged.
"I don't want to think about it right now." She sighed.
"Did he hurt you?" Mark frowned.
"No! No." She quickly shook her head, "He isn't ever physically violent."
He relaxed, backing off the subject. "So what made you decide to live in the past?"
"My parents lived in that century and my husband and I have many friends who live in that century as well." She answered.
"Ah." He nodded.
"And what about you? Were you born in this time or did you choose it?"
"Born here. Started on Earth, though. In the States."
She nodded, making conversation as they continued their drive. He mentioned her new promotion at every chance, seeming to think it would earn more gratitude from her. By the time they were at her apartment, she was rather annoyed with his boasting. After all, she was the one that had earned the position... well, would have earned had he made it a fair competition.
"Thank you for the ride." She said as he parked.
"My pleasure." He walked her to her door.
She tried to think about the dinner rather than the car ride, leaning against the door, "I had a lovely evening."
"Yes, I'd call it a successful one."
"I look forward to working with you more in the near future." She murmured.
"Believe me, so am I." His tone was low and wanting.
Her eyes flickered down to his lips and she was suddenly very aware of the lack of space between them. At this point, it was easy to start piecing together from their conversations that the promotion wasn't only reason he was so keen on her taking the job offer. As it was, this moment was all depending on River's actions.
She frowned, thinking of the Doctor and what he might say if she kissed Mark. The image of his betrayed face in her head actually just made her want to kiss Mark just so she could get back at him what he did. She didn't care what the Doctor would think. She did, however, care what it might do to her reputation if someone where to find out and think she'd slept her way into her position. "I should go." She murmured, reaching into her bag to pull out her vortex manipulator.
Mark frowned. "You're not going to invite me inside?"
"Not tonight." She shook her head, "I'm sorry, but if that's the kind of repayment you're looking for, I'm not that kind of person."
He looked annoyed. "After all the flirting you're not even going to give me a kiss?"
"Flirting is one thing, a kiss is another and if you're only offering me this position because you want to sleep with me then I'm sorry, but that won't happen."
"I made the position available only for you." He frowned. "You owe me!"
"I don't owe you anything." She tried to take a step back but found herself already against the door, "I didn't ask for you to make this position exclusive to me, that was your choice."
"Well, I wouldn't have made it if I knew you were going to play so hard to get." He hissed.
"I'm not playing hard to get I'm standing up for myself and my reputation. I don't need to sleep with my boss to get a promotion. I like my current job just fine." She spat back.
"Well, you can damn well kiss that free promotion goodbye, then. And your current job."
She tried to ignore the second threat. "I'd rather earn it than get it for free." She plugged the coordinates into her vortex manipulator. He couldn't get another word in before she was gone.
River landed in her bedroom, twisting her ankle in the process. She fell as she landed, ending up on the floor next to the bed. She didn't even bother trying to get up, burying her head in her hands. She felt utterly stupid for what just happened, not to mention upset at the now apparent reality that Mark was going to fire her.
The Doctor, who'd been sleeping in the bed, woke at the noise, peering over at her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She tried to keep her voice steady. She hadn't realized that he was in the bedroom and kept her face covered so he wouldn't see she was crying.
"You're on the ground." He murmured.
"I fell, I'm fine." She repeated, trying to get up, keeping her back to him.
He watched her, not believing her for a second. "Do you want the bedroom to yourself tonight?"
"I'll sleep on the couch." She whispered, limping to the door once she managed to get on her feet.
"You shouldn't have to do that." He frowned.
"Just go to sleep, please." Her voice broke on the last word.
He clenched his jaw. "Your foot..."
She ignored him, leaving the room and going down the stairs. She barely managed to make it with the pain from her ankle, melting into a chair at the kitchen table. She resumed her previous position now that she was alone again, shoulders shaking. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to regulate her breathing to stop crying.
Eventually, he pulled herself together enough to grab a piece of paper to write her letter of resignation. It was more than likely that she was going to get fired, but on the off chance that she wasn't, there was no way she was going to work under Mark anymore.
Toby, who'd been napping under the table, stirred slightly and moved to rest closer to her legs. She was obviously upset but the dog helped. He fell back asleep but was warm against her feet. Her whole ankle was swollen but she ignored it, putting her head down on the table.