Sitting down at a table of a restaurant in the far corner, they waited for their order. "So Haley, do you like working for Lucas over here?" Kevin asked while placing an arm around Lucas' shoulders, looking intensely at Haley from diagonally across the table.
Wanting to keep the conversation brief, Haley responded, "I enjoy working for the company and for Mr. Scott." Lucas raised his eyebrows at hearing his sir name being used.
"I'm glad because if my buddy wasn't treating you right, I would have to hurt him," slapping Lucas playfully on his back, he gave Haley another irksome smile.
"Fortunately for the both of us, we are getting along rather well," Lucas answered, not wanting to be left out of the conversation.
"Good beca -" Kevin was cut off by the ring tone of a cell phone announcing an urgent call.
Lucas reached his pockets for his mobile. Looking at the caller ID, he greeted, "Hello. This is Lucas Scott." He listened for a moment before covering the receiver and offering an apology for having to step outside the restaurant. Kevin stood up to give Lucas access out of the booth and then sat down on the other side of the table next to Haley.
Cautiously, Haley tried to move away from him without him realizing only to be disappointed with him scooting closer to her. "So Haley, now that Lucas is away, you can honestly tell me how he is treating you?"
"He's a great boss. No complaints here." Haley tried to sound pleasant. Assessing the person in front of her, she couldn't help but wonder why a man whom many women would probably fall all over to meet would be so forward and unsettling towards her.
Running a hand through his slick black hair, he smirked, "You can have a job being my personal assistant.
"Thank you for the offer but I'm content with my current position working for Mr. Scott."
He leaned toward Haley, whispering seductively, "Well how about you go out on a date with me instead since you refused my earlier offer? Trust me, it'll be a night you'll never forget."
"I'm flattered but I'm not interested." Haley glanced around the restaurant. 'Why did they have to be seated so far away from everyone else?'
"Don't try to play hard to get." He placed his hand on Haley's thigh, running it up and down. "I know I'm irresistible."
Haley slapped his hands away from her as she moved closer to the wall. "Look Mr. Mason, I'm not interested," she used the sternest voice she could muster, as she felt her heart wanting to explode from disgust and fright.
"Is that so?" He moved to lay his intrusive hands on her once again only to be swatted away by his neighbor.
"Yes!" Haley told him firmly. She pursed her lips together, trying to hold down the temper that was mounting.
"Well I guess I have to try another tactic."
"Nothing you say or do will make me change my mind," she spat. "And if you try to make any advances towards me, I'll slap a sexual harassment suit on you so fast your head will spin."
"Look Haley," he snared in a malicious tone, "I didn't want it to get to this but seeing how you're trying so hard not to throw yourself at me, I'll make it easy for you." Leaning against the back of the booth, he countered, "I'm Kevin Mason, son of Larry Mason. You know, the owner of the publishing company, so if you want to keep your job or your precious boss to keep his, you'll do well to remember that! And if you try to mention this to anyone, especially Lucas, you'll regret it!"
Moving quickly away from her, he went back to his seat acting as if everything was fine and dandy. Haley looked up to realize that Lucas was approaching them to her relief. She couldn't believe what she just experienced. The monster sitting casually across from her had the nerve to blackmail her. Feeling helpless in a horrendous predicament, she remained silent 'Oh God! What am I suppose to do?'
As Lucas approached the table, he apologized again for answering the call. Then he revealed that there was an emergency at his office, so he and Haley had to leave. Haley silently thanked whomever it was that called that allowed her to escape spending one more moment with the vindictive, arrogant and self-righteous jerk in front of her.
Kevin gave Haley a warning glare as she stood up. "I'm disappointed our lunch was cut short. Perhaps another time then?"
Lucas vaguely replied, "Another time." He threw some money on the table and then guided Haley out of the restaurant to his car. 'Good thing we took two cars.' He disliked Kevin. Not only was Kevin unfairly offered the position of publisher because his dad owned the company, he wasn't deserving of the role. Kevin's lack of work ethics and skills in the publishing industry left Lucas with the difficult task of handing both Kevin and his own workload. But for some reason, today caused him to dislike his co-worker even more.
"So what's so urgent that we had to leave before we got our food?" Haley asked in a concerned voice.
"I realized how much work I have to catch up on that I can't put aside for another minute. Sorry about cutting the lunch short."
"So who was on the phone?" Haley continued asking questions, curiosity evident in her voice.
"An important associate of mine." His mother sure had perfect timing. He was relieved he was able to find a perfect excuse to leave.
"Oh," Haley responded.
"Since we didn't have time to eat, let's grab something to go. What type of food are you in the mood for?"
"Hamburgers and fries."
Glad that Haley wasn't the type of girl who only ate salads, he smiled, "Then hamburger and fries it is."
Haley licked her lips in anticipation of the appealing greasy fast food they were about to pick up. Noticing this, Lucas instinctively wet his lips too. He couldn't help but notice how soft and full her mouth looked. With this thought entering his mind, he couldn't help but keep her in his peripheral view, looking at her as he drove while reproaching himself for doing so.