Zander slid down off the stool and stepped towards her. She smiled at him and she could feel her stomach tying itself in knots as she couldn't help but stare at him.

"You're new in town, aren't you?" Elizabeth asked as she noticed Emily frozen in her place.

"Yeah I am. You live here... in town?" he directing his question to Emily who stood staring, her eyes fixated on him.

"Yes she does ..." Elizabeth answered for Emily again and then tugged gently on the back of Emily's shirt, for her to sit down.

"Why don't you join us?" Elizabeth invited.

"Uh .. huh .. please do .." a wide eyed Emily managed to get out, she taking her seat, Zander sitting across from her. Elizabeth giggling at her friend. Zander flattered.

"I'm sorry ..." Emily giggled an apology for staring at him.

"That's okay .. it's cute." he smiled.

Elizabeth nudged Emily's knee with hers underneath the table then eyed her about Zander's comment. The girls giggled.

"Don't mind them, they do that all the time." Lucky said

"What's that?"

"Laugh .. half the time I don't what their laughing about." Lucky chuckled.

"Since you guys live here you would know what there is to do around here?"

"You're kidding right?" Elizabeth giggled

"If you want something to do, you have to go into the city." Lucky added

"Manhattan?"

"Yeah, the city." Elizabeth replied, like Zander should know that.

"Now, now .. we have movies and stuff here, just if you want clubs and stuff, the city is where it's at." Emily spoke up for the first time since Zander had joined the group.

"Really ...." Zander smiled, the thought of asking the girl he had just met, to go out, but thought against the idea, she'd never go out with a guy like him. She dressed in a business type suit, obviously coming from a family with wealth, who was he? He was certainly not someone her family would approve of. There was no blue blood running through his veins.

Alexis had just slipped from her business suit and into her red silk bath robe and red fuzzy slippers, when she heard there was someone at the door. She hurried down the stairs, thinking that Zander had probably forgotten his key, her robe slightly open, she quickly opened the door to find Ric standing in the hallway. She quickly pulled her robe closed at the top, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry for barging in ...." Ric said as he strolled into Alexis's apartment, uninvited.

"What can I do for you, Ric?" Alexis slamming closed the door, making known she wasn't happy with the intrusion.

"It's what I can do for you, Alexis." Her eyebrow raised in reply and she wondered what he meant and pulled her robe tighter around her to cover herself up.

"And what can you do for me, Ric?"

"Take you to dinner."

Alexis didn't know quite what to say, and she stammered out excuses not to go. "I can't. Alex, he'll be back soon, I'm sure and I don't want to leave him here alone."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a big boy, he can take care of himself for one night."

"Well, I have this policy not to date anyone I work with."

"Won't fly with that one either. It's not really a date, I mean we're just going for a bite to eat."

Alexis smirked, she wasn't winning at this game and she quickly thought of another excuse, but Ric wasn't having it and turned her towards the stairs.

"Now you go up those stairs, and get yourself all pretty, I'm taking you out for dinner."

"But ...."

"No buts .. I'm not taking no for an answer."

She had one more excuse up her sleeve and she gave it to him when she reached the top of the stairs.

"No .. we're going Alexis. Now go and get ready." Ric stood firm with her and she cracked a smile.

Ric watched her turn the corner and disappear up the steps. He shook his head and laughed under his breath at her stubbornness. "She is one stubborn woman. But I love a challenge."