4 - Dinner 'Date'

What did one wear to a business dinner with Maxwell Lord?

Ugh, Audrey didn't even know why she was fussing so much over this, she wasn't usually this fussy over things such as this. It was just dinner. Just a casual business dinner with Maxwell Lord to discuss his partnership with the museum.

Yeah, just.

With Maxwell Lord. Him, of all people.

Oh, what had she gotten herself into?

Just this morning while she was getting ready for work she had seen his advertisement on TV again and again she had rolled her eyes at the whole thing, and now she was going to dinner with the man. What was going on?

She had to admit though that it was a little exciting. But, only because he was so interested in the museum and becoming a partner.

She hadn't been out to dinner with someone other than friends or colleagues in a long time, let alone someone she barely knew. But, it was a business dinner, she kept reminding herself, and Maxwell had said that as well. She could do this. All she had to do was talk business, and as she, and now Maxwell knew, she was very good at doing just that.

This was what was running through her mind and distracting her from work all afternoon. When she found herself back in her office she realized she should probably call him to arrange the details for tonight. She didn't want seven o'clock rolling around only to realize she had never called to set the details.

"Hello, Black Gold Cooperative, this is Raquel speaking," a woman's Russian accent answered.

"Oh, hello, I'm Dr. Laurel calling from the Smithsonian. I had a meeting at the museum earlier today with Mr. Lord to discuss him becoming a friend of the museum and we've arranged another meeting for tonight. He gave me his card so that I could call and we could arrange the details."

"Ah yes, Mr. Lord did mention he was waiting for a call from you. I will put you through to his office."

"Thank you."

The line fell silent and then reconnected, and then-

"Dr. Laurel," came that smooth voice.

"Mr. Lord."

"I'm so glad you called - I've been awaiting it all day."

"Ah, well, sorry to keep you waiting," she half-joked.

He gave a low chuckle, which sounded all the more low and husky due to it being over the phone.

"So, the details for tonight," she prompted.

"Yes, yes, looking forward to it."

She gave him the address of her apartment building and he promised to meet her out front with a car at seven o'clock sharp.

She set the phone down and scribbled the time into her datebook.

Well, that was that: she was going out this evening.

When she arrived home after work, she must have stood staring inside her closet for at least a solid ten minutes. She realized she should have asked how fancy they were going - she was going for dinner with a TV star after all. However, again, it was a business dinner so she deiced business casual. A simple blue dress with boots.

She thought she'd best wait in the building lobby. Standing there, looking out the window, she suddenly realized just how nervous she was.

A car pulled up in front of the building and Maxwell stepped out. She headed out to greet him.

"Dr. Laurel. You look very lovely this evening."

"Thank you. Not bad yourself."

"I do love blue." He nodded to her dress. "Did you choose that on purpose?"

"No, I didn't actually."

He opened the car door, letting her step in first. "This is John, my chauffer," he introduced, getting in beside her. "John, this is Dr. Laurel from the museum."

"Hello."

"Ma'am"

"And we're off."

She was thankful when they arrived at a sweet café that didn't look overly fancy.

"This place is adorable," she said, especially loving the little lights lining the front fence.

"I'm glad you think so."

He must have made a reservation. The hostess led them to their table and Maxwell pulled out Audrey's chair for her.

"Thank you. So, did you have enough time to consider your partnership with the museum?" she asked while they waited for the server to bring the bottle of wine Maxwell had requested.

He chuckled. "Getting right down to business, I see. I like that. And yes, yes I did. And I would like to see to it that my donation goes entirely to your department."

Audrey gawked across the table at him. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Wow. Well it's not every day we meet a donor who is so interested."

"Well I am," he insisted. "Very much."

"I'm glad. It makes me very happy to see such interest."

"I'm glad you're glad. It sounds like we'll be hearing from each other a lot more."

"It certainly does." She was shocked. "You don't have to do that-"

"Oh but I want to. I can see you and your colleagues' passion, and I want to help encourage that. Like I said, I like that." There was that smooth voice again - smooth as liquid gold one could say.

Eventually the conversation moved from business to their lives away from work.

"So tell me more about your move and your job. You have me very intrigued."

"Well, I worked at the Natural History Museum in London before transferring here. It's always been my dream to work and share my passion abroad."

"Excellent."

"Yeah, if only everyone thought so." He was now looking at her curiously. "My family wasn't all that thrilled about me leaving, especially so far away. They didn't approve and we haven't talked since."

"I'm very sorry."

"Thanks. It is what it is, I guess."

"It sounds like you made the right decision for yourself, and I'm sorry they cannot see that."

"Thank you. And what about you? What's the great Maxwell Lord's life like behind the scenes?"

He chuckled. "Quite well. The light of it is my son, Alastair."

"Oh-" A son? She hadn't been expecting that. "That's lovely."

"Yes, he's seven. The best thing to come out of my failed marriage."

Ah, so he was divorced. "I'm sorry, that must have been very difficult."

"It was, but we're all better off now, I think. However, it was very tough on Alastair."

"I can imagine."

"He is my family, and that means everything to me."

She hadn't been expecting Maxwell Lord to be such a family man, but she loved the fact.

"Oh, no, no, my treat," he told her, waving away her attempt to pay for her part of the bill at the end of their dinner.

"Oh no, I couldn't do that-"

"Please Audrey - is it all right if I call you Audrey?"

"Yes, that's fine. It is my name." She chuckled awkwardly, making him chuckle as well. "Well, thank you very much, Mr. Lord. You are very generous."

"Again, it is my pleasure. And please, call me Max."

"Max." She liked calling him this better. Not that she didn't like the very official-sounding 'Mr. Lord', but Max just sounded so much more close and friendly.

Even though they really weren't there yet.

However, she felt like she knew him much more than she had that morning - this was true, but she had learned so much about him in the short time they were together tonight. And she hadn't held back telling him about herself either. She felt comfortable in his presence.

"You know, it's such a beautiful evening, and we're not all that far from my building, so I think I'll just walk back."

"Lovely idea! I shall accompany you."

"You really don't have to do that-"

"It's my pleasure, really. I will call my chauffer and let him know to pick me up in the same place we picked you up earlier - as long as you're okay with that."

"Yes, certainly."

"I'm glad. Be right back." With that he hurried off to use the restaurant's phone. When he came back after making his call he gave a sweep of his arm. "Please, lead the way."

And so she did just that. They continued the comfortable, casual conversation they had been keeping up at the restaurant as they cut through the park. They even shared a few, or more, laughs.

"Well, here we are," she announced as they walked up in front of her building.

"That was a lovely walk."

"It was. Thank you for walking with me."

"You're very welcome. I didn't want our evening together to be over with quite so soon."

Honestly, she hadn't either but wasn't ready to admit it out loud and to someone other than herself.

"Thank you for everything - Max."

"My pleasure, Audrey."

Well, now she could speak from experience - Angie had been right: his eyes were very captivating.

I realized Max isn't quite as desperate to get hold of the stone as soon as possible here.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)