5 - Business Partners

The next day Audrey still couldn't believe she had gone out for a business dinner with Maxwell Lord, Maxwell Lord of all people! And part of her was still surprised by how good a time she had had.

Because of her judgements of his commercials, she had been quick to judge the man as well, but now she saw she had been completely wrong about him. Sure, maybe he had a big ego and lots of money, but that didn't stop him from being a kind, caring and generous person, as she had seen displayed last night. She was looking forward to their partnership.

"Wow he's so generous!" cried Barbara the next morning when Audrey told her about Maxwell Lord's donation, echoing Audrey's thoughts.

"Yes, yes he is."

She and Barbara were still working through their catalogue of new items, identifying and logging everything. The strange citrine stone was still stumping them.

"Hmm, I wonder what someone on the black market would have bought this for, thinking it was all ancient and exciting," Audrey remarked. "Good thing we've got experts like you."

"Oh, thanks, well, just doing my job. By you're right - I'm not sure what someone would have paid for this, I can't even imagine. What do you say we keep going with the other items and come back to this later?"

"Good plan." Their thoughts were that - hopefully - maybe in identifying one of the other items in the collection would give them a better idea of the stone.

Barbara packaged the stone back in its box and set it aside. "Okay-" She picked up her list. "What's next..." They had already completed much of the collection, and they still had a ton to go through.

"Ah, I was told I would find you here."

Both ladies' heads snapped up at the sudden voice - only to see Maxwell Lord standing there in their workplace again wearing that wide grin of his.

"Oh, hello again," greeted Barbara with a warm smile.

"How did you get back here?" Audrey asked him. "Slip past security?"

"I asked for you and they sent me back here."

"We just can't get rid of you," she joked.

He feigned offense. "And especially not now that we're officially partners."

"Well, not quite officially - you still have some paperwork to sign."

"Well, officially in my eyes." He winked.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Lord, by the way!" Barbara cried. "Audrey told me about your donation - that's amazing! I'm so glad you're here so that we can thank you in person!"

"Oh, hello again." The three turned to see Diana entering the lab and coming over to them.

"Diana guess what?! So, uh, headline: Mr. Lord took a tour of the entire Smithsonian while considering partnership and guess what he decided to do? Give his entire donation to our department! He's announcing it at the Members Gala next week!"

Diana's eyes widened in surprise.

"It sounds like it's going to be an amazing party - I hope you have something nice to wear." Maxwell was speaking to all the ladies, but looked at Audrey when he said this.

"Nothing at all," she joked. Now come to think of it, she would actually have to look into that - there hadn't been a gala in a while, or a fancier event of any kind, and she wasn't sure what she was going to wear. She had better make sure of that, so she wasn't rushing come the gala.

"I actually tend to skip these events," Diana told him. "I find that our benefactors with a true eye towards philanthropy prefer to stay out of the spotlight to let the museum's work garner the attention."

"Oh I agree. Except - I like to party!" He began snapping and swinging his arms to the side.

Barbara laughed. "Oh, you're such a good dancer!"

"Great so, thank you so much for coming," Diana stepped in, not looking very impressed.

"Thank you again for the tour. I will see you later-" He picked up a nearby magnifying glass and swirled it before his eyes, peering at the ladies through it, making Barbara laugh again. "Will you walk me out again?" he asked Audrey. "I may get lost."

She rolled her eyes. "Very well. Right this way, Mr. Lord." She gestured for him to follow her.

"Thanks again! See you at the gala!" Barbara called as they left the lab.

"Yes, thank you again," Audrey told him as they made their way through to the front entrance of the museum. "You will be hearing that from us a lot in the next while."

"And you will be hearing from me that it is truly my pleasure," he returned. "And, I hope, I will be hearing from you a lot in general in the next little while."

"That too, regarding that paperwork. I'll get it ready for you as soon as I can," she promised.

"No, rush, but thank you. It's truly been a pleasure so far and I can't wait to continue our business relationship." He reached out to shake her hand. He said 'business relationship' with such warmth, a warmth that she had never heard used when talking about a business relationship before.

She reached out and shook his hand. "I'm looking forward to it as well. It has been full of surprises so far."

"Ah, well I do love surprises."

She chuckled and then realized they were still holding hands long after their shake. "Good day, Mr. Lord." She dropped her hand.

"Good day, Dr. Laurel."

He turned and waved when he reached the doors again, making her laugh and wave back. And then he was gone.

She found herself smiling as she returned to the lab.

"I'd be cautious around him," said Diana when Audrey returned, clearly not convinced.

"What? Why? I like him." Barbara gave a dreamy sigh while Diana just gave an uncertain smile.

Audrey found herself definitely leaning more towards where Barbara stood on this matter, especially now, knowing what she knew about Mr. Lord.

Max.

In her office where she was compiling some notes and an update on she and Barbara's progress with the new items for Carol, her phone rang, startling her. She had been so wrapped up in her work, off in her own little world.

She composed herself and answered. "Hello, the National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian. This is Dr. Audrey Laurel speaking."

"Wow, that is quite the mouthful," came that smooth, liquid gold voice. "Very official, though."

"I really can't get rid of you."

"I just wanted to hear your beautiful voice again."

She rolled her eyes. "Is that so?"

"Yes."

"And is that all?"

"Yes and no-" Again, she rolled her eyes. "I was just thinking, since you gave me such a wonderful chance to see your workplace and hear about it from you, and since we're now going to be business partners, I was wondering if I could return the favour, and give you a tour of my workplace."

"Would this have to do with the TV networks?"

He chuckled. "No, however that could be arranged if you'd like. I meant my office building, Black Gold."

"Ah, I see-" She internally sighed with relief - she wasn't eager to work with TV networks again. "Thank you, that would be nice. But please don't feel obliged - I know you are a busy man."

"I am, but I can always make time for passionate, beautiful doctors."

She snorted with laughter and could feel herself blushing madly - she could also hear him chuckling over the phone.

"Very well. I'll bring the paperwork for you to sign."

"Sounds excellent, but as I said earlier, no rush."

"You're in no rush, are you?"

"Well if I don't sign the paperwork then, then that means I get to see you again."

"You're not being very subtle you know, if that's what you were going for."

"I know, and it's not." She could hear the wink in his voice.

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