Derek looks at his watch as he rushes towards the restaurant. The owner had been nice enough to delay the meeting until lunch time after the team won last night. He runs his hand through his hair. He has no idea what this meeting is about. He is leaving next week for Europe to play for the US team in the World Cup. This is his chance to prove himself to the world and he is both thrilled and terrified.
Last night was great, amazing really. He scored two goals and had one assist. The defenders of the other team targeted him like they usually do, so of course he was fouled more than any other player on the field. A couple of them were hard fouls and today he is definitely feeling the after effects, but it's all good. They won and he wasn't really hurt.
There was, however, the problem of the groupies who wouldn't leave him alone. He loves his fans. He does, but sometimes, it sucks. Like now, when he is running five minutes late because people keep stopping him asking for his autograph.
He sees the door to the restaurant, The Ivy, and he rushes to get there before he can be stopped again. Unfortunately, the entrance to The Ivy is always bombarded by fans and photographers and Derek finds himself surrounded almost immediately.
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Meredith sits in the restaurant with her father, looking at her watch and impatiently tapping her foot. He's late. She hates it when people are late. She glances around the posh restaurant. There are several celebrities there, now if only their celebrity would show up.
She fidgets with the watch on her wrist. Her father look at her and laughs.
Thatcher: Don't be nervous, Mer. Everything will be fine. He probably just got stopped by some fans.
Meredith: I'm not nervous.
Thatcher grabs Meredith's wrist, stopping her movements.
Thatcher: Yes, you are. Don't worry.
Meredith looks up at her father.
Meredith: What if they don't like me? I mean, what if the fact that I'm only twenty years old and a woman gets in the way?
Thatcher chuckles.
Thatcher: Well, they will just have to get over it. As of next season, you are going to be the official owner. You are going to be their boss. So, they better get used to it.
Meredith sighs.
Meredith: I don't want to be that owner that sits back and just watches, Dad. I want to be involved. I want to know them and I want them to know me, to be able to come to me.
Thatcher: I get that. I do. That is why I am signing the team over to you. This is your passion. The team was always meant to be yours, but you have shown so much maturity and intelligence that I think you are ready. You have endless funds at your disposal. Do what you need to do to make the team yours.
It is then that there is a commotion at the door and Meredith looks up to see none other than Derek Shepherd walking into the restaurant. He looks good. He has on a pair of sunglasses, jeans that hug his hips perfectly and a fit shirt that shows off his muscles. She sees him scanning the restaurant. He speaks to the hostess and she points in their direction. That is when their eyes meet.
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Derek stops in his tracks. It's the tiny blonde from last night. The one who was standing on the sidelines. The one that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get her out of his mind. Something about her captivated him and has held him captive since last night.
He finally tears his blue eyes from her intense green ones and sees that she is sitting at the table with none other than the owner of the team. He has to go over there. He needs to go over there if he can only get his damn feet to move.
He doesn't really feel his feet moving, but he notices that he is getting closer to the table. He runs his hand through his hair as he approaches them. They both stand to their feet. Mr. Grey sticks his own out to shake his hand.
Thatcher: Mr. Shepherd, nice to see you again. Great game last night.
Derek smiles at Mr. Grey as he shakes his hand.
Derek: Thanks, Mr. Grey. Call me Derek.
Thatcher smiles at Derek.
Thatcher: Well, Derek, I would like for you to meet my daughter. This is Meredith.
Thatcher motions towards the captivating blonde. Meredith sticks out her hand to shake Derek's. He looks at her hand before looking deep into her eyes. He reaches out and grabs her hand. Her skin in soft, almost like silk, and he doesn't ever want to let go.
Derek (smiling his McDreamy smile): Meredith.
He says her name, testing it out. It feels so natural rolling off of his tongue.
Derek: It's nice to meet you.
He finally releases her hand, but maintains the eye contact. The atmosphere around them is charged with the electricity that is passing in the space between their two bodies.
Meredith (smiling): It's nice to meet you too, Derek.
He likes the way she smiles. It reaches her eyes, showing that she is truly happy. His name sounds so sweet to his ears in the dulcet tones of her voice. He shakes his head.
[iNo. No. She is the boss's daughter. So bad. No. No.[/i
Derek clears his throat as they all take a seat at the table. The waitress comes over and takes Derek's drink order, giving him sex eyes the entire time.
Derek: So, I'm not exactly sure what this meeting is about...
Thatcher clears his throat.
Thatcher: Well, Derek, I'm not sure if you are aware of this or not, but at the end of the season I am signing the team over to someone else.
Derek sits up straight in his chair.
Thatcher clears his throat once more and he notices Meredith sit up straight in her chair.
Thatcher: Derek, after this season, my daughter, Meredith will be the owner of the team.
Derek is sure that his mouth falls open in shock. He looks at Meredith. She is going to be the one holding his future in her hands. What can she know about soccer? What in the hell can she know about managing a team?
Thatcher: I think that you are a very important asset to this team Derek, as does my daughter, and that is why she is going to be travelling with you to Europe next week. We have booked you a suite so you will be staying together. You guys need to work together and get to know one another. Plus, the coach of the US team asked me to send someone to keep an eye on you. You do have quite the reputation.
Derek's mouth falls even further open, if that is at all possible. Before he can speak, an angry voice cuts into his thoughts.
Meredith: Wait. You didn't tell me that we were staying in a suite together!
Thatcher chuckles.
Thatcher: Sorry, sweetie, it must have slipped my mind.
He sees the anger growing in her eyes.
Meredith: Slipped your mind?! Seriously?!
Derek clears his throat, causing both father and daughter to turn and face him.
Derek: Um..do I have any say in this?
Thatcher smiles at him.
Thatcher: I'm afraid not, Derek. Everything has already been arranged. The good news is that you won't have to fly commercially. You will be using the company jet.
Derek notices that Meredith doesn't look happy either, but he is furious. He is furious and there is nothing that he can do about it. He needs to get out of here. He needs to run. He needs to feel the burn. He needs to get rid of the anger.
Derek: Was there anything else?
Thatcher looks at Meredith who just shrugs.
Thatcher: I don't think so.
Derek: Okay, well, I'm going to be going then.
Thatcher: You won't stay for lunch?
Derek: It looks like you and your daughter have a lot to discuss and I would hate to intrude.
Thatcher smiles warmly at Derek as he stands up and shakes his hand, Meredith follows suit. Once again he finds himself not wanting to let her go, wondering what the rest of her skin would feel like under his hands.
Derek: It was nice meeting you, Meredith. I guess I will see you next Monday.
Meredith smiles at him as he releases her hand.
Meredith: Actually, you will see me tomorrow.
Derek jerks his head up.
Derek: What?
Meredith: I will be practicing with the team tomrorow.
Derek bursts out laughing. She has to be joking. That is when he notices the serious look on her face.
Derek: You're serious?
Meredith smiles and nods her head. He straightens up and tries to regain his composure. What is she trying to pull?
Derek: I guess I will see you tomorrow then.
Thatcher: Goodbye, Derek.
Derek: Goodbye, Mr. Grey. Meredith.
Meredith smiles at him and he feels his pulse begin to race.
Meredith: Goodbye, Derek.
Derek nods his head before practically running out of the restaurant.
This is not good. This is not good at all. He can not fall for her. Plus, he is angry. He is very angry. How can he be so angry with hre and yet so pulled to her at the same time?
The one thing that he does know is that he is so screwed...and not in a good way.