Warning: this one is short. Wanted it to be only about Lucas and Ariadne's first 'date', so thought it should have it's own chapter :)
"Darling, it's so great to see you again!" Ford swept me into a hug as if we were life long friends. Ha. As if.
I bit back one of my famous sarcastic retorts. "Thank you. It's so great to see you again."
Ford held out my chair like he was a gentleman, and when he sat back opposite me, tried to smolder at me again. Seriously, what was with that?
"Isn't it? I knew we had that instant connection at the party."
Urm, did you miss the part where I shouted at you and called you heartless? I decided to bring it up just to test his reaction.
"Oh yes, although I am sorry for shouting at you afterwards. The whole thing with johnny-"
"Not to worry! I admire you for putting up with him and taking the time to make sure he was ok. Though I assume he is out of your life now?"
Still interested then.
"Yes."
"Good. He was a dickhead, I don't know what you saw in him. No offence, I just think you could do better."
Oh my God, he had no idea how funny it sounded coming from a guy like him. Hypocrite? And what was with the constant hints? Jeesh, why don't you just get down and propose already? I knew he was coming on strong because he thought that most women would leap at the chance of seeing a guy who wanted a relationship immediately. I wasn't one of these women, and Cobb had told me to stand out from all the other women he had used so that he would actually confide in me.
"By the way," Ford added, "Why did you call me heartless?"
"I didn't." I wasn't going to break down and apologise on my knees.
"But you implied it."
I shrugged, trying to be blasé. "I've heard things about you, Mr Ford."
"Good things?"
"Obviously not."
"And yet...you're still here."
"You're a business opportunity." I was being nonchalant and quite blunt, and I enjoyed leading him on.
He threw back his head and laughed, sounding remarkably like a donkey. Well, it would explain why he was such an ass.
"That's rather cold!"
Shrugging again, I leant forward and got to business. "You called my company, Mr Ford. And I am here on your request. So please, do tell me what you want to talk to me about."
"Nothing in particular."
"So I am here because...?"
"Guess it was my way of asking you on a date. Thought it was obvious."
"Clearly not." I was ecstatic inside, he really had fallen for me. Although I had no interest in him, it was nice to know I could actually attract men.
"Well if you didn't think it was a date, why did you dress up?" His eyes sparkled with humour. Damn, I was caught.
"I'm going on a date after this." Fuck, why did I say that?
"What?" Ford looked like he had shit himself. Perhaps it was the right thing to say after all! I clamped down my laughter and furiously fought to keep my face straight.
"Yes, it was arranged before this, but then you called and I knew I didn't have time to change after our meeting, I figured you wouldn't mind if I came a little dressed up." I shrugged yet again.
"Well, what can I do to make you forget this other date, and come on a real one with me. I thought I'd better give you heads up, seeing as I wasn't so clear in my intentions the first time."
Oh yes, I had him hooked. "Hmmm." I pretended to consider. "How about you cook for me?"
"Cook?" The constipated look returned.
"Can't you cook?" I made my tone surpised, whilst inside I was dying with laughter. I knew everything about him, and so I guessed he was about to lie to me about his cookery skills.
"Of course I can! But I thought you'd like something more...fancy."
"Clearly, you don't know me at all."
"Well, I'll attempt to correct that tonight. 7:30 ok?"
"Sure."
"I'll send my address over to your company. Though I ask you don't go spreading it around. I like my privacy." He gave me a wink. Ew, I really don't want to know what you do with your privacy.
"Oh don't worry about that, I'm a professional."
"Excellent. I must admit, you're not like the usual women I date."
Wow, you mean I'm not drooling all over you? That's a compliment.
"You'll find I'm a very unique person, Mr Ford."
"No you're not. You're rare certainly, but not one of a kind."
"How do you mean Mr Ford?"
"Would you please call me Lucas?"
"Ok, Lucas, what do you mean?"
He smiled at my irritation, and said with a smirk "You're just like me."
Fabulous.