Two weeks later:
"Are you settling in alright?"
Lana looks at her father and nods before going back to looking at her computer. She begins typing again but slows down and glances up at her father who's just standing there looking around.
"Dad?"
"Hm?"
Lana looks around the room before looking at him again.
"You're hovering…do you need something?"
He looks down at her before grabbing the chair and sitting down in front of her desk.
"I see you like your birthday necklace."
Lana touches it before nodding.
"Yes I do…Thank you again."
He nods.
"April told me the story behind it."
"It has a lot of history and power…use it wisely."
She smiles slightly before nodding.
"Whatever you say dad."
He smiles before glancing away and frowning. Lana goes to look but Winters speaks stopping her.
"You should go home."
"What? But I-"
"There's nothing for you to do today. Come back in Thursday. We get a shipment then."
Lana nods before slowly standing and grabbing her laptop and purse.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course."
Lana nods before heading out to the elevator.
"See you Thursday Dad…"
He waves and watches the doors close. His smile turns into a frown and he looks back up at the balcony of the room.
"Interesting choice of a birthday present."
He turns around and looks at his sister.
"You cannot be seen."
"You did not tell us you had a daughter Yaotl."
He watches her delicately walk around the artifacts he has in his room and shakes his head.
"Where are the others?"
"Still in the room…I got restless."
H nods before heading to his desk.
"She's very pretty."
"Just like her mother."
His sister stares at him with her bright red eyes.
"Did she know you have family?"
"Serpiente-"
"Or did you not tell her because you didn't want to explain that you were the one to kill us?"
He takes a deep breath before looking at her.
"You are not dead."
She points to the thing on her chest and shakes her head.
"This is not living."
"And you think what I've been doing for centuries is?! I've had to live with my mistake for centuries!"
He looks at her trying to control his anger. She looks at him coldly before walking away.
"We've had to live with your mistake too brother…"
He watches her go before throwing everything off his desk and sitting down angrily.
Lana checks her phone on the elevator ride down and smiles when she sees a text from Donnie and Mikey. They tell her they're making dinner tonight and that training is at 6. She checks her watch before smiling seeing it's only 3 in the afternoon. The elevator stops and the doors open letting a man in who has brown hair, and light brown eyes. She smiles at him and he smiles back. They stand in silence for a few seconds before he turns and looks at her fully while extending his hand.
"I'm Erik."
"Lana."
She shakes it firmly and smiles.
"Are you new around here?"
"You could say that."
He smiles and nods.
"Well welcome to Winterscorp…I'm not sure if you know this but every new employee has to go to lunch with me."
She raises a brow.
"Oh really?"
He nods charmingly.
"Yes really. So, will it be today, or?"
Lana laughs and shrugs.
"I'm free today."
"Well good. I'm buying you lunch."
He smiles at her again before looking her over once more..
"I didn't catch your last name."
"That's because I didn't give it. Didn't stop you from asking me out though."
"What? Me? I could never ask you out. I'm just doing my job."
She smirks and shakes her head.
"Whatever you say."
The elevator stops again and when the doors open she walks out putting her purse on her shoulder. Erik follows and continues to talk to her about random things making her laugh. When they reach the front door she stops and looks at the parking man and he nods walking away. Erik doesn't notice and starts to walk towards the parking lot.
"…aren't you coming?"
She smiles at him before the guy comes back in her custom car. He gets out and she walks over.
"Her you are Ms. Winters."
"Winters?!"
Lana smiles at him and nods.
"Are we getting lunch or?"
He looks at her car before nodding enthusiastically. He gets into the passenger side and shuts the door. She buckles up before taking of down the road.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me you were my bosses daughter."
"Technically I'm your boss."
"Oh…well then you should be paying for lunch."
She laughs and looks at him before turning onto a street and going a few blocks.
"We're getting Chinese."
"Well aren't you forceful."
She looks at him before pulling into a spot and getting out. He follows suit and walks in with her.
"Lana! So good to see you!"
She smiles at the aging Chinese man and hugs him when he comes around the island. He looks at Erik and frowns.
"Who's this guy?"
"He's a friend Chen."
He nods before walking back towards the kitchen.
"The usual?"
"Yes please! What do you want Erik?"
"Whatever is good."
"It's all good."
"Dumplings and shrimp fried rice."
Lana yells that back to him before sitting and getting comfortable. Erik follows suit and stares at her.
"What?"
"You're full of surprises."
"How so? You've only known me for 10 minutes."
He smiles and shrugs.
"You're just not who I thought you were."
"Please explain."
"Well okay if you're sure."
Lana sits back and smiles at Erik who looks her over.
"Okay well you're blonde haired and blue eyed, the exact opposite of your father. You seem to be like some rich spoiled girl-"
"Whoa how do you figure?"
"You're jewelry and handbag are designer and your shoes cost more than my weekly salary."
Lana touches her necklace while looking at her Louis Vuitton shoes and Celine handbag.
"…touché."
"May I continue?"
She nods with a smile.
"Your car is custom, and not just paint custom, but I've never seen another car like it."
She smiles and nods.
"So when I invited you to lunch I figured I'd buy you lobster or something like that, but instead we come to this little Chinese place where the owner knows you by name and your order…who are you?"
Lana shrugs and looks him over.
"I'm not your average spoiled brat."
"I can tell."
She smiles and shrugs.
"I'm full of surprises."
"Ya next thing you know you're gonna be telling me you're some sort of super hero."
She shakes her head with an ironic laugh.
"Well super is a little bit of an exaggeration."
Chen comes over and puts the food down in front of them. Lana smiles and starts to dig in.
"So why have I never seen you around the building?"
"I started this week."
"Oh? What did you do before this?"
"I was a nurse."
"Very cool. Why'd you stop doing that?"
She shrugs before taking a bite.
"I uh, needed to take some time for myself…"
"Well that's understandable. Before I worked here I was a bouncer."
Lana looks at him. He was muscled but nothing close to any of the brothers."
"Oh really?"
"It was short lived. I wasn't bigger than any of the guys they needed me to fight so I was fired."
Lana laughs and nods.
"No offense, but I think I could beat you up."
Erik looks affronted.
"How dare you miss. I could totally take you, but I don't fight girls."
"Whatever you say loser."
"I've known you for thirty minutes now, and you've already told me you could beat me up and that I'm a loser. I have never felt more unmanly."
Lana laughs and shakes her head.
"I'm sorry I offended you."
Erik fakes a hurt look before smiling and eating his food.
"You were right, this is delicious."
Lana nods and keeps eating. They sit there for another hour even though they finish before that. Eventually Erik checks his watch and groans.
"My lunch was over 20 minutes ago…"
"Well I guess you're lucky you were with the daughter's boss."
He smiles and nods.
"This is true, but I do need to go back."
She nods and stands before leaving a generous tip at the table.
"See you later Chen!"
He waves before they walk out.
"I never asked, but why is your lunch so late Erik?"
"I prefer to avoid crowds."
"You sound like a friend of mine."
Erik smiles and they get into her car before driving back to the company.
"…I enjoyed lunch."
"Me too."
"…we should do this again."
Lana looks over at the man sitting next to her. He glances at her nervously before smiling slightly.
"…yes we should."
She fishes into her purse and throws him her phone.
"Put your number in. I'll call you."
"Shouldn't I call you?"
"You don't know my schedule…"
He laughs and nods before putting his number in.
"I put it in under Erik the awesome tiny bouncer."
Lana laughs at him and shakes her head before driving up the road to the company. When she stops the car he looks at her before extending his hand. She looks at it before grasping his and shaking it.
"Nice having lunch with you."
"Same to you."
He smirks before kissing her hand and getting out of the car. Lana watches him go in shock before smiling shyly. She drives off towards the lair with a smile on her face.