The Life I Want To Live With You

The Meeting Chapter 1

In 1995, New York was bathed in the soft hues of an early morning. Lisa strode out of her office, determined to retrieve some crucial documents. However, she was intercepted by her boss, Luke O'Connell. Luke was an imposing figure at 185 centimeters tall, with his tousled blond hair and striking blue eyes. He had the looks of a heartbreaker, but was also the epitome of arrogance.

With a hint of confusion in her eyes, Lisa acknowledged him, finding herself trapped between Luke and the wall as he leaned casually on his forearm, ogling her. "Yes, Luke?"

His smile was tinged with an unsettling charm as he replied, "Is your report ready for today's meeting?"

Lisa nodded, her discomfort growing. "Yes, it's ready. I'll bring it to your office when I finish up something."

"Great," he said with a peculiar grin, sidling past her as he walked away. Lisa couldn't help but feel a shiver of unease. Luke had always been a challenging boss to handle. While he maintained his professionalism, his behavior toward Lisa was sometimes inappropriate, bordering on the sexual. He'd cross boundaries, make unwarranted advances, and then laugh it off as a joke. Lisa found his advances disturbing, especially when she noticed he had a habit of being touchy with secretaries.

Determined to complete her task, Lisa returned to her office to gather the required papers and the report. She then proceeded to Luke's office. On her way, she noticed a handsome man entering the room, and he shot her a kind smile that stirred her heart. Lisa tried not to think about it as she entered Luke's office.

Inside, she found Luke seated at his desk, engaged in a meeting with an unfamiliar sponsor. The sponsor, close to her age, had brown eyes, dark hair, and was dressed smartly in a blue suit. He played with a pen while looking at her with a warm and gentle smile. Lisa handed the requested documents to Luke, who took them without a word of thanks, leaving her to think, "What an [expletive]."

As she turned to exit, her gaze involuntarily lingered on the intriguing stranger. He caught her staring, and she quickly left, burning with embarrassment at being caught in the act.

Two hours passed, and Lisa sat at her desk, engrossed in her work on the computer. A knock on her office door interrupted her concentration. Startled, she said, "Come in," her curiosity piqued.

The man from the earlier meeting entered and greeted her with a friendly "Hi." Lisa looked at him, puzzled by his unexpected visit. She resumed her work, trying to ignore the nervous tremors in her legs.

He continued, "How was the meeting?" Lisa glanced at him, unsure of his intentions, and replied, "It went well. But why do you want to talk to me, and how do you even know my name? My boss likes to embarrass me, is that it?"

The man shook his head and clarified, "No, I saw your name on the door." He offered her a faint smile, but Lisa's heart sank as she noticed the captivating charm in his smile.

Taking a sip of tea, Lisa noticed his gaze on her and, feeling flustered, spilled some of the liquid. He chuckled softly and said, "Forgive me if this is forward, but how about going on a date with me?"

Startled, Lisa dropped her cup and exclaimed, "What did you just say?" His smile broadened as he replied, "You and me, a date. What do you think?"

Lisa placed her cup back down and gathered herself. "No," she blurted out.

The man sighed and asked, "Why not? Am I unattractive to you?" Lisa rolled her eyes in frustration. "Don't be ridiculous. I just don't know you, and I don't go on dates with people whose names I don't even know."

"Fair enough. My name is Michael," he offered.

Lisa, determined to end the conversation, stood up, put on her jacket, and interjected, "The answer is still no, Michael."

Unwilling to give up, Michael considered his next move. "Well, if not a date, then how about dinner? Please?"

Lisa looked him in the eyes and replied, "For you, it's still a date."

Michael flashed a charming smile. "But for you, it's just a good dinner with a handsome guy."

Lisa couldn't help but roll her eyes once more. "And an annoying one."

Undeterred, Michael persisted, "So, are you down? One dinner, and then we'll see what happens next."

Lisa left her office, waiting for him to exit, and then locked her door securely. She turned to Michael and said, "Fine, one dinner. Here's my phone number." She quickly scribbled it down and handed it to him, emphasizing, "One dinner."

He responded with a smile and asked, "Today at 8 p.m.?"

Lisa agreed, smiling but shaking her head. "Fine."