Office Affair

Who are you really, Dominic Oldfield?

Anya

Much to her surprise, Dominic didn't tell her where he was planning on taking her. He gently took her by her upper arm and led her through the streets of London.

"You say we're going to a restaurant?" Anya asked after a few minutes of walking in silence. It wasn't that she was feeling awkward about it, or endangered in any sort of way, especially because it meant that she didn't have to spend time looking at the ugly paint chipping off the walls of her ugly apartment, but her curiosity got the best of her and she needed to know.

"Yes."

"Yes? Is that all you'll tell me?"

"It's a surprise, Anya."

"A surprise?! Why? I'm just your..."

"My employee, I know, and I am telling you it doesn't matter. You remind me of Michelle, by the way." He scoffed but she noticed a big grin on his lips once she dared to throw a glance at him.

"In what way?"

"Well, I'm the type of man who wants to surprise friends in pleasant ways, and she hates surprises. She would rather die than allow me to do anything nice for her every once in a while. It doesn't stop me, by the way, so you better believe that it won't stop me now, with you."

"So she's my soulmate, then! I like her even more, and all right, I'll trust when you say you know where we're going. But you will let me go home once we're done, right?"

"You are free to walk away if you decide you don't like it. I am your boss, I'm not a kidnapper. But as I said, let's wait until we arrive." He had that slightly annoyed tone again, and she found it amusing. They walked up to the nearest cab station, and Dominic instructed the driver to take them about five blocks down the road. Anya looked at him, because that street had absolutely no meaning to her, whatsoever.

"Why waste time walking when there is a delicious dinner waiting for us at the restaurant?"

„Good point."

The cab stopped in front of a little Chinese restaurant. The walls inside were painted, traditionally, in red and gold. It was cozy and warm, and Anya immediately relaxed. Her stomach started churning, remembering that she hadn't eaten in a while. Despite not knowing Dominic's intentions, she had decided to accept the meal, even if it meant giving him the portion of the money from her salary. A soft melody was playing in the background, which was just perfect enough to talk quietly and without fear of being overheard. Dominic stood beside her and took her coat.

"Wow! I'm impressed," Anya said. He smiled.

"Does that mean you're staying, then?"

"Definitely! How do you know about this place?"

"My friend owns it."

"You have friends on high places."

"They're mostly very satisfied clients of mine. Some of them were happy enough to stay in contact long after our mutual contract had expired, and I consider them my friends. I do enjoy the privileges that they freely offer, I must admit, and this is one of them. I believe there is our table." He pointed to the far left corner of the restaurant. A table for two had his name on the card, and they sat down. Anya looked around. The whole place was packed with people.

"Look at this! There is probably a waiting list to even get inside and you even got your own reservation card. I never thought that was possible!" she said.

"More often than not, I agree. I called them after you had agreed to meet me, because I didn't want them to give my table to someone else. Are you cold?"