Passion's Price

Drunk Me Is Fun

Lucas took a step away from Amelia as they rode the elevator down several floors. He had spent most of the day trying to remind himself that she was his employee and deserved his respect. She deserved a boss that took her seriously, not some schoolboy with a crush.

His intentional withdrawal only made the knowledge that she was sitting at her desk just outside his door, even stronger.

The Tower was a marketplace hub, and not only played host to several hundred businesses and office spaces, it also boasted several Michelin star rated restaurants, bars, and terraces. It was easy to impress anyone with the quality cuisine or atmosphere.

Correction, he thought. It would be easy to dazzle Amelia with any of those things. She was unassuming and likely unaccustomed to those kinds of places.

Michael had told him that morning how dejected she'd been. He was just as affected by her presence as Lucas. Unlike Lucas though, Michael's instinct towards her was purely based on a desire for friendship. Lucas wasn't sure friendship was off the table but his draw to help was just that: desire. Lust. The guilt he had for feeling this way was a constant reminder at the fact it was wrong to try and take advantage of her.

Lucas had called IT personally, to make sure they had a phone and laptop waiting for her and Michael to pick up. Luckily he hadn't missed her opening the package, hadn't missed the opportunity to see how grateful she'd been.

When they arrived at the floor, Lucas ushered Amelia out and down the long corridor towards a set of glass double doors.

Reveille. Truly a one of a kind restaurant.

He placed a hand at the small of her back as he opened the door for them and walked through with her. Touching her sent warm tingles through his fingertips. Her perfume wafted towards him as she stepped into the restaurant in front of him.

He breathed in, the scent making him heady. He wouldn't have been able to stop himself even if he'd realized what he was doing.

He spoke quietly to the hostess before she signaled for them to follow her to a quiet space at the back of the room. Lucas reluctantly dropped his hand from her back as she walked in front of him on their way to the table.

They passed by the wraparound bar that was situated in the center of the restaurant. A huge chandelier dangled from the 12 foot ceilings, directly over the bar. The muted blueish glow it cast, was glistening off the rows of alcohol bottles and glassware.

He watched as Amelia stared wide eyed at the beautiful scene it set. He smiled at her reaction. Looking at this place through her eyes, as someone seeing it all for the first time, was a new experience for him.

Once they'd been seated, Amelia turned the wide eyed stare on him.

"This place is gorgeous."

You are gorgeous, he thought. "It is. It's one of my favorite restaurants here" he said instead.

"So you come here often?"

"Not as often as you'd think," he chuckled. "I don't get out much but when I do I usually find myself somewhere here in The Tower. It's convenient." He admitted.

"That seems pretty ... lonely." That's not what he expected she'd say.

He'd never really thought of it that way. His business was here, his home was only a few blocks away. For him he'd just convinced himself it was just easier to go out here or meet up in The Tower. Even the gym was in the building. Hell, she was right. He didn't get out much.

She continued, "What do you do for fun?"

Lucas hesitated. What did he do for fun? "I umm, like to go to the gym." Lame.