so, do we like each other or not? // JENLISA

Chapter 9

Lisa found herself sitting on a perilously high stool in a bar two streets down from Lee’s gallery. Actually, it was less of a bar and more of a bourgeois drinking cave, but even so – both she and Jennie were completely overdressed.

Lisa didn’t care all that much, though. Not when Jennie was sitting opposite her, her fingers curled around a glass of merlot and her eyes skimming over Lisa's body like she was deciding which part of her she wanted to eat up first.

“You didn’t want to stay at the gallery?” Lisa asked. She’d ordered the same wine as Jennie because she was trying desperately to appear just as refined as she was, and the heavy liquid was making her voice sound rusty.

That was what she was choosing to blame it on, anyway.

“Not especially,” Jennie said, her gaze fixed on Lisa’s lips. “It wasn’t the most pleasant evening anyway. Lee was being obnoxious. I’d rather be here with you.”

Something warm bubbled up in Lisa's stomach. “Really?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Jennie said lightly. “I’ve made my interest in you clear, haven’t I?”

“I guess,” Lisa said, shifting in her uncomfortable chair. “I just don’t necessarily understand it.”

A small smile twisted at Jennie’s lips. “That might be part of why I like you.”

“That makes even less sense.”

“You’ve seen the people I normally socialise with. They’re all self-entitled and rude and they have more money than sense. It’s nice to spend time with someone normal for a change.”

Soohan had called her that too. Never had being ordinary sounded like such a compliment.

Lisa took a deep breath and said, “I really am sorry for not doing too well tonight. I was kind of thrown off the second we arrived.”

“I know,” Jennie said, sipping her wine. It was the exact same colour as her lipstick. “It’s an intimidating environment, but you will get used to it. I promise.” She paused, then added, “Well, you don’t have much choice, anyway.”

Lisa laughed. “Very reassuring. Thanks.”

“You seem to want my reassurance quite a lot,” Jennie commented. “And you should probably know that you won’t get it very often. You might need to strengthen your backbone if this is going to work for us.”

 “I guess,” Lisa said, feeling a twinge in her chest.

“Don’t be so sensitive,” Jennie replied. She reached out to tap Lisa's hand, and there was a tiny smirk on her face. “All things considered, tonight didn’t go terribly. It was never going to be perfect – given your background and your inexperience, you were always at a bit of a disadvantage.”

“Gee, thanks,” Lisa huffed. “I guess your other... companions, they were a bit more refined than I am.”

“You might say that. But I’d rather not talk about them.”

“Can you at least tell me what they did for a living?” Lisa asked. “I just need to know what I’m competing against.”

“This isn’t a competition, Lisa,” Jennie sighed, but Lisa could see her wavering. “Fine. Two of them were bankers. One also worked in art, one was a hedge fund manager and one was a professor.”