Vice

19: Flirty Lunch

"You like Asian food, by chance?" The door to Natara's office cracks open and Jace peeks inside. 

"Like it? I'm pretty sure Macey and I could eat it endlessly." Natara smiles from behind her mountain of paperwork.

"Macey?" Jace raises an eyebrow, leaning against the door as he watches Natara finish signing the paper she's in the middle of working on. 

"My younger sister," Natara explains, rising from the chair and placing the finished page in her "Completed" stack. Her legs feel wobbly as she walks across the room - as if she's been sitting in a bad position for too long. Maybe sitting with her feet underneath her legs while she worked on huge stacks of paperwork for hours wasn't such a great idea. "We're always fighting over who gets the last of the sweet and sour."

"Well, be sure not to leave any leftovers or let her know you went out today." Jace winks, holding open the door for Natara. Every time he winks, it stirs feelings in Natara's chest that spending time with James never did. Once again, she wonders if either of them ever really loved each other, or if their entire relationship was just out of convenience.

As she looks up at Jace, she wonders if he'd ever go out to lunch with her in a different situation - like if they met as two strangers on the street or if them going out was taboo or less of an easy situation. But, then again, they aren't really going out, even if Natara secretly wants to be.

They walk side by side down the hall and, when they reach the elevator, Jace presses the button to go to the parking garage floor.

"Are we taking one of the company cars to lunch?" Natara raises an eyebrow.

This time, there are a few other people walking around the parking garage. Natara checks her company phone for the time. It must be because it's close to lunch. Or maybe Jace's department just let them out for lunch a bit ago.

That's one thing Natara feels thankful for: Jaquie doesn't seem to care when she takes lunch or dinner breaks as long as she's available on call for Mr. Vice. And Mr. Vice doesn't really call her for anything, anyway, so she's basically free whenever.

"No, we're taking my car." Jace points toward a shiny ocean blue sports car.

"Wow. It's really pretty!" Natara exclaims as they walk toward the vehicle.

Jace flinches, squinting his features in an overly pained expression. "Pretty? Call him handsome, at least! You'll embarrass him."

"Oh!" Natara giggles, pretending to pet the top of the car. "Sorry, you're awfully handsome. That's what I meant to say."

Jace chuckles and holds open the passenger door for Natara. She slides into the slick seat and looks around - eyeing the pile of crushed Red Bull cans, blanket, and pillow in the backseat - and smiles as Jace jumps into the driver's seat. A "Leather" scented air freshener hangs from the rear view mirror. 

"You sure love Red Bull, don't you?" Natara comments, motioning to the back seat as the car spurs to life and Jace navigates through the parking garage. "Are the blanket and the pillow because you have to stay late at work? Because I could almost use a pair of them in my own office, with all the paperwork I've been doing."