Chapter 9

When I ventured out for lunch Hans was blessedly absent. Megan was sitting at her desk, though, with her legs tucked up beside her. She'd spun her office chair around to face my door while she waited, and when I came out she put her book aside. "Ready?" she asked.

I nodded. Megan spun her chair back to face her desk and stood. She collected her purse and we walked out to her car together.

Megan and I always eat lunch together. Often this would mean sack lunches shared in my office with Megan sitting on my desk while we discussed whatever manga we'd been working on most recently. But just as often it meant going out to the burger joint down the street, and today was a burger day.

When we arrived the lunch crowd had already started to gather. So we got in line and I wondered if I should broach the subject of our evening plans while we waited.

Megan and I also spend a lot of evenings together -- she hates being alone almost as much as I hate being in crowds. So on the evenings that she doesn't go clubbing she usually hangs out at my place after work. Most of the time we don't even do anything. I'll read and she'll mess around on her laptop, or whatever. But back in college I'd confessed that I'd never had a lot of 'normal' growing up experiences, like slumber parties and hanging out with friends, so every now and again she'd order pizza and stay overnight, and we'd sit up watching movies. Sometimes Fumiko would join us for movie night, too, and we'd marathon an anime or something.

Tonight wasn't a pizza and movies night, but I'm a creature of habit. If Megan wasn't going to be hanging out after work because she'd made plans to, say, seduce Hans, then I wanted to know. Besides, well, on the one hand I was a little bit anxious about the whole "he's going to be our boss thing," but on the other: in college Megan had never hesitated to pursue any guy who caught her eye, but since graduation she hasn't even casually dated. Even though she hangs out at clubs most weekends and some weeknights. So it was good to see her actually lining up her sights on someone again. Especially since I knew she was way too social to be happy just hanging out with me all the time.

Before I could get up the nerve to ask, though, Megan spoke up. "So," she said, "you made quite an impression on our new boss-to-be."

I paled, equal parts fear and mortification. I could still remember Hans' face when I'd 'fired' him. He'd looked like he'd just been pole axed by a chipmunk and couldn't quite believe it. "Introductions are hell," I pointed out quickly. "I'll do better next time."

Megan reached over and gave my hand a squeeze. "Don't worry: I'm only bringing it up because I don't think it was a bad one, and I know how you worry. In fact, he ended up asking about you quite a bit. How long we've known each other, and if you're always so dedicated to your work, and what your favorite restaurant is," she said casually. "That kind of thing."

"Oh," I said. For a second I felt some relief, before the entirety of what she'd said registered. "Wait, he asked what my favorite... what?"

"Mhmm," Megan murmured to confirm that I had in fact heard what I thought I'd heard. "Don't worry," Megan said. "I assured him you would be happy with anywhere that caters to carnivores. And warned him not to get his hopes up as I have yet to see you find anyone manly enough to pique your interest... but I suspect he's interested in trying."

I gaped. "What?" I managed to squeak. But if Megan thought there was anything wrong with anything she'd just said, it didn't show in her serene expression.

Megan smiled. "Mhmm," she said again. "I may have built you up a little, but I don't think I needed to. I got the impression that he appreciates a woman who isn't afraid to dress him down, call out his failings, and make him work for her esteem." Megan pursed her lips thoughtfully and shrugged. "Or maybe he just likes a challenge. As good looking as he is, and as unfailingly charming in his conversation, I imagine he hasn't had many... But, no, I definitely picked up on a bit of a submissive streak in there."

I continued to stare at Megan in horror -- which tripled when she abruptly perked up.

"Oh, speak of the devil," she said. Then she bounced on her toes and waved out the restaurant's big plate glass windows.

I turned to look and saw that the giant yellow Hummer from work had relocated, and Hans was climbing out of the driver's seat. He saw us, smiled, and waved back.

"What is he doing here?" I hissed to Megan while Hans approached the restaurant doors.

Megan shrugged. "I asked if he'd like to join us for lunch, since he's new to the area," she explained. "And he accepted. Probably because I said 'us.'" She grinned at me. "Now, be nice," she said -- then reconsidered. "Or mean. I'm really not sure which will get you further, faster."

I swallowed and did my best to get my heart rate under control while Hans entered the restaurant. Other men might walk or stroll or stride, but Hans prowled over to us. His movements were utterly casual, but there was a power and intensity in his physique that precluded any other description. I don't know what Megan had been thinking when she'd decided to throw out her suit and start talking me up to him: he was way out of my league. Hell, I couldn't even keep the interest of imaginary Jimmy and imaginary Carl.

"Hi, Megan," Hans said when he reached us. "Thanks for having me out. Abigail, it's a pleasure to see you again also."