Элла Франк - Exquisite

Lena had also found out that he’d grown up right here in Chicago and had decided he’d wanted to open a restaurant from a young age where his family and friends could relax and ‘hang out’. He’d entered the local Culinary Institute and got his degree then went and spent one year in France interning with some of the great chefs of the country. Returning state side he’d located an old rundown warehouse and had it renovated and transformed into Exquisite. The doors to his restaurant had opened 13 months earlier and it’d been an instant hit with the town. A feel good story of hometown boy makes good. Again Lena found herself sighing. She sat back in her chair and stared at the phone. She’d contemplated calling the restaurant and canceling all day but had stopped herself at the last minute, she didn't want to appear to be a coward and in his own way he’d issued a dare of sorts to turn up or he’d come find her. She stood up and was about to go down to the cafeteria when Shelly knocked on her door.

"Oh are you on your way out?"

Lena shook her head, "I'm just going to get something to eat."

Shelly looked at her watch. "I can come with. My schedule’s been cleared for the afternoon."

Lena nodded and started walking with her to the elevator, "What? People don't need to breathe today?" It was a standard joke between her and the Pulmonologist.

"Yes they do. But right now I need to eat," She paused then winked at Lena, "And gossip."

"I knew it." Lena groaned as the got in the elevator.

"So you are going tonight right?" Shelly probed.

"Of course I'm going. He threatened to come down and get me if I didn't." Lena grumbled.

"Hmmm. I'm not sure that would be a bad thing Lena. I think I’d let that man drag me anywhere he wanted to."

Lena rested her head on the back wall. "The man is infuriating."

"He's gorgeous."

"He's frustrating."

"He's charming."

Lena rolled her head against the wall to glare at her friend. "He is a serial womanizer. I don't need this." The elevator pinged and the doors slid open. They got off and walked into the cafeteria.

"You don't need what? A date with a good looking man?"

Lena picked up a tray showed her badge then moved with Shelly down the aisle. She picked up a ham and turkey sandwich. "I don't need a distraction, a complication."

Picking up a bottle of apple juice Shelly stated. "What you’re really saying is you don't need emotional distractions, but Lena honey? I’ve never met anyone who needs it more.”

She paused and picked up a granola bar and kept moving. Lena looked at Shelly’s tray. "That's all you're eating?"

Shelly nodded, "I ate a sandwich earlier. Don't change the subject. You’ve been really bad lately, even for you. Late in the mornings. I know you aren't sleeping for shit and I don't think even you can remember the last time you had fun or sex."

Lena's head whipped around to her friend. "Who said anything about sex?"

Shelly laughed, "Lena, did you see that man? It didn't need to be spoken it was implied the minute he smiled and those sexy ass dimples appeared."

Lena slid into the seat groaning and put her head into her hands, "I don't want this Shelly. I don't want a distraction or something to take my mind of things. I'm fine."

"You're not." she stated bluntly, "You’re a mess. You’ve detached yourself from anything even remotely resembling a relationship."

"That's not true," Lena said biting into her sandwich. Then mumbling around it she continued, "I have a relationship with you."

Shelly smiled chewing her granola bar, "That's true, but only because I make you be nice to me but even I won’t have sex with you Lena. Come on when was the last time you had a man in your bed?"

Lena grimaced, it’d been a long time and even then, it’d been in his bed and she’d snuck out the moment he’d rolled off and fallen asleep. "Three years and two months."

"Holy shit!" Shelly gasped loud enough that other people looked.

"Shut up!" Lena hissed. "What's wrong with you?"

"Jesus Lena. How are you not more of a bitch? I will never know. How do you deal with it?"

"Well I just try to take each day at a time and pray every day there’s a cure." Lena replied, her voice dripping with derision, "It isn't a deadly disease Shelly." she snapped. "Plus there are other ways to ahh... you know."

Shelly grinned then laughed loudly, "Ah Lena just when I think you’re losing your sense of humor."

"Shut it Shelly."

He friend laughed and stuffed the rest of the granola bar in her mouth.

Mason was sitting in his office at the restaurant when Rachel came in with a pile of paper work in her hands.

"I’m assuming that’s for me?"

Smiling she dumped it on the corner of his desk and sat down opposite him. Her black hair was in a high top ponytail today and the red tips swung back and forth freely. Her bright glossy lips stretched into a smile.

"Yep. Receipts and balances from last night boss. You made a killing."

Mason smiled at her as he leaned back in his chair. Rachel had followed in his foot steps and become a Pastry Chef and he’d snatched her up the minute he could get her to stop traveling to globe. She was an amazing artist and that was what she was. A genius with desserts she was fast gaining a reputation as the best in the business. Mason also happened to love making her do menial things, such as chop vegetables to keep her humble, and well because he could.

"We made a killing. You have stakes in this place as well."

Nodding she grinned, looking like a 12 year old instead of 30. She was a free spirit and expressed herself through any means possible, from the food she created to the red tips in her hair. Today she was dressed in black and white checked chef pants and a purple chef jacket Mason had specifically ordered for her.

"So? You going to tell me who you were talking to at the bar last night?"

Mason knew exactly who she was referring to but feigned indifference, "I spoke to a lot of people last night."

"Don't try and be cute with me Mason Langley. The buttoned up suit talking to you while you tried unsuccessfully to charm her."

Mason's mouth dropped open and he blinked at his sister. "How do you know it was unsuccessful?"

"Cause Wendy said the suit called you disgusting."

"Interfering, gossipy women." he mumbled.

"Aww come on Mase. You know you love us."

He raised his left eyebrow and rocked back in his leather chair. "Well Wendy is half right. She doesn't really like me a whole lot at the moment, but I did get her to go on a date with me tonight." he tacked on the end.

"By what, threatening her?"

"No I kind of manipulated her into it." he admitted with a smile tugging the corner of his mouth. Rachel laughed and slapped her palm on her leg.

"Wow, that has to be a first for you right? Usually women throw themselves at your feet."

"It's not quiet that dramatic Rachel."

She tilted her head to the side and looked at him thoughtfully, "Do you forget I had a girl ask me if she could give me her panties to give to you?"

Mason tried, unsuccessfully, not to laugh. "Oh come on that was one time and I think you misjudged her."

"Her panties Mason." she said slowly and loudly, enunciating each syllable, "She couldn't write the name on paper but on the crotch of her panties."

Now he did laugh loudly, "You have to give her credit for creativity."

Rachel screwed her nose up and stood, "No I don't. That's gross." she walked to the door and looked back, "She didn't make it easy for you. I like her already.” then she disappeared out the door. Mason sat in silence and thought, I don't think anything about Lena is going to be easy.

Lena found herself once again sitting in her car at Exquisite. This time however, she knew Shelly wasn't inside to be her buffer. She ran through different scenarios she could use to leave early. Excuses. Her pager could go off, except she wasn't on call. Or maybe her dog got out, except she didn't own a dog. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she opened the door and stepped out into the cool air. It wasn't even the fact that it was him she was going to meet. It was the whole situation she couldn't stand. The false conversation they would have over dinner, the awkward silences, the fake interest he’d show. So she could be what? Lucky number thirty-four? Please, she thought looking around, can't something give me a plausible means of escape? When nothing immediately presented itself Lena trudged inside repeating the phrase, the sooner I arrive the sooner I can leave.

Mason was still in his office when Wendy came to the open doorway grinning. “Guess who just walked in?”

Mason dropped the pen and leaned back stretching his long arms over his head, “I'm going to go out on a limb and guess my date.”

“Yep.” Wendy said popping the P. “And she looks miserable.”

“Now why do you say that like you're enjoying it?” Mason asked as he stood straightening the desk a little. Wendy leaned her shoulder against the frame and crossed a leg in front of the other. “Because I’ve never seen a date of yours turn up in a pants suit ensemble looking as though she just swallowed a lemon.” Whistling low between her lips she tacked on. “Boy she really doesn't want to go on a date with you huh?”

Mason came around the desk and walked right up to her. “I'll have you know,” he paused watching her tilt her head, then he grinned full blown, “You’re exactly right. She's probably out there looking for the fire escape.”