Singled Out!

[Demos Straxus]

Nate was captivated by the energy she expressed while speaking. Before he had only seen her fire directed at himself.....in a manne rmost men would find uncomfortable, but now he saw the kind of love and devotion she was capable of directing in a positive manner. It was amazing.

Taking his salad, nate munched at it thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.

"Its nice to see you enjoy your job. You have no idea how rare that is to find in someone. I myself loathe being a lawyer, but my father is a major partner in a law firm, and I was selected to take over the family buisness when he passes."

A flicker of disgust passed across his face before he shook it off and considered his next question.

"What kind of education did you have for that line of work?"

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby momentarily placed her fork on the side of her plate and looked across at Nate. "I'm sorry you don't love your job as much as I do. Is there something you do love? That you could do instead? Why do you have to do what your father wants? Wouldn't he just want you to be happy?"

She bit her lip as she realised she may have overstepped the mark a little. She hurriedly continued. "I was at College for three years and have a Bachelor of Education. I didn't really enjoy doing all the study to get the degree but it was worth it in the end."

She picked up her fork and carried on eating. It was a great tasting salad and she enjoyed every mouthful.

 

[Demos Straxus]

Nate picked at his salad for a moment, considering her question.

"In all honesty? No. Sad as I am to admit it, corporate law is pretty much my life. The good news is, after my dad dies I can quit this line of work, and live a comfortable living off of the proceeds of this loathesome career."

Nates smiled wryly at Abby.

"I said I hated my job. I didn't mention anything about it now paying well. Though I do admit the hours are somewhat ungodly. The longest relationship I've managed since I started work was 2 weeks......She through my saxaphone in a trash compactor. Most women just can't deal with a guy that might not just be gone, but may be in Tokyo when they wake up."

He frowned suddenly, in mock reproach.

"And here you've got me talking about me again. You sure you're not a lawyer?"

The smiled reemerged at this last question.

"So, what are Your long term goals?"

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby looked to the table, then back across at Nate once more. "My long term goals are to one day own and run my one childcare centre. I"d like to get it to th epoint where I can have someone else run it. Hopefully that will be abou tthe same time I'm ready to start having kids with the husband I'll hopefully have."

She blushed a little and smiled at him nervously. "Im afraid Im rather boring Nate. I'm old fashioned, I love that you pulled out my chair and that you've been so gentlemanly. I'd probably be happy to be a stay at home Mom too."

She toyed with her fork, chasing a tomato around her plate. "I'm far from glamorous and I'm sure you're trying to think of ways to escape." She laughed softly, at herself more than anyone else.

 

[Demos Straxus]

"Escape? Never. Its nice to talk to someone that can think beyond tomorrow without dollar signs getting in the way."

Nate smiled, and munched more of his salad, considering her words. She was enchanting to listen to, and even more so to look at and yet managed to find herself totaly uninteresting. How strange.

"Okay, enough softball questions. My next one is a hard one."

Nate smiled coyly.

"Any pets?"

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby laughed softly. "No. But I've always wanted a turtle, so my son is going to have a pet turtle as soon as he's old enough to know what one is so his Mom can have what she always wanted."

I finally pick up the tomato and munch it as I await the next question.

 

[Demos Straxus]

"A turtle? Interesting choice. I saw as more of a black lab fan."

pouring himself a bit more wine, Nate considered his option before asking his next question. This one would be a lot more of a hardball.

"What do you consider to be the basis of a sound relationship?"

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby didn't even hesitate. "Trust and open lines of communication." She'd learnt the hard way that those things were important. She would never let herself become involved with someone who didn't think similarly to herself.

She looked across the table at Nate. "I also think its important that the people in the relationship place the same value on things like money, family and even think similarly on moral issues."

 

[Demos Straxus]

Nate nodded at this, considering the statement. It said almost as much about him, as it did her.

"I agree almost completely. You left out what I feel is the key to a good relationship."

He smiled, considering if she's jump to the obvious conclusion, or think him more than the typical banal male. He actualy found himself hoping she would think him more.

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby thought about it and smiled at him. "Well, if you were a stereotypical male I'd say you thought the most important aspect was that we had chemistry or that we were compatible. But you don't seem to be, so spill.. what is it?"

The waiter arrived to clear their salads away in preparation for their main course. She wondered what he was going to say as she leant back in her chair to give the waiter space.

 

[Demos Straxus]

Nate leaned back in his chair a little bit, appraising her.

"I belive John Lennin said it best. 'All you need is love'. Trust is all very well, and is certainly a nessecity of a relationship, but love is the fire that must be ignited if your relationship is to survive in modern times."

Nate smiled again.

"Not what you expected?"

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby's eyebrows almost raised all the way into her hairline as she looked over at Nate. She hadn't thought that would be his answer. She also realised it hadn't been one of the options she had considered because she felt you couldn't really have the kind of relationship they were speaking of without love. It was important, a firm basis. She didn't think she could commit to someone she didn't love. It was as simple as that.

"Wow, Nate. You really aren't one of the stereotypical men from the meat market. But tell me this, if love is so important why are you trying so hard to get me into your bed?"

 

[Demos Straxus]

He actualy laughed at the question.

"I thought I was the one asking the questions? In any case we're talking about the key to a sound relationship here. Though I do find you to be a charming, and attractive young woman, I don't believe we have a relationship as yet, beyond charming dinner companions. Though I must confess I would not object to such a change in our relationship."

 

[PearlNecklace]

"I wasn't asking for marriage, nor a declaration of love. But if you think love is an important basis to a relationship doesnt that mean that you'd only want to sleep with someone who you had a relationship with?"

She bit her lip as she wondered if she was making sense. "Or do you think of sex as simple fucking?"

 

[Demos Straxus]

He considered the question carefully, and then nodded simply.

"It would be preferable, yes, but the option has yet to present itself. Few women can handle the sort of lifestyle I generaly lead for a week, anything beyond that is wistful thinking on my part. So I must either make due with what I have, or do without. I don't choose not to have relationships, they are simply one of the many things sacrificed for my work."

 

[PearlNecklace]

"Well then I suggest you change careers. Yours is terrible!" Abby suggested, obvious feeling behind her words.

"Whats so terrible about your work schedule? Tell me about it?"

 

[Demos Straxus]

Nate smiled at her, and extracted a small electronic planner from his jacket. Setting it upon his table he tapped away for a moment.

"Lets see.....Monday I have to be in Toronto for a court hearing, Wednesday I have a meeting with the rest of the firm in Atlanta, Friday I have to be in LA to meet with a client, and next Tuesday I'll be in Tokyo to start working on another merger. In addition to that I have thirty active files in my briefcase to work on. Most of which I'll handle this weekend."

Reaching over he deposted the small device in front of her.

"Take a look for yourself."

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby looked over the schedule and shook her head. "If you found the right woman you'd delegate all these things. Surely if you had a wife and kids you wouldn't even want to be galavanting across the country. If you were my husband you wouldn't get away with it!"

She pushed the device back to him and shrugged with a laugh. "But you aren't my husband, are you?"

 

[Demos Straxus]

"Sadly no, but I think you get my drift. Relationships are rather difficult to manage under these conditions. If I'm lucky I can make it home once a week."

Nate shrugged, obviously a little put off by the situation, but seeing no way out of it.

 

[PearlNecklace]

"Its simple" Abby realised "Find a woman who'd be willing to travel with you. She could become your personal assistant or something? She'd also be your girlfriend."

She laughed softly, "Jet setting across the globe, I'm half tempeted to put my long forgotten PA skills into practice and volunteer myself!" She winked at Nate, glad to see the waiter bringing their food.

 

[Demos Straxus]

"Ahh.......but I could never take you from your children like that. In any case I've never believed in mixing buisness with pleasure. I've seen far too many clients screw up their entire lives over it."

Nate smiled.

Besides, your solution requires that I find a girlfriend, a task not easily accomplished by someone with my kind of schedule."

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby looked over at him, almost sadly. "Then I feel sorry for you. You need a womans touch!" She was almost disappointed that he wouldn't want her as a PA. It would be fun to travel around and live the kind of carefree lifestyle he did.

"And my children would cope without me. It would be me who would miss them more!" Abby grinned.

 

[Demos Straxus]

Nate saw the dissapointed look on her face, and understood his error. Smiling, he spoke again.

"I'd be happy to take you with me to Toronto though...show you a bit of what my life is like."

 

[PearlNecklace]

Abby shook her head and smile politely ay Nate. "That won't be necessary Nate, but thank you."

The waiter arrived with their meal and it was nice to have a chance to think of all they'd spoken about as she ate. She didn't want to be rude and talk with her mouthful, it was hardly ladylike and she was every inch the lady. It also gave her an opportunity to assess what she was feeling for Nate.

 

[Demos Straxus]

Nate also ate quietly, his own thoughts passing over his myriad conquests, and deciding that she far surpassed any of them in a number of ways. Most noticably because she wasn't. The most he could ever claim with would be a partnership, and he found this did not bother him in the slightest.