4

After the meeting, I walk back to my desk. Janet looks at me. "Who got the interview with Hayden Knowles?" Marley stops at my desk. "Juliet got the interview of the year. Can you believe that? She made a remark and Mr Sanders chose her to do the interview." She covers a part of her mouth and says. "She's going to sleep." I frown. "I'm not going to sleep with him. I have better taste than that man." She laughs. "I supposed the father of that child of yours. Where is he anyway? Since, you've worked here nobody heard you mention a father." That's because he's never been in Miami while I have lived here until now. I cross my arms. "Do you want to know I haven't mentioned the father of my daughter?" She remains quiet. "The father is none of your business." Mr Sanders walks by with folders in his hands. "Miss Christiansen, I got a message recently and Mr Knowles would like to meet you today. He is staying at The Hilton. Let the desk clerk know that you work for me and that you have a meeting set up with Mr Knowles. I wouldn't keep him waiting." I pick up my handbag and walk over to the lift. I press the button for the lift. I'm not looking forward to meeting him ahead of schedule. What am I supposed to talk to him about? At The Hilton, I walk over to the hotel desk. The desk clerk looks up from the computer. "Hi, how can I help you?" I smile. "Hi, I have a meeting with Hayden Knowles. I am Juliet Christiansen from Day Corporation." "Oh, right. I heard he was expecting someone from there today. I will call his room and let him know that you're here." "Thank you," She picks up the phone and starts talking to whoever is on the other end. She hangs up. "Mr Knowles will be right down. Take a seat." I walk over to a chair and sit. A couple minutes later, Hayden walks over to the reception desk. He looks around for me. I sigh. Here goes nothing. I rise and move over to him. "Hi, I'm Juliet Christiansen. I work for Day Corporation." Hayden smiles. "It's nice to meet you, Juliet." Wish I could say the same. "Same," I look around the lobby. "Why did you want to meet me today?" He touches my arm. "I want to get to know the person that's going to interview me." That's not going to happen. "Follow me to the restaurant. We can talk there. I don't want people listening to our conversation in the lobby." He places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the restaurant. I take his hand off my back. "Please, don't touch me." Hayden frowns. "You're the first woman to tell me not to touch her. Is there a reason why I can't touch you?" "Yeah, there is, but that's none of your business, Hayden. Do we really need to have lunch? I don't want you to think this is a date and that I will go with you up to your room after lunch is finished." He laughs. "So, you know my tricks." "Of course I do. It hasn't changed since you used most of the woman in LA. Now you have to come to Miami and do the same." Hayden looks at me closely. "I know you. But, I'm having trouble remembering." I shake my head. "That's rich coming from you. You're used to using woman and throwing them away like a discarded tissue." Hayden's face turns red. "I used to be like that. For you I can change." I laugh. "I don't think you can change for anyone, Hayden. Your actions over the years have proven the type of man you are and no one wants to be with someone like you." At the restaurant, we are shown to a table. Hayden pulls out my seat for me. He tacks it in once I'm seated. He takes a seat across from me. The waitress places a menu in front of Hayden and then me. I open the menu and look at the list. There's too much fancy stuff at this restaurant. What am I going to eat? Hayden looks over the top of his menu. "Have you had lunch at a place like this?" I shake my head. "No," I look at the table and see two forks, a butter knife and spoon. "I prefer to go to a steak house than spend a lot of money at a restaurant that prides itself on the way the dish is served. I see lunch as food hah goes into your stomach. Places like this turn me off eating as the food looks more like art than food." He laughs. "I haven't been with anyone that would say something like that about food. I agree it does look like art. It's art for the filthy rich. How about tonight you take me to a steakhouse?" I shake my head. "Sorry, I have plans and they don't involve me spending the night with you." He leans across the table. "Are you free any night?" "No, I'm all booked up. There's nothing you can do to make me want to spend another meal with you. Lunch right now is a onetime deal." "Yeah, right." He mutters. "You will change your mind eventually. They all do. It's the harder ones that love it when I chase them." I shut the menu and slam it on the table. "Listen here, Hayden. You and I aren't going to happen." I look around the room. "There's plenty of woman here that will fall for the b/s your selling, but I won't..." Again. The waitress walks over and she looks at me. "Can I take your order?" "Can I just have a bread roll? I don't feel like eating." Hayden orders something fancy. He asks for two plates of it. The waitress writes it on her notepad before she walks away. "I told her I didn't want anything. Why would you order something for me?" "I'm not going to let my guest sit across from me while I eat 'art' in front of you. You should try different foods." I rise. "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom." "I hope you come back with a better attitude. You have been sour since you arrived here." I wonder what made me sour. Oh, yeah. It's spending time with you. I flip him off before I stalk to the restroom. I push the door open. I look around the room and make sure that no one is inside. I lock the door and then I scream. After a couple of minutes, I unlock the door and I see a woman standing next to the door. "I'm sorry." She smiles. "I have been there, dear. Men are stupid. I supposed that's why you were screaming. So, which man would make a beautiful woman like you want to scream?" I point to Hayden. "That one." "Ah, yes, the Billionaire Playboy. What did you do to get stuck with him?" "I am a reporter. My boss thought it was a good idea to have me interview." ***