Chapter 5 THE NAME ON THE FORM

"But I apologized already," Nicole Collette panicks, unaware of what else she could do to change his mind. "What more do you want me to do?"

"I will consider your plea and revert to the original plan of investing in Firebloom Health Center on one condition," Chris Hanks says with a devious smile that unsettles Nicole Collette.

"And what might that be?" Nicole Collette inquires knowingly, feeling like she already has an idea what he is about to ask but intends to humor him.

"Have lunch with me," Chris Hanks offers. "We can talk over a tasty dish to celebrate the brokering of this partnership."

"Hasn't anyone told you not to talk with your mouth full?" Nicole Collette queries playfully. "How can we be talking and eating at the same time. How about we go for lunch, eat to our satisfaction and we could come back to discuss business? There is no point taking business outside the place of business. So let's go eat and when we are done, we can talk about the partnership properly but I want to assure that we are very pleased about this partnership deal with Chrisinks Holdings."

"Alright then," Chris Hanks says absolutely pleased about the assurance Nicole Collette gives him on the partnership deal. "In that case, shall we?"

"But wait," Nicole Collette admonishes. "This is just one lunch and not a date and it can never happen again. Let's be clear on that."

"Crystal clear," Chris Hanks affirms. "Just one date.... sorry...just one lunch that can never happen again. Got it!"

"Great," Nicole Collette says with a bright smile as she moves to walk out of her office with Chris Hanks following behind her.

When they step out of the door, he stands aside to allow her lock up the door. Immediately she is done, as it on cue, he says softly, "Ladies first."

"Hmm," Nicole Collette observes as she walks ahead and Chris Hanks follows by her side. "A gentleman you are. I like that."

"You like that?" Chris Hanks inquires ecstatically, sensing an opportunity to score her heart notes.

"Yeah I do," says Nicole Collette as they get into the elevator to get them to the ground floor so they can make their way to their cars and get to the chosen venue for the lunch. "Hey, don't get any ideas. Like I told you, we can't have anything to do with each other because you are an investor in Firebloom Health Center and I am a psychologist in said facility so nothing of such can be heard to be happening between us."

"Yeah, yeah," says Chris Hanks, utterly disappointed at the impossibility of anything happening between them. "I understand"

"Great," she says as they continue their descent in the elevator. Chris Hanks hides his pain, smiling all the way to her car even holding her car door open and shutting it carefully before walking over to his, one would think he is not affected by the impossibility of a relationship outside of business partnership but how much he is?

Driving off, Nicole Collette first, followed behind by Chris Hanks, they speed off to the Elan Noire Restaurant, playing like little children along the road with their cars, overtaking each other at intervals all the way to the restaurant.

"That was exhilarating and fun," Nicole Collette says as they both walk into the restaurant with excited laughter on the both their faces.

"Tell me about it," Chris Hanks replies. "I don't think I have ever so much fun blended with fear in my life before this."

Making their way to an available table in the restaurant, located three other tables away from the entrance, Chris Hanks pulls out a chair for Nicole Collette and when she sits down, he pushes the chair in softly before going to settle into his across from her.

When they are comfortably seated, a waiteress walks over briskly. "Welcome to the Elan Noire Restaurant, would you like to order now?"

"Yes please," replies Chris Hanks with a warm smile. "But takes hers first. Ladies first, y'know."

"No," Nicole Collette objects with a surprised look. "Take his first"

"No," Chris Hanks says softly. "You are the lady. It would be rude of me to order before you "

They both go back and forth, giving reasons why the other should make the order first for about five minute with the waiter standing there patiently waiting for them to decide who should have their order taken first. They could have gone on for longer but for the waiteress who utters something.

"Awwnnn," Doris, the waiteress says, slightly bending her neck to the right, in admiration of what perceives to be affection vibes. "What a cute couple you are?"

"Excuse you," Nicole Collette says almost offended but smiling.

"You two," Doris continues. "You look so cute together."

"We are not a couple though," Nicole Collette objects with a laughter that seems to wonder why the waiteress would think such of Chris Hanks and herself. "We are business partners."

"My bad, my bad," Doris says apologetically with a hospitable smile. "Would you like to order now or do I come back later to allow you both some space to decide who goes first?"

"Maybe you should come back later," Nicole Collette says. "Quite sorry for keeping you standing all these while."

"No problem, ma'am," Doris says with the smile. "Whenever you're ready, I'm just a signal away."

"Thank you very much," Nicole Collette says but just as the waiteress is taking her leave, she calls out again. "You know what? On a second thought, please I would go first. I am starving. I will have the Grilled Filet Mignon with Roasted Vegetables and Cabernet Reduction."

"Excellent choice," Doris observes, then turning to Chris Hanks. "And you, sir?"

"Oh, for me," Chris Hanks begins, taking up in his hands the order card and lifting it up to his face. "I'll have the Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Compote and Wild Rice. Please have the chef make the Duck Breast extra crispy. Thank you very much."