LISA

I DON’T KNOW WHY I AGREED TO GO OUT WITH HIM, I could barely stand the sight of him, but it was the only way I could get him off my case without getting into dangerous territory. I mean it couldn’t hurt, could it? All I agreed to was one official date with Callum King where it will only go as far as a conversation over dinner, and that’s it. As long as I made sure the conversation steered clear of any talk about my personal life especially my daughter, then everything would be good.

I could get through an agonizing two hours if it meant he’ll leave me alone and Jamie would be less stressed and annoyed at work. I’d go to bat for her any day of the week. If I got through this lunch without any frustration, then I’m sure dinner will be precisely the same.

An hour later, we returned back to Jamie’s office without any more conversational topics I was either avoiding or getting annoyed by and instead was replaced with a long bout of silence on the entire ride back. There was nothing for me to say and nothing about him I was interested in knowing more about, so I didn’t owe him any favors either.

“We have returned,” Callum announced to his staff. “Marta, did I have any messages?”

“Yes, sir. You have a couple of messages from media vendors that returned your call.”

“Great,” he replied while skimming the messages. “I’ll be in my office, hold my calls until I come out. I need to make sure I get a hold of these companies today.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh and Marta?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Just call me Callum.”

“Okay, thank you.” Marta understood, and Callum smiled before shutting his office door.

“How was your lunch?” Jamie asked me the exact instant Callum was out of earshot.

“Bloody fantastic,” I answered mocking Callum with a fake British accent.

“That bad huh?” Jamie laughed.

“Actually, it was bearable. Was annoying in the beginning but it eventually calmed down.” I shrugged.

“You’re starting to like him, aren’t you?” Jamie grinned.

“Oh, no way.” I waved my hands around. “I do not like the guy. He is such an arrogant son-of-a-bitch like he’s God’s gift to women. I had to practically agree to a date just to get him to shut up.”

“No, you didn’t!”

“I did, unfortunately.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I don’t know, he was just so arrogant. He wouldn’t take me back to the office until we had a ‘proper outing’ as he called it. He asked if I wanted to go out on an official first date and well, I was afraid that we would be sitting there forever, so I just agreed. I figured that if I agreed, he’d leave you alone too.”

“What happens after the first date?” Jamie asked.

“Don’t know, don’t care. He promised to leave me alone after one date so I’ll be free and clear after it is over and he also promised that the only thing we will be doing is talking over dinner and that’s it. Two hours and I’m scot-free.”

“Just don’t fall in love.” Jamie teased.

“Doubt that’ll happen. Sooo not into the guy. It’ll be a quick two hours and my life can return to its normal boring self.”

“Yet, I’ll still be stuck with him. Hey, I have an idea.” Jamie had this scare idea hatching expression. She was a brilliant person and half of what she came up with scared me shitless to know her.

“Does it involve me?” I was afraid to ask.

“Of course it does. Oh my god, I am so brilliant!”

“What kind of plan are you devising? Am I going to regret agreeing to something?”

“Just hear me out. I have a way for Callum to leave me alone permanently.”

“That is great news. What is the idea?” I was excited.  Kill two birds with one stone.

“Make him fall in love with you!”

“What? No way! No, no and definitely NO way.” I said adamantly.

“Oh, come on Lisa. You’re going on a date with him anyway, all you have to do is be your usual charming self and not look at him as a disgusting little troll.”

“I get that part, but if he falls in love with me after our first date which I don’t think will happen, brings me to my next concern of him wanting to spend more time with me.”

“Just make excuses, draw it out…stick to phone calls only.”

“That’s even worse!”

“How are phone calls even worse?”

“Because when you are with someone in person, you have a lot of things happening around you as a distraction and time wasters. On the phone, its just him and me alone and the focus is on the intimacy. It’s like foreplay with your voice.” I explained.

“You mean phone sex.”

I sighed knowing I was this close to agreeing with the stupidest idea she’s ever come up with.

“Never mind. I’m going home.” I readjust the strap of my purse on my shoulder.

“No, Lisa wait. I was just joking. I get what you’re saying, but this can work. Just make him fall in love with you on this date and if he wants to see you again just keep rescheduling.”

“I can’t keep rescheduling forever, and I don’t want to talk to him on the phone, video chat with him or anything at all. I don’t want to spend any more time than this one date.”

“Fine. I’ll think of something.”

“Well, you better think of it quick because I don’t want to deal with him becoming infatuated and then he’ll never leave me alone.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll figure it all out by the time your date happens. When is it by the way?”

“I don’t know yet but hopefully soon. I want to get it over with, but I’m assuming I’ll hear from him soon. Regrettably, I gave him my number.”

“Okay, good.”

“Anyway, I’ve gotta get out of here otherwise I’ll be late picking up Carlie from school.”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon. Don’t worry, I have everything under control.”

“You better and you owe me BIG time. Huge.” I pointed at Jamie before I exited the building.

Agreeing to date with Callum King is one thing, but getting out of a second one with him would be impossible. I don’t know how Jamie was going to do it, but she better find a way to end this whole thing because I didn’t feel right deceiving anyone even if someone like Callum deserved it. Pretending to care about someone was so very wrong, and it didn’t bode well for me, and I already felt guilty about it.

He was pretty damn fine and not bad to look at, and when he wasn't a complete ass, he could be funny. Too bad I wasn’t looking for anything more than what we’ve already done and what I already agreed to. I am not in the least bit interested in finding out what Callum King is like deep down, so why did it feel like I had to keep convincing myself that I didn’t care?