Free Someone Like You by Andrea Carmen Page A

time?
“Ms. Edwards,” he said, “This is Trekker’s model, Alex Forbes.”
“Mixing business with pleasure on such a fine Wednesday noon?” she crooned, holding his hand. “How are you Alex?”
“I’m good,” she said in a small voice.
“She’s so tiny, Luke,” she side looking at her sideways. “I loved the ads by the way. Say, are you busy this Friday?”
“I’ll have to check.”
“All right, I won’t disturb you and your business date,” she said the last word tartly. “See you, babe.”
As soon as she left, the table was engulfed in awkward silence. Alex was busy staring at the pizza slicer. Lucas’ eyes were far away, across the street, concentrating on a fire hydrant.
“It’s not…”he began, “It’s not what you think it is.”
“What?”
“We aren’t dating.”
“We aren’t really dating either,” she said in a soft voice.
Somehow it sounded sad to Lucas. He swallowed some saliva. “She’s…a business associate. Actually her father and my father are business associates.”
“Okay.” She felt weird. Like she wanted to cry and leave him alone at the table to finish the pizza Margherita on his own. She felt cheated on. But what right did she have to feel this way? It was a business-related lunch date, nothing more. And she felt even more upset.
Lucas wanted to kick himself if he could. That had not gone well. Jennifer was insistent to have weekly dates with him, even going so far as to asking Charles Conrad if she could borrow him for a few hours. Charles agreed, of course. The building they owned was going to be his in a few weeks. They ‘dated’, but Lucas abhorred every minute of it.
Finally, she spoke up. “I’d like to go back to work, please.”
“Uh, sure,” he reached for his phone to call Ben.
“Don’t bother,” she said as pleasantly as possible. “I’ll just walk. Have a pleasant day, Luke.”
Lucas frowned remembering their last meeting. He tried to reach out to her, but she wouldn’t respond to his calls or to his emails or to his texts. As much as he hated to admit it, he missed her company. After meeting up with Margo, he headed directly for the Conrad Building, trying to keep himself busy with work. On impulse he reached for the intercom.
“Alice, would you come in, please.”
Alice was in his office in a few seconds. “Yes?”
“If someone’s mad at you, say a girl—what’s the best way to apologize….by way of a gift?”
“Did Miss Edwards get upset?”
“Not her,” he said irritably.
“Which girl is this?”
He rolled his eyes.
“I warned you, Lucas Conrad,” she said, wagging her finger at him. “I warned you not to take so much interest-”
“Alice, isn’t it too late for that? Now help me figure out how to fix things.”
“For which problem? Dumping Jennifer Edwards or making amends to Alex Forbes?”
“Alex. It’s all about Alex.”
“You like her?” Alice teased.
“Help me, Alice.”
“The matters of the heart…you’re on your own, sir. I’d love to help but I don’t know Miss Forbes well enough to help you. Are you trying to win her over?”
“Yes,” he said sheepishly and with a frown.
Alice sighed. “I’ve never seen you this bothered for a girl. Excuse me.”
“Alice, you can’t just leave me,” he said as Alice closed the door. He huffed.
Jesus! How am I going to fix this? Of course I like her; I spend every waking moment just thinking about her…he shook his head. This is probably stress talking. I have duties. Conrad duties. I can’t disappoint Charles…
He reached for his IPhone.
“Miss Edwards? Are you free for lunch tomorrow?”

 
 
Chapter Six: Some Silly Realization
 
 
Alex hadn’t seen Luke in a month. Well, twenty-seven days to be exact, since their short and disappointing lunch date. She had been trying to avoid him at all costs. She felt Lucas got the message since Trekker only sent the assistants or the director when she had to do photo shoots and store appearances.
She was relieved