Olivia hadn't smiled that authentically in days. She held the card out in front of her and read it one more time. Placing one of its corners between her teeth, she stared into the room.
"She knows me well," she said with a smile. And then her smile slowly faded. She doesn't know me at all, she contemplated silently, frowning as she wondered why that last thought seemed to bother her so much. She slipped the card into her purse and sighed as she lightly slapped both her palms on her thighs.
"Alright, you heard the lady." She rose from Natalia's chair, grabbed her purse, and made her way back around the desk. She headed out of the office, closing the door tightly on her way out.
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Natalia poured the remaining ingredients into a large bowl and began mixing it rapidly until she was satisfied that all of the components were blended perfectly. Taking the whisk from the bowl, she allowed a drop to fall on her finger. She grabbed a small dish from a shelf above her, as she tasted the sweet liquid from her digit. Rolling the flavor around on her tongue, her face displayed a look of satisfaction.
"Perfect," she said as she poured some of the mixture into the small bowl and placed it onto a serving tray beside her. She looked around to see that everything was complete and, content with her efforts, she began to clean her work station. As she was wiping down the area she looked up and noticed Olivia standing in the doorway, a clear look of astonishment on her face.
"You're early," Natalia said as she wiped down the rest of the mess.
"I'm...prompt?" Olivia shrugged her shoulders.
Natalia shook her head and smiled. She grabbed a towel from a rack and proceeded to wipe off her hands as she walked toward the seemingly stunned hotelier.
"You cooked for me?" Olivia's eyes hadn't left Natalia's as she walked closer.
"No," Natalia began as she started to unbutton the chef's jacket she had borrowed from one of the employees. "I sliced, chopped, minced, grilled and blended for you. To be exact." She reached over beside Olivia to hang the jacket on a hook.
Olivia still couldn't take her eyes off the young woman.
"Right this way Madam," Natalia beckoned her to follow as she led Olivia out of the kitchen and into the main dining area. They didn't stop there, however, but instead Natalia walked to the end of the room and pushed open a set of doors that opened onto a small outside patio. Olivia noticed that there were several couples enjoying their meals. In the corner she saw a smaller table that had already been set and a wine carafe already placed to the side. It was adorned with a small vase of orange California poppies, which complimented the lavender tablecloth beautifully.
As they sat themselves, Olivia searched for something witty to say, though she was still quite amazed that Natalia had gone to such great lengths for a lunch-date that she was practically forced into.
"And here I thought that you were going to take me to McDonald's to punish me for being so intolerable," she joked.
"The thought had occurred to me," responded Natalia as she poured them both some wine. "But then I didn't see the need to punish myself in the process."
"I never would have guessed you to be a such a connoisseur of the culinary arts."
"Well," Natalia took a sip of her wine. "Isn't that the whole idea behind your little scheme? To get to know one another?"
"Yes, it is," Olivia lightly tapped her index finger against the stem of her glass. "And it fits well with what I already do know about you that you have chosen to go first," she smiled, raising the glass to her lips.
"What can I say? I'm a 'first move' kinda gal," she leered.
Olivia leaned forward onto her elbows and folded her hands above her plate. "I believe it is necessary that we lay down a few ground rules before we partake of the meal that you have so graciously prepared for us."
"Ground rules?" Natalia raised her eyebrow.
"Yes. And in order to do that we must first call a truce." She held out her hand and waited for Natalia to meet her half-way.
"Ms. Spencer, I have no intention of being anything but civil with you this afternoon."
Olivia waited until finally Natalia relented.
"Fine," she sighed and reached forward.
Olivia smiled and briefly held the hand in hers a bit tighter and flashed a villainous look. "You'll just jump at any excuse to hold hands, won't you?"
Natalia wrenched herself free of the gleaming woman's grasp and tried her best to stay calm. "Does this truce negate me from kicking you in the chin again?" she glared.
Olivia chuckled. "Yes. Yes it does," she said and sipped her wine.
One of the waiters approached their table and they both leaned back in their chairs as a large bowl was set to the side.
"Good afternoon, ladies," the young man bowed courteously. "Today we have succulent, marinated grilled chicken served atop a Baby Leaf mixture of Blenheim, Rubane, and Exbury lettuce, blended with delicious ripe strawberries. To garnish, you may want to try the chopped pecans," he said placing a separate bowl of pecans next to the large salad bowl. And for the finishing touch we have a red-wine vinaigrette infused with onion and dried mustard." He placed a large set of tongs beside the bowl. "If there is anything else you desire, please let me know."
"Thank you, Alexander," Natalia nodded to him.
Alexander bowed slightly once more. "Enjoy," he smiled.
Natalia smiled at Olivia's expression. "I was going to have the plates already served, but I thought it fitting of what I already know about you that you would just rather help yourself."
Olivia squinted her eyes and gave a sly grin.
They proceeded to help themselves to the salad. And Natalia waited politely for Olivia to take the first bite. Olivia had begun to raise her fork when she peered at Natalia and lowered it back down.
"What’s the matter?" Natalia asked.
"Well, I was wondering if perhaps I should make you go first," she replied.
Natalia was puzzled momentarily until she caught Olivia's playful demeanor. "You really think I would poison you in front of all these guests with a meal that a handful of chefs witnessed me make all by myself? Please! The demise I have planned for you is much more painful and doesn't involve ruining perfectly good food." She took a bite from her plate.
"Good to know," Olivia said, as she started on her salad. She took a bite, and her eyes went wide "This dressing is amazing!"
The brunette accepted the compliment with a nod, and pointed to the bowl of pecans. "I separated them to be conscious of any allergies, though I was fairly certain you didn't have any restrictions to nuts."
"Good one!" Olivia gave her a thumbs up.
"You know, you being you and all, perhaps hiring a professional taste tester wouldn't be such a bad idea. May save your life one day." Natalia jested.
Olivia finished her bite. "I do have one.... well I mean, I did have one." She comically made a sweeping gesture across her throat with her thumb and stuck out her tongue. "It was a shame."
Natalia laughed genuinely, and for the first time, Olivia took notice of the dimples that appeared in the young woman's cheeks when she smiled." Okay. So, back to the ground rules."
"Ah, yes. The rules that I assume have been made for the purpose of ensuring our mutual personal safety?"
"Exactly."
"I am, as they say, all ears."
"Rule number one: whatever weird shit it was that passed between us last night is ancient history and will never be spoken of again."
"If you had a nickel for every time you've said that, huh?"
"Rule number two," Olivia said quickly to avoid taking the bait for an argument. "No personal attacks in reference to my sex-life."
"You just made that one up, and it’s completely no fun whatsoever," Natalia quipped.
"You don't call me a slut, and I won't call you a prude." Olivia raised her glass to take a sip of her wine.
"I love sex." Natalia said rather matter-of-factly.
Olivia stopped her glass in front of her mouth and clamped her lips together so as not to burst out at the blatant comment. She decided to lower the glass back down, unsure of whether she could chance a sip without choking on it.
Natalia reveled in the other woman's reaction, as she took another bite of her meal. "Is there a third rule?"
"Probably, but I seem to have forgotten the rest," she stabbed at a piece of lettuce with her fork. "Oh, yes," she recovered. "No mention of me buying the hotel or you withholding it from me like an insolent child."
"That I can agree to. Any others?"
"One more." She said jokingly.
"God! I feel like I need a note pad. Are you always this complicated?"
"Just trying to make this a pleasurable experience for both of us."
"Bet that's new for you, huh?"
Olivia dropped her fork on her plate and glared at Natalia.
"Dammit! No slut jokes," Natalia grinned and raised her hand. "My bad."
"Eat your lunch, wise ass!"
They both ate in silence for a moment.
"Well, now that you've taken all the topics of our usual witty repartee away, what would you like to talk about?"
"I dunno. Politics, Religion, the Fall Collection at Neiman Marcus?"
"I have to talk politics all day with boring executives so let's skip that one."
"Okay. Religion."
"Devout Catholic."
"Fascinating."
"You're not down with the whole God thing, Olivia?"
"Is God down with greed, wrath, lust or pride yet?"
"Don't think so."
"Then, no."
"I think it’s very beneficial to have a bit of religion in one's life."
"Oh, so do I. In fact there a few things that I enjoy doing quite religiously." Olivia wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
Natalia rolled her eyes. "Moving on."
"Tell me about yourself." Olivia said.
"Not much to tell, really. Born in Chicago. Moved to California at the age of 16 when my father acquired the South Beach. He put me to work, taught me how to run the hotel, and that's what I have been diligently doing ever since."
"Boooorrring!"
"Yup, that's me."
"What do you do outside of work? Hobbies? Interests? Boyfriend?" She paused and kept her eyes on her plate. "Girlfriend?"
Natalia looked up at the older woman momentarily and then back down to her plate. "I haven't any time for hobbies. Keeping my family's franchise running smoothly is really my only interest. And relationships only get in the way."
Olivia took the general reply to her last question to mean that Natalia wasn't going to offer her any more insight on the subject and decided to keep things moving.
"What is with the severe hatred for your brother, or is that a closed topic as well?"
"Mateo? Oh God, it’s hard to explain really. Our contempt for each other is really quite visceral. It's been there since he came to live with us."
"Came to live with you?"
Natalia sipped her wine and placed it back on the table while she contemplated her answer. "Mateo is – for lack of care and concern to portray him in a better light – the unfortunate by-product of my father's extramarital activities."
"Oh. I had assumed..."
"Yeah, seems you like to do that."
"So, he's your half-brother."
"Much to my dismay. He is completely useless to the family business and has only one hobby, to which, no doubt, you have already been introduced." Natalia jabbed a fork into a strawberry and brought it to her mouth as she pinned the other woman with a barbarous look.
"That is bordering upon a violation of conduct, Ms. Rivera?" Olivia said calmly. She wasn't going to fault the other woman, though, seeing as she herself had done nothing to dispel the notion that she had indeed slept with the clearly despised man.
"Whatever."
"So, that's it? Nothing interesting? No skeletons in the closet, Natalia?"
"Nope. I am an open book and obviously a dull read. Sorry to disappoint."
"Indeed!" Olivia said in jest, relieved to see the return of Natalia's smile.
They had both finished their plates and refilled their glasses. The waiter returned to clear away the dishes.
"I must thank you, in all seriousness, for an absolutely wonderful lunch Natalia."
"It was nothing. There is no dessert though. I am not certain you are worth that much effort, yet."
Olivia beamed. "I like 'yet'. 'Yet' I can work with."
"You could try." Natalia leaned forward on her elbows and rested her head on her folded hands." So, now that you are completely aware of how insipid I am, let's hear about how spectacularly enthralling your life is."
"Good Lord! We would need the whole afternoon and quite possible the evening, also, to get through it."
"Something tells me you're not kidding."
"Nnnope."
Natalia looked at her watch. "Well, alright then," she said as she stood from the table. Olivia looked at her questioningly as she grabbed her purse and motioned Olivia to stand up.
"Come. We are going for a walk."
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