AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She works for a shipping company.”
“Sounds interesting. What kind of work?”
“She works in the chairman’s office,” he said as Samantha tasted the wine.
“Just what he wanted,” she told the waiter, who poured two glasses. She raised hers. “What do the English say?”
“Cheers,” said Sebastian. “And the Americans?”
“Here’s looking at you, kid.”
“If that was meant to be a Humphrey Bogart impression, it was dreadful.”
“So tell me about Jessica. Was it always obvious how talented she was?”
“No, not really, because to begin with, there wasn’t anyone to compare her with. Well, not until she got to the Slade.”
“I don’t think that changed even then,” said Sam.
“Have you always been interested in art?”
“I started out wanting to be an artist, but the gods decided otherwise. Did you always want to be a banker?”
“No. I’d planned to go into the diplomatic corps like your father, but it didn’t work out.”
The waiter returned to their table. “Would you care for a dessert, madam?” he asked as he picked up their empty plates.
“No, thank you,” said Sebastian. “She can’t afford it.”
“But I just might like—”
“She just might like the bill,” said Sebastian.
“Yes, sir.”
“Now who’s being bossy?” said Samantha.
“Don’t you think conversations on first dates are weird?”
“Is this a first date?”
“I hope so,” said Sebastian, wondering if he dared to touch her hand.
Samantha gave him such a warm smile that he felt confident enough to say, “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Yes, of course, Seb.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes, I do,” she replied, sounding rather serious.
Sebastian couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Tell me about him,” he managed, as the waiter returned with the bill.
“He’s coming into the gallery on Thursday to pick up some pictures, and I’ve invited him to attend the opening of Mr. Mystery Man’s exhibition the following Monday. By then, I’m rather hoping,” she said as she checked the bill, “he’ll have enough in his bank account to take me out to dinner.”
Sebastian blushed as she handed the waiter £2 and said, “Keep the change.”
“This is a first for me,” admitted Sebastian.
