Page 4 of Tell Me the Truth

“Ah, let me guess,” she starts to say as she takes a sip from her coffee, her grey eyes peering back at me over the lid of her cup. “You learned anatomy from all the women you take home every day. Perhaps from this very coffee shop?”

Her response gives me a chuckle, but then I start to laugh. She’s quick-witted and one step ahead of me. Obviously, she knows that I have a reputation for dating a lot of women and not committing to any one of them.Shit, she must think I’m disgusting. I rack my brain for something that might save me and keep her talking with me.

“My mom was a physical therapist,” I say. “I picked up a few tricks from her. So, I guess in a way, you are right. I did learn from a woman, but she took me home.”

“I’m sorry,” she says with a laugh. “But really, I’ll be fine.”

What am I supposed to say next? Dammit. I’m a bumbling idiot.I think about different topics that I can bring up to try to get her to stay and talk to me.Should I talk about my company? Should wetalk about hers? Oh, hey my company is trying to buy yours out.There really is nothing I can say to her that will keep her in this coffee shop with me.

“I really should get going,” she tells me. We’ve been walking towards the exit since we got our coffees and when she pushes the coffee shop door open, we turn our attention outside. We can see that there’s now a sudden and heavy downpour of rain that God, some heavenly being, or the universe has sent for me. Whoever or whatever gave me this gift, I am eternally grateful.

“Let’s wait it out together,” I tell her, shrugging my shoulders while I look around. I spot a couple of stools at a bar-height table in the corner of the coffee shop and start moving toward them. When I get halfway to the table, I turn around and see that she’s still standing by the door. I spread my arms out and say, “Okay, now I’m convinced you are just trying to get rid of me.”

She peers back outside and for a moment I can see that she’s debating whether to brave the weather or take up my offer. I feel a hugefuck, yeahwhen she starts walking over to me.

Offering my elbow for her to grab, I introduce myself. “I’m Ellis.”What is this, medieval times? She doesn’t need my assistance to walk five feet to a table!And as I’m kicking myself in my mind, she reaches out for a handshake. I unfold my elbow and offer my hand instead to return her handshake, very bummed that I didn’t get to hold her hand close to my body in the crook of my arm.

As we sit down, she tells me her name, “Alexandra.”

She wouldn’t remain here, smiling at me, if she knew that I am Ellis Brent, the new CEO of Brent-Sigma Pharmaceuticals. Maybe she’ll turn out to be a sour, grating bitch so that it will justify the plans my company has for hers. It is not lost on me that she didn’t have a negative response when I gave her my first name.Maybe she hasn’t made the connection yet.

“So, aside from being knowledgeable of human anatomy, what is it that you do?” she asks with a playful smile.

My heart jumps at this question. “Straight shooter, I like that,” I say, with a grin, having to think quickly on my feet.

“Well, I was in the Marines for quite some time, but I finished my duty and I’ve recently just come back to help out with the family business.”Tell her that your company is trying to buy out hers. I know that I should tell her the truth. Then I can get into why it’s a good idea. But, then I’d have to tell her what my Board intends to do after we buy shares of Seth BioTech. Somehow, I think she must already know.

For now, I’ll feel this out and just offer minimal details. Just in case she’s the one trying to pull one over on me.

“Oh,” she replies as she appears to be looking me over. “Thank you for your service. When did you get back?”

“Last month,” I respond.

“Not taking any breaks I see.” She assesses. Her eyes are hard to read.

I wonder,Is she digging for information by starting with small talk, or is she actually interested in what I have to say?

“How are you settling in? That’s quite a transition you have going on,” she asks, setting one elbow on the table and leaning in.

I try not to take that as a sign that she wants to know the answer. It wouldn’t be a good idea for me to get ahead of myself. I answer, “I’ve never been afraid to make mistakes. I’ve also learned from mine.”

The storm outside reminds us of why we’re sitting together in this coffee shop. A powerful gust of wind slams heavy sheets of water against the window, causing several people in the shop to let out a combined gasp followed by muted remarks, most likely about the weather.

“But enough about me, what about you? What do you have going on that is really messing up your back?” I want to learn more about her, but I also want to direct the attention away from me.

“I’m a scientist.” From her answer, it is evident that it’s the science that she holds in utmost esteem. When she answers my question, her eyes light up like I have never seen in someone before.

She isn’t offering the complete truth. It’s true that she is a scientist. But, she’stheScientist.Shefounded Seth BioTech.

AlexandraisSeth BioTech. Seth BioTechisAlexandra Seth.

“Smart. I knew it. But, those Petri dishes can be hell on the lower back.”There I go, trying to pull off dumb jokes again. Back on track, Ellis. Back on track. “What kind of scientist?” I ask her.

“I’m in biotech.” She answers while seemingly searching my eyes. For what, I don’t know.

When I was researching her earlier this morning, I was impressed by what she’s been able to do for cancer research and immunotherapy. Having her in front of me, I really do want to ask her a thousand questions. But I’m nervous. “That’s amazing. So, you study ways to help humans live longer and healthier.” I’m genuinely impressed. “I had no idea I was in the presence of such an important person.”

It looks like I’ve embarrassed her. She humbly states, “I haven’t really done much.”

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