moved to San
Diego I've lost contact with a lot of my friends from Washington. It can
be really hard to stay in touch, despite phones and email.”
Alaina was amazed at how easy it was to talk to him, at least that is when she wasn't having erotic
fantasies about him. She tried to remember that he was her
adversary. After all this was the man that was convinced her father was a
terrorist; she should feel nothing but hostility towards him, but she was
finding it hard to stay angry. Donovan was after all just doing his job.
Maybe in time she could convince him of her father's innocence and this
conflict between them could be set aside. What evidence did he hold that
had convinced him erroneously of her father's guilt?
Alaina pulled herself from her thoughts since she
didn't want to spoil what had turned out to be a very enjoyable lunch.
“Have you moved a great deal working for the FBI?”
The last thing Donovan wanted to do was discuss his
career with the Bureau in any detail. He had stayed as close to the truth as he
could, but he didn’t want to lie to her any more than he already had. “No, not really. I've just lived in the Washington
area and San Diego.”
“Just like me. Isn't that funny we're both
lawyers and we've both lived in the same places and here I thought I was
unique,” she said with a quick laugh.
“You're unique Alaina, don't ever doubt it.” His
tone had once again turned seductive and Alaina felt a familiar shiver run down
her spine.
“Well, I really should be going, do you think we could
get the bill? I promised my friend I would meet her after work and I see
that it’s already four o'clock. It's been an enjoyable lunch, I must
admit, considering our previous encounters. I'm a bit surprised.”
“I'm not. I find every encounter with you
interesting. Thank you for joining me, although for a while I didn't
think I'd be able to convince you to come. You're very stubborn.”
“Can you blame me? We hold some very different
opinions about my father.”
“I realize that, but I was hoping we could put that
behind us now that the hearing is over.”
“I'm not sure that's possible, Donovan. Granted,
the court appearance is over and what happens next regarding access to my
father's documents is up to the judge. But no matter what he decides, the
fact remains that you and the organization you work for will continue to try to
prove that my father and the OAS are guilty of acts of terrorism. I'm
sorry but this is not just a point of law for me, this is my flesh and blood
we're talking about.”
“I think I understand that now, but I’m not sure I am
going to accept it. For now, I think it would be best if we waited for the
judge's decision and then perhaps we can settle it.”
Donovan signaled for the check. It was obvious
that their rapport would be threatened by any discussion of her father.
She either believed what she was saying and was innocent herself or she was guilty and her outrage was just an act. Either way debating
the issue with her could only serve to further antagonize her towards him.
He needed to get close to her so he could find out the truth and arguing about
her father would only serve to inhibit any possibility of intimacy developing
between them. He felt he made a lot of progress with this lunch.
He paid the bill despite her protests. “Don't worry, the Bureaus' picking up the tab.”
“Well if you put it that way, I'll be glad to let the
government pay for my lunch.”
As they rose from the table he asked, “Are you going
back to your hotel now?” he placed his hand on her elbow guiding her to the
restaurant door.
“Yes, I wanted to freshen up before I meet my friend.”
“I'll see you back to your hotel. Which one are you
staying at?”
“You don't have to do that, I really don't want you to
go out of your way,” Alaina insisted. Frankly she didn't trust herself
not to drag him up to her room.
“Does
Diego I've lost contact with a lot of my friends from Washington. It can
be really hard to stay in touch, despite phones and email.”
Alaina was amazed at how easy it was to talk to him, at least that is when she wasn't having erotic
fantasies about him. She tried to remember that he was her
adversary. After all this was the man that was convinced her father was a
terrorist; she should feel nothing but hostility towards him, but she was
finding it hard to stay angry. Donovan was after all just doing his job.
Maybe in time she could convince him of her father's innocence and this
conflict between them could be set aside. What evidence did he hold that
had convinced him erroneously of her father's guilt?
Alaina pulled herself from her thoughts since she
didn't want to spoil what had turned out to be a very enjoyable lunch.
“Have you moved a great deal working for the FBI?”
The last thing Donovan wanted to do was discuss his
career with the Bureau in any detail. He had stayed as close to the truth as he
could, but he didn’t want to lie to her any more than he already had. “No, not really. I've just lived in the Washington
area and San Diego.”
“Just like me. Isn't that funny we're both
lawyers and we've both lived in the same places and here I thought I was
unique,” she said with a quick laugh.
“You're unique Alaina, don't ever doubt it.” His
tone had once again turned seductive and Alaina felt a familiar shiver run down
her spine.
“Well, I really should be going, do you think we could
get the bill? I promised my friend I would meet her after work and I see
that it’s already four o'clock. It's been an enjoyable lunch, I must
admit, considering our previous encounters. I'm a bit surprised.”
“I'm not. I find every encounter with you
interesting. Thank you for joining me, although for a while I didn't
think I'd be able to convince you to come. You're very stubborn.”
“Can you blame me? We hold some very different
opinions about my father.”
“I realize that, but I was hoping we could put that
behind us now that the hearing is over.”
“I'm not sure that's possible, Donovan. Granted,
the court appearance is over and what happens next regarding access to my
father's documents is up to the judge. But no matter what he decides, the
fact remains that you and the organization you work for will continue to try to
prove that my father and the OAS are guilty of acts of terrorism. I'm
sorry but this is not just a point of law for me, this is my flesh and blood
we're talking about.”
“I think I understand that now, but I’m not sure I am
going to accept it. For now, I think it would be best if we waited for the
judge's decision and then perhaps we can settle it.”
Donovan signaled for the check. It was obvious
that their rapport would be threatened by any discussion of her father.
She either believed what she was saying and was innocent herself or she was guilty and her outrage was just an act. Either way debating
the issue with her could only serve to further antagonize her towards him.
He needed to get close to her so he could find out the truth and arguing about
her father would only serve to inhibit any possibility of intimacy developing
between them. He felt he made a lot of progress with this lunch.
He paid the bill despite her protests. “Don't worry, the Bureaus' picking up the tab.”
“Well if you put it that way, I'll be glad to let the
government pay for my lunch.”
As they rose from the table he asked, “Are you going
back to your hotel now?” he placed his hand on her elbow guiding her to the
restaurant door.
“Yes, I wanted to freshen up before I meet my friend.”
“I'll see you back to your hotel. Which one are you
staying at?”
“You don't have to do that, I really don't want you to
go out of your way,” Alaina insisted. Frankly she didn't trust herself
not to drag him up to her room.
“Does
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