One Wild Night

Chapter 38 - Deal

Lucy pursed her lips as she considered his question. He really seemed easygoing, and it was obvious he was trying to make her relax and be friendly towards him. She didn't want to seem stand-offish or appear as though she was looking down on him, so for that reason, she decided to play along.

"Well, I can't exactly tell which I prefer, since both seem to pass a different message. I think it basically depends on who you are on the inside," she said, tapping the left side of her chest to demonstrate that she meant his heart.

Tom could guess she was trying to avoid giving a direct answer, "Who do you think I am on the inside?" He asked her curiously.

Lucy shrugged, "I'm not sure about that yet. Once I'm sure I will let you know," she promised as she rolled her basket trolley to the chocolate section ahead of them and started picking some Bounty chocolates and dropping them into her basket.

Tom followed suit, but he picked only a couple of Bounty chocolates and more of Twix, Snickers, Dairy milk, and Mars chocolates, "Okay. Tell me something though, what kind of guy is your ideal guy? A bad boy or a gentleman?" He asked making her brow pull together in a frown as she adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose.

"No offense, but I don't happen to be the girl you are trying to impress, am I?"

Tom raised a brow arrogantly, "Why would you think that? No offense, but you're not my type. I mean you're pretty and seem smart alright, but..." He let his words trail off as he looked at her from head to toe and then shook his head.

Lucy tried not to wince at the sound of that. Of course, she could understand him. Maybe the Lucy he had met at the club that first night was his type, but not this one. He probably wouldn't have spared her a second glance or even offered to be her one night stand had she gone there in her real state. What had she been thinking? She could hear the sound her deflated ego was making like a punctured balloon, "Fair enough, since you're not my type either," she said with a stiff smile as she pushed her trolley away from him, in the direction of fruits and vegetables.

Tom hurried after her, ignoring the ladies who were looking at him like he was a walking meal, "I didn't ask whether or not I was your type. I only asked what your type is. Bad boy or gentleman?" He asked, much to her irritation.

"Neither. I don't have a type. I already told you I'm not interested in men," Lucy said through gritted teeth.

Tom tried not to smile as he stood beside her and picked fresh vegetables, "Aha! So you don't have a type? Now I wonder why you were so keen on pointing out that I wasn't your type when you don't even have a type," Tom said making her turn to look at him irritably.

"I prefer to shop quietly. You're distracting me," she said and started to move away from him.

Tom sighed, "You know what? I'm no longer going to try to be friendly with you since you keep making it clear that you don't want me around you. First thing tomorrow morning I'm going to submit my resignation letter at the office and give you the space you so much desire," Tom promised in a flat tone which made her heart skip multiple beats as she turned around to look at him. She stiffened when she remembered what Harry had said about being nice to her driver.

She noticed he was really moving his trolley away from her. Where was he going to? Was he mad at her? Was he going to quit being her driver because she wanted to shop quietly? If this had happened yesterday she would have been over the moon, but him quitting his job now would mean she was going to lose hers, and she couldn't let that happen.

"Wait! I'm sorry," she called out as he knew she would, but Tom didn't respond but instead, he kept moving his trolley away from her.

"What?" Tom asked when Lucy hurried after him and stepped in front of him blocking his path with her trolley.

"I'm sorry. I was not trying to be rude," she said with an awkward apologetic smile.

"It's okay. I'm not mad. I just think it's best if I don't work for you anymore. We can just remain good neighbors," Tom assured her with a stiff smile and started to reverse his trolley when she grabbed on to it.

"No! Please, I need you!" She yelled and then winced when the other people around glanced in their direction curiously.

She lowered her voice, "I don't mean I need you in that way. I mean I want you to keep working for me. You need the job, remember? I'm not sure I would be able to sleep well at night knowing I cost a man his job," she said earnestly making him almost believe her.

He would have believed her completely had he not known she was actually trying to save her own job. This woman was a really good liar after all. Maybe she ought to be in the marketing unit instead of the fashion unit.

"You don't have to worry or feel guilty. I already made up my mind that driving isn't really what I want to do. I'd just return to my handyman job instead," he assured her but she didn't budge.

"If you quit this way I would really be sad. I promise to be nice, polite, and even friendly henceforth. So please don't go. Please?" She said as she let go of his trolley and grabbed his arm instead, giving him puppy eyes through her glasses.

"I don't think..."

"You know what I think? That girl you like is going to fall flat for you whoever she is!" Lucy said, knowing he would be distracted by that.

"You think so?" Tom asked with a grin since she was referring to herself even though she didn't know it yet.

"Of course! And as your friend, neighbor, and boss, it is my duty to help you win her heart! You have nothing to worry about. I may not be very experienced when it comes to relationships, but I can definitely give you tips on how to win a lady's heart," she said with a grin which he returned, "So will you keep working for me? I promise to be good to you henceforth!"

"No more being rude and unfriendly?"

"No more!" She crossed both hands in front of her chest.

"You would come out with me whenever I'm bored?" He asked, wanting to drive a hard bargain since he had the chance to do so.

"N..." Lucy paused to ponder on it when she remembered that she would be having a lot of spare time on her hand now that her boss had brought that crazy policy about not taking work home, "Can't we just chill indoor?"

"We could do that sometimes and go out at other times," Tom said, and she nodded.

"You promise to help me get the girl?" He asked, and she bobbed her head.

"The day you go back on your word I'm going to quit my job, agreed?" He asked, and she nodded in agreement.

"Deal," she said as she let go of his arm and extended her hand for a handshake.

"Deal," Tom said as he shook her hand. This was going to be really easy and interesting. And maybe she didn't know it yet, but he just won the challenge about getting her to leave the house, he thought as he flashed her a smile.

As long as he was interested in someone else and not her, this was going to be as easy as a stroll in a park.. Being friendly and hanging out with a friend once in a while wasn't a big deal, right? Lucy mused as she returned his smile.