Are you my Adonis?

Not Just a Face

I gave Devin a curt nod and a handshake when I met him at the lobby of Diversify Investments. With him were Thomas and his Chief Researcher, Dr Andrew Morales. I didn't see a hint of the puppy-dog eyes from before, but rather a cool, calculating, and impassive CEO. I matched his energy one-for-one. We talked briefly about the logistics of the collaboration before we made our way to the laboratory on the 15th floor.

Safety glasses were passed out, and I grabbed my lab coat and safety gear from my office. Devin and his entourage looked at me quizzically as I donned the white coat and safety glasses. My shoes announced themselves on the linoleum floor of the lab, and five people came toward me from where the whiteboards stood in the middle of the floor. I sighed, knowing what they needed before they voiced their questions.

I stepped to the whiteboards and stared at the equations on them. I made a few adjustments and corrections to the equations. Then an idea came to me, and I began to write an equation that seemed to solve the Matrix issue we had. My researchers stopped what they were doing and crowded around me. They discussed the equation, and I invited them to pick it apart. There were no individual accolades here, only teamwork.

"Impressive. Did you come up with that on the spot?" asked Dr Morales, scanning the equation.

"Sometimes things come to me while I'm helping other people," I replied. " My team knows how to work together. No individual is more important than the other. Also, in the spirit of collaboration, please feel free to browse the whiteboards."

"You are not afraid of us stealing proprietary information?" asked Devin, with an even tone.

"This is just fine-tuning and surface-level stuff. The core technology is already being tested and has a patent pending," I replied. Besides, I don't plan to profit from some of this. I'd rather they help impoverished nations and improve health care everywhere. The matrix issue I just solved can be applied to food storage and other applications.

I watched as Dr Morales joined the people reading my equation. It was hard not to chuckle at a dozen heads tilting and eyes squinting at once. Devin stood closer to me and watched as well.

"I thought you had an MBA," he asked without a question.

"I have an MS in Biochemical Engineering as well. I would have gotten a PhD, but I was eager to join the family business." I explained without giving away any emotion. "Honestly, though, science has always been my passion. This floor is my personal project. A direct investment within the same company for technological and biomedical development."

He grunted in agreement. Nothing more was said until I continued the tour. I occasionally stopped by workstations to help or provide input on various projects. We ended the tour at the BioCell Memory Storage division. I showed Devin and his entourage the progress and the initial numbers on the last round of testing. They seemed thoroughly impressed and would consider using the applications. Dr Morales commented that he was especially excited to see the paper I will write about how I got around the thermodynamic paradox.

Afterward, I had planned to take everyone to a private room in Washumen Restaurant, but Thomas and Dr Morales said they needed to return to the company. I pretended not to notice their awkward glances at Devin. Obviously, he had orchestrated some alone time for us. Well, two can play at this game.

I drove us to my favorite hamburger spot instead of a fancy restaurant. We stuck out like sore thumbs in our power suits among all the casual wear. I tried not to giggle at Devin's confused face as he took it in.

"Two Megastacks with extra cheese and sauce. A side of garlic-and-truffle aioli fries. What would you like to drink, Devin?" I asked after ordering the food.

"Um, root beer..." He answered back, still trying to make sense of where I brought him.

"A large root beer and a large sweet tea," I finished ordering. I paid and stood the number marker at a nearby table. Devin followed me around, looking very lost.

"So do you take all your clients to a hamburger joint?" he asked.

"Only ones who try to fool me into a date," I answered with a smirk. I saw his face fall for a moment. "Loosen up, I'm not too offended, since I took you to my secret vice. The food is actually decent here."

A sappy grin formed on his face, transforming him into a completely different person from the start of the morning. I was amazed at how different a person could look by expressions alone. Maybe there was something to the Superman/ Clark Kent gag in the comic books. I dropped my corporate stiffness too, because I didn't want to ruin one of my favorite places with that.

Devin reached across the table and took my hand gently. I debated taking it back, but the warmth was surprisingly comforting. I looked up at him again, and flashes of the Adonis who had held me all night flooded my mind. I felt my face get a little hot and tried to school my face.

"Amelia, I'm glad to be here with you," his deep voice reverberated through the wood of the table. " I can't stop thinking about you, and every second away is torture.

" Devin, I told you. I'm not looking to date. I'm working through something, and dating would complicate it." I explained.

"Is it him? The man you were trying to forget on that night?" he asked softly. "Why don't you explain it to me?"

I took a deep breath. I guess there really isn't any other choice than to explain. "I had been in love with this man for over a decade, but he chose someone else. Now he's unattainable, and I need to give up pining for him. I have to untangle a decade's worth of emotions and find the part of myself that doesn't have him in it. It's not fair for me to date knowing that there are lingering feelings in my heart."

"I can wait. I can be there for you," he says desperately. "Please don't keep me out of your life. If you don't want to date me, then let me stay as a friend."

Thankfully, he was interrupted by the waiter bringing our food to the table. I sighed in relief before taking a bite of the Megastack. It was a perfect blend of juicy hamburger patties, romaine lettuce, tomato, red onions, and the tangy secret sauce. Somehow, the melted American Cheese just framed the flavor profiles just right. I swear I hear angels singing with every bite. I looked across the table, and I watched Devin chew with his eyes closed.

"Right? Best meal ever?" I asked. "Aren't you glad I brought you here instead of Washumen?"

"Holy... I didn't think a Hamburger could be so good." He murmured

" You should try the fries," I pushed the basket toward him. I smiled as his eyes widened at the savory, balanced flavor hitting his tongue. "Can I tell you a secret?"

He leaned over. "What?"

"This is my Mom's side business," I admitted to him. "My mom initially went to culinary school, but her family pressured her to transfer to a business school to take over the family business. After she established herself, she opened this place with Uncle Joe."

I pointed to the burly man in the kitchen shouting orders at the staff. "He's my mom's best friend. And he could be in a fancy restaurant, but he likes it here. And....," I pointed to the plaque on the wall hidden next to signed celebrity pictures. "This place has three Michelin Stars."

I looked back at Devin and smiled proudly. As my mother's renamed company reads, diversity was the strongest trait in my family. "The Megastacks and the fries are my mother's recipes. Uncle Joe did some minor tweaks to the sauce, but it's basically unchanged."

"So, your family has a history of letting go of your passions for the family business," Devin said quietly, almost sad for me.

"Hey, we don't see it that way. The family business opens doors for us to pursue our passions. I would have had to be a peon in a lab for years before any of my ideas would've been taken seriously. Even then, someone probably would've taken the credit. " I defended passionately. "Even Dad got to design a line of golf clubs, even though he didn't go pro. His "Aerialtech" clubs are considered top-of-the-line."

"Wait, your dad designed the clubs I use," Devin asked, shocked.

"Probably. So don't go feeling sad that my family is full of people who let go of their hopes and dreams for the family. We just used business resources to live them one way or another." I say smugly.

We finished lunch talking about our background. I had heard about how Devin had built himself up from basically nothing. His lucky break was when a neighborhood electronics store agreed to put up the initial capital to build his first smart system. Ever since then, Gorgetech Innovations has had one success after another. My initial admiration for him grew as he told stories about his early years trying to break through into the market and establishing his company. We parted on a good note afterward. I might be dating him, but I gained an impressive friend.