New York 2

We chatted amicably while riding the elevator together and it wasn't long before Sue began to flirt with me. It didn't seem intentional but there were moments when she would touch my arm, laugh at even my shitty jokes and play with her hair a lot of innocent and mild flirting. When the elevator finally arrived at our floor she was lightly leaning on me as we talked about research but she pulled away when she saw her brother Johnny and looked a little guilty. Either Johnny didn't see how close we were or he didn't care as he zeroed in on Angelus the moment the doors opened but this was too much to be a coincidence. This led me to believe that he must have either seen us as we arrived or that he has eyes and ears on the lookout for girls for him.

Johnny: Hey sis what a coincidence running into you here. (clearly, it wasn't) I was just on my way out to get some coffee. So who are these two with you?

Sue seemed to just remember that we weren't alone in the elevator and blushed slightly before quickly recovering.

Sue: *Ahem* These two are Antonio the scientist who applied to join the company and his bodyguard Angelus; Antonio and Angelus this is...

Johnny: Johnny the human torch!

Angelus turned to ask me a serious question judging by the look on her face

Angelus: *loud whisper* Why does he need to announce to us that he is gay? Is he interested in you?

At first, there was stunned silence

Antonio & Sue: hahaha!!

Johnny: I'm not gay!

After shouting that he was straight Johnny left in a huff. What made it more embarrassing was the honest expression and tone in which Angelus asked.

Finally catching our breath we arrived at her office to complete the rest of the interview. The office was just a corner of the lab that didn't have super science covering it, unlike the rest of her office space. She questioned the various fields of study on my resume and a few of my past jobs listed on my resume but then she seemed to drift.

Sue: So what do you like to do in your downtime?

Antonio: Mostly I like to go on walks and read but I also like to find time to just head out and explore the world whether it is just a drink at the bar going to clubs, or even just going to the movies.

Sue: So if hypothetically you are in a relationship how would you prioritize your work life and home life?

Antonio: That depends

Sue: Depends on what?

Antonio: Do I love the person I'm with or do I love my work more and they are just convenient

Sue: What do you mean?!

Antonio: If I love the one I'm with I would put them before anything else it wouldn't matter what it was they would be my everything. Someone if need be I would walk through hellfire to keep them safe and make an ass of myself just to see her smile.

Sue: You sound like someone that has been in love

Antonio: I was until... well that is in the past now I learned my lesson

Sue: Excuse me for asking this but what lesson was that?

Antonio: Convenience isn't love if they don't love you as much as you love them it may seem like it but it isn't

Sue: And do you mean by that

Antonio: Simple if you have to worry if you're not priority number one to them then you're probably not real love is giving yourself completely to your partner they wouldn't forget or doubt you it would be impossible. I've been on the other end of what I thought was love I would make excuses for why they messed up or just forgive it but all that is doing is ignoring the problem. When they performed little or sporadic acts of kindness or romance I would forget the longer stretches of pain because that was my water in the desert.

Sue: Thank you, Antonio, that must have been difficult to share...

Antonio: Somehow it wasn't you're very easy to talk to sue

Sue: Thank you, Toni that means a lot you are very easy to talk to as well I've never felt so comfortable around someone before

Antonio: Stop thanking me I'm pretty sure we're good friends by this point so you don't need to thank me all the time and I feel the same we just seemed to click well with one another

Sue: Exactly!... Oh my gosh look at the time I didn't even realize we'd been talking so long

Antonio: You are right maybe we should get something to eat. Do you know any place we could go to?