Suggest dinner at the school’s cafeteria

Seeing her look of uncertainty, I change tactics. “Just so you know there’s no pressure or anything, how about if we make it dinner at the school’s cafeteria?”

Tracy smiles, and I see the uncertainty leave her eyes. “That would be nice,” she says. “Besides, it will give me a chance to introduce you to some of my friends.”

“If your friends are anything like you, I may need to conduct some job interviews while I am there,” I say.

She gives me a weird look. “To be actresses?”

I laugh, and say, “That wasn’t what I had in mind, but if you know of anyone who is looking for that kind of work...”

She laughs and says, “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, but I don’t think you’ll find any good prospects with my friends. They’re all pretty much like me.”

Inwwardly, I reflect on that and think that if that is the case, I really wouldn’t mind doing some interviews — or auditions, actually — with anyone who even faintly is like Tracy. Not wanting to tempt fate, however, I say, “Well, that’s what I mean. Anyone like you is someone I’d like to hire to work at the studio — not as an actress, but doing the work you do. You’re quite talented.”

Tracy blushes self-consciously at the the compliment. “Thanks. But actually I’ve been a little vague with my friends about where it is that I work. I have told my family and friends that intern at a media company, but I haven’t exactly shared the details of what kind of media the company produces.”

“Totally understandable,” I respond. “Your secret is safe with me. Now, shall we have that tour?”

She looks at her watch and says, “I’d love to, but if we’re going to have dinner at the school’s cafeteria, we should probably leave now. Otherwise, the place will be jammed during the dinner rush, and we’ll never get a table.”

“Well then, we’ll leave the tour for another time. Lead the way, and I shall reward your day’s labors with champagne and caviar.”

She giggles and says, “Or, more likely, grilled cheese and chocolate milk, considering our dining location.”

“That works for me,” I say, and walk with her back to her car.

As Tracy walks toward her car, I stop and consider whether I should ride with her or take my own car. Taking my own car would mean that she would not have to drive me back here after our meal, and it would probably come across as less threatening, but it would also feel weird to not be able to continue our conversation, just as I was getting her to relax around me.