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A man is standing outside Luke’s office.
The first thing Luke notices is his suit. The luxurious black garment looks like something from one of the window displays Rebecca loves so much. The second thing he notices is the man’s eyes - one a warm brown, the other pale blue. They meet Luke’s without hesitation.
A polite smile flashes across Luke’s face despite it being an hour before his company is supposed to open. Luke has never been one to turn away potential customers no matter the inconvenience.
“Luke Brandon, head of Brandon Communications. How may I help you?” he asks.
The man dips his head slightly, an obvious apology for his sudden appearance.
“I am Le Chiffre, a banker for several large organizations. I would like to speak with you,” he says. The man’s voice is low and accented, pleasant in a way similar to a large string instrument. He holds out a gloved hand which Luke shakes firmly.
“Good morning, Mr. Le Chiffre. Please have a seat in my office.”
Le Chiffre makes himself comfortable at the chair across from Luke’s. He crosses his long legs with the ease of someone who has been here many times before and leans forward so his forearms rest on the table.
“I might as well get straight to the point. An employee of yours is in a significant amount of debt to me. Your receptionist said you were the best person to discuss this with,” Le Chiffre explains.
Luke raises a brow skeptically. Rebecca paid off her debts months ago and to his knowledge, hasn’t racked up any more since. He can’t think of any other employee who would owe enough money to elicit an in person confrontation.
Le Chiffre, sensing Luke’s doubt, places his file on the desk and takes out a laminated sheet of paper. At the very bottom is a familiar looping signature.
“Miss Bloomwood took out a rather large loan a while back. I would not be surprised if she’d forgotten about it in all the excitement,” Le Chiffre says sympathetically. “I do not usually finance ordinary individuals, but Miss Bloomwood was very convincing.”
Luke scans the paper quickly. According to this man’s records, Rebecca took out a loan of ten thousand dollars. A loan which has had time to build up a significant amount of interest.
Luke can’t even pretend to be surprised. Rebecca has a talent for getting into unlikely predicaments, it’s part of what drew him to her in the first place. Though he and Rebecca decided to end their romantic relationship, they have since remained close friends.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not quite sure what you expect me to do. I can’t just give her money from the company,” Luke sighs.
A quiet tsking noises comes from behind Le Chiffre’s teeth. He tilts his head subtly, mismatched eyes once again fixing on Luke’s. Luke can’t be sure, but it feels like the banker is studying him. The attention makes his face feel warm.
“I never planned to suggest that in the first place,” Le Chiffre says. “I am a businessman too, I understand these things. Please, allow me to elaborate.”
There’s a blur of white as the banker flashes one of his sharp incisors. Luke has seen that type of smile many times in the world of finance. It’s the type one wears when they know they’re about to make an offer that’s impossible to resist.
“I propose a much more simple way of solving this problem,” Le Chiffre continues breezily. “You go out to dinner with me and I’ll absolve Rebecca of her debts. That is all.”
Well. That certainly wasn’t what Luke expected.
The cogs in Luke’s brain begin to turn as he attempts to make sense of the offer. One dinner to forgive thousands of dollars worth of debt? Even the most naive businessman would find it suspicious. Le Chiffre would have to be extremely wealthy to be able to let go of that amount of money so casually.
Luke’s brows knit together in confusion. He frowns.
“I’m grateful for the offer, but why? We don’t even know each other.” he manages to ask.
Le Chiffre does not answer immediately. Instead, he pushes back his chair in one fluid motion and gathers up his file. He steps towards the door without a backward glance.
“I appreciate your concern, Mr Brandon,” he says. “Let’s just say I know you enough to know that I would take great pleasure in inviting you to dinner. Now, how does dinner at eight sound? I can send a chauffeur to this building to pick you up.”
Luke throws a quick glance at his calendar. He has no meetings scheduled for this evening. His only plans were to check through some old records which is something he could easily put off for a day or two.
Le Chiffre lets out a pleased hum as if he could somehow read Luke’s mind.
“Wonderful. I look forward to seeing you,” he says. The office door clicks shut.
Luke only manages to corner Rebecca during their lunch break. His most eccentric employee had somehow managed to evade him for the entire morning. She hadn’t even popped in to give him the rest of her nine AM frappe. To call it suspicious would be an understatement.
“Rebecca, explain to me why a strange banker showed up at my office offering to forgive your debts to him in return for going to dinner with me,” Luke says.
Rebecca scrambles to reach for the nearest piece of pink paper. She holds it in front of her face like some kind of flimsy shield. Her bright red curls peek out from behind it comically.
“Please don’t be mad! I completely forgot about that loan so when he showed up at my house asking for payment I panicked,” she gushes emphatically.
“I told him I should talk to my boss first, then I somehow mentioned that my boss is super hot. I showed him the photo of you on my homescreen and I think he agreed. He said he’d go talk to you himself. That’s all, I swear!”
Luke moves the sheet of paper away from Rebecca. He finds no evidence of her awful lying face. She must be telling the truth.
“Dinner with him can’t be too bad. Didn’t you see his face? He’s pretty attractive,” Rebecca offers with a small shrug. She wiggles her eyebrows in a way that reminds Luke of a dying caterpillar. It’s safe to say it doesn’t help her argument.
“Fine,” Rebecca sighs when Luke fails to lighten up. “Think of it this way, this guy’s willing to pay thousands to share a meal with you just because he thinks you’re hot. I’d take it as a major compliment. Anyways, you could do with some spicing up in the romance department.”
Luke’s initial response is a grimace. The sour expression fades a little when he remembers the elegance of the man’s figure and the sharpness of his gaze. There is no denying that the banker had piqued his interest. It would be hard for him to make the dinner any more boring than the ones Luke has suffered with various Alette employees.
There is also some truth in Rebecca’s statement. He’d yet to date anyone after the two of them split up. Perhaps it would do him well to at least get to know someone new.
Luke opens his mouth to concede only for Rebecca to cut in first.
“Hah! You do think he’s attractive!” she yells loud enough for the entire building to hear. “After work we’re going through your wardrobe. I will make sure you are absolutely irresistible!”
Luke’s idea of “absolutely irresistible” definitely differs from Rebecca’s. It takes the two nearly three hours to settle on an outfit they both like. It would take even longer if it weren’t for the call from the chauffeur telling him the car is ready.
“Good luck with your mysterious banker! I will keep you in my prayers,” Rebecca says as Luke enters the sleek black Aston Martin waiting for him outside the company building.
The drive is spent in silence. Luke is taken right into the heart of New York. The car stops outside what must be the most expensive restaurant in the entire district.
“I hope you enjoy your evening, Mr Brandon. Mr Le Chiffre is waiting for you just outside the entrance,” the chauffeur says with a bow. He leads him to the bottom of the steps leading up to the great marble establishment before promptly retreating.
The sight the suit Le Chiffre picked out makes Luke feel grossly underdressed. He’d picked out one of his nicest suits, and yet only a quick once over makes it obvious whose had cost more. Le Chiffre reminds Luke of a villain from a spy movie. His hair is slicked back to perfection and his sleeves are held together by diamond cufflinks.
You do think he’s attractive! Luke’s inner Rebecca repeats, sounding both smug and delighted. He shoves it to the back of his mind forcefully.
“I hope you don’t mind my attire. Prada is usually good enough for these occasions,” Luke says in greeting.
The smile Le Chiffre gives him in return is nothing short of dazzling. Though it’s clearly a smile crafted for the sake of winning people over, Luke thinks he can find something genuine in it, at least genuine enough to make him look away bashfully.
“Whatever you may lack in material possessions is made up for in charm,” Le Chiffre assures him.
The banker wraps his arm around Luke’s waist with the same measured confidence he’d displayed in their first meeting. It should come across as arrogant or presumptuous, yet Luke finds he doesn’t mind it in the least.
A waitress guides the two to a two person table in the center of the dining hall. The table is covered by a silky white cloth adorn with glittering glasses, silverware, and an ornate decanter. Light from the giant chandelier hanging several feet above them rains down to refract through each item.
A bottle of wine Le Chiffre must have ordered beforehand is brought to them. Luke is surprised to find it’s one of his favorites. Le Chiffre pours them each a glass and smiles invitingly.
“Mr Brandon, earlier on you had pointed out that we do not know each other. Would you care to tell me about yourself?” he asks.
Luke takes a sip of the wine. The unique blend of fruits fills his mouth like perfume filling a bottle. It’s an effort not to sigh in satisfaction.
“I would only if you tell me why you made such a crazy deal. You said you knew enough to know you’d like to take me to dinner. How?” he questions.
“It’s simple. I know you are a beautiful and intelligent man thanks to Miss Bloomwood’s glowing report and the rather pleasant photo she provided. She said I would be a ‘stupid idiot’ not to like you. She also added that you currently lack a partner. I must admit, that piece of information is what interested me most.”
The beginnings of blush prickle at Luke’s cheeks. So Rebecca wasn’t exaggerating when she said he’d landed this dinner date because the strange banker found him attractive.
Luke isn’t sure what to think of it. He’s not one to be won over easily, and yet he can’t deny the hum of excitement Le Chiffre’s words sent vibrating through his veins.
Not wanting to accidentally say something stupid, Luke chooses not to address the information Le Chiffre just revealed. He settles for launching into a description of Brandon Communications and his role in the company. Treading on familiar grounds helps calm the nerves in his stomach.
The food is excellent and conversation goes smoothly. Luke and Le Chiffre exchange the usual questions. Gradually, Luke begins to let go of his reservations. Their dinner could easily fit under the label of professional, that is, until someone new joins the table.
A beautiful brown haired boy wearing a green cashmere scarf appears seemingly out of nowhere. He sneaks up behind Le Chiffre like a cat and winds a slender arm around his shoulders.
“Jean, what a surprise! I’m so happy I ran into you. Did you miss me?” the man asks. He looks up at Le Chiffre through long dark eyelashes. His lips, painted a bright shade of pink, travel dangerously close to the man’s neck. Luke looks away from the scene a little too fast for it to feel natural.
“I did, dear Adam. What luck it is that we should meet again,” Le Chiffre says cordially. “What brings you to this restaurant?”
Adam lets out a loud exhale.
“I’m just here on business. Making connections, pretending to be interested in men to appease their egos, the usual. I suppose that is why you have taken this thing to dinner.”
Adam pauses to make a dismissive gesture in Luke’s direction. This is followed by a long rant about how boring men in finance are. Whether he’d been listening in on their conversation or he just made a good guess is a mystery.
“Adam is quite… enthusiastic, shall we say? He is certainly not a man of subtlety,” Le Chiffre mutters under his breath. Luke laughs wryly. He isn’t offended by Adam’s disdainful tone. Working in the same building as multi-millionaires has gotten him used to it. He would find Adam humorous if he wasn’t eager to have Le Chiffre to himself.
Adam’s rant lasts as long as it takes for Luke to finish his dessert. Afterwards, the boy moves from behind the chair and attempts to drape one of his legs across Le Chiffre’s. The advance is met with a dispassionate nudge.
“Why do you never take me to dinner, Jean? What has this man done to earn your attention?” Adam asks woefully.
“I have taken you to dinner many times. This evening I am focusing on Mr Brandon. We are fulfilling the terms of a deal,” Le Chiffre takes a moment to feign thinking then adds, “Adam, dear, are you jealous of Mr Brandon?”
Judging from the scandalized gasp Adam let out, you might as well have accused him of killing his mother.
“I am never jealous! Why would I be jealous of someone with looks as plain as this companion of yours?” he spits.
A playful glint sparkles in Le Chiffre’s two toned eyes. He reaches out to rest his hand on Luke’s thigh, long fingers spreading over the fabric purposefully. Luke is sure both he and Adam could hear his small gasp of surprise.
“If you are sure of yourself, then perhaps we should test that claim,” Le Chiffre muses. “What do you say, darling Luke?”
Luke’s body knows what’s going to happen long before his mind does.
Le Chiffre’s hand goes to cup Luke’s wine-flushed cheek. His touch is surprisingly gentle. Luke leans into it on instinct.
From there, there’s no going back.
Le Chiffre’s lips are sweet with traces of fruit and wine. They chase Luke’s with the kind of passion that one wouldn’t expect to find on first dates. Luke Brandon, a man who takes pride in his ability to keep control of his emotions, is taken aback by his own overwhelming desire to reciprocate.
The mingling scents of luxury alcohol and meats must be getting to Luke, as in that moment, all he wants is to sink into his companion’s arm.
“How about we go somewhere else?” Luke suggests. The words fall from his mouth before he can stop them. A dark flush races across his cheeks faster than a wildfire.
“A wonderful idea,” Le Chiffre says, not sounding the least bit bothered. “It is good to see you are not jealous, Adam. I hope to see you again.”
The dark scowl on Adam’s face makes it clear that “again” won’t be anytime soon.
Stepping outside into the cool spring air is enough to sober Luke up. The weight of his actions comes crashing down on him instantly.
Luke went to dinner with Le Chiffre to help Rebecca, not act like a lovesick teenager. Judging from the death glare Adam Towers gave him upon exiting the restaurant, he’ll have to implement a fair amount of damage control to make sure the entire world doesn’t hear about it.
Luke swallows once, twice, then decides he can’t just pretend the last ten minutes never happened.
“I’m sorry,” he apologizes. “I don’t normally go around kissing people like that. I don’t know what got into me.”
Luke is sure he looks like a red-faced mess. Le Chiffre, on the other hand, is the picture of poise. The banker looks as perfectly put together as he had at the start of their dinner. Even his severely slicked back hair hasn’t budged a millimeter.
“There is no need to apologize. Our deal was not of a particularly professional nature,” he says. “If there is anyone who should be apologizing, it’s myself. I was the one who initiated that kiss. That’s not to say I regret it.”
Those few words are enough to release the tension in Luke’s shoulders. No, he doesn’t regret it either. He just wishes he’d picked a slightly better moment for it.
When Le Chiffre offers his arm Luke tries not to be too eager in taking it. The two walk down to the car in easy silence.
“Where are we going?” the chauffeur asks once they are comfortably seated.
Luke’s answer comes out like an automated response. “To my house. Rebecca’s debt has been paid.” he says.
The lack of enthusiasm in his voice is obvious. Le Chiffre’s hand finds Luke’s thigh once again.
“You don’t sound terribly sure of that,” he says. “You could come back to my hotel. I have plenty of spare bedrooms. Your stay with me would not have to cross the boundaries of friendship, though if you did want it to, then I would be delighted.”
The offer is much more tempting than it should be. Rebecca would be glad to know that she was right when she said Luke was in need of some romantic action. Now it’s being offered to him on a silver platter.
It would be easy to say yes, to spend one passionate night with Le Chiffre, but Luke doesn’t want that. His time at the restaurant allowed him to get a glimpse of the man behind the million dollar company. He has a feeling that if he took the offer then he might not be able to see anything beyond that.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Luke admits, “but I would like to kiss you again.”
The corner of Le Chiffre’s lips quirk upwards. “Very well. That would bring me great pleasure, Mr. Brandon.”
Luke is the first to move. He loops his arms around Le Chiffre’s neck gingerly, fingers mussing up the back of his hair. He takes a moment to admire his sharp features before leaning in to connect their lips.
Le Chiffre lets Luke control the pace. Hence, their kisses remain chaste and innocent until Luke decides that there can’t be any harm in wanting a little bit more.
Le Chiffre loses his composure easier than expected. One flick of Luke’s tongue has him releasing a pained sigh. It’s obvious that his hands ache to explore. For now they have to settle for caressing over the fabric covering Luke’s back. Even in an aroused state, Le Chiffre is ever the gentleman.
“You are a businessman through and through,” Le Chiffre hums into the corner of Luke’s mouth. “You lured me in without even meeting me and have given me a myriad of reasons to pay another visit to Brandon Communications. I must commend you for that.”
An amused laugh bubbles up from Luke’s chest. He pulls away from Le Chiffre enough that he can see all of his face.
“You have to give Rebecca credit for the ‘luring.’ She has always had a way of making things turn out for the better in the most roundabout ways,” he says.
“Yes, I believe Miss Bloomwood is the one I am in debt to now. You will have to thank her for me, but first you should kiss me again."
The drive to Luke’s apartment goes by in what feels like mere seconds. Luke doesn't mind. Stepping out of the car and thanking the chauffeur feels more like the start of something new rather than a goodbye.
“I look forward to seeing you in my office without any unpaid debts hanging over us, though I have to warn you, Rebecca will probably ambush you before you can even step foot into the building,” Luke says as the two of them exit the car.
Le Chiffre stops at the bottom of the steps leading to Luke’s apartment complex. He takes Luke’s hand and presses it to his lips.
“I don’t think that will be a problem,” he says warmly. “Goodnight, Mr Brandon.”
***