"Hey" I greeted as I went to where Derek and Kathleen was.

"Lexi, I didn't expect to see you back here until maybe next week" Derek smiled she he saw me.

"Well you know I just couldn't keep away for too long" I chuckled.

"I know you love here" Derek chuckled. "Lexi, this is Kathleen".

Hey Kathleen its nice meeting you" I smiled at her I stretched my hand for her to shake.

"You too" she smiled back at me slightly but you could see that she was feeling down. "I guess I should go".

"Wait" I said to her before turning to Derek. "Hey Derek can you give us a minute?"

"Uh sure Lexi" he replied before leaving us.

"I really have to go" Kathleen said to me.

"I know but this hopefully won't take long" I smiled. "So Kathleen huh? Nice name".

"Uhm thanks" Kathleen replied.

"I was wondering how about having lunch with me Kathleen" I smiled at her.

"Uhm... I uh... I'm not sure that's a good idea" Kathleen finally replied after stuttering.

"Why not?" I asked her curiously.

"We don't really know each other that much" Kathleen replied rubbing her arms.

"Well that's why I'm inviting you to lunch. I don't you but for some reason I like you, so I'm hoping to get to know you more" I told her.

"Its just that... Uhm... Don't take this the wrong way. But I'm not really into girls" she said nervously.

"So?" I asked confused.

"So lunch probably wouldn't be such a good idea since I uhm... I like guys" Kathleen replied.

It was then that I realized what she was talking about. She thought I was gay and I was hitting on her.

"Oh, you thought I was asking you out" I laugh.

"Well aren't you?" Kathleen asked confused.

"Oh no, I'm sorry. It probably sounded that way, I never thought about it. But now sweetie, I'm the owner of this restaurant. I heard you were looking for a job" I laughed seeing the looks on her face.

"Oh my God, I had no idea" Kathleen chuckled embarrassed. "I am so sorry for my assumption".

"No it's okay" I laughed. "It probably sounded like I was asking you out. You're really beautiful by the way but I have a boyfriend. So how about that lunch?"

"Uh yeah sure miss...?"

"Its Luciano but just call me Lexi okay" I smiled at her.

"Okay uhm Lexi" she replied.

"I hope you don't mind following me to this new restaurant that I bought to finalized the deal first" I said to her.

"No not at all" Kathleen replied.

"Okay. So did you get here in your car or what?" I asked as we started walking back to the restaurant's exit.

"Uhm... No I don't have a car, I got here via taxi" Kathleen replied following me.

"Well we'll take my car then" I said to her as we walked in the direction of my car.

"You have a nice car" Kathleen said to me as we both entered my car and I start the engine.

"Thanks" I replied as I drove off.

"So Kathleen are you from around here?" I asked her.

"Well not really I've just move here recently from Texas" she replied.

"Oh, what made you move all the way out here?" I asked again.

Kathleen was silent for awhile so I looked at her briefly before turning back towards the road.

"Change of scenery" was her reply. But I was immediately convinced that there's more to her story.

"So what did you do before you move here?" I asked her.

I know she might be thinking I was being too inquisitive but this was actually be interviewing her to see if I could offer her a job.

"I uhm... I helped out at an animal shelter for a while".

"And that was the only job you have ever done?" I quizzed.

"Yeah" Kathleen sighed.

"So you don't have any experience in waitressing or anything restaurant related then?"

"No I guess not, but I'm a quick learner in doing things" Kathleen replied.

"Is waitressing something you really want to do?" I asked her.

"Honestly, I'm willing to do almost any job right now as long as its honest and legal way of making some money" Kathleen replied.

"I mean I'm living in this apartment I've rented but I haven't got a job so I practically have no money and my rent's due in a week, that's why I really need to find a job soon or else I'm gonna be kicked out on the streets".

"Kathleen, you're not gonna get kick out. I'll give you the money to pay your landlord" I said as I look to her briefly before focussing on the road.

"What!? No, no I can't take your money" she said frantically. "I mean, you don't even know me. That wouldn't be right taking someone else's hard working money".

"Well you could just think of it as a loan then. And then pay me back later or a deposit".

"Lexi, I don't have a job. I don't even know if I'll be able to get one soon so I wouldn't know when I'd be able to pay you back" Kathleen replied shaking her head. "I just... I can't do that".

"Kathleen, this is me saying that I'm offering you a job. I'm not sure what exactly it'll be yet but you're definitely gonna be working soon" I smiled at her before looking back at the road.

"What?... I I can't believed this... I mean just like that?" Kathleen asked surprised.

"Yep" I nodded.

"Why?"

"What do you mean?" I asked. "I thought you were looking for a job".

"Yeah I am... But I... I just didn't think I'd just be given one just like that. Why are you doing this for me?" Kathleen asked.

"Well first because you needed a job, secondly I'm understanding enough to know what its like to want a job and third; I am going to be reopening a new restaurant soon and I'll need more workers" I said to her.

"I don't know what to say" Kathleen said is disbelief.

"Just say you won't let me regret my decision in giving you a job" I told her.

"You won't, I promised. Whatever it is I have to do you won't regret hiring me" Kathleen replied.

"Well great. I hope you do keep that promise" I said to her.

"Don't worry I will" Kathleen replied.

After we reach the restaurant I bought I met with the former owners. Mrs Hart was an elderly woman in her 60s and her grand daughter Eylene, they were the owners of the restaurant. After finalizing everything and signing the papers. I had Eylene show me around the restaurant as I made mental notes of the changes I was gonna make and to what extent I was gonna extend the interior. After taking a look around and discussing the management with them letting them know that they'd still be in charged of managing things but if any issue they should report it to means that I'll come around to check up on the restaurant from time to time, Kathleen and I said goodbye and left.

"Sorry about taking up your time" I said to Kathleen.

"What? No its no problem" she told me. "I really do admire you".

"You do?" I asked looking at her.

"Yeah. I mean you're wrong, successful and obviously independent" Kathleen replied. "I wish I could gave been more like you instead of falling for that jerk and now have to be running from him".

"What?" I asked surprised.

"Uh its nothing. Don't worry about it. Its something that happened sometime ago" Kathleen replied smiling but it didn't quite reach her eyes. It was clear that that last part had slipped out.

"If you say so" I said to her as we entered my car. "I think its time for that lunch now".

From the moment I saw Kathleen and started talking to her, I could somehow tell that Kathleen was someone with a not so pleasant past, but based on what she had made slipped I wasn't sure it was all something of the past. But her working with me was going to give me chance to figure things out.

Just as I started the car engine my phone rang. I smiled as I looked at the caller's ID.

"Hey babe" I smiled as I answered the phone.