***** Vol.4 Chap.40 Interesting lunch *****
It is time to meet Johan for lunch. Finally, JB dragged herself up and headed back to the hotel. As she entered the lobby, she immediately spotted Johan pacing back and forth waiting for her anxiously at the registration desk as previously agreed.
“Hi, Johan.”
“JB. I was worried about you.”
“Oh, after the presentation, I went out for a walk to unwind.”
“I heard you did a superb job with a standing ovation. Great job!”
“I sure got them going, didn’t I?”
“Well, that was a good sounding out of your achievements.”
“With your help and PPTSB, of course.”
“We tried to do our part to help you as best as we know how.”
Johan looked around.
“It seemed the cafeteria is quite crowded, how about we take a taxi to a nice seafood restaurant not far from here?”
“Sounds good. I am famished.”
“Perfect. Let’s go then.”
As they were walking out, JB caught at the corner of her eye the same couple of well-dressed man pointing to the exit at the back. She wondered who they were. She felt safe with Johan walking with her.
At the front, the concierge hailed a taxi for them. Johan gave the address to the driver, and they sped away.
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“I don’t get to come to Washington very often. Whenever I have the chance, I always like to visit this little restaurant specializing in New England flavors. Seafood is their specialty, especially lobsters.”
“Hmm. I loved to see their menu, but lobster sounds good.”
In no time, they arrived. The restaurant was a hole in the wall with only a few tables inside.
“Hey, Carlos! How is business?”
“Hey, Johan! Long time since you were here last! Come, come. Sit down here.”
“The usual drink?”
“Yes, and a glass of white wine for you?” Johan turned to JB.
“Sure, as long as it would not make me feel sleepy.”
“Have no fear.” Johan laughed.
“Would you like the special for today? We have some fresh steamed lobsters!” Carlos asked.
“Sounds good for me. And you?” Johan asked JB.
“Sure.”
“Great, let me tell the kitchen.” Carlos left.
“I have been talking to upper management. They wanted me to arrange for a lecture circuit for you. We really wanted to announce to the world that we have a super pill that can calm anyone. Statistically speaking, anger and aggression are on the rise not only in the States but also worldwide. We wanted to make the pill available so that there will be no more aggression seen on this earth. Isn’t that one of your visions? We want to bring that into fruition.”
Johan was so excited and so convincing as he talked.
Outwardly, JB was gobbling up the news, though at the back of her mind, the possibility that what Johan said was really the exact opposite nagged her.
She decided to continue the ruse. “Wow, that is great. When do we start?”
“We have a few more datasets that we would like you to help us. Then as soon as we know that the patent application had been accepted by the Patent Office, we are ready to travel and tell the world.”
There were sparkles in his eyes and he spoke with such enthusiasm so contagious that JB was completely won over.
The lobsters came, and they delved into their lunch.
“The workshop is over tomorrow. I haven’t been back to my apartment and my office for a month now. How about if I take a week and relax before we start the next set of analyses? Would we have time for this?”
“I think so.” There was a slight hesitancy in his voice.
“I deserve a vacation and perhaps a chance to drive that Porche to the country side for a few days.”
“Of course you deserve a good vacation. Take a week and get caught up in your mail at the Institute. We don’t want them to think that you disappear as well.”
They both laughed.
“Precisely. Pick me up in a week.”
“We will send the jet.”
“This time, let me enjoy your meal first before putting me to sleep! Would you?”
They both laughed.