“Please, you can call me Ali. And, yes. Somebody with worse judgment might think you’re following me.”
He once again raised his hands in an ‘I come in peace’ gesture. “On my honour, I am not. I simply needed somewhere to sit and contemplate. This seemed like a nice spot to do it.” Rionan motioned to the view of the main precinct, where people came to shop.
“I suppose, if you like busy.”
“I’m not too interested in busy,” Rionan sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I’m trying to learn more about this place. Going somewhere with a lot of footfall seemed to make sense tome.”
“Why are you trying to learn about Porthan?” Alianna asked, wondering what kind of business trip he might actually be on.
Rionan thought as quickly as he could. He didn’t have anything to hide from this human, not really. The chances of anyone tracking him here, from Xanthia, were almost next to none.
“I’m looking for something. Something in particular that I need. I think I might find it here, somewhere.”
“For your business trip?”
“Yes, for my business trip.”
Alianna raised a questioning eyebrow. “Just what type of business trip are you on, Mr West?
Rionan considered again, thinking of the terminologies he was aware that humans used in the workplace, and the conversations he’d overheard in his time in the human realm. He had been here once before, long ago. “I’m a manager, of sorts. I manage a particular part of a system, and I need something to help things work a little better.”
“Cryptic, strange, but I get it. Need-to-know business. I’m just some girl who picked you up on a beach, you walked part of the way home, and now I’m your server at a café. I absolutely do not need to know.”
“It’s not that, Ali. It’s just complicated. Difficult to discuss.”
“Ah, you have an NDA.”
“NDA?”
“Non-disclosure agreement.” She cocked her head at Rionan, who just stared blankly at her. She stared right back.
“Well. I’m going to head in now. Unless you need anything else, Max?”
“I don’t. Thank you. Actually, I want to apologise. If I seem reluctant to discuss anything. I’m not myself at the moment. I feel lost, like, I’m not sure quite what direction I’m heading in.”
“Isn’t that the story of my life? I thought I told you that yesterday.”
“You have some direction. Some plan. It just hasn’t quite taken shape yet.”
“Hmm. I guess you’re right.”
Alianna turned around and began walking back inside. She had almost reached the door when she heard his voice again from behind her.
“Ali?”
She turned around, getting her notepad out, like she expected him to order something else.
“I really don’t have a phone, you know.”
“What?” Confusion was written across Alianna’s face.
“You and your friend. You weren’t sure if I had a phone or not. I could tell. I wasn’t lying – I don’t have a phone. I don’t want you to think I was making excuses to avoid speaking with you. I did enjoy your company last night, however brief it may have been.”
Alianna suddenly remembered the conversation she had with Natasha while leaving the park.
“You – you heard that? Shit, I thought we were being quiet. I’m sorry. Gods, this is so embarrassing.”
“There is no reason for you to feel embarrassed,” he smiled, his tone soothing, and Alianna found herself feeling instantly much calmer.
