──a pleased smile curled at the corner of her lips, adorning her features, when the man caved; if anything, she was glad now she had intruded in his little made-up office. there was a charm about the man across from her, but also something more that she could not pinpoint right away and she was intrigued. he was interesting, despite her initial impression, thinking how he would probably be one of those stuck-up, snob workaholics; now she was even more curious why he was at the party but chose to work anyway when he was just so pleasant to talk to. “is this California?” she asked, followed by a small laugh, “I am from Australia, so don’t hold it against me if I am wrong,” words spoken with a soft, sweet smile adorning her lips.
her blue eyes remained on him as he responded. “you did strike me like a classic man…the old Hollywood type,” she teased, winking at him a little playfully. the waiter approached and Stella allowed the male to order first, thinking how it was only fitting when he seemed so old-fashioned, well-mannered, but in a good way; she liked it. “and two rounds of whiskey shots,” she added after before the waiter would be off with the order —she is more of a tequila girl, but she doesn’t mind mixing it up a little. “so,” she turned her gaze back on him, an easy smile forming on her lips. “what do you do for work that keeps you so busy?” she teased; the playfulness evident in her tone.
"Why do I get the impression that you're making yourself seem more foolish than you actually are?" Even if she came from Australia, he was certain she could place California, Texas, Florida and Alaska on the map. "So, Ms. Australia," after all, he didn't know her name, and he wasn't sure she felt comfortable introducing herself yet. "Are you visiting or do you plan to stay here for a while ?" He finally returned her smile, although he was certain it didn't have quite the same appeal on him.
"Oh, that would have been my father. He was a movie producer for MGM back in the days," he had grown up in another borough : Pacific Palisades. But he preferred to keep his introduction as vague as possible for now. Chatting with near stranger was never an opportunity to unveil everything about you.
Besides, the way this was headed, he was likely to get talkative really fast. "You really don't want me to get back to my work, do you?" He scoffed, leaning forward to look at her better. Forearms resting on the table, he waits a moment before he answers. "I work for a politician. Surely you've heard of the elections to come." He couldn't imagine any English speaking country wouldn't cover it. "What about you, what do you do for a living?"

















