And who better to have the answers to those questions and the willingness to share them than an ignored young secretary low on male companionship?
"I have a lot of work to do," Despoina had said. "Files to prepare for your father, memos to write." She had blushed. "Besides, it might not be ... you know, appropriate."
Lem laughed. "Not appropriate? Why, because you work for my father and I'm his son?"
"Because you and I both work for the company." She could hardly look at him she was so embarrassed.
"Why does that matter?" Lem had said. "Three-quarters of the people on this rock work for Juke. You think that precludes you from having dinner with any of them?"
"Isn't that against the company policy or something?" she had said. "Not that this is a date or anything, but, you know, the appearance of a date."
This was just sad. "First of all, this is absolutely a date. No question. Full-fledged date. Second, this can't be the first time a coworker has asked you out."
She brushed a speck of dust off her desk. "I stay very busy, Mr. Jukes."
"Mr. Jukes is my father. I'm Lem. Can you say that? Lem. It's not a difficult word. One brief syllable. The first half of 'lemon.' Or 'lemmings.'"
She had smiled at that, looking down at her keyboard, tracing the edge of it with her finger. "I know how to say your name."
"Prove it."
She had laughed awkwardly and shrugged. "Lem."
"You say it like it's a joke. Like it's a punch line. My feelings are hurt."
She had sighed, rolled her eyes, tossed a hand. "Lem."
"Now you say it like I'm an annoyance."
"That's not far from the truth," she said. But she was smiling.
Now he was getting somewhere. "Just say it normal. Like we're friends. Like we've known each other for years, and I've been away, and you're happy to see me."
"This is silly."
"Of course it's silly. It's utterly ridiculous. But that's why we're doing it. You haven't done anything utterly ridiculous, I bet, since you were in diapers. And I'm not leaving until you say it."
"I could call security, you know."
"Yes. That's good. You'd have to say my name. Let's do that." He reached across to hit the call button.
She swatted his hand lightly. "Hey. Nobody touches my buttons but me."
"There you go. A little backbone. I knew you had it in you. Just say my name one more time, and I'll leave you alone. You won't have to go to dinner with me."
"I say it and you'll go away?"
"I'll vanish like a genie. Poof. Chimes will play. Smoke will appear. You'll love it. I do it at parties. But you have to say it right."
She exhaled and settled back in her ch
air, giving in. "Like we're old friends. Like you've been away awhile."
"Which I have been, you know. Two years in the Kuiper Belt."
"Yes. I know."
"Did you miss me while I was gone?"