Convincing her (Jen and Lucas)

Chapter 67: I'M NOT LOANING IT!

Jen went downstairs to wait just in case their dinner arrived before Lucas was done with his shower. A short while later she heard Lucas come down the stairs with a towel slung over his shoulder and slightly damp hair.

He had put on a bathrobe and his bare chest was partially visible from the opening. Jen glanced at him from the couch that she was laying on and continued watching the movie that was playing on the television.

"What are you watching?" Lucas asked as he lifted her upper body before sitting down and setting her to lie on his lap.

"I'm not sure myself, I just picked something random. I think it's a mystery, let's just watch" Jen said as she adjusted her position to make herself more comfortable.

"Mmh," Lucas said as he comfortably leaned against the back of the couch.

Before they knew it they were both absorbed in the movie they were watching with Jen giving occasional commentaries and Lucas playing with her hair silently as he watched.

They were finally brought back to their senses when the doorbell rang. Jen was so surprised she almost fell off the couch. Since Lucas was the type of audience that was silent throughout the movie she was used to the silence so the sudden noise had really startled her.

"I'll get it," Lucas said as he easily lifted her again before getting off the couch.

He opened the door and the waiter walked in with a trolley of food. He set the food on the dining table before leaving the couple to their dinner.

After some persuasion from Lucas, Jen finally sat at the dining table to have their dinner.

"How is the food?" Lucas asked. He was curious about how she thought of the food that was being served at the hotel from her perspective.

"The food is delicious" Jen replied simply.

"Compare it to the food served in your restaurants," Lucas said seriously. Jen was not expecting him to ask for her evaluation so she was feeling stumped.

"Um, well, how can I say this?" Jen started as she put down her fork. She really took pride in the food that she had developed together with her chefs, so asking her to compare it with food from her boyfriend's hotel was really putting her in a tough spot.

"Well?" Lucas asked expectantly.

"Um, the food is different? The food at the hotel is really delicious, but don't you think you're putting on the spot by asking me to compare it with the food from my restaurants?" Jen asked indignantly.

"Did I make you angry?" Lucas asked directly.

"No, I'm just annoyed" Jen replied as she picked up her fork and stuffed her mouth with food.

"Don't get me wrong, I was not trying to one-up you or anything" Lucas explained as he put his fork down. Jen, however, did not answer him and continued eating.

"Well?" Jen finally replied after a while.

"I wanted to ask for a collaboration actually" Lucas explained. His statement definitely got her attention.

"Collaboration?" Jen asked.

"Yes, " Lucas replied.

"Well? Aren't you going to expand on what you said?" Jen asked impatiently.

"I was thinking that maybe we could set up your restaurant at L.L Hotels," Lucas said hesitantly.

"Really?" Jen asked before she also put down her utensils. He definitely had her attention.

"Yes, you might not know this but L.L Hotels belong to me" Lucas explained making Jen roll her eyes. How could she not notice? He was so overbearing when he was talking to the manager earlier that day.

"I kinda figured that out," Jen said as she waved her hand for him to continue.

"No, I mean that this is not part of Lewis & Co. so it's exclusively mine" Lucas explained with an amused expression.

"Oh, I thought you were a complete noob," Jen said as she poked his arm mischievously causing Lucas to laugh.

"I'm not. Anyways, I wanted to propose that your restaurants collaborate with my hotels" Lucas said.

"Why?" Jen asked as she entered full business mode.

If someone had told her she would have a 'business' meeting one day while wearing just a shirt and underwear and her future business partner wore a bathrobe she would have laughed from incredulity. However, there she was half-naked with her future business partner. She couldn't help but think about how the whole situation completely ruined her charisma.

"It will be mutually beneficial, don't you think?" Lucas said before he took a sip of water and comfortably leaned against the dining chair. He too had subconsciously worn is business face.

"How exactly Mr Lewis?" Jen asked as she raised an eyebrow. Lucas could feel his heart race when she called him Mr Lewis but he did not show it.

"Well, Miss Larson, you have to admit that my brand is popular despite the fact that it hasn't been in the industry for long.." Lucas started and a whole debate exploded about the pros and cons of collaborating.

They talked seriously for almost an hour before Jen had been convinced by Lucas to go ahead with the collaboration, but she knew it was something that she would need to consult her young sister too because she was still studying and she wouldn't be able to oversee everything that would need supervision.

"Profits?" Jen asked because, despite all the arguments they have had, it all comes back to this point.

"I was thinking 60/40," Lucas said before he felt his face being soaked with water. Jen was so surprised by his audacity that she spits the water that she was drinking. '60/40? was he mad? Did he want them to break up?'

"Are you kidding me?" Jen asked before she laughed coldly. Lucas could feel goosebumps rise on his skin. He had never seen this side of Jen, he was feeling dumbfounded.

"The only way I'd accept that is if you're borrowing the name of my brand and let me tell you. I'M NOT LOANING IT!" Jen said before her palm slammed on the table loudly.