"Weird, huh? Normally I'm the one doing the crazy stuff and you're the one lecturing. How does it feel?"
"If you could feel what I'm feeling now, you'd be the happiest guy on Earth."
"Did you fu--"
"Don't say it. And no, I didn't. Nothing happened."
"Thank God for that. You aren't a complete fool. Now just consider yourself lucky and never take that route again for any reason. Go hang out at one of the airport hotels and have some fun with the crew of Swedish National Airlines--"
"I asked her out on a date."
"Oh, Jesus Christ."
"But she point-blank refused."
"Huh? I mean, thank God for that, but also, huh? Did she even know who you are?"
"No. No one did."
"It was Drummond Airlines, right?"
"Sure, but I bought the ticket with my British passport under Mom's maiden name, so no one knew I was a Drummond. I was doing field work, you know; checking out the quality of service undercover."
"Undercover field work. So that's what you call it these days?"
"Trust me, all I wanted to do was check out the customer service but when I saw Melanie--"
Sebastian snorted a guffaw into the phone. "Awesome name. Now I get the down to earth bit. Was she chewing tobacco as well?"
"What the hell is wrong with the name Melanie?"
"Can't you see it? Jesus, you really are love struck."
"Melanie Hutchinson."
"It only gets better. Melanie Hutchinson. Just rolls off the tongue -- like a fur-ball."
"Shut up, you dick. This girl could be your sister-in-law one day."
"You shut up. Stop right there. That will not happen. Ever. But tell me anyway, why did Melanie Hutchinson turn LA's second most eligible bachelor down?"
"Well, it may have been my fault."
"Impossible." Sebastian said ironically.
"We got into a conversation and she told me some things about herself that I kind of tried to use to make her go on a date with me. I thought it would be just fun."
"Amateur. Even after all these years. One day you will follow the master, Sebastian Drummond, and learn the true art of seduction."
"She told me some of her personal problems and then she felt embarrassed, as though she had acted unprofessionally."
"Which she clearly did."
"Don't be so officious Sebastian; it was just two people sharing. So what if I own the company she works for?"
"HR doesn't see it that way. The labor courts probably wouldn't see it that way, and sure as hell the old man won't see it that way."
"She asked me to keep it between me and her, and I said I would, but only on the condition that she has dinner with me back in LA."