— paradox.

“Research assistant professor,” Grace corrected with a shrug. It was a bit like splitting hairs, honestly, because most people didn’t care about the specifics. “I do research, mostly, but I also teach from time to time… Private universities are where most of the money is.” 

"That doesn't surprise me," she admitted with a laugh. She knew about it, having herself gone to a private university and knowing how much the tuition was. "What do you teach or research about?"

          “I would probably just turn around and walk right back out the door.” Isabelle shakes her head at the thought of going on a date to the pizza place, at least they could chosen a different place to eat. “Could you imagine marrying someone that loves pizza hut that much?” 

"Exactly! I would leave and find some good pizza instead," she said with a soft chuckle. Eden thought about her question for a few seconds before shaking her head. "Probably not," she replied. "I mean, this person would really have to be almost perfect for me to marry him in spite of their love for pizza hut. What about you? Could you do it?"

            “Oh you’d be surprised, some coworkers of mine actually prefers Pizza Hut but only like a day after.” Isabelle exclaimed, a little too much excitement due to feeling buzzed. “I’m like Joe, please get some better taste in food choices like the time you dated that one hottie that was wife material.” 

Eden let out a chuckle, wrinkling her nose at the idea of having Pizza Hut as your favorite pizza. "I guess that could also be a reason why they are still single," she said with a laugh. "I mean, can you imagine if a girl asks him to take her to eat pizza and he takes her to Pizza Hut? How could a decent girl marry a guy like that?"

Even as the woman stood directly before him, Levi had yet to lower the phone from his ear. Far too staggered with how Eden had managed to find him and more surprisingly catch him mid-lie in Central Park. The stern but gentle hum of her English accent reprimanding him somehow served as a consolation for the otherwise harsh words he could have been interrogated with. The blonde’s mention of the playground had temporarily severed Levi’s gaze from her, darting towards the location just as the end call button had been pressed on the screen of his phone. “I thought you all liked playing hard to get,” the pianist deadpanned as if the comment would somehow excuse his actions. “I hear it’s more rewarding if you really work for it.” The phone in his grasp was raised to eye-level as the man had found himself slowly making his way towards Eden. “How’d you do it?” The device was waved from side to side, indicating the subject matter. “Did you bug it? Dumb luck? Ask around?” The pressing concern in his voice was evident, and for good reason. If a relator had found him so effortlessly whose to say people like his father-in-law wasn’t as capable? 

"Not as rewarding as having to play a private investigator after our clients vanish," she spouted before shrugging. She was not proud of her actions and she would have liked it if Levi had been upfront with her instead of avoiding her for the last weeks. Eden couldn't help but laugh at his theories, her blonde locks moving in sync as she shook her head. "As much as I'd like to brag about my Bond-like skills of espionage, I'm not that kind of agent," she said, her voice was meeker and she offered him a small smile. "I used an old but trusty method," she paused for dramatic purposes. "I followed you, as creepy as that sounds. You forget I know where you live." The sole reason she had gone through all this bother was to find an explanation or to put an end to the deal and stop wasting everyone's time. "So, can we talk business or am I going to have to put my torture skills to the test?" she teased to lighten the mood.

“Students are starting to re-infest campus,” Grace said with distaste. “And we’re still a month out from classes, so it’s all the annoying, overly-eager ones who ask all sorts of questions and don’t know how to read social queues…” 

"I don't think I ever was that enthusiastic during my university years, not even when I was a freshman." Of course, going to college had never been in her plans and when the opportunity to go came, she just couldn't find a good reason to turn it down. "I assume you are a professor?" she asked, smiling at the other.

       “Okay honestly, I can say for a fact that New York pizza is another like food group–grease wise as for Cali it’s all like organic. Then there is Chicago deep dish which by the way is oh my god delicious.” Izzy chuckled, having a debate on which place has the best pizza was all she could think of after several drinks later. “What do you think, best pizza wise? If you say pizza hut I will walk away from you right now.” 

Eden tapped her fingers against her lips, her thoughts involved in an inner debate. "Chicago," she said softly before nodding her head in assurance. "For sure, Chicago is the best." Eden let out a soft chuckle at the mention of Pizza Hut. "I really would doubt of the sanity of a person that chooses Pizza Hut as the best pizza."

Another Date In The Books - @edenlockhart

        Bringing in the steak from the grill on his patio, Damon wiped his hands before checking on the other dishes he made. The mashed potatoes and asparagus looked great and taking a look at the table he set up, everything was ready. After that awkward run in with Eden in the elevator, he knew he had to go on another date with the blonde. He wanted to ask her out again after their first date, but he was too shy to even call her back. At the end of the day, he liked her and wanted to spend more time with her. Believing he looked the best he did, he grabbed the flowers he bought her and walked out of his apartment. Moments later, he was in front of her door. Clearing his throat, he took a deep breath before knocking a few times on her door.

text ✉ eden

@edenlockhart ┇confessing 

Thus far, Levi had effectively avoided nearly all phone calls that focused on the topic of money, banking, and his frozen assets, all thanks to the man he called father-in-law. Although it wasn’t easy and more often than not he’d find himself mindlessly picking up the phone when that familiar ring would vibrate his cell. Caught in the trap again the moment his phone had vibrated in the pocket of his jeans, Levi answered. His hello just as perplexed as the expression that crossed his features when he heard who the voice on the other end was. The blonde, well that is all he really could remember. She was young, blonde and had helped the newlywed Strasser couple in securing investment property. “This isn’t a great time,” he lied, uneven breathing and an uneven low tone to his voice an unspoken profession for the deception. “She just left and you know what my phone is about to die, I can’t find the charger. I’ll call you back, I’m running to a meeting myself right now,” another lie that followed as Levi ventured down the path of Central Park. “Just about to go in,” and the fabricated truth would have continued if the former pianist hadn’t stopped in his tracks as the sight of a blonde who was young and on the phone directly in front of him. “Shit.” 

Eden understood the real estate market, she knew how rapidly changing and volatile it could be and while most deals will go off without a hitch, once in a while deals simply fell through. However, Eden never let them fail without giving a battle. Calling clients, urging them for a response was her least favourite thing, but sometimes some just needed that final push to close the deal. After weeks of trying to reach Levi Strasser —and the ongoing pressure of the buyer— she finally decided to take matters into her own hands. She was surprised when he picked up the phone, but not surprised when he immediately tried cut the call —in a not very subtle way. Anticipating this possible reaction, Eden had a plan B, not one that filled her with pride, as she hated chasing people as if she was some kind of debt collector. A small shift in rugged features contorted her lips into something resembling a small smile. "A meeting in Central Park?" she remarked acerbically. "Well, that's something I haven't heard before. Where is it? I hope it's not in that playground over there," she said, gesturing to said place. "I'm afraid it has been taken by that group of kids." She looked back at the man, her demeanour shifting into a more stern one. "So, are we going to stop playing hide and seek?"

text ✉ eden

LUCY: umm… 

LUCY: did we see each other last night? 

LUCY: bc i’ll be honest. it’s all kind of a blur…

EDEN: yeah...

               It was safe to say large events such as these had never been Shane’s idea of a good time, hell he’d take returning to Afghanistan over this any day. And yet here he was, making his way into the extravagantly decorated club, the male couldn’t help but feel somewhat out of place even as he did recognize the face of another. “Don’t even think about saying what you’re about to say — I know I said this wasn’t my scene, but in the name of keeping up appearances it would wrong of me to not, even if just for a short while; or maybe it was the the offer of free booze, color me curious…”