Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

"I don't really want to get into it until I have some reason for thinking it might bemore than my own imagination. All I'll tell you now is that I believe the project willultimately lead to your dissertation, and then beyond—that's the real reason why you'rehere.""My dissertation? I don't see any connection to my dissertation and ourinvolvement here. The Colonel was pretty clear that what I'll be doing pertains to myarticle, not my dissertation.""You may think that now, and I understand. I still suspect otherwise, but I'll holdmy opinions at this point. If you don't think me senile or unbalanced now you most likelywould if I divulged my thoughts at this juncture.""Well . . . I guess I'll leave it at that, if you wish.""I do.""Besides, I'd like to hear ..." Brian stopped in mid sentence. "We have company,Father."Father Benedict turned around in his chair. Melissa Kelley was headed for theirtable with a noticeably deliberate gait."I wonder what she wants," Brian mused, glancing briefly at her toned legs andshapely form, "she looks like she's on a mission.""I'm sure she is," the priest said, returning to the remainder of his lunch. "I hopeyou're ready.""Hi," Brian greeted her as she approached them."Skip it," she snapped."What's the problem?" Father Benedict intervened, trying to ease the tension thathad already surfaced."I wanted to tell my colleague here that I didn't appreciate the way he belittled mein our meeting this morning," she tore into Brian. "You'll learn pretty soon I don't takeany crap, especially from men who think they have to condescend to professionalwomen. You acted like I didn't have a brain in my head today, and if it happens again, I'llmake a spectacle of you that no one here will forget. Just who do you think you are?What right do you have treating me like an inferior!"Brian sat dumbfounded by the tirade directed at him. He gave Father Benedict anembarrassed look, but he could tell the priest had bowed out of the confrontation."Well? Don't you have anything to say? You're not so quick when you don't havethe upper hand, are you?"Brian glanced down at the table for a moment, and then looked Melissa in the eye."You're right.""What'?" she asked, surprised by the swift surrender."I said you're right. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did. I was out of line.Unfortunately, I have a sarcastic bent, and a bit of a temper, and when I get challenged orannoyed by something someone says, I can be curt. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."Melissa's flashing green eyes probed him suspiciously, trying to discern hismotives. "Do you really think you can dismiss this whole thing that easily?""I don't know," Brian said, unsure of where the conversation was going. "I guess Icould apologize to the team when we meet again this afternoon. Would that help?""Yeah, but then I want you to roll over and play dead at my command."Brian could feel his anger rising, but he caught himself with the recognition that64