i shrugged.it was mark who told me more about him. he had gone over to scrounge a cigarette. by the time he came back to the table, i had my head stuck into the news-paper.
"interesting chap. sub-editor. been all over the world," said mark.
i decided to find the newspaper more interesting and finally mark shut up and finished smoking.
"asked your name," he said.
"he what?"
"yeah."
"what`d you say?"
"leanna, of course."
i folded the newspaper.
"i`ve loads of work this afternoon."
"said you look familiar," said mark. "like someone he knew."
"someone he knew?"
"yeah. could be strategy. maybe he fancies you."
"fancies me? but he`s old."
"only old enough to be your father."
i grabbed my tray and left the table.
i didn`t do much work that afternoon. i kept wishing mark hadn`t said what he had said. old enough to be your father.the following week i took along a book to read during lunchtime. when i got into the lift on my floor, he was already inside. he greeted me so i had to reply but i didn`t smile. we were alone and that worried me. i wondered whether i should get out at the next floor and walk up the stairs to the canteen. don`t panic, i thought. just because he`s stared at you for ages doesn`t mean he`s going to do anything.
" well, i suppose one of us should press the button or we`ll be here all day, won`t we?"