Chapter 58 - Alexander

**ALEXANDER**

Alexander leaned back in his chair and dialed Dominik’s number. It was just after nine on Saturday morning and he hoped to reach Dominik directly. The sooner he could arrange a meeting, the sooner he could move forward with his plans.

Dominik answered after the second ring, his voice calm and firm as always. “Alexander.”

“Good morning, Dominik,” Alexander greeted his friend as he looked out through the huge panoramic windows of his office at the glittering skyline of Los Angeles. “Thank you for your message, your request is very convenient for me. Could we perhaps meet tonight for a good meal and a few drinks?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Dominik replied in his calm, serious manner with a slightly reproachful undertone. “You know my schedule, Alex, I have to be at _Dom Nights_. Saturday nights demand my presence - you know how it is.”

Alexander snorted softly and shook his head almost imperceptibly. “Of course, your sanctuary. Damn it, Dominik, it’s Saturday night. You can’t watch your guests every weekend.”

“That’s business,” Dominik replied coolly. “But I have a counterproposal. What do you think about lunch? Let’s say at _Poseidon_. They do these fantastic fish dishes. I could be there at one o’clock.”

Alexander thought for a moment, turned around in his chair and looked down at his sketchpad. He still had about three hours to tinker with some designs for the board. Besides, the _Poseidon_ was an upscale restaurant - there would be no nosy paparazzi peeking around the corner, eavesdropping on him and Dominik discussing business.

“All right,” he agreed. _Poseidon_ at noon. See you later.”

“See you later,” Dominik confirmed before the call ended.

Alexander looked up the number for *Poseidon* as soon as he’d hung up. Then he called to reserve a table. Even though he and Dominik had perfect credit and were welcome guests in every restaurant in L.A., reservations were always wise. The line rang briefly before a friendly voice answered.

“_Poseidon_, good afternoon. My name is Melissa. How can I help you?”

“Hello, this is Alexander Fitzpatrick. I’d like to reserve a table for two for lunch today, around one o’clock.”

“Very well, Mr. Fitzpatrick,” Melissa replied without hesitation. “Would you like a particular area of the restaurant? Perhaps our screened-in booth for a little more privacy?”

Alexander smiled; he liked that his interlocutor was thinking along with him, and he was visibly pleased with her suggestion. “The alcove sounds perfect, Melissa, thank you.”

“I assume this will be a business lunch?” Her voice sounded businesslike, but there was a slight note of curiosity. Alexander was used to it. Being a billionaire could be exhausting at times, with everyone hoping to be the first to catch a potential headline.

“Correct. I’m expecting my business partner, Dominik Davenport,” Alexander explained calmly. “We will be discussing confidential matters and expect no one to disturb us.”

“Of course, Mr. Fitzpatrick. Do you have any special requests for the menu?”

“No, that will be decided when we are with you.”

Melissa confirmed the reservation. “Thank you, Mr. Fitzpatrick. We look forward to welcoming you and Mr. Davenport to our restaurant at 1 p.m.”

Alexander ended the call and typed a short message to Dominik: “Reservation is set - _Poseidon_, 1 p.m. Looking forward to it. - Alexander”. 

As soon as he had sent the message, he put the phone down and picked up his sketchpad. The spontaneous lunch and the exclusive commission for Marcus Lancaster had given him new ideas. His pen glided almost automatically across the paper as one idea after another formed in his mind: a family-friendly kitchen space where parents and children could spend time together without the little ones having to be pushed to the side. Or a kitchen island in an open kitchen/living room with integrated play elements.

He wrote “play island” on his first sheet of paper and started sketching - a large area at the front of the kitchen that served not only as a cooking surface but also as a small children’s landscape: foam elements that could be removed and rearranged transformed the corner into a kind of mini cave. Alexander imagined a child building towers while his parents cooked nearby or shared a glass of wine. 

The next idea popped into his head, and on his second sheet of paper he wrote “magnetic play wall”. In fluid motion, he sketched a kitchen island with a magnetic play wall on the back. Colorful magnetic figures that could be attached to the wall would make the island not only decorative, but also interactive for children. As he drew the lines of the magnets, he imagined Emily laughing as a child showed her his latest artwork on the wall.

“A painting station,” he muttered, opening his sketchbook and beginning the next design. He added a fold-out, narrow surface to the kitchen island. This drawing surface was a kind of creative station: childproof, wipeable, and compact, giving young artists plenty of space without cluttering up the kitchen. His pen moved as if by magic, and in his sketch he saw Emily watching a little boy draw.

As he turned the page, he thought of Dominik, who would probably prefer something luxurious with a touch of aesthetics. In his mind’s eye, he saw an elegant bench with an integrated play area: upholstered elements that could be used as a play mat during the day and then quickly stowed away in the evening so that the bench could be used as an elegant seat again. Despite the storage space, it had to be modern and timeless, not bulky and cluttered.

“And what if there was also a practical storage place for toys?” he murmured as his thoughts continued to wander. A large, rotating drawer on the kitchen island that could serve as a toy storage area. It should be able to be opened with a single movement of the hand, so that children could access it, but it should also have a child lock, so that small children’s hands would not be damaged when it was closed again. The idea made him smile: a kitchen that welcomed chaos, but also effortlessly created order.

As he put the last line in place, he glanced at the clock - noon was already over. Time had flown by without him noticing. He placed each of his sketches next to each other on his desk and frowned in irritation. He hadn’t realized how many times he had included Emily in his sketches. The woman got under his skin more than was good for him.

He shook his head slightly. He couldn’t present this to the board like this. But he would deal with that later. Now it was time for him to make his way to the _Poseidon_. He wanted to get there before Dominik.